I decided to do this year's BJP as an actual journal of what is going on in my life that month. I chose a 4x6 size because I wanted to have plenty of room. Now that I've finished the first one I'm not sure either of these were good choices! 4x6 took a lot of beading! Working on this as a journal was hard, there are a lot of tears mixed in with the beads and a couple of times I took sections out and redid them. But it was good - I was doing improvisational beading following Robin Atkins ideas in One Bead At A Time. I keep re-reading the book looking for directions! I'd find myself unsure how to bead a section and then when I started it just seemed to happen on its own.
Overall I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. January was a difficult month for me. Last October I moved from the SF Bay Area to Sacramento. Not a huge distance in miles but emotionally it was like moving to a foreign country. I'm living by myself for the first time in my life which is wonderful but scary. I don't really know anyone here, I'm looking for work and still, most mornings, waking up and wonder why I did this. But it's also amazing and I'm glad I did it and I hope that shows up in the beading!
I have in my mind a very clear path of where I want to go and that's what the blue bugle beads are representing - a ladder I'm climbing to reach my goal. All the little side paths and circles are things that get me side-tracked from that goal. Some in a good way that help to clarify and redefine things, others in a negative, unhelpful way. While I was working on this I sent pictures to my daughter asking her what she thought. At one point I had the heart and passion plaque on and told her I planned to completely bead everything. She said that sounded good but to be sure I didn't lose my plaque or heart. I know she meant design-wise but it made me realize that was important for my life also. I came close to losing both in January but now that I've encircled them with beads, I think it's going to be ok!
24 comments:
i think you did a wonderful job and i like the story behind it. what you didn't mention was the tree. what was the tree for you? i thought of the tree of life and so you plaque and heart to me shouted out passion for love and life. nice work!
What a beautiful and moving piece. I believe you captured your feelings about the move and the hope that you have for starting life in a new place. Know that this blog is a good place to get support from.
Susan
Robin, your page gives me a very positive feeling. If you ever get down to the Fresno/Clovis area, email me and we'll get together.
Arline
You have done a lovely job with your page. I'm especially struck by your color choices. They are quite calm and almost sweet. It seems that despite the upheaval that your story tells, you are dealing with life in the best possible way. You go girl!
Holly B
I think it's lovely. The most meaningful pieces in the future are often the ones that caused the most tears at the time.
This is lovely! I agree with everyone -- I get a nice, calm, positive feeling from this piece and the colors are so soothing.
Carol
I also love the colours - it reminded me of clouds when I saw it. It's very calming. I like all of the different techniques that you used as well.
Hi Robin, Im visiting from BJP Blog 3 and the minute your piece loaded I just said "Ahhhhhhh." Its true what others here said it seems to represent sweetness and peace, I'm very taken in by it. I now live in SE Texas but I am from the area north of Sacramento. Its true that the area is much different than San Fran. I hope you come to love it just as much as I did. We hope to move back someday. I am definately going to follow your progress and see how your journey turns out!
Dear Robin! There's such a gentle, softness to this piece... and I see by your words that you and Jill are being gentle with you, allowing change to happen but without forcing or hurrying the outcome! Maybe I'm a little biased, but I think both of your BJP decisions are good ones. I love pieces that are journals, as yours certainly is. And I love how it's developed for you in this first piece of the year. As I said on my most recent post, it's a journey and this first piece is a marker along the way. Good work and good journey beginning in 2010!
Robin A.
Oh my goodness - thank you all for the wonderful comments!
Lisa - I did forget to mention the tree! I felt like I needed something on that side and I love the Tree of Life symbol and it seemed to fit with the rest of the piece.
Susan - Thank you! I appreciate the good thoughts.
Arline - there is a museum in Fresno I want to go to some day. When I do I'll let you know - I'd love to meet!
Holly - I hadn't realized it but they are calm colors. I'm surprised because I didn't feel calm in January!
Cyndi - thank you. I think someday it's going to bring back good memories for me.
Carol & Karin - I'm so glad people think it's calming. It is making me think that inside I was perhaps calmer than I was on the outside and that came out in the beading.
Sharon - It really is different here than SF area. It feels like a slower pace but I do love it. I get stressed but I'd be brokenhearted if I had to leave!
Robin - It is a definitely a journey and I just need to remember that and try to enjoy the process. I guess it's like beading, while the finished piece is wonderful the process of working on it is where most of the joy is!
So pretty!
I saw this yesterday and had some thoughts about commenting, thought I had done that but don't see it here so I'll try again. My main thought was how meaningful and beautiful this piece is -- then I thought as a bonus, it's actually a "journal"! I know that feelings about things and emotions go into all of our pieces, but this is indeed a visual journal.
A+!
It really looks good! I can't wait to see it in person!
Wow. This is a beautiful piece. You encourage me to stick with my intention of making my little pieces as much of a journal as I can.
It's a wonderful piece and a wonderful process. I'm trying to move from product to process and make this project something that means something to me. You're doing that in spades. Great work! I'm looking forward to seeing more.
The back story is very inspiring. I envy you the ability to bead what is going on in your life ... I find that very difficult.
I think you did very well on the improv part...
Denise- thanks! I hope things are going well for you.
Barbara - An A+! Thanks very much, I appreciate the nice words.
JET - I'm glad you like it honey. Come see me!!
Sue - It is fun although a little hard doing it as a journal!
Barb - Thank you! I'm anxious to start on February but need to get a little more into the month to see how my life goes!
Carol - I was a little hesitant about sharing the story with it but figured if I didn't it wouldn't make a lot of sense!
Robin, how much thought, passion and heart you have put in this piece. It has turned out great. I can relate to journeying through the rough tides in life, and like the ladder you have put up for yourself and the chance you are giving yourself to let the growing just happen! That is such a wise lesson to all of us.
My guess is not that you were much calmer than you thought, but that you beaded what you need at this time: a place to become calm, to feel loved, cherished and ground for growth. Your tree of life will thrive well with the chances you grant yourself. You are a powerful woman!
I hope you will stick to your size. I chose a 14 X 14 cm (I think that is about 5.5 x 5.5 inches) and chose to bead my life too. Let's make a pact to stick to our challenges, we will achieve great things together!
Hope to hear / see a lot of you this upcoming year.
Dees - thank you so much for your comment. I think you're right, I think I kind of "beaded away" some of the stuff I needed to get rid of. I will definitely make a pact with you to stick with my size! I love your blog & added you to my feed reader so I can follow your progress! Take care.
Such a beautiful page! It feels like this was the right move for you. All new things are a little scary, but it is also an adventure, which shows up in your page!
This is beautiful! The colors are soft, warm and encouraging.
Marty S
Crackpot Beader
Brenda - thank you! Most days I know it was the right move but it sure can be scary!
Marty - Thanks! From the comments it seems like a lot of the anxiety I felt in beading this was kind of "washed away" in the beading and that the underlying happiness has come through. A very good thing!
Thanks for your well wishes on my blog - and I wish you success in your beading ventures. There are no rules in beading! Enjoy the journey.
Thanks Any! I think that's what I like best & find hardest about beading - no rules.
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