Happy New Year to all BJP participants!

I love the feeling of a fresh start and joining in a project like this is an excellent way to begin 2012. Many thanks to those of you who have left comments - I appreciate them very much. I hope to reply soon, but I haven't got the hang of it yet. Whenever I key 'publish' my message disappears. I think I've just about got my ideas sorted and am looking forward to the challenge. I paint mostly with acrylics but now I want to paint with beads. I think the pieces will have a mind of their own and I can't wait to see how each month's picture evolves.

New Year is such an optimistic and positive time. I wish you all health and happiness in the year to come.

April Z  

So Excited!!

Hi everyone! I too am a newbie to the BJP. I am looking forward to the chance to push my creativity this year. I have been in a little bit of a rut and this project was the perfect chance to get out of it. I can't wait to get started and see everyone's projects!

About Me: I have been beading since the late 90's and only got into bead embroidery 6 years ago. Bead embroidery is so flexible and lets me express myself. I am also blue/yellow colorblind but that hasn't stopped me yet ;)

Yoli aka BeadSiren

Hi all
My name is Cindy and this is my 2nd BJP. I learned so much about art and about myself the first time and hopefully I'll be able to do the same this year. My first bjp was done in a 4" x 6" size and I turned the blocks into a quilt. I'll post a photo of the completed piece in my blog.

I'm still mulling over the size of this year's project, but I plan to incorporate the pieces into a book. I'm planning on painting on pellon for the base page, then doing some bead embroidery within the page. I'm trying to decide on the size of the beaded piece, right now it's a 2 inch square.

Looking forward to participating this year!!

excited to start 2012

Wow!  What a flurry of posts.  I finally had a few minutes to sit and read them all.  I can't wait to see what everyone makes this year.  So cool.
I have had an idea percolating for a while.  In the spring of 2011 I went with my photo club to a auto wreckers.  I got some amazing (at least to me) macro photos of rust and pealing paint.  I had some calendars printed with these photos.  Unfortunately, the printer did a poor job and the color is not right.  So now I have a stack of calendars that aren't particularly great.  I can't just throw them out as I hate wasting.  I have been wanting to add stitch to these photos and now I have the perfect opportunity.  I won't be worried about wrecking a good photo as it is not right anyway.  Adding beads to it can only make it better.  I will use a fusible interfacing on the back to make the paper stable.
Happy creating everyone!
Angela
http://princessbubblescreates.blogspot.com/

Bead Journal Project - Guidelines

Hi Everyone, and welcome to the blog for our 2012 Bead Journal Project! I thought it would be a good idea to post a few guidelines for the newest members, as well as a refresher for returning members!

Bead Journal Project - Guidelines
The Bead Journal Project is all about making a commitment to yourself,
to art and to beading. The “guidelines” are simple:

1. Make one piece per month for a year.

2. Your pieces can be any size/shape you want, but you must stick with that same size/shape for the entire year. It’s OK for returning participants to choose a new size/shape.
3. You must use some beads on each of the 12 pieces. They don’t have to be solidly beaded.
4. The main emphasis is to give an impression about each month, to journal your experiences and record your feelings in a visual way.
5. The secondary emphasis is to challenge yourself to expand and develop your technical skills.That’s all. You are responsible for sticking with your commitment (there is no BJP enforcement squad). You will not be turning anything in to anybody each month or at the end of the year. It is not required that you make a physical book or journal with your pieces, although you may if you wish.
Some participants are total beginners at beading; others have years of experience. No matter what your skill level, you will measure your growth and success against your own work, not the work of other participants.
You can think of the BJP as a framework for you to explore and expand your own creative pathway.We have established a blog to keep our community informed of everyone's progress. We invite all participants to read and post to this blog. Although many of the past participants say they were very inspired and motivated by seeing the work of others on the web and by posting their own work, it is not required that participants have anything at all to do with the web.

I'm Also Glad to Be Back!

I participated in the first Bead Journal Project, then skipped a year, and have been part of the last two years. The first year I used beads to embellish 8.5" x 11" journal quilts. Turns out that size was a little too big for me to realistically accomplish every month! The next time around I made diamond shaped ornaments about 4" x 6". You can see them here. I made eleven out of twelve that time. (Skipped my birthday month; maybe my birthday was the excuse?) I'm proud to say that this year I fully expect to complete all twelve ATC's - 3.5" x 2.5" rectangles. It would appear smaller is better in this case. ;- ) It also helps to recognize that the heavily encrusted look I like so much is not the type of work that naturally comes out of me. I'm not 100% certain what format I'll be using for 2012 but I'm thinking it may be 3.5" squares. My diamonds forced a vertical orientation and I made the conscious decision to work horizontally on the ATC's. So maybe this time I'll give myself the freedom to work in any direction I choose!

Magpie Sue

howdi!

well last year I had a plan, was excited to be here, couldn't wait to start and in fact had finished 4months worth of BJP pieces in an explosion of creativity!
this year,  no plan!
no explosion.
I'm feeling a little like a cat on a waterbed.
still excited to be here though!

Hello

Yeah.  I am in.  This is my first year in the BJP  so I am another newbie.  2011 was a very terrible year for me.  I considered a paper journal but the written word felt inadequate this time.  The Bead Journal Project was perfect.  There is something magic about the feel and the color of beads.  I couldn't wait to get started and have been working on my January project.  I have blogged about my progress on my blog  http://acreativeessence.blogspot.com/

I look forward to getting to know the rest of you and seeing your projects.

Kay A.

Are you ready for 2012 to begin?

Hi Everyone
Just a reminder.  I have sent all members an invitation to post here.  You must respond to the invitation in order to be able to post.  There are several that have not responded. Kay, I sent you another invitation.  If anyone else has not responded, please do so or let me know if you need another invitation and also confirm what your correct email address is, just in case there is an error in our list.

Thank you and have a great New Year!!

This will be my 5th year in the group, and I'm looking forward to a fun one. This year I hope to do felted, beaded cuffs.
I live in the woods in the NW and get my inspiration from them while walking my German Sheppard.

Sandy in La Center

Third time for Double Infinity...

First off - my sincere thanks to Carol for helping me get into this blog! I am part of the last of the baby boomer generation, and I have not taken to all this high tech stuff that well :) My daughters are 10 and 11 and they are more adept at navigating the cyber world than me! My name is Lynn Lytle, but I use Angiemerie - a combination my my girls names - for many logins. Here, at BJP, I use Double Infinity for that is what my initials look like. If i ever learn how to manage my time better and actually produce bead work to sell, that will be my logo. Anyway - this is my third year. 2008/09 was the first and I did 4x4 squares. My mom had passed away in Sept 07 so it was a year of reflecting in beads, especially poignant since she was just introducing me to the craft and I inherited her supplies. THe next year I discovered the encrusted look and did size 100 (2 1/2") buttons. It took me 2 years as I lost my muse mid-year. Once I started back though, the remaining buttons took on a life of their own and were completed in no time!

This year I plan to do a circular calendar-type design which seem to be a very popular theme as I've seen it mentioned a few times already! Here is a picture of this really cool pendant i found on super mark-down at the Saks outlet which I'm planning to use as the center.

A note to the newbies - just stick with it - it is really a lot of fun. Advice wise, I have found that having the "base media" ready in advance for the next menoth helped me alot. In fact, I need to tweak my design and start cutting out that stiff stuff soon! I do not have a blog - so I like to read BJP and post here. I always leave photo's on the FLICKR site. A great place to just sit back, enjoy the photos, and get inspired. Happy Holiday to all. See you next year....

New Year, New Project

Here we go again. This will be my third time playing with the beads. While I haven't really figured out what I'm going to do with regards to size or shape or even if I'm going to be consistent in either of those, I might try doing something to do with the end of the Mayan calendar - kind of a count-down to 12.21.12. Or not. I'll figure it out.

2nd Time's the Charm?

Hello everyone! My name is Tamara Allison. I attempted the BJP in 2008. My mistake was trying to find 12 different cloth covered headbands. I got two completed, and the other three fell apart because they were on plastic. I only blogged about one though. :-( No idea what I'll be up to though. I'm thinking about making fairly simple pendants, same shape, all inspired by Henry Moore textile designs. I definitely haven't had enough bead embroidery in my life and hopefully this will help! http://vanishing-pearl.blogspot.com/

SOS

AMENDMENT FOLLOWS:

Good Morning!

As you probably know, I am the person that set up this year's blog.  I have run into a situation that I don't know how to fix, or even know if its just a usual Blogger glitch.  I have one last person to add to the list of participants,
Marty Swank.  Her blog is  http://crackpotbeader.blogspot.com.  No matter what I do, Blogger will not let me create the link to her blog.  Not in the gadget I used for the list and not in this post.

I will continue to try.  I had the problem with one other blog link but that one finally worked. I get a javascript void error. I have done what a google search says to do but nada.  If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.  In the meantime, please visit Marty's blog.  If you are new here, you will get some real inspiration.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday.

AMENDMENT:  thanks guys.  I have found when I am having a flat spot in the brain works, help will always come to the rescue.  Marty's name and blog link are on the sidebar now.  Thank you and good night!!

Time to get re-energized!

Hello all,

I'm glad to be a 2012 BJP-er and will confess now, I am one of the perpetual behinders!  I have been a BJP-er since the beginning, but have only completed the first year of BJP.  I managed to complete 8 for my second series of BJP, but haven't completed anything related to beads in ages.  That will change ! (at least that's my current plan).


My first BJP pieces were 4" x 6" (below is one, now in a private collection).  I started with this small postcard size as I was brand new to beading.  I have now learned that while I love the heavily beaded encrusted look, that is not currently my style.

DNA gone wild!

 

My second series is closer to 8" x 10" in size and features portraits with bead embellishments.  Below is my February 2009 piece, which reminds me of a Madam in the Wild West running the local saloon.

Queen of Hearts

I think this year I will work with a square shape, possibly... I'm still deciding ....
Feel free to check out my blog "Winter Wanderings" at http://cmwinter.blogspot.com/


Cathy W  in Houston, Texas

Introduction

Hi Everyone,

I'm Heidi T. (heidibeads)from Manchester, CT. I'm excited to start my fifth year of BJP! Don't have the slightest idea what I'm going to do but I will do. I actually, can't believe that I've finished all four previous years. Where has the time gone? I don't get on the pc much but I'll try to visit as often as I can. You are all so inspiring to me, Thank You! Welcome to the newbies and hello again to all past participants. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year. Heidi

Looking Forward to Another Year

Hi! I'm Marty S, also known as Crackpot Beader. I'm delighted to participate in the BJP for the fourth time. Although I've not been an active blogger this fall, I have kept up with the beading and now have only December's page to finish. You can see what I've done on my blog Crackpot Beader.

I've been thinking about how to approach the 2012 BJP. I can see that in the past I've approached the project in three different ways:
1. Using the Bead Journal to process something going on in my life
2. Using the Bead Journal to express a particular value, characteristic or attribute
3. Using the Bead Journal to explore artistic expression

Which works best? I don't know. Which did I like best? I don't know that either.

What I do know is that, for me, the product is much less important than the product. It's what I learn along the way that I value most.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's work and learning from all of you.

Marty S
Crackpot Beader

This is all new and very exciting!!!

I spend a lot of time on the computer, but had never really explored the many exciting stitching sites. I only recently found this site, and was so glad to see, that I was not too late to join, I can't wait to get started.
I am fairly new to blogging as well and have just started a new blog site this month, for this and TAST (Take a Stitch Tuesday) my site is boring at the moment, but I hope to change that in the next few months. 

I have an idea of what my project theme is going to be.... well I thought it was all sorted, now my mind is thinking in a heap of different directions..... so many possibilities so little time.

I have a beautiful piece of hand dyed, silk velvet. I was going to cut it in 12 equal pieces and bead one each month, maybe with a line or design that travels through all the blocks. Due to the colour variations in the fabric, each block would be a different colour. I could then frame the blocks on a black background with a little space between them.
???? as I said, that might change between now and then.

I look forward to 'meeting' you all.
 Teena

Tahlia: BJP plan

Hi all. I am new to BJP! I've done a little beadwork now and again for many years. I've made jewelry, I've made stitch markers (for knitting), I've done some bead-weaving... but my first love is quilting and embroidery, and most often I use beads to ornament my stitchwork. :)
This year I decided to join Sharon Boggon's TAST challenge (Take-A-Stitch-Tuesday) over at Pintangle.com. Then someone nudged me to join CQJP (Crazy Quilt Journal Project), so I signed up for that too. I figured I could join the two projects together, and practice my TAST stitches on my CQJP blocks. :)
Then someone mentioned BJP, and I figured, hey! why not!! I can join all three!
So now I'm committed to TAST, CQJP, and BJP, not to mention my real life and occasional swaps and workshops and stuff.
My project for BJP is going to be a set of little (about 2-inch diameter) beaded mandala appliques like this one (partially finished) which I created to try to estimate whether I would be overcommiting myself:


The mandalas will be appliqued onto my CQJP project, which I will be discussing in more detail on my home blog: http://another-hobby.blogspot.com/
and on the TAST study group blog: http://tast2012.blogspot.com

My CQJP is going to be a peacock-themed crazy quilt, with 11 wedge-shaped tail blocks and 1 body-shaped block. I plan to put one beaded medallion in each tail block, and make a 12th medallion to become a brooch or pendant.






It's good to meet you all!
--Tahlia

Warm greetings from chilly UK

Having enjoyed the BJP for a couple of years, I've finally plucked up courage to join in. My head's buzzing with ideas and it will be difficult to settle on one theme in time for the January start. I'm exploring your blogs and am inspired and daunted in turn! I'm delighted to be a member of the BJP community.

Archie has sneaked over from his blog to say 'hello'.
April Z

Cy - Another BJP newcomer

Hi everyone, I'm another beading newbie for 2012. Looking forward to learning all about working with beads.

For my challenge project I intend to make one wedge shape beaded piece a month. When all 12 are completed they will fit in a circle on black fabric (probably velvet) so that it will represent a rose-stained-glass-window, and I shall add other shapes to 'top-off'' each wedge as needed.
I might try a different background surface for each one so that I can find out what suits my style best, assuming I can actually 'find' my style to begin with.

This maybe a bit ambitious for a beginner, but hey, it's a learning curve no matter how steep, lol.

Cy

Ok, here we go..I haven't decided just yet what I will bead this year, but I'm sure my Muse will enlighten me sometime soon. First get through the Holidays and then Inventory at the Gallery. I'm looking forward to participating and also seeing what other beaders are doing. Happy Beading!! Carol, I don't know why you are having problems getting through to my Blog, however, my Sister has had the same problem, then she tries again and it goes through...I have no answer..just gremlins I guess. akseasidebeader.blogspot.com

She's baaaack!!!

I finished all twelve months of 2008/2009, but only 7 for 2010 (but do plan to complete the series at some later date). I signed up for 2011, but life and work kept getting in the way! A girl has to pay for the sparklies, some way, don't you know? I've been playing with beads again, so feel confident that I'll be able to participate for 2012. If you want to see my July/10 BJP, you can find it here. To see what I'm up to lately, please visit my blog. I work intuitively, so I probably won't know what I'm doing for 2012 until I actually start working on January. My muse doesn't give out many hints, especially to me!!

Anne Marie - Toronto
http://artfuldreamer.blogspot.com

Very excited about a fresh start and new projects!

Bring on 2012

I'm not sure what direction my bead journal projects will take but I'm looking forward to exploring my creativity and improving my skills!

My blog is under construction (and not yet listed in the side bar) but should be up and running by the end of the year.

Sara
http://universeaccordingtosara.blogspot.com/

Hi All, another newbie hits town!

Hi,

I'm looking forward to getting to grips with creating a project focusing on beads. I do an awful lot of work in other materials, and sometimes I forget my kilograms of beads stashed on my shelving! This gives me a reason to actually use them more often and create something much larger than the jewellery I usually use them for.

I work in felt too, so I think this will be my combo, I just need to design my piece now...such fun.

Glad to join you all!

Kal,xx

I've added the BJP logo to my blog which isn't over in the list just yet....

Glad to be back

Hi!

I am so glad to be back with the BJP! I was part of the 2010 project and managed to finish 11 months! I will eventually finish the last one! For this new project, I know one thing for sure: go smaller. I am considering going with circles that could become beaded buttons or brooches...

Anne-Marie Binet from Quebec, Canada

First Timer

Hi all! I am so excited to be participating in BJP 2012. This is my first time taking part in BJP and actually my first time in any sort of group project online. As far as beading, I have done mostly jewelry pieces and (Brick stitch) bead weaving. Last year I challenged myself to learn a new beading technique each month. I think I made it 9-10 months and did learn by trial and error. I think this venue will be more supportive and encouraging than I was to myself on my blog. I began crazy quilting about a year ago and have been adding beads (of course!) to my CQ projects. I will be participating in CQJP 2012, TAST, a senseless ORTS jar challenge as well as this BJP 2012. Nothing like jumping in with both feet~lol.

I am fascinated with the different types of lace, so I thought I would take this opportunity to experiment with creating lace through bead embroidery to both allow me to take a closer look at and better understand actual lace construction and to improve my bead embroidery skills. At least to begin with I will be doing tone on tone so the emphasis will be on the construction rather than color.

I am looking forward to a year of experimenting and learning more about beading through participation in the BJP.  Not sure yet exactly where my muse will take me.

New Beginnings!!!!

Hi Everybody!

It's so much fun to begin again, to start with a fresh slate, a germ of a new idea, knowing as the months pass, with each new piece, I'll be telling my story, living in the present, growing as an artist. This is just the best!!!!

Happy holidays! See you all next year...

Robin A

Woo hoo! Another year of BJP! My brain is already thinking about beads...

My First Year

This is my first year joining the BJP and I'm looking forward to being a part of this group.  
I've proudly placing the BJP badge on my blog. :)

A New Year

Hi Everyone -

I'm so looking forward to getting back into working on my monthly BJP projects. Last year I only managed about six pieces due to a very sore left index finger. Bead embroidery projects for three and half years, on a monthly basis, did in my poor finger. For this fifth year my plan is to work in peyote stitch.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season.

So looking forward to 2012

Not sure yet what I will be beading but it will come to me, hopefully before January!

Hello Everyone!

Hi.  It's Linda from Ontario, Canada.  I'm so excited about being a part of this inspiring project.  After talking to my friend Anne Marie D. about her participation in the BJP 2011 (also participating again in 2012) I just had to get my beads out and play.  Here's what I did.  It's a 6 inch square and it was a lot of fun.  Not quite sure of my size or shape for the official BJP but I guess I'll have to figure that out soon won't I!

Oh, the link to my blog is not working.  The correct link is http://lindakittmer.blogspot.com

Happy beading everyone!

2012 BJP

Hi Everyone and welcome to the Blog for the 2012 Bead Journal Project. I am so excited to see you here! We are a quite small group compared to previous years, but, I think that may be a good thing. I am hoping for a close community full of support for each other. Look for a post soon regarding some rules and regulations. If I can help in any way, please let me know! You can reach me at either of these e-mail addresses: beadjournalreg11@gmail.com or my personal e-mail need2bead247@charter.net. Hugs and welcome! Tracey (Mama angel)
Thanks Carol for all your hard work!!