Late, but finally finished!

Better late than never I always say.  I am spending the first part of this year catching up on unfinished projects.  In 2012 I participated in BJP and have had the pieces sitting around all this time while I tried to figure out what I wanted to do with them.  

I found this fabric, 2 yards, on sale for $2.00.  The antique doily runner is from a garage sale or shop and had a tag of $7.00 still attached.  I couldn't remember when or where I purchased it, but was saving it for something special.  It was perfect for this!  I used the fabric and made binding for each of the beaded lace pieces, hand stitching it on.  I also hand stitched the lace runner in place, stretching and measuring as I went.  I still need to buy a dowel for the top pocket for hanging...and then find a place to hang it.  The entire piece is 5' long x 14.5" wide.  It was difficult to photograph.  You can view close-up photos of my monthly beaded pieces by selecting the BJP tab near the top of my blog at http://ceoriginals.blogspot.com.

I had run out of ecru/ivory seed beads at one point and used black seed beads instead until I could find more.  I have added the same binding to these two pieces and found two more doilies that matched each other.  I am planning on mounting these and will probably frame them.  It feels so good to finish projects - especially when the results turn out the way you hoped.

2012 Complete.

Here are my final two beaded rocks for the year...Better late than never.....

I haven't truely decided what I going to do next. Maybe more beaded rocks. Kind of hate to be completely finished with them... and I do have many more rocks that I could use. LOL .We'll just have to wait and see. It has been wonderful to see all the talent on this blog. Thanks for all the sharing   :)

bjp 1112 - time flies

I finished this piece early in December, but the holiday rush and work events conspired to keep me away from the computer.  As I said, "time flies", but I'm happy that I've finally posted.  Anyway, I needed calming, so the colour for November is soft and restful.   Come read all about it by clicking on the following link - http://artfuldreamer.blogspot.ca/2012/12/bjp1112-time-flies.html

By the way, December is also finished, so I've completed my BJP obligations for 2012.  Oh, I still need to post, but first I need to take some photographs.   LOL! I'll try to do that next weekend!

I hope that everyone had a safe and happy Christmas or whatever other holiday you celebrate at this time of the year.  Mine was quiet but good!

Connie - December's (Final) BJP 2012

Wow, is this really the end of the year!  It has gone quickly.  I decided to finish off the year with a lacy snowflake.  We have had a draught here in the Midwest for several months and I am hoping for some moisture in the ground and a beautiful white Christmas.  I thought maybe one snowflake would get things moving.  I made this one up as I went along and I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.

 

 

This year of beading has been such a positive experience for me and you have all inspired me with your creative work.  You have set the bar high.  I have a ways to go, but feel I have learned so much just by observing, asking questions and practice...along with lots of patience.  I have especially learned that nothing is gained by rushing through the process, but rather to slow down, do the best I can and enjoy the experience in order to get the best results.  Thanks so much to all those instrumental in forming this group and in keeping it operating.  I won't be participating in 2013 other than following your creations, but I am sure I will be doing some beading periodically throughout the year.  Hopefully I can join up with the group again in 2014.  I look forward to seeing what you all come up with in 2013!

 

 

I have decided to turn my BJP2012 into a banner and will share that on my blog when I complete it, so I hope you will check back.  I am working on my CQJP 2012 wall hanging currently, but my hope is to complete the banner for this before the end of 2012 or in January at the latest. 

bjp 1012 - turning on a dime

Did you know that Canadians call our 10 cent piece a "dime"?  Well now you do!  October has been finished since the middle of November, but I just didn't get around to posting.  If you're interested in seeing a little more, you can find details and more photos if you click on the following link:

http://artfuldreamer.blogspot.ca/2012/12/bjp-1012-turning-on-dime_1046.html

I'm thankful that I've finished my October and November pieces.  I'll post about November next weekend as it's pouring out and I like to take my beady photos outside.

BTW - our Canadian Thanksgiving holday is in October!

Connie's BJP for September

I switched to black for this month of September.  Please visit my blog where I share my thoughts as I worked on this fairly simple lace piece. 

bjp0712 - raspberry and lime

The latest in my 2012 series.  I had a good excuse to be late, but judge for yourself!!  The story and more photos can be found here -  http://artfuldreamer.blogspot.ca/2012/09/bjp-0712-raspberry-and-lime.html .  I'll put the kettle on!!

The background is already painted for my August piece!  I'll probably start working on it this week and I'm predicting that it will work up quickly.  Then on to September!!   It's hard to believe as we're still having warm, sunny days up here in Toronto.  Perhaps if I wish upon a bead, we'll be able to ignore the cooler weather for the next month or so.  LOL!

BTW, did you spot the paper clip and the little bit of sequin waste?



May Zodiac block...

I was sure that I'd posted this earlier- oh well! May's block is Taurus...

I've posted updates on my blog    although I've not done much more to the main hanging lately, too many other projects on the go...
June's is almost done, so I can post that soon, and squeeze in a little time to border some of the blocks with semi-precious crystals and beads.

Teardrop Pendant #2

I almost forgot to post my February bjp. I finished it about two weeks ago and then I got started on other projects and this one flew out of my feather-filled head, lol.

A reminder that my yearlong "theme" is  "Teardrop" pendants using different techniques each time.

This one is glass beads and polymer clay with a leather neckstrap.

So here is my February BJP  -  SPRINKLES

bjp 0312 - march in april

It's much easier to play 'catch up' when you have a little more time on your hands and work with a smaller size. I can't tell you how happy this makes me!!

More photos and the story on my blog if you'd like to take a peek!

Do you think that I'll finish April by the end of the month?

BJP 0212 - February in April

I finished February and have started on March. I'm happy to say that I'm firmly back into beading mode, so hope to catch up soon.

I've posted the story and more photos on my blog if you'd like to take a little wander!!



Isn't red such an 'in your face' colour? Don't you just love it?

We Will Miss Bobbi Kirk

If you have been a member of BJP in past years, you know Bobbi Kirk. Today I received the unfortunate
news that Bobbi has lost her battle with cancer.  I knew Bobbi through the BJP and we became cyber friends. You can see some of Bobbi's work here.  Goodbye, dear friend.  I am glad I knew you.

Cy - BJP January - Finished

Yay!!! I eventually got time to finish the top part of my 'teardrop' pendant. Not bad for a beading novice I think.

I'm happy with how it turned out. 

I purposely left some of the orange showing through as it's a great contrast for the black, and it enhances the gold semi-see-thru glass beads.

And here is my bead encrusted Teardrop Pendant on a black memory wire necklace. 

 

A couple more pics are on my blog page 

http://free-form-stitching.blogspot.com/2012/01/cy-bjp-january.html

I tried the pendant on a gold chain too. Not sure which hanging arrangement I prefer.

 

Cy - BJP - WIP - January

 BJP WIP

I have finally had some time to make a start on my January BJP. I have disregarded my original idea of a wedge shape in a stained glass rose window for something a little less 'complicated'. My shape now is a teardrop about 5" long and 2" wide at it's widest point. I shall be trying a different beading technique or application each month to expand my knowledge and to experiment more with beading.

This is the start of a great journey for me as I've not done a lot of beading in the past, and definitely have not had beading as the main part of a project before.

 It is still a WIP.

http://free-form-stitching.blogspot.com/2012/01/bjp-wip-january.html

 

Very freeform, no plans at the start. Just let the beads tell me what should happen next. I shall enjoy working on this again this week to see if I can get the top part finished.

Happy beading.

Cy

(Cyra L in the list)

What an Awesome Group of Beaders!!!!!

Hello and happy new year, everybody!

I just read every post written on this blog so far! Very exciting to see so many returning BJPers here as well as a lovely group of newcomers!!! I have a feeling this will be a wonderful year, stimulating and fun.

Just to let you know, I will be getting a late start. I'm in the process of writing a comprehensive book about beads and beading. It's been all-consuming of my time and energies since last July. February 28 is the date when I have to have EVERYTHING finished and sent to the publisher. Yikes, that's just around the corner.... Anyway, it's the book I've always wanted to write, the one that students and other beaders have been requesting ever since I started beading, back in 1985. Right now the publisher asks that I not tell anything more about the book; but as soon as they allow it, I'll tell you all :>}.

In the meantime, I have been finishing last year's BJP pieces. I just posted September's piece here. October is almost finished, Nov and Dec are started. I hope to have them and the book finished at the end of Feb., and then quickly catch up on 2012 BJP pieces.

Thanks for joining! Thanks to Carol and Tracey... You two have more than earned your Angel wings!!!!!

Robin A.

I can't believe it's time to start again!

I am so excited!  This will be my 5th season with the BJP, and I am looking forward to another great year!  Each year I've done something different in order to keep my enthusiasm (and attention!) focused on the task.  Last year I chose to do very small bead embroidered buttons dominated by watch faces because of time constraints. 

For this year, I still haven't decided...and I can't believe it!  In the past, I've ALWAYS known what I wanted to do long before the start.  Hmmmm...

xoxo
Cyndi L
Beading Arts

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

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

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

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