Wow!!

Maybe I should have read some of these blogs and posts before I signed up!! Wow!! I'm in pretty exalted company.
I am going to approach this journal from a different angle than I have seen posted here so far.
Whoops! Maybe I had better introduce myself - I'm Karen McCleary and I live in Barrie, Ontario. That's in southern Ontario about an hour north of Toronto. Close enough to the city to have all of the perks but still far enough to feel like I'm not in the middle of the urban jungle....
I have played with beads on and off since high school - and we won't mention how long ago that was....I am mainly a quilter but have added beads and sparkly stuff to pieces whenever I could. Lately I have been experimenting with jewellery but my main focus with beads is in Crazy Quilting. I am replacing all of the threadwork and ribbon work with beadwork and have been experimenting with making beads emulate the various embroidery stitches. I call it Crazy Beaded Patchwork.
This will be the focus of my journal for the year - translating embroidery stitches into beadwork. I may also work some color theory in there.....but for now the main thrust is the playing of beads in embroidery stitch form. Since I will be stitching with the beads onto crazy patchwork I am planning on making the final size of each monthly piece about 81/2" x 11". This will include the 'fabric frame' around the crazy block.
Many of the stitches will be 'tried' out on Timtex first and then a final version will be stitched onto the crazy patch. I have hauled out a large 3 ring binder that I am hoping will house the final project - with a nicely beaded cover, of course....
I, too, work best to deadlines and thought that this monthly deadline would keep me focused and on track.....
BTW - my nickname is Kwiltin' Momma - and since we have more than one Karen - that's how I'll sign off.....