Just in the Nick of Time

We did get moved out of our old place and over to the new, with literally about 1/2 hour to spare. That morning we realized that we were in a World of Trouble and got movers to pack up the remaining household stuff and move us out. It cost a lot, but not as much as the contract penalty of NOT getting out on time, and we couldn't have done it without them. As it happened, there were still about 3 carloads of items that they forgot, but that was no big deal. Now we are trying to fit into this smaller space. I expect to have some kind of studio set-up by mid-week, and then... I can get back to beading!

Almost October?!!

Where oh where has September gone, oh where, oh where has she gone? I haven't even started my page. It's cut and ready but too many things came up and there it sits, not a bead on it! And I don't even have a paying job as so many of you do! And now, I am even rethinking my theme for the month. In a few days things will settle out and I intend to get very busy with my page. Kudos to all you constantly busy people who manage to do so much.

page in progress

I've been ill for a few days but I managed to put in a few hours on my June page this afternoon. You can see the results here. I'm planning to create a wallhanging from the completed pages; the back of each page will have a pocket for a written journal entry. I hope to have June's pocket completed by next week. I'll prepare the written entries at the end of each month so that I include a few months about the creative journal process as well as that month's particular meaning for me.

Hello from Andrea B

Also checking in! I am a beginner, and I thought it would be easier to have a sort of theme for my journal as a starting point. Nothing too specific, just something I liked as a way to jump-start my entries. So, I decided each month I will choose a favorite button from my collection and sew it down on the piece and just start beading around it. Robin recommended putting a favorite bead down and working from there in her book, and it always works for me! So, I started the Buttons and Beads 2007 journal today.

I have a little extra incentive for trying to stay on track: I have signed up for Robin's class at Valley Ridge Art Studio in September, and I am determined to bring four pages to show her at the class, to get her feedback if possible! I am so excited about this project and that class! Anyway, that's where I am at today.

Andrea B in Minnesota

FAQ ~ Frequently Asked Questions

As I've been registering all of you for the BJP, there have been many questions. Everyone seems to be getting into this pretty smoothly. But just in case, here are a few of the questions that have come up many times.

Q. Do I have to turn in my piece every month?
A. No.

Q. How do I report that I finished my journal page at the end of the month?
A. There is no BJP police force. You do not have to report to anybody except yourself.

Q. What if I don’t finish my page by the end of the month?
A. Again, there is no PBJ police force. Try to keep yourself on schedule as best you can.

Q. Can I start my page before the beginning of the month?
A. Sure. Try to pace yourself, one piece per month.

Q. Can I publish pictures of my journal pages on the web?
A. Yes, but not on the BJP blog until after September 1st. You can publish pictures of your work on your own blog, website, or any other site any time you wish.

Q. Is there a charge for being part of the BJP?
A. No, not for the 2007-2008 BJP.

Q. Do I have to do solid bead embroidery or can the beading surface show?
A. This is entirely up to you. You don’t even have to do bead embroidery. You could do some type of bead weaving. You must use some beads on each month’s journal page.

Q. What do you mean by page?
A. Think of it as “page” (not literal), or maybe “piece.” It could be three dimensional, as in a doll form. You must pick a size/shape and stick with it for the entire year.

Q. What if I have to drop out?
A. We’ll miss you. Please let me know via email if you decide to drop out of the BJP.

Q. After I finish all 12 pages, do I have to bind them into a journal?
A. No, but you may if you wish.

Q. Is it OK if I’m just a beginning beader?
A. Yes. There are several beginners in the group. Like everybody else, you start at a certain level and hopefully stretch yourself both technically and creatively during the twelve months of the BJP.

Q. Can all 12 pieces be part of the same large piece? Can I divide one piece of cloth into 12 sections and bead one per month?
A. Yes.

Q. Will there be any instructions or a tutorial about how to bind our journals when we finish?
A. Not officially. There are many possible ways to bind pages, and some members don’t want to bind their work at all. But if you want assistance, you can ask other members for help by posting on the BJP blog.

Q. Do I need to write in a journal or on my BJP monthly page?
A. You may if you wish. Think of this as a visual journal. Try to express yourself with color, shapes, lines, forms. Words are OK too. A companion written journal to your bead journal pages might be nice.

Q. I have a friend who just heard about the BJP. Can she join?
A. Sorry, official membership closed May 30th for the 2007 BJP. Your friend can participate unofficially and is welcome to read the BJP blog.

Q. Do I have to have a website or blog; and do I have to read/write on the BJP blog?
A. No. The important core of the BJP is to challenge yourself to grow as an artist. The way to move in that direction is to create 12 bead journal pages, one per month for a year. Everything else is gravy; you can take it or leave it.

Posted by Robin A

Thoughts about joining...

Greetings to all of my fellow BJP participants. I am so looking forward to working on, and within, this very inspiring project. Thank you, Robin, for putting the opportunity into cyberspace where we could grab onto it if we so desired.

A friend of mine was telling me recently about a marvelous opportunity that had just come her way and that it had come about because she believes in NOT waiting for her ship to come in, but in swimming out to meet it instead. I was so inspired by her positive attitude that that is one of the reasons I decided to swim out to this Bead Journal Project (so to speak).

I had several reasons to hesitate. The foremost reason was that I am completely new to improvisational beading and pretty klutzy at it, too. I don't know what I'm doing most of the time and I certainly don't know any fancy stitches or even what they're called. I'm also self-employed (grow plants for a living), so in the "good weather" months I'm covered in potting soil and rarely have time or energy left for making pretties, although I *daydream* about them a lot. Still, I had to join. What a way to LEARN, to experiment, to be inspired by others! I am utterly and completely looking forward to being a part of this group project.

I'm thinking that even if I fall behind a bit on pages during the summer, I'll have many months of winter to make up for lost time. I am going to start a page each month, no matter what, and do whatever I'm able. My mind is a sea of ideas at the moment, although I know I will definitely be working small, no bigger than 4 inches by 4 inches -- my "little windows". I won't be doing a bound book form, but loose pages instead and probably loosely covered in beads. That is one of the most exciting aspects of this project -- I have no idea what I'm going to pull out of myself.

Onward and best to all,

Christi

SOME THOUGHTS ON BJP

I have appreciated all the comments on the posts and the posts. I'm also amazed at how this has grown to 53 people the last time I checked.

I'm willing to see others work as we get to the November, December time crunches. College students aren't the only ones to feel the winter blahs and I believe we will all have our 'down' times, times when we wonder why we ever agreed to do this; I mean what were we thinking. So, I'm suggesting getting a view of one page, from each person who wants to share, of the journal might bring back some of the enthusiam that is burning hot in our hearts right now. You know when the sunlight is gone and you're decorating the house and getting all the cookies baked, etc. and have screaming kids who've had too much sugar, your heart may be a little distracted. Therefore, I'm suggesting a break then by letting some of your Journal work out, if you want to. If you don't want to have that distraction (to some) but want input (for the others) I can see some pictures of other work maybe for the season or something and to keep up interest. A post with pictures is always more fun than one without. That being said, I'd like to keep the journal as a window into the artist as much as possible during the creation and then blam the world with our collective brilliance. Picture me smiling here.

I'm getting my material all ready for the process of next month as I want to get a start now, because I know things will slow down at certain times of the year. It is a long time to stick to a project and while I think it will be worth it, I hope everyone will do their individual thing, not some collective thing. In my sense of the world there is very little left that is not collective and I'd hate to fall into that trap. Of course, I can always ignore the blog and just bop along on my own if I choose, but I'd also like to encourage and mentor those who are new to beading. And I hope someone will encourage and mentor me in making a book. I've never made an actual book in my nearly 66 years. I'm going to need help.

Those are my major thoughts. I look forward to hearing from those who agree or disagree.

Thoughts about purpose and guidelines

Bead journal pages tell stories, break boundaries, and personify the maker’s search for artistic identity and creativity.

Bead journal pages are not about competitions or sales. Whether or not the artist is experienced in beading and/or journaling is not relevant to the BJP. The purpose of participation is to open doors into the artist’s own imagination and to develop self confidence.

Each page is a journal entry which reflects the artist’s experiences and growth process at a particular point in time; each is a little window into the personality of the artist.

Each artist makes her own decisions about size, style and theme. Here are some possibilities:

Size ~ Should remain consistent for each artist throughout the year
· small quilt size (8.5 x 11 inches), with beading as an embellishment
· postcard size (4 x 6 inches)
· artist trading card size (2.5 x 3.5 inches)
· circular or other non-angular shape

Style ~
· Pages designed to be combined into book form
· Loose pages, perhaps in an embellished box
· Three-dimensional, sculptural pages
· Pages designed to be hung on the wall

Theme ~ May carry through the entire year or not
· portraits
· explorations in color theory
· significant relationships
· nature
· life issues
· healing
· current events

BJP “rules” are gentle. Make one journal page per month. Try to start it during the first week of the month, and complete it before the last day of the month. Make all 12 journal pages roughly the same size. That’s it. The rest is your choice.

Discussions we might want to have as a group ~
· Do we want to share images? I understand that the Journal Quilt Project participants were asked NOT to share images in order to have maximum individuality.
· Do we want to find an exhibition opportunity for our journal pages? Any suggestions for an exhibition venue?

post by Robin A