Jump Start

Sorry, I can't wait until September actually arrives. I've settled on my own journal page parameters (5 X 10 inch vertical pages, only recylced & upcycled materials, and a new technique each time); they may seem ambitious, but really, I have lots of stuff and could rattle off 12 techniques to try off the top of my head.

So I'm starting today. And before I sound too self-righteous, rest assured I WILL get behind as the year progresses or I'm not the queen of missed deadlines.

I am reveling in having a focused project that is just for me! And I love that these pages are small, requiring a small space in which to work--nothing to put away before everyone can eat supper. Sometimes stealing minutes here and there is a good way to work.

My best wishes to all the participants--may you be mostly filled with inspiration most of the time--after all, this project could be a bit like chocolate--little bits of pure and joyful self-indulgence at just the right times in your life.

Kolleen aka KQuiltyBee

Beaded Buttons for 07 BJP

Just posted a picture here (on my blog) of Lunnette's buttons from last year's BJP. I love what she did with them! How clever can you get!

Robin A.

Intro

Hi all!
I am so excited about being a part of this project. I have finished my first crazy quilt square; I'm using crazy quilt blocks as my background, so to speak. I decided upon 11 inch squares because I only had so much of the muslin and I am trying to use what I have. You can see my work at my blog (http://bethsneedleworkstash.blogspot.com ). My goal is to learn some new beading techniques along with crazy quilting. Look forward ot meeting everyone.

Hi y'all! I'm MizDenise, from Augusta, GA -- home of the Master's Golf Tournament each April (think Tiger Woods in a green jacket surrounded by beautiful blooming bushes and trees). I've been embroidering off and on since childhood and have recently begun making art quilts, mixed media pieces and fabric postcards. Despite no art background or training , I am often the "crafts lady" (and baby holder) at summer camps and church groups - thus the "MizDenise" name!

I have been lurking on a number of beading/quilting/crafting forums and websites for a couple of years, reluctant to risk rejection by sharing my creative efforts online. Realizing that being a part of a caring group would jump-start my growth, I recently took Sharon Boggon's "Studio Journal as a Designers Work Horse" class and had a great experience with everyone sharing our creative explorations and encouraging eachother. Reading the 2007BJP blog, I see the same encrouaging community, and so ....... (drum roll, please!) ..... I'm going to take the leap into the wider web community by joining this year's Bead Journal Project.

Although I am feeling a bit intimidated with opening up to the whole world, I'm going to also open (and hopefully use!!) the private blog I started a while back . I also have a flickr account with pictures of my recent efforts. I am very excited about the opportunity to be a part of the challenge and also to really use my new studio journal to design and plan my pieces. I am also looking forward to getting to know each of you - many of whom I've been watching from afar as you participated in the 2007 project.

MizDenise
Blog - Fetching Fibers
Flicker - MizDenise

Hello from a Brand Newbie

Hi all, I'm Kelly from Illinois. I am a beader and have my own website selling my creations. I am a Mom to 3 girls and happily married for 12 1/2 years. I do a bit of babysitting for some friends as well ~ which takes up most of my days. I wanted to join in on last years BJP but was a bit late. That was about the time I wanted to try my hand at bead embroidery. I know how to do regular embroidery and other forms of stitching but this was different.

Why I want to learn this? Last year my in-laws needed help clearing out some stuff from their basement. I had heard for years about a trunk full of "Grandma's Beads" being down there somewhere. Well, I have it now. I went through it all. Grandma used to hand bead clothing in the early 1900's. She stored a ton of beautiful beads. Mostly seed beads. I really wanted to learn how to sew these onto fabrics. This is how I ran into the information on the BJP last year. Now, I won't touch those beauties until I know what I am doing. Then, it's one of a kind gifts for all the ladies in my husbands family using Grandma's beads.

I read and re-read all the BJP posts from last year (to get hints and tips) and stared at all the beautiful work as well (to get an idea of what I would need to do). I am so excited to start and be a part of this years project. I practiced and practiced. At first, I was going to do a 4 x 6 but when I saw those tiny little beads on that size I panicked! So I adjusted to a 4 x 4. I already have my plans for the first two (maybe three) months of squares. As for the very end on what to do with them all when finished? Well, I have an idea. You'll have to wait patiently for it though.

One thing though. I can not for the life of me do the back stitch. I know! It's the most used stitch. I just doesn't work when I do it. I kind of made up my own way though. I call it the backwards back stitch. It does work and the beads stay ~ they are VERY hard to pull out. But they are secure and it goes pretty fast for me. Hope that's OK.....

Looking forward to getting to know you all and learning as I go.

Wow Again

Hi Everyone! I just got back from a wonderful day on Block Island with my family. It's so beautiful to sit on the rocks, watch the boats, people and animals and dream. I will be remembering yesterday in middle of the winter for sure. I am amazed, I'm gone one day and boom - 260 people and lots of messages to read and catch up on. This is going to be an exciting year. With just a few days left until we begin, I have settled on a shape and I'm actually prepared for month 1! No theme, I'm just going to let it flow. Pick one bead and go from there. I'm so happy to see so many returning beaders and so many new people. I want to say hi and I can't wait to "meet" you all. For those of you who don't know me, I'm a beader of all of one year. I learned from Robin's books although it helps to re-read them after you have some beading under your wings because it makes more sense. The more I bead and try new things the more I seem to like it. It is very relaxing for me. I have a simple blog at http://heidibeads.blogspot.com/ I'm going to try to be more deligent this year. We'll see - cuz I'd rather be beading:)

Can we modify the "comments" setting for this blog?

I'd like to put in a plea for changing the comments setting to "Anyone can comment". I can't leave comments because I don't write a blogger blog anymore, and I want my link to go to my real blog. I can't use "Open ID" because my blog is a network blog, not a personal one.

Last year we had the setting "Anyone can comment". If we're worried about auto-bot spamming, we could add word verification. Thanks for considering it!

It is a privilege to be included among so many talented individuals from around the world. Just think, we are all bound by a common interest in a particular medium, one in which each of us would create something wonderfully different, given the same exact materials.

I have been fortunate enough to have taken classes from our "founder", the incredible Ms. A, whose work and inspiration have challenged me to participate in this project. As a relatively new beader, I look forward to seeing the world through the work of others and learning more about myself on the journey.

Susan U/SU

http://handcraftedwhimsy.blogspot.com/

getting started

Hi everybody it's Acey (Alicia R-S) from Massachusetts. Am really thrilled about starting another year's BJP commitment. The past few months have been super challenging and at times I have wondered what it will be like to "bead through" the process involved with a lot of changes that aren't all pretty. Have also wondered if I would have the necessary stamina to keep up but now that it's time to begin I am putting my doubts and concerns aside to just take a leap of faith. My theme for this year is Squaring The Circle. I will be working with 9 x 9 inch art quiltlets. Have set certain design goals that will help me continue to grow creatively and develop a sharper skill set for visual self-expression. It's very inspirational just reading through everyone's introductory posts.

Welcome everyone to the 08/09 Bead Journal Project. I am Diane Moore, the moderator of the blogs (or blog angel however many who know me personally might question the angel part). If you have any questions or problems with the blog, feel free to email me and I'll try my best to help.
In the next few days I'll be adding a sidebar to the blog with a list of labels for your posts. Robin developed these so there would be some consistency within the blog especially for people who wanted to see a specific thing, say everyone's page for a certain month, or people who are asking for technical help.
I am a returning Bead Journal Project participant and am anxious to get started on the coming year. Last year I did heart shapes but I'm thinking of rectangles this year. If you are interested in seeing some of the work people did last year, there is a group on flickr with lots of great photos.
Again, welcome to the BJP - I'm certain you'll have an amazing year!

I am so jazzed!

Hi all - I'm new to the BJP this year and so excited to get going! I've been into quilting, as well as crazy quilting so I thought this would be great to learn and add to my CQs. I'm also into altered art, collage and mixed media, drawing painting and I've been making beaded jewelry for years so this was just too tempting! I've had a couple of initial questions that I got answered, thank you for your help. I'm vacillating between doing 4" x 4" squares or 3" x 3" squares, I'll have to make up my mind pretty quick! I would love to do a 10" x 10" crazy quilt square for each month but I figured that would a little too much for my first year, so maybe next year. :D I love the totally bead encrusted look but will not start off with that, maybe I'll work up to it, we'll see. I don't have a theme, I figured I'd just follow my muse and ride by the seat of my pants! My blog is:

http://purplepaintsmuse.blogspot.com/

if you'd like to stop in and take a look.

Thank you to all who made this possible, what an awesome idea!

Marva

I'm ready to start

Hi,
My name is Arline and I'm a returning BJPer. I'm very excited about starting another year with BJP. I learned so much over the year and my skills improved radically. I also gained in self confidence.
I am a retired RN and am loving retirement. I help out several days a week at our local bead shop and am active in the Central California Bead Society. I have been published twice in the Tierracast Catalog online.
Bead embroidery is my obsession and I'll probably continue until I can no longer hold a needle (many years in the future, I hope).
Hello to all my friends who are returning and welcome to all of you who are just starting. Remember, we are not in competition, so if you have questions, ask away. Someone will have the answer.
Arline
http://sharedstuffbyarline.blogspot.com/

Newbie BJP'r intro

Hello all. I am just reading all the intros and just thought I would introduce myself. I live in a western suburb of Chicago, IL. I am married just over 11 years now with 2 kids, 5 and 9. I teach 6th grade. I don't sleep much, I am painting something or sewing something instead.

Someone in one of my Yahoo groups posted that this was going on. I investigated and thought this would be a lot of fun and challenging. I normally work with a lot of metal and am a technique junkie. I am a mixed media artist that has recently started working with a lot of fabric and with beads. I am working on my stitches and beading this school year. I am cutting way back on swaps and other art endeavors due to family commitments and going back to school (after school is over for the day). Beading is something that I can do while watching TV with my kids or while waiting around as soccer/cheerleading mom. I find that I need a challenge so my mind won't turn to jelly while watching cartoons and other kid shows (not by choice). I am always way out of the box and this project is a perfect way for me to stay out of it.

blog

Belinda - Crazy Art Girl

Muse Inspiration

It came to me!! I have always been interested in Astrology so I have decided to bead the signs, very simply as I am a beginner in bead embroidery. I would use the simplistic symbols and add the astrological name, date range, as well as characterists associated with the sign. I would try to bead using the colors associated with the sign.
I need suggestions as to what material I should use to bead on. I am thinking circular as astrological charts are done this way. I thought maybe I would use Aida cloth, but upon further reflection would it be too restrictive as far as detail? Let me know what you think, please.


Penney in AZ

It's finally time!

Hello from Iowa--I've been waiting for the Bead Journal Project to start for so long. I was all set in June after lurking on the 2007 blog forever, or so it seemed.

I am going to work in a 6 x 12 inch format with a vertical format. Also, I am going to try a new technique each month, unless that just drives me crazy, and then I won't.

I first started beading on fabric as a way to be able to work around my family instead of being tucked away in the sewing room. Now the dining room is my sewing room, so being together is no issue, but I still love beading--I love the hand work, I love collecting the beads (my bead stash rivals my fabric stash!), and I love working on relatively small projects. Plus, sewing in the dining room is a hassle when one must put it all away in order to feed everyone!

I'm so glad to be a part of this. Thank you to all who have made it possible for the rest of us to be here.

Kolleen
KQuiltybee

Hello from Alaska!

I'm a newbie beader AND newbie BJP'er. I am excited and honored to be a part of this amazing project. To be included in this group of folks with so much talent and creativity is amazing and a little intimidating! I look forward to growing and experimenting and seeing all the wonderful pages created over the coming year.

Bead-On!

Bobi

Greetings Fellow Beaders

Hi, this is Madeline from MI and I am a 'newbie' to this project, although I did follow it vicariously through a fellow guild member who sort of challenged a few of us to get involved. When I saw the info in Beadwork magazine I realized the deadline was fast approaching if I was truly going to commit to this. So far, first challenges overcome, I actually signed up and have figured out how to set up my own blog account so I could post on the BJP 2008-2009 website.

Thus far I have chosen a size/shape for my pieces (4"X 4") and have cut out and begun work on my first page. I have a general concept for the year but it is open to change as the mood and events unfold. For this month I am doing a piece based on the root chakra. It is interesting to see how it is unfolding.

As for a little background of how I got into beading--I started beading roughly 10 years ago and started with stringing. Shortly after I discovered by talent for beading I decided to openly lay claim by joining my local bead guild so I could hang out with other artists. It was there that I then discovered bead embroidery. I have been dabbling in bead embroidery for about eight years now.

Greetings to my fellow BJP members!

Hello everyone. My name is Karen Park and I have 2 obsessions - beads and tea. Oh dear, did I say 2 obsessions? There are a bit more than 2, I'm afraid, like fiber (I love hand painted yarn), polymer clay (I'm wild about mokume gane patterns) and wire/metal/PMC (I'm dying to make my own clasps and charms).

Besides my art interests, I also work at a retail mail order tea company (my day job) and talk to folks all over the country about tea everyday. It's a lot of fun trying all of the new teas that come in every week. I write a tea review on my blog, Art and Tea, every Saturday morning. Tea is more than just an interest for me, it's a daily practice, a way of life. I love the ritual of it. And, of course, the taste of the tea!

I've been beading and making jewelry for about 15 years now. I especially love bead embroidery and anything freeform. Right now on my blog, I'm documenting how I create a freeform bracelet.

I was a member of the 2007 BJP and am almost finished with all of my pages. My plans are to create a wall hanging with them. For this new year, I've decided to do something entirely different and make either beaded journal bracelet cuffs or cloth dolls. I know that I need to commit to one of those ideas very soon!

Thanks for listening. I'm looking forward to hearing the stories of other beady kindred spirits, reconnecting with existing friends and making new ones!

Hi Everyone!

Hi Everyone! I can't believe it's almost time to start again! With all the rush to get school supplies, end of summer party and the August birthdays (and we have a lot in our family), I'm amazed. I want to welcome all the newbies to the group and say hi again to all my old friends from last year. I'm so excited about this year's project and have lots to work through. I still can't make up my mind on what shape BUT I do know that it will be smaller - last year everything was 5x7". I might do circles on squares of fabric and make it into a wall hanging at the end of the year. I have a few more days to decide now don't I? Thank you to all those who have set this up. This is going to be a WONDERFUL, FUN year! Oh, I noticed that there was someone else from CT - how exciting!

Clueless In Kaua'i!

OK...every time I try to add the 2008 bead button to my blog, it just takes me back here! Would someone please explain how this clueless wonder can get it over to my blog?!
Thanks!
Warmest aloha,
CC

ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET...

...ACK! I'm so excited to get going on this! I feel like a horse at the starting gate! I've already posted some stuff to my blog. If you're a "looker" you can check it out here. If you're waiting until the end of the year, don't look yet! ;) But I've posted my theme, plan & some patterns there!
I also started a new label on my blog called 2008 BJP so if you hit that label you will only come up with the BJP stuff related to this new year...and can avoid all my other ramblings!
I'm just so excited about this next project, I couldn't wait to say ALOHA!!! ;)
And welcome to all the new members! Hi to all the returnees!
Warmest aloha,
CC

hello to everyone!

Hello to all the participants of the BJP! I am Susan (a2susan) - there are 10 Susan's listed this year! a2 stands for Ann Arbor (MI) squared, kind of corny, but there you have it. I love to bead and have been doing so for about 10 years now. I like seed beads and lately, bead embroidery. I also like all sparkly beads, like crystals. I mainly make jewelry, although I really love the embroidery because it's a different way of expressing myself.

Even though I've had all summer to think about this year's project, I'm still not sure what size and shape I'm going to be doing. If you're still wondering about this, go to the FAQS page of the main website and check out suggestions and tips people have. And please feel free to send me tips or put them in the comments section and I'll have them added.

I look forward to renewing friendships and making new friends this year!

beadinspired.blogspot.com

Welcome Everyone!!!!

Wow… there are about 260 of us starting this thing. The thought of us, scattered around the whole world, taking up our beads, fabrics, needles, ephemera, photos, buttons, etc. … and starting to stitch the month of September just thrills me to pieces!!!!

We are separated geographically, yet together in purpose and united here in our blog. May your individual beaded pathway and our collective journey be rich in friendship, growth, healing and fun.

A few details…

1. You may have a plan and/or a theme for the year… or not. It’s totally up to you. Personally, I like to take each month as it comes, without a preconceived plan or theme.

2. Just a reminder. You do not have to make a book or journal. The word journal for our purposes refers to the concept of visually showing what’s going on in your life or your thoughts/feelings at a given time. The word page refers to your piece, but it doesn’t have to be literally a page of a book/journal.

3. For the first three months (Sept-Dec), please do not post pictures of your BJP pieces on this blog. You are welcome to post them on your personal blog or website and then post a link to them here. Starting in January, you’re welcome to post your BJP pictures here.

4. Please do not post movies or sound clips on this blog. They take up too much digital space on a team blog that may have thousands of posts by the end of the year.

5. Remember to sign your posts (with a link to your blog/website if you have one) as I have below.

A Big Ol’ Snaffoo…

Blogger has recently changed the blogspot rules. They no longer allow unlimited authors on a blog. At this time they only allow 100 authors on a team blog such as ours. Ooooops… We have 260 members… what to do?????

Your coordinators gnashed our teeth and deliberated about this, considering various solutions. For now, we decided to have three blogs for this year. They are:

08BJP
morebjp08
andmorebjp08

You will be invited to be an author on only one of them. Please make a note (somewhere you can find it!) of your sign in information (email address and password) and which of the three you can post to.

Please visit, read and comment on all three blogs! Together the three of them will be our support and unifying system.

Some of you may have more experience with blogging than we do… if so, we welcome any suggestion you may have for a “better” solution (contact Diane).

Happy September BJP and beady blessings to you all...

Robin A. (your leader in this great adventure)

Hello to Everyone

Thank you so much for inviting me to introduce myself here. I have followed the 2007 Project all year in awe of the talent here of both skill and expression. I am new to bead embroidery (though not to beading or needlework) and am so excited to be participating in the Project. I have been giving a lot of thought to a theme. ME. That's it. Inner thoughts and feelings seldom expressed outloud communicated on 5 x 7 pages. I have a blog that I started when I joined this group that tells a little about me. Please visit. I love comments!

Thank you for allowing me to join your ranks!

To be honest, until I received the welcome greeting from Pam, I had forgotten that I had signed up for this year-oops! But as it happens, this will be the perfect opportunity for me to work through some personal issues over the coming year. My theme, as it were, will be mending a broken heart, and I'm considering using a heart template that I found earlier this year, a heart shaped yoyo form. And I am confident that this will give me the creative outlet that I know will soothe my soul, help me to let go of some hurts, and begin to restore my heart.

I'm looking forward to seeing the pages from everyone's journals!

Anna
www.steppingbackfromtheabyss.blogspot.com
www.annasplaceofholding.blogspot.com
www.designsbyanna.etsy.com

Hello

I am a returning BJP. It has been a thrill to be a part of the process. Everyone in my household has been home for the summer (including a husband who works in Hong Kong), so next week when everyone has returned to normal lives, I will be able to finally get some pictures posted on my blog. I'm anxious to get caught up with posting my pictures.

I really liked working on the monochromatic pieces that I did for my first BJP so I have decided that I would like to work on a similar idea this time. I'm thinking of working with a butterfly pattern & making a different colour butterfly for each month. I think I will have to give the first one a try & see if the idea works before I completely commit to the idea. But that is the general idea that I'm heading towards.

I love this group & it is a pleasure to be part of it. This year, though, I will be spending even more time in Hong Kong as there is no one else at home so hopefully I will be able to find ways to post. At least I know I will be able to do some fun bead shopping over the next year :)

Happy beading!

It's great to be back!

Hi all! I couldn't wait for the official start date, so I spent some time choosing fabrics and cutting out my pages...now the boring part is all done! The cutting, not the choosing ;-)

Has anyone been thinking about a theme for this year? I know some of us work on themes and some don't, but I'd be really interested in knowing what everyone's thoughts are. Last year, I made all of my pages featuring the month's full moon, and having that guiding idea really helped me stay on time and on track. Has anyone picked a theme already?

Where to Begin?

I just returned from a fantastic trip to Virginia and now where to begin with my Bead Journal? I can't wait to rest up from my jet lag and get started!!!! This is my first attempt at beading a journal, so bear with me...... Let's get beading...........

Hi Everyone

I am a returning BJPer. My name is Timaree and my blog name is freebird. My blog will tell you a little more about me.

I want to say hello to all the returnees and especially to the newbies for this year. Are we ready to grow and have fun? Learn something new? Make new friends? Yes, yes, yes! So grab a cuppa (I know some of you prefer your soft drink, beer or wine) and a needle, your beads and backing, and let's get started. I for one do better knowing you are all out there busy creating on the same project with me. I am waiting to see who you all are. Come say hello.

Timaree