To Post Pictures of Work or Not? That is the question...

to badly misquote Shakespeare.

This is a theme that seems to be popping up all over the place for me lately. I understand both sides - the desire to be inspired and the desire to be original. I find myself remembering things I was told in college - "it's all been done before, in one shape or another."

How many times have you created what you thought was a completely original piece, only to see it done independently on a website, or in a magazine, or in a book? It happens to my sister all the time.

I think that getting feedback and encouragement is also a big part of the process for me and that I will post.

If I have an inspiration for the page and I can get a picture of it, I will probably post both. Oftentimes, though, my inspirations are memories and those are difficult to photograph!

Please to meet you all...

Hi.

I'm Linda. My home is in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

I've been beading for over 30 years (with some gaps to pursue other crafts and writing). I joined the project very early but am tardy in introducing myself. I have, however, been reading the entries.

I design and make jewelry and teach bead work as well as doing non-functional work. Although I love doing off-loom work in general, I am most partial to bead embroidery. My journal is going to be personal...visual images that express (I hope) what I'm feeling over the course of the next year. I've decided to mix media a little as I like to draw, write and work with photographs. It's going to be a real challenge - but I've started (just a little ahead of June) and am really enjoying the process.

You can meet my work at Born Under A Bead Sign, if you're so inclined.

Intro

Hi,

This is my first time posting to a blog, so please for give me if my I do something wrong!

I've been beadworking for about 16 years, lampworking for 10 years. I've done mostly off-loom beadwork, herringbone, peyote, square stitch, RAW, and brick. I taught myself lampworking (beadsuncommon.com) and my first beadweaving was learned from a book; those wonderful little triangular brick-stitched earrings gave me the beading bug. I'm mostly self-taught with beadweaving, except for peyote stitch and beaded knitting. I took a peyote class & bead knitting class at Skyloom Fibres, a wonderful bead/fibre/looming store that used to be here in Denver. The teacher was Charlotte Elitch, an expert in all kinds of beading and fibre arts.

I'm 52, (53 in July), a Colorado native, am involved in Border Collie Rescue, if you need to reach me, my email is: beadesigner@comcast.net
Beadwork has gotten me through a lot of health issues; I have lupus, fibromyalgia, Asperger's syndrome, asthma(severe at times) and am bi-polar. I've had to have both hips & both knees replaced in the past 3 years, (due to lupus) had to deal with infection from one of the hip surgeries.
Spirituality, music and beads have helped to get me through everything. Plus I've found that you have the choice daily whether to be happy or not; it's all in how you take things! I choose to be happy, it's not only more pleasant for me, but it's much easier for my husband and others to be around me.
I play guitar, (classical and folk) and kantele, (a sort of Finnish harp). The kantele has such a gentle, healing sound; I do believe that if everyone on earth had a kantele and played it daily, there would be no more wars! It's a truly magical instrument. If you want to hear some sound samples, go to:
www.kantele.com
I love old time radio shows such as Fibber McGee & Molly, Our Miss Brooks, The Shadow, X Minus One, Suspense, and all of the others, too numerous to mention.
I'm a huge fan of Prairie Home Companion!
I love all music, especially old time Big Bands, rock, blues, classical, Mariachi music, old traditional African music, reaggae, old scool hip-hop, (Grand Master Flash, Run DMC, Digable Planets etc.) everything except "soft rock", (Celine Dione and her cohorts all sound alike to me). I don't care for modern Country, except for the Dixie Chicks and Mary Chapin Carpenter. My absolute top favourite mucicans include: Glenn Gould, Ry Cooder, Pete Seeger, Mike Seeger, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Garmarna, Hedingarna, Merle Travis, Mississippi John Hurt, Robert Johnson, Loituma, Frigg, Wimme (traditional Saami joiks), Varttina, Big Mama Thornton, B.B King, Balkan Beat Box, Joss Stone, James Gang, Stan Rogers, Mike Seeger, Pete Seeger, Pat Donahue,..I could fill pages!
Needless to say, I'm always listening to music while beading!

This beaded journal project will be interesting & fun!

Evalynne (Lynne)

Show and Tell

I think Robin was actually just making a suggestion, when she mentioned not showing any journal pages until after the 3rd month.

For me, my blog (beading at the beach) is all about my work and I will be showing my bjp pages as I work on them there. So, if anyone is worried about being influenced, please just don't visit there.

As for unduly influencing some of the more inexperienced participants, that's going to happen anyway since the web is full of more experienced folk's work. And I don't think anyone is going to keep off the web for the first three months of this project?

Also, my understanding of this project is that it's major purpose is to share our work and to inspire and be inspired by each other. And frankly, in teaching beadwork I've found that I can be as inspired by a brand new beader as by a more experienced one.

So, I'd vote for posting as we go along, if you're comfortable with posting.

I'd also like to hear some more opinions/suggestions about this...

Up for the challenge!

Hi all!

My name is Barb and I'm so excited to be part of this project. Most of my work is in quilt art, but I've always wanted to expand my use of beads. I'm finding that having a deadline really helps me get things accomplished, so I'm really looking forward to some stretching and growing in this project.

One quick question--if we don't want to "show and tell" as we're going, should I not post pictures to my own blog?

Thanks for having me!

Barb

Question about Comments notification

I'm new to blogging and would appreciate knowing if there is a way to be notified of new comments posted? I enjoy reading the comments, but am not sure how one goes about reading the latest comments posted without going through each post and checking.

Thanks for your help,
Grace

Greetings from South Australia

Hi guys!
I am so thrilled to be taking part in this. But REALLY nervous too. I have never touched a seed bead in my life, or embroidered in any form. I have wanted to for a long time, and with a little boy who only just turned two and seems to have more energy and....ahem... spirit (?) than most two year olds i know keeping me busy, i have just never gotten around to it. This challenge is a great way to introduce myself to bead embroidery in a slightly more creative and abstract way that i had intended, and i look forward to stretching myself in that way.

I intend to journal about what is driving me that month. Whatever the biggest thing in my life or the overwhelming mood or theme of the month is to me. I guess given my lack of free time (my son doesn't sleep or enjoy playing safe games when mummy isn't looking) i will probably do several sparse entries and several denser ones - i have a few in mind already. One about having a positive attitude and faith in my ability to try and succeed at this, and one about the dominating theme in my life right now - the juxtaposition between a deep love for my wonderful little boy, and the feeling of being trapped by his routines and need for me to be with him while he falls asleep (including several times during the night at the moment!).

I have been making jewellery with beads for a couple of years - i don't make a great volume of pieces, but what i make i am generally happy with and proud of (until i make the next piece, then i am convinced the last was amateurish and embarrassing...hehe). I would like to sell more than i do, but the market is somewhat flooded right now. Plus, i tend to make what appeals to me - something i want or need or love - so i don't want to part with a lot of my pieces. I want to branch out and be a jack of all trades, master of none type of jewellery artist - i want to know how to do lampworking, embroidery, metal work, wire work... and a ton of creative pursuits not at all jewellery related. My house is a tribute to great ideas that never got completed - from scrapbook albums and jewellery boxes to teddy bears and cross stitches. I have a box full of stuff for almost any craft you can imagine and a woeful story of my results for each.

I intend to make SURE i make this journal work. I don't know what i will do with my pieces when they are done, but it is really important to me to do this and i feel really positive and empowered by it. Thanks for sharing it with me!!! Let's get cracking!! Now to figure out where on EARTH to buy my beads from... hahaha.

Hello from Maryland

Dorris from Maryland (eastern USA) here. Getting a chance to participate with this group is going to be so challenging and enjoyable. With so many folks working on this what a visual feast lays ahead of us. My head is swimming with ideas. Guess part of this challenge is getting focused.

This image is of my first bead embroidery attempt. It was done on leather with delica's and 11/0 czech beads. The block was dedicated to Zulma B. who survived Katrina and returned to her damaged home as soon as New Orleans was reopened. This is one of 4 beaded blocks I contributed to the
GSBG Gulf Relief Beaded Tapestry.

Have a great evening,
Dorris

So Many Options, Only 12 Months?

Hi, I'm Andi and the piece here is Cactus Moon, a fusion of machine embroidery and bead embroidery. It's one of a series based on a hand embroidered piece called Desert Moon. I vary between expressions, depending on what motion I need to feel or what colors I want to use. I used to say I made quilts when beadwork was too slow. I was able to take a workshop with Joyce Scott at the Quilt/Surface Design Symposium ten years ago, and what I didn't learn there, I got from Robin's wonderful One Bead at a Time. (Robin, you may remember me from ArtFest in 2002, I met you in the bathroom after my part of the teacher slide show where I mentioned you and your book).

Anyway. I am not exactly sure which format I'm going to take yet. So many possibilities. I like these so far:
Chinese Zodiac
Western Zodiac
Moon of the Month (for instance, June is the Strawberry moon)
Month of the month (just do a piece based on that month, to put together in a calendar format at some point)
Roy G Biv with a bit extra :)
Twelve Tribes of Israel
Twelve Dancing Princesses
Twelve Days of Christmas

Oh dear, I went and woke my brain up.

I am very excited to be here and very excited to meet you all.

IS IT COMMITMENT OR INTEREST!

Just in case someone is confused and because I love this quote from a Starbucks cup, from Art Turock who is the author of Invent Business Opportunities No One Else CAn Imagine I thought I would put it on here for your perusal.

"There's a differnce between interest and commitment. When you're interestin in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, just results."

I hope that helps you in making a commitment for the BJP and hope I haven't broken international law by putting it on the blog.

HOW TO UPLOAD YOUR PHOTOS

Greetings BJP'ers from Downunder!

A long term sewer, beader and collector of all things gorgeous I live contendly in beautiful Sydney, Australia. The thrill of joining "The BJP" has a zillion, colourmad, beady ideas swimming round in my head that will eventually emerge. One definite choice is to create A5 size pages that will be held, for posterity, in either, a lavishly beaded binder or a tome.

I believe some of you have been having trouble uploading photo's so I held up my hand to write a 'How To'. Be warned I am no computer geek but have dabbled in blog land and have found it easy to add photo's ... once I got used to it that is!!

There is a schpeel on the Blogger page which is simple! Do yourself a favour and take the Blogger tutorial ... for now here's a step by step how to from a personal point of view!

1. Take your photo
2. Upload the photo to your computer.
3. 'save it' to somewhere that is easy for you to find - maybe on your desktop.
4. Sign in to Blogger.
5. Click on 'New Post'.
6. Be careful ... once you get to this page you cannot leave unless you are navigating through the Blogger icons -otherwise you will lose your text or pics.
7. Type in your title.
8. Now you can either upload the photo or write your text.
9. I've found it easier to add the photo first.
10. Click on the photo icon to the left of the beige heading in front of you.
11. You will see the Upload photo's page.
12. Click on 'add an image from your computer'.
13. Choose a layout is usually set at 'choose this layout every time'.
14. click on image size 'small'.
15. click on image size 'centre'.
16.To add the image ... it must be in jpg, gif, bmp and png images BUT ... JPG is the easiest ( I can't help you here you'll have to check how your pics upload to your computer).
17. Click on BROWSE.
18. You will then be asked to identify where your photo is stored.
this is where you will have to click on options in the drop down menu - see 'Desktop' it is easier to find than most other places and can be sent to your C drive or Photo Folder after you have uploaded.
19. Click on the orange highlighted box 'UPLOAD IMAGE'.
20. Wait till you see the message 'YOUR IMAGE HAS BEEN UPLOADED'.
21. Click on DONE
22. Return to the page where you started and click on 'PUBLISH POST'.

Blogger says 'The fastest way to understand blogging is to try it out'.

Trust me, that is very true... if I can do it you can too!

Don't be scared of Blogger just follow the steps or the links ... if anyone would like to add to this or change anything please do so!

Hope this Helps,
Beady Hugs,
Cherie aka Red.

links to closeups of my dragon vest

Beware, this page is horridly graphics rich and may take an awful lot of time to load, especially for those on dial up. I took a bunch of pics of my vest today, and tried to show some decent close ups of the work. Check it out here....
cheers,
Sarah

Introducing Myself

Hi--I'm Aurora, born and raised in Juneau, Alaska---I lived in Alaska most of my life, until I "came outside" to college in 1989. I now live in Berkeley, California--but still visit Alaska often. I grew up surrounded by Native Alaskan beadwork, and learned many and various fiber arts over the years, but didn't start beading until a few years ago--when I took a bead crochet class because I wanted to learn to make the lovely bead crochet bracelets a friend was making. I now teach bead crochet, and I also dabble in many other kinds of beading. I create some mixed media pieces--sometimes on paper--sometimes small quilts---and beads and buttons always seem to creep into my art. I am currently a student in fabric and textile design here. Awhile ago I beaded this butterfly on paper---first I painted the design on some nice heavy printmaking paper, then beaded over the painting.

Journey

Hi, I'm bobbi (beadbabe49) from Oregon....thought I'd post my first bead embroidered piece, which I made about 5 years ago. I've been doing beadwork for almost 20 years, but didn't get around to beading on fabric until more recently. And finding robin's two books, A Bead at a Time and especially Beaded Embellishments, gave me both information on how to do this and inspiration to do it.
Anyway...here's my first piece...done on pellon and backed with leather using some carnelian art glass pieces and a carnelian fish...
And last spring/summer I did two beaded cuffs....
I'm really looking forward to getting started on the bead journal next month.
Since I was diagnosed with breast cancer 4 years ago, I'm going to do all 12 pages on the general theme of Facing Forward and using different face beads, cabs and pendants as focal points on the pages.
But that's all I know so far....the rest will just happen as I do the beadwork.

Using "Labels" When You Write a Post

What Are Labels?
This is our filing system. It's a feature that can be very helpful for locating specific posts, especially down the road a bit. Already, in just two weeks, we have nearly 70 posts to this blog. How many will we have in a year?? Could be thousands!

How Do Labels Work?
When viewing our blog, labels appear in the side bar as a drop-down menu called Topics. If you want to review the discussions about a certain topic, let's say "bead embroidery," then you go to the Topics area of the side bar, click on the drop down arrow, and click on "bead embroidery." As a result, only the posts which have the "bead embroidery" label will show up. If you're not familiar with this blog feature, you might want to try it now.

How Can I Assign a Label when I write a Post?
At the bottom of the posting window, there is a thing called Labels for this post, a blank window, and the words "show all." Click on show all to see label choices. Click on one that applies to your post. It will now show up in the blank window. If more than one label applies to your post, repeat this process.

Can I Add a New Label?
Yes, but please, please give careful consideration to the wording of the label. Only add a new label if you think others will find it useful. We don't want a whole bunch of file folders with only one post in them. Labels should be general topics that we will all use. Because we have well over 100 author/participants, I suggest we not use individual names of participants as labels.

What are A. Labels?
A. labels, are for posts that should be read by all participants. These are the ones that are like Announcements; they are topics which might be referenced over and over again. So far we have A1. Protocol (which refers to rules or guidelines for posting and/or participating) and A2. Posting how-to. Please do not add any A. labels, without first contacting Robin, the project administrator.

Removing Labels
I have to admit that this morning, I went through the posts and removed some labels because I wanted to make labeling more consistent and more general. I'd like to keep the total number of labels under 25, if possible.

Thank you!
Thanks for remembering to label your posts, and for your attention to keeping our filing system useful for all of us.

posted by Robin

more from the night worker

Well, I have enjoyed getting to know everyone. I thought I'd share a picture of my latest embroidery project. Like I said before, I'm a doll maker & enjoy covering their bodies with beads. This doll posted is Gustave Breathe. He was entered in the professional exhibit at Artistic Figures in Cloth. The Challenge was Object in my Obsession & since I'm an Asthmatic, I thought he'd be a good representative of my work. I took apart an Advair Disc & incorporated pieces onto my doll. Wish I could say that the doll pattern itself was my original idea. NOT...it is from Ute Vasnia.

Hi from New Mexico

I'm Sarah, I've been beading since the 60's, some years seriously, some years just off and on. I'm excited to stretch my creative muscles with this project, and am planning to use moderate sized pages (maybe 4 or 5 inches square) and am hoping to work more with beads incorporated into a sort of mixed media format rather than just beads, which has been mostly what I've done in the past. Last year I did several large projects, pipe and flute bags for some local alternative shaman/healers, and kept a written journal of the journey. The idea of doing a bead journal never occured to me, but it sounds great. Right now I'm not working on much other than Bead ATC's for the All About Beads forum swap. I have done some very large embroidered pieces, and my favorite is my beaded vest...shown above. The moon phase panel was done in '97, and the dragon was worked from around 2001 to 2002.
I'm hoping to have time to spend reading and sharing on this blog. What a great idea!
Cheers,
Sarah

Happily consumed with thoughts of beads!

Hi, I’m Grace - I discovered the wonderful world of beading about 2 ½ years ago, I was a cross stitcher for many years and through that found my way to beads and a love affair was born.

Beading is the sanctuary to which I flee from the stress and pressure of my job and every day life. For this project, I have so many ideas running through my head. While I think I have a good idea of what I will start with – I know that can all change when I thread my needle and begin to put beads to fabric. As much as I have tried in the past to plan what I will bead, it never comes to pass and that’s okay – it seems that everything turns out just perfect anyway. I tend to change my mind with every bead and I like it that way – no pressure. The only sure thing with the project so far is the size of my ‘pages’. I believe I have a name for my journal. But that, as with everything else, may change once I start, halfway through or once I’m finished.

Like many others, I am self-taught through tutorials on the Internet; by way of some wonderful books in print and through inspiring connections made with like-minded people on the Internet. Most of my beading has been focused on dolls, however I have tried my hand at some flat bead embroidery and off loom weaving. I enjoy every minute I spend doing it.

I’m thrilled to be included as a participant in this group; I have admired the creations of many of the members here and consider myself fortunate to be among all of you; experienced and beginners alike. Above is a little garden goddess I made for a friend last year. Green is my favorite color and seems appropriate right now with everything springing to life.

Take care,
Grace

Improvisational Beading

Pictured above is my very first improvisational beaded piece, Black, White and in-between. Other than a few pins and Spirit dolls, this could be called my first 'real' piece. I came across Robin's book, One Bead At a Time, and haven't looked back. I loved doing the improvisational beading. It is a challenge, a joy -- always exciting -- and never boring ;-) For these reasons, my journal pages will be done improvisational style. I feel that although I have a certain thought in mind that will carry through the 12 months -- by doing improvisational beading each piece will stand on it's own because of the destinct beading.

I am so honored to be beading along with all the fantastic beaders who will be participating in BJP. This should be one beadingly exciting year.

Jackie/IL
Beadin' Gram

Hello from Massachusetts

I'm Alicia and I love all kinds of handwork including beading. I have a wonderful stash which could use a good workout so this project seems rather perfect. Haven't quite decided if I want to create a book or if I'd rather connect the separate pieces as a single wall hanging. I really do love journaling of various types and in the past year I've especially enjoyed working on fabric art journals. Maybe, for that reason alone, it would be more of a creative stretch for me to join the pieces as a single unit for wall display. I'm leaning towards working with 7 inch squares as that will give me a chance to include other kinds of surface design in addition to beading. To me it makes a lot of sense to get a personal rhythm going for a few months before we start sharing our pages as a group but I'm sure I will post about my efforts on my personal blog well before that time. My theme will be an ongoing "capture" of events that are especially meaningful to me as the year unfolds. For instance, the last day of June is my birthday and it's the big 5-0 so it seems like a bit of no-brainer to start with that for my first journal entry. It's great fun to be part of a blog with so many contributors. The energy's already quite catalytic and we haven't even officially begun!

Raring to go

G'Day Everyone,
Don't know how often I'll be moved to write here but as I spent the weekend thinking of how I'd go about my Journal pages and sketching some ideas, thought it was high time I said G'day to all of you.
I've never done any bead embroidery so am a real newbie. As a Beader who makes jewelery I have heaps and heaps of beads, so when I read about this project I realised that this is what I must have been saving them for.
Oh yes a little about me :- I'm an Australian, live in Sydney and work the night shift - full time - I'm a Bar Tender at a large Sports Club. I've been working here for 3 and a half years and it was during this time I took up beading. Lots of the ladies, both staff and customers buy my jewelery, so have a little customer base there. Did I mention I love my job?!
I think that I'll go Postcard size, don't want to scare myself too much!
Going out this afternoon to get some material for June and also some for a bit of a practise.
So I'm raring to go on this journey with you all, my bags are packed and I have my ticket to ride!

Hello,

I am very excited about this project. Robin was my first beading teacher back when her shop was in Ballard. I have been beading since then off and on. I am not sure what direction I will go in, but better get it decided by June 1st. I am thinking of colors I don't normally use, trying to stretch myself in new directions.

Meet Me!

Just a Quickie post to see if I've learned correctly how to do this. I'm Cathy Winter from Houston, Texas -- home to the fabulous International Quilt Market & Festival each fall. I look forward to meeting any & everyone of you who happen to venture this way then. But more about me: I've been a quilter for years, am just beginning to dabble in beading and other artistic fiber art areas, so I am quite excited to be a member of this fabulous group.

I have not yet decided on my Bead Journal size, but am thinking a postcard 4" x 6" size or perhaps a 5" square -- something that's not too large nor too small.

Now that I've mastered posting to our blog site, I'll have to learn how to add photos to it -- but first need to make my first Bead Journal so I have a something to photograph! I am looking forward to the helpful "how-to's" from everyone, but also don't mind fumbling around on my own too.

That's all for now, need to go fix supper .... Cathy W.

What's in Your journal?

Obviously some of us have kept journals a long time. Some may be new to the idea, others (like me) have started and abandoned and restarted. I currently have a few journals - one for pictures that inspire me, mostly from catalogues and National Geographic. My mother kept a similar one, that had page after page of little cut out pictures in a big scrapbook that probably had acidic pages and she used Rubber Cement to glue the pictures down. I also have one for my thoughts, dreams, notes from books that made me think, anything I know I'll want to remember at some point later. I do scrapbooking, which is a form of journaling, of both current and past history. I've never done an "artistic" journal, where the pages reflect my creative, nonverbal self. This project is hopefully the start of letting that side of my personality speak louder, instead of just a whisper here and there! How do you journal? What materials do you use? What form does your artistic journal take? I've decided for this project not to worry about a book form, I'd personally rather see them all at once, sequentially, as my life flows on. Do you only journal in books, or individual units, or some other form? I'd love to know!

Inspirations and Pictures!

The picture above is an improvisational bead embroidery piece by a good friend, Christy Hinkle. (Be sure to click to enlarge!) This is her first completed piece since taking my bead embroidery class. I'm so very proud of her! It's framed in a shadow box and graces her living room. I wanted you to see it, because it feels like it could be a journal page. I don't know if Christy is going to join us or not... she's thinking about it.

Sharing our ideas, inspirations and pictures is part of the BJP for all of us... that's why I started this blog. However, participation in the blog is definitely not mandatory. I know wonderful artists who just are not into anything about the computer. I'm sure there are some in the project who will never even check this blog. But for those who love it, as I do, we'll have fun with sharing.

Would someone like to write a "how-to post" about how to post pictures, including how to size the images for posting? I could do it, but I'm swamped at the moment and don't have time.

Aurora's photograph of the vintage fabric sample book in the post below was just wonderful, wasn't it?!!! I love reading what everybody writes, but when there's a photo, every part of me is happy.

I'm thinking (just one member's opinion) that I'd like to see photos of inspirations and member's other bead embroidery (or related) photos here any time, but not finished BJP pages until after the third month. I feel that for some of us, we might start something, then see another person's work, and abandon what we started in favor of something inspired by what the other person did. For this project, I think it would be really good if we don't abandon our early efforts, no matter what. But, after 3 months, we will have a sense of where we are going and what our pages intend for us, and it will be easier to stick with them.

This dialog about sharing pictures of our BJP pages needs to continue a bit longer, as there are still many new participants coming on board. Feel free to post your opinions and/or put them in the comments to this post.

Posted by Robin