Exciting News!

WEBSITE!

Thanks to one of our members, Brenda B (Pink Moon Hallow), who happens to be a fabulous web designer (PMH), we now have our very own BJP website!!!

beadjournalproject.com

It has many features you'll want to view, including...

1. For any of you wanting to do the project again in 2008-09, you'll find both the rules and the registration steps for joining on our website. Important: everybody must register for the 2008 Bead Journal Project! Even if you were a member in the 2007 BJP, you must send your registration information to the new Registration Angel, Pam T, according the directions on the registration page.

2. The 2007 BJP page offers a wonderful gift to those of us who have completed 8 or more of our pieces for this year's project. Each of us gets our own personal page on the website. In addition to showing our pieces, there is a place where we can write a paragraph about ourselves or our work and display up to four links (to our own blogs, websites, email, etc.) This is a dream come true for me, a way to look at all of work of each person on one beautiful, uncluttered page! And, each of the pictures is clickable to a larger size! Here's my personal page, if you'd like to see it as an example.

YOUR ANGELS!

I am so pleased to introduce you to the 2008 BJP Angel Team... Remember when I wrote a post saying I was swamped and wondering if anybody wanted to take over leadership of the BJP or help with it? Well, there were lots of offers, but four of them in particular seemed especially strong. And so, we formed ourselved into a support team for the BJP. We are listed on the new website, with direct email links. In brief, we are:

BrendaB - web design angel
PamT - registration angel
DianeM - blog angel
SusanK - promotion angel
RobinA - coordinator angel

We will try to do a good job of making the second BJP even more wonderful than the first! I can not tell you how greatful I am for the help!

SPREAD THE WORD

You can help spread the word about the 2008 BJP if you want... you can put a link to our website on your blog and tell your beady friends. Any other ideas to get the word out are welcome.

2008 BJP BLOG

We will have a new blog for the 2008 BJP. Although it is "open" now , I suggest we not use it until mid-August. We will keep this, our current blog, open and we can all use it to post until just before the new BJP starts in September. There's a link to the new 08 BJP Blog on the BJP website for when you need it.

THINKING OUT LOUD...

This is my personal opinion, but I want to comment about the personal pages on the BJP website. Having done website design for my photographer husband, I know how much work it is to do a page with clickable images. Many web designers charge $150-200 to do a single page like this. Pink Moon Hallow originally said she would do it as a favor, but when I considered how many of us there are and how much time it will take, I talked her into adding a "donation request" to the page for any of us who are willing to compensate her. Also the bandwidth usage for our site (as the number of member pages grows) will cost her money. Our contributions will help with that too. So I encourage you to be generous.

Please, if you have friends who are active in the BJP, but who don't regularly check our blog, will you let them know about the website and about the 2008 BJP? I personally know of 5 very wonderful beaders, who are caught up with their pages but don't have blogs of their own and don't ever read this one. I'm sorry that they aren't part of our community and that you all haven't had a chance to see their work. However, I understand that the internet isn't for everybody. Also, if you know someone like that, maybe you could offer to help them get their work posted to the member page on our website.

Next BJP

The votes are in:

80 - want to do it again!
10 - are passing on doing for another year (I'll miss them)
4 - are undecided

Of the 80 ready to commit to another 12 bead journal pages, slightly over half want to begin right away. There were several comments regarding a September start date - midway between starting again right away and waiting until January of 2009.

We're going with the midway idea! The 2008 Bead Journal Project will begin with September this year. (In other words, your first piece will be for the month of September.) If you want to get a head start, that's fine. The slight delay will give current members time to complete all their 2007 BJP pieces and whatever finishing they decide to do (if any). I'll post more about this soon.

There will be some
VERY EXCITING NEWS
posted here in the next few days...
Be sure to watch for it!!!

Good work everyone! I'm so proud of us and so very pleased that most of us will be together for another year!

Hugs and kudos... Robin A.

80 Percent Favor Another Year of Beading!

Hi and thanks to everyone who took the time to think about another BJP, to vote and to write comments!!!! Since most of us are wanting to make a commitment for 12 months more, you can consider it a sure thing! We'll be back!

The question is when and what are the particulars?

My situation is this... I totally enjoyed being the glue for the 2007 BJP, although it took a great deal of extra time, especially in the first couple of months. I still get numerous emails wanting to know how to do this or that. I've dropped the ball a bit on follow-up and record keeping. I'd like to work toward getting a publisher interested in a book of 2007 BJP pieces/stories (more on this in my next post). Also, I'd like to organize a show of the work.

All that is to say... I need a few extra days in each week just to keep from drowning. Part of me wants to be the organizer for the next BJP. And part of me wants one of you to take the ball for a year. If I am the organizer, it will have to start January, 2009. If somebody else takes on the responsibility, it can begin again right away in June, 2008 (or September, or whenever). Is there anybody out there with organizational skills, patience and a little time? I'll be glad to help if you like.

Whoever organizes it, there are two things regarding the second year that I feel strongly about... First, I'd like it to be open to new members. Actually, I'd like it to be a whole new thing, new blog, new name (2009 BJP), etc. Secondly, I'd like returning members to have the freedom to change their direction, size/shape, theme... to start fresh. However, I still think it is important to keep the size/shape consistent within each year. So, you'd be able to change your size/shape, but you'd be using your new size/shape for all 12 pieces next year.

This isn't my wrap-up speech... but I must say, this has been bigger, better and happier than I ever imagined it could be. I'm thrilled with all the creativity and beadwork done as part of this project! Equally thrilling (and somewhat unexpected for me) is the internet friendships and support we've shared this year. It's amazing! I had no idea so many of us would actually DO it... My best guess is that about 150 of us will finish 12 pieces... That would be a total of 1800 beaded journal "pages..." WOW!

Love to you all! Robin A.

March, April, May... Then What???????

Some of you have been making comments about not wanting this to end. So now everyone gets a chance to vote about whether or not you'd like to continue the BJP for another year. The poll is at the top left of our page, where it will remain active for a month.

Please vote only ONE time. If you'd like to explain your vote or offer other options, please either write a post or comment on this one.

With one-quarter of the year's work still ahead of us, we have a little time to think about the committment and if we want to do it again. With three-quarters of the year's work behind us, I can say that without a doubt, it's one of the most satisfying experiences of my life... both personal benefits from doing my own pages and countless benefits and inspirations from participating in the group! Thanks to each and every one of you for your contributions!

Blessings, Robin A.

Update BJP Flickr + Help!

I know... all this computer stuff can take a lot of time... But just now I visited our BJP Flickr site, and had a fabulous time slurping up all that luscious BJP beadwork. OMG!!!! It's soooooooo fabulous!

Five months into the project, and some have already posted pictures of all 5 of their pages. When you click on any one of them, it takes you to their Flickr home page which shows all of their posted work so far. Pick a few you like and try it... Awesome!!!

And, while I'm here, may I encourage each of you to take a few moments to update your Flickr page (if you're already there) or join the group and add your photos (if you're new to it).

HELP!!!! Would someone please write a brief post about how to get started with Flickr and how to put images on our BJP Flickr group site???? Please!

OK, I admit it... I'm behind too... I haven't posted August on Flickr, and I haven't posted Sept. on either my blog or Flickr. Yes, it's on the list....

Robin A.

Attention... Unofficial Members!!!!

As you may have already gathered, there was a unanimous vote in favor of changing the status of unofficial BJP participants to OFFICIAL members!!!!

So, please welcome: Sunni W (NM), Denise H (IL) and Cindy K (IL)! Hooray! We're happy to have you on board!

* * * * * * * *

I know for certain that Sunni, Denise and Cindy are actively doing their monthly pages. But what about others? I don't want to overlook anybody, and initially quite a number of people said they would be doing it unofficially.

Are YOU one? If you are currently "unofficial," and would like to take the place of somebody who has quit the project, please email me. There are spaces available if you've been keeping up and have finished at least three pieces.

Robin A.

**?????** Important Question **?????**

Fact #1 ~ We have several dedicated women who have been doing their BJP pages faithfully, but unofficially (because they didn't know about the project until after the deadline).

Fact #2 ~ We've just been doing a survey of member participation, and have learned that several members have had to drop out of the project.

Question ~ What do you think about the idea of allowing the unofficial members to take the place of the drop outs????? Their status would change to "official" and they could post to our blog and join our Flickr group. Also, they would be able to exhibit/publish their work with us if/when such an opportunity arises.

How do you vote on this one?????

Anyone there in AK, IL, TX, UK?????

HELP!!!

I'm still trying to develop a Contact Tree... a local person in each area to contact BJP members in your own area.

I need one volunteer member for each of these areas:
Alaska
Illinois
Texas
the United Kingdom

If you are willing to help, please contact me by email at this address. I'll email you a list of the names and contact information to you. Thanks!!!!!

Robin A., your BJP Coordinator

Attention Members in TX, OH, MN, IL, Co, Ak and Europe!!!

I'm trying to develop a Contact Tree... a local person in each area to contact BJP members in your own area. Right now I'd like to get an idea of how many of us are still active members. I'm thinking it would be good to touch base with everyone once each quarter. Also the Contact Tree Volunteers would contact people in their area if we eventually have an exhibition.

I need one volunteer member for each of the following areas:

Alaska

Colorado

Illinois

Minnesota

Ohio

Texas

the United Kingdom

other countries in Europe

If you are willing to help, please contact me by email at this address. I'll email you a list of the names and contact information to you. Thanks!!!!!

Robin A., your BJP Coordinator

Announcements & Questions from Robin

Congratulations All!!!

We’re one quarter into the BJP year already. Congratulations to those who have finished three pages, and congratulations to those who (like me) are a bit behind, but still totally committed to completing all 12 pages!!!! Good work, everybody!

Are you an active BJP member?

How many of the original 242 are still active? I guess we could get an idea if everyone who reads this (and is active) would write a comment to this post mentioning that you’re active. Please sign your comment with your first name and last initial (same as on the Participating Members list at the bottom of the side bar).

By the way, there is one person who notified me (by email) that she was dropping out. So our official membership is now 241.

How can we reach those members who are not internet users?

76% of our members are signed on to write posts to this blog. A few of these have never written posts or comments. That means about 25% are out of touch with us, as far as I know. A few have emailed me with concerns that they “haven’t heard from me” or asking to whom they should report each month, but most are completely out of touch.

I would like to get in touch with everyone who isn’t signed up to write posts. But I have so little time right now. I’m wondering if we might be able to form a state-by-state information tree using email. What do you think? If you’d be willing to be THE contact person in your state, country or area, will you please let me know by email?

Attention! Unofficial participants

We have several unofficial participants, who didn’t learn about the BJP until after membership closed on May 31st. I’d like to add another side bar with their names and links to their blogs, if they have one.

So, if you are unofficially participating and reading this, please email me or leave a comment to this post giving your first name, last initial, state/country, and blog/website if you have one.

Flickr

As many of you know, thanks to Jacqui, we now have our own Flickr group page here. I think it’s grand! If you click on Group Photo Pool you can see all of them, with each person’s grouped together. Already it is obvious that each person has their own individual style, their own voice. This makes me extremely happy to see, because it is exactly what I hoped would happen.

So I’d like to encourage all of you to sign up and upload your photos. It only took me about ½ hour to get an account established, make a profile, upload my photos, and drag/drop them into the BJP Flickr group. Even if you have a blog and post your pictures, I think it’s fabulous to be able to see the finished pages all together on one site… like an exhibition of our work!

By the way, I added a link to our Fickr site in the side bar of the BJP blog, so you can always find it!

Pictures of our work on this BJP Blog

At the beginning of the BJP we decided not to show pictures of our work on this blog until September… until after the first quarter. We’re now at that point.

I think it’s been working really well for those who have a blog of their own to put pictures on their own blog and post a link here. I hope all of us with personal blogs will continue to do that. However, if you don’t have your own blog, I think it would be great if you would post in-progress and/or completed pictures here. I hope everyone’s ok with that.

Still having problems with Labels/Topics

1. Please assign a label/topic to your posts. Do this in the bottom right hand side of the posting window. Try to use a topic already on the list. Click “show all” to view the list; click on any topic on the list to make it apply to your post.

2. If you add a new label, please make it SHORT – 15 characters maximum! (Long labels made the down arrow on the drop-down box disappear, so that we can’t select a post topic to view.)

3. If you post a link to your blog showing BJP activity, please label it with the MONTH. So, if it's a picture or information about your September BJP page, please use the word September as the label for your post.

Are the two discussion groups still active?

I could post a link to them in a side bar box… If you like that idea, someone who is active, please give me the link by email.

Away for next 3 weeks...

This is just to notify you that I'll be in the midwest (visiting Mom in MN, and teaching in WI) from Sept. 1-15, and then gone on a motorcycle trip for the next week. I'll get on line when I can, but may not respond quickly to comments or email messages. Please be patient with me...

Thanks to all!

I am so completely satisfied with all that we are… our camaraderie and support, our individual and shared creativity, the obvious enjoyment of our process and results.... There are no words to express how grateful I am to be in the company of all you good and talented people! Thank you and bless you!

Robin A., BJP Coordinator