January BJP08Update

My inspiration and my January Bead Journal Project finally got done. Yes, I do realize that this is the first day of May. My time has been taken up with both my grandchildren playing ball, a trip to Paducah and life. My muse is silent, I think because of the yelling at the ballfield, that yelling is Mawmaw when Will and Gianni do well. The picture above is a play day that Will and I had in January. He loves to paint.

This is the inspiration for January - Will's finished painting. The lines were done by running a toy car through paint and then onto the paper. He really loves to do that and really I tried it, its fun.

This is my beaded project inspired by the painting. Lots of beading colors to choose from. I mixed the sizes of beads on this, not just seed beads, but a mixed lot of blues that were all shapes and sizes.

It was fun doing this one and I have the materials ready for my next beadproject. Time and my muse will return. Ball season ends in June and it will be too hot to be out and about so I look forward to having some fun beading soon.

Beading Project - November

Finally I am back to beading, the eye is doing fine and hopefully tomorrow is my last doctor's visit.

This picture to the left is my inspiration for the November beaded project above. In November 2008 my granddaughter, Gianni was in a parade in Benton with her ball team. It was dark and the lighting was not good where we were standing. The picture is how the camera caught whatever float went by. I liked it, I liked the colors and it gave me an inspiration for my November project. Hence a beaded, blurred parade picture for November.

My drawing talent is not good so I use these photos are my inspiration. I am now working on my January project and hope to have it done soon so I won't be so far behind.

The retina detachment has been a nightmare, but thanks to a God who heals it is so much better now. Hopefully this won't happen again. Thanks to everyone for your sincere concerns and prayers. Blogging can give you some wonderful friends.

December Bead Project

Well December bead project is finally finished in January. The holidays and my schedule make it hard to do this every month, but I am determined to keep going. To know that others are also struggling can help - so you out there that are stuggling - keep on going. This is for each one of us and everytime I finish one it is a true joy. My grandbabies both want them, but I have told them not until all 12 are finished, then we will talk. One note I have done my beaded border on all 4 sides now, but did not take another picture.

I picked the seahorse because in December, 2007 I saw my very first one in an aquarium and was fascinated. They have a relative called a Sea Dragon that is more awesome than this and you should look it up on the internet if you have not seen one.

The next one I am doing is going to be either November or Januray. I will decide when I am finished with that one, because I took a picture the other day I may want to do for January. Decisions, decisions. It is so much fun to take a photo and see beadwork in the details.

A Cold Icy Day with Grandson

I wanted to get my project for December BJP08 done by now, but as you can see it is still unfinished. One thing I have learned is that 5 inches square is over ambitious, but I am committed to that size so you just keep on beading. I do love to see the colors as they unfold and the more I bead the more I want to bead.

This is what is looks like out my backdoor this afternoon. It rained all day, but because the ground was warm from 70 degrees on Saturday and the temp never got above 33 today the rain froze in the air on the trees and shrubbery. It is pretty, but it was wonderful day for staying inside.

1. Now this piece of art work is not mine. It is my grandson's art project we did together today between games of Wii Mini Golf and PBS.org on the computer. Will loves painting. For Christmas I gave him and his cousin Gianni art easels and they have really enjoyed using them. They each got a bag of every kind of art suppies I could find. Earlier in the year Sam's had a book on Kids Arts and Craft ideas and I purchased 2 copies. One for Will's Mommy and one for me. Will found his favorite page today - painting with Hot Wheels. We each got our own cars and paper - we shared paint. One note: if you try this be sure and don't get one of those cars that if you roll it backwards,when you pick it up the wheels spin forward. The paint will spray and fly. Just thought Iwould clue you in on that secret.
   
   
   

It was a fun day and again it was one of those memories we want to make with our grandkids. Ya'll have fun now.

October Bead Journal Project - Finished At Last

Here is my October Bead Journal Project - finished in November. Now you know what is next - start November. This year I am learning that a 5 inch square may have been overly ambitious, but I am committed. The size at least gives you a larger prospective to work with, but it also takes more time. However, I usually do my beading at night while watching TV with my husband and that makes it more enjoyable.
This project was obviously about fall - one of my favorite seasons. In Arkansas we have a wonderful display of fall leaves from one end of the state to the other. They sparkle as they show their last "hurrah" before winter.
I did not limit to just one bead size or shade. I threw a couple of different types in the same colorways on my surface and just started echo beading. It sparkles more than the picture tells.
I can't wait to start on November.
I am so glad I started this project - it is FUN!!!!!

These pictures are a tease for my October bead project. Since the Arkansas Ozarks are known for their beautiful fall foilage, I chose a leaf to bead for my project this month. I have auditioned my beads after making my base. This is also another sentimental journey for me. My Daddy has been gone now for 25 years, but when the leaves began turning we would get in the car and head for Hwy 7 (The Pig Trail) to see the fall foilage. He dearly loved the state of Arkansas and all it had to offer for him. His love made me love it also. In my previous post on the trip with my son's family, I tried to instill this love into another 2 generations. It is never too late to have fun with someone!!!

The base is a piece of canvas gessoed, and painted with Lumiere Metallic Gold paint. Then I cut the leaves from a fall napkin that I had been given. After decoupaging them the small ones changed color, but they are just a base for me to bead to and the beads will change their color. Looking and experimenting with different stabilizers to use, I added a quilt batt scrap to the back of the canvas. This is not recommended by me, because I have had problems of the batting coming through the bead holes. A little frustrating, but I have pressured on. The center leaf is 1/3 done, so you can see there is a LOT of work left for me to do. Alas, the October project will not be completed because I am going to Houston Quilt Show on Wednesday. My beading time was spent with doing my grandson and granddaughter's Halloween costumes. Well my priorties are straight, just my timing is off!!! My goal is to be caught up by the end of the Holidays, which means I get to do 3 by the end of the year. Will that work? It works for me - LOL

September Bead Journal Project - Done

Well if you look at this you know that I am a newbie to beading, but
I had a great time doing it and hope that those who see this enjoy my efforts. I have already (in an earlier post) noted why I picked the Twin Towers for my September project. The more I beaded the more I wanted to bead. All of the picture was beaded except the buildings surrounding the Twin Towers. I wanted them to remain in the shadows. Two problems I have are (1) the size and getting it right (2) finishing the edges. Right now I am going to call this one done - at the end - hopefully - I will have plan for what to do with my bead projects and finish them in an appropriate way. This one has ended up being 4 1/2 inches square, not the 5 inches I had intended.
The back is ultra suede. My friend Keri gave me some fabric she bought after 9/11 that had the New York skyline. I used a piece of that for the back to cover my stitches. It looks really good with the piece.
The top is done to simulate a US Flag and I thought that it added a lot to the piece.
Hopefully I will approve as we go along. Now I have 2 days to concentrate on Halloween costumes before getting started on October. Ideas are in my head for that one already. See ya'll in October.

More Beading Comments - Part 2

This is part of my work in progress. The main clouds are done in the crystal beads, accenting clouds will be done in a flat ivory. The towers are done in irridescent multi-colored beads to give them main stage in the story. I outlined in black between the buildings and the water. The piece was not working out to be a size I want to work with the rest of the year. At this point it was 4 x 5 inches when trimmed. I have thought all along that I wanted a 5 inch square piece to work on. It seems like a good size. The bottom water is beaded - not in the picture - but still quite a bit to go.

Since October is looming over the horizon, that means October and Halloween. There are only 2 grandchildren in my life. Every year since Gianni (she is now 7) and Will (he is 4) have been born I have made their Halloween costumes - except last year when I was having additional problems with my health. Gianni has been various things from a fairy to a witch. When Will - her cousin - was born I had 2 to do.
The first year Will was here Gianni was a witch and he was a scarecrow. Next year they were Raggedy Ann and Andy. This year Gianni will be a red devil and Will will be a pirate. October is also the International Quilt Show in Houston and for the first time in 4 years I am going again. My October project will be 5 x 5, but may not be totally beaded - maybe accents for that one, but who knows. On to September finishing.