Sacred Tree Coming Together

I just wanted to let anyone who is interested in following the creative path for my 2008-9 Bead Journal Project know that at least through July I will be having a post come out every three days that will include all kinds of information on how I approach art, what new techniques I am trying and where I am at. I am working on the background that will later support my 12 monthly blocks. I will be putting posts here to remind people so thought I would let you all know. The first 3 posts are already up and the next is due on the 10th, hope you enjoy. ~Angie

http://angelaplagerbjp.blogspot.com/

Benefits

Just thought I'd share a new development in my own work as a result of participating in this year's BJP.

I had thought that someday I would make a family history crazy quilt utilizing heirloom textiles I've inherited over the years. After reading about Robin's "Decade Dolls" in her new book and making the small journal quilts each month for the past year it occurred to me that a series of small quilts instead of one large one might be a better idea. After all, I have three children; I'd rather they not have to cut up my work in order to have a piece of it when I'm gone! So while I won't officially be participating in the next BJP I will sort of be playing along on my own :- )

Magpie Sue

From the Magpie's Nest

The finished BJP quilt and a puzzle!

I have finished putting my pieces together, gotten the borders on and it is stretched onto a painters canvas.  I am really happy with the effect!  

 I have also been doing a little pre-project in preparation for next year.  Please come see me!

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.

Catching Up Finally!

G'Day Everyone,
Just a little teaser of February that I finished today, I've posted it to Flickr.
I was very sick in Feb and unable to bead at all. But am much better now.
March, April and May are all set to go then I only have to backtrack to August finish that and meet you all at the finish line on May 30!
I will be on board for next year (only wish it was a later start) that said I'm looking forward to having a break in June/July as it's my Birthday June 21st and My Son turns 18 July 2nd so methinks there will be a bit of partying going on!
I'm really enjoying being a part of this group my only regret is that you all live so gosh darn far away!
So it's back to the work desk for me while we still have beautiful sunshine here, it's supposed to be Autum(Fall) but the weather is so spring like even some of the flowers are blooming again - go figure!
Needles threaded, beads at the ready
Talk soon
Nospoj - Dinah

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.