Caging the Wild Cabochon

That's the title of the class Jill and I took today! It was a fun class and we learned (one of us somewhat faster than the other) how to wire-wrap a cabochon. I'd like to say the copper wrapped one is mine but Jill did that one. I thought we both did pretty good though! The top shows the back and the bottom the front (although it may not matter...).

I Forgot!

I took a class in December on making a beaded wire Christmas tree and meant to post the pictures a few weeks ago but forgot. Anyway here they are finally! The first picture are the three that I made. After the class, I showed Jill how to make them. The second picture is her tree. As you can see we both need to practice making spirals but we'll get there!

November and December leaves

I didn't get as much finished on these two as I had intended, but they're mostly done.  November is the Dia de los Muertos piece.  My leaf for this one is Cheiranthodendron pentadactylon - Monkey Hand tree - a truly unique and wondrous tree with a long spiritual tradition in its native MesoAmerica.  The leaf is small, in the lower right corner, but just to the right of that I beaded a seed pod from the tree.  The rest of the beadwork is pretty much just following the design of the fabric - I meant to add more, but didn't!  December brings out the Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) berries.   The madrone is beautiful at anytime of year but stands out on the hillsides at this time when covered in bright red berries!  December 18 marks the feast of la Virgen de la Soledad de Oaxaca.  I depicted her with a madrone leaf on her skirt!  She's still missing her crown and I wanted add some madrone berry clusters and attempt some bead depiction of the bark - that what's missing there.  So now I'm on to next year!

Beaded Tree

I went to a bead class yesterday to learn to make a beaded Christmas tree. As you can tell I haven't finished yet. Aside from wishing I'd started with smaller beads at the top I'm pretty happy with the way it's turning out. I don't know why I put such large beads at the top. I think I was just getting caught up in the colors! 

The second picture shows two of the trees the instructor made. Admittedly they look somewhat better! But I'll keep practicing and pretty soon mine will improve. I have to practice making wire curls - it's kind of difficult and painful on your fingers! I'm going to finish this tree and Thursday when my daughter comes to visit I'll show her how to make one and I'll do a second one for me. I think I want to do a blue and silver tree next but I'm going to use just small beads for it! 

BJP is on Facebook!

The BJP now has a page on Facebook! If you use Facebook please "like" the page and share it with your friends!

Bead Journal Project

Registration for the 4th Bead Journal Project will begin on November 8th. If you aren't currently participating and are at all interested, I'd urge you to sign-up. This is the second year I've been involved and I love it. I am admittedly somewhat behind this year . . . that's ok though! It isn't about how fast you do your projects or keeping up with someone else or comparing your work to other beaders. It's about personal growth through what you are creating, sometimes about working out problems by dumping out a bunch of beads and starting to put them on fabric, sometimes about just plain fun.

I found the BJP in the first year it started and went to different blogs admiring the work beaders were doing. Prior to that the only beading I'd ever done was small Mill Hill ornament kits. I've been doing embroidery, quilting and sewing for as long as I can remember but never beading. Anyway, I sent an email to Robin Atkins, who is the originator of the project, and asked about joining. She explained that they'd probably be doing it a second year and I could sign-up to join then. I am not a joiner nor am I a person who writes emails to total strangers. But I was so fascinated by this idea that my desire to participate overcame my initial shyness. There's something about working with beads that I find soothing and creative. And fun! During the first year (second of the project but my first year) my daughter was admiring all the beading and decided to join this year. It's been a lot of fun seeing her projects and comparing ideas.

You don't have to have any experience or particular skills. It's pretty easy (at my age with a good lamp and magnifying glasses) to put a bead on a needle. And don't feel you have to be "creative." I didn't think I was creative enough to come up with anything original but I have and I've learned a lot in the process. If you have even the slightest interest, just a small thought that maybe it'd be fun, then JOIN!

Oak Pendants

I forgot to post the photos from our class! My daughter and I took a class together and made wire oak pendants. I saw the class offered at a local bead shop and was going to take it and make one for her as a Christmas gift. Then I started thinking she'd probably enjoy the class so I told her about it. We both had a great time and it was fun going to the class with her. I love wire-wrapping but it takes practice and I know I still need a lot more. It's also hard on your fingers - mine were numb and full of pokes by the end of the class. It was fun though! The top picture with the cord is Jill's, the bottom mine.