Beginnings

I'm one of the new-to-beading rank beginners.

While I've been involved in sewing and other creative endeavors, especially photography, all my life, it wasn't until after 9/11 that I began quilting. All I wanted to do was make some patriotic bandanas for my dogs to wear to the dog park.... You can guess the rest!

Years ago, I had done some silversmithing and made some beaded jewelry but the idea of beading with small beads held no attraction for me. A class with Mary Stori at the Tucson Quilters Guild inspired me to add beads to a quilt project. I still hadn't gotten the yen to bead though I liked the results.

Then I picked up Larkin Van Horn's book, Beading on Fabric. I really had no idea what I was going to do, but I had picked up some intersting beads at the Tucson gem shows. Might as well do something while watching Dancing with the Stars and American Idol, right?

Result, I finally fell in love with beading! In doing some Internet research, I came upon Robin's blog and learned about the journal project. Here I am!

This morning I blogged about a technique I've adapted from quilting to mark the edge of my beading. I don't know if this is original with me (probably not). I did spend much of my career as a professional writer so I do enjoy documenting techniques.

I have no idea what I'm going to do for the journal project but I'm looking forward to the adventure!

http://dreamrunnerquilts.blogspot.com/

-- Joanna Strohn in Tucson