I'm skipping November & moving right to December

I have my idea for November. I've had it for a while, but it will take me longer to finish than December, so I'm skipping it. :)

This month, I have been all about music. My mp3 player has been glued to my ears. I actually bought a new one that's easier to operate. I bought a cord to hook up my good speakers to my laptop and I've been downloading music like it's going out of style. There's a song out there for almost every mood. Almost. And even though I can't sing a lick, I've been singing all month, even out in public. One of my good friends acted like I was embarrassing her when I was singing and dancing by myself at the studio where we paint. I wasn't bothering anyone (unless my singing voice was hurting someone), but she kept shushing me. I was having a good time! So I'm started on December and may actually finish before the month is out. I hope to have a slow January so I can do November and January together.

Hope everyone is having a great holiday season! Happy New Year!

Finished October

I finally finished October a few weeks ago. I went simple with the abstract part. Every time I filled in a section, it looked too heavy. So I ended up just outlining the leaf pattern on the fabric to complete it. I like it. I hope you guys do, too!

I can get back to the BJP!

This is the finished piece for the challenge I was working on. It's the largest piece I've ever finished, and I'm pretty happy with it. When it comes off display, I already have a place ready for it at home! Between working overtime, working on this, and working on hand-painted Christmas gifts, I haven't worked on BJP in a while. But I'm ready to get back into it now! Below are some pics of the lightswitch plates I painted for family this Christmas.

Why I haven't finished October or started November

I'm working on a challenge that has to be completed by Saturday, called The Color Purple. Each participant was given 1 piece of purple (really, it's lavender and pretty ugly) fabric. The challenge size has changed several times, but I ended up choosing a pretty big size based on the original rules. Anyway, you can see my interpretation - the quote the book title came from and a field of flowers underneath. I still have a lot of beading to do, but I'm enjoying it.

After this, I will get back to my BJP circles. I'm almost done with October and have my November circle in mind. Take care, everyone! :o)

I've been tagged! 7 things about me...

I'm missing my container garden on my patio since the weather turned cold!
Okay, 7 things about me. (I don't think they're little known- especially #3, but it's what I'm willing to post):

1. I love music, all kinds - r&b, rock, middle eastern, meditation music, soundtracks to movies I like and more!
2. I really like to dance. I used to perform with a middle eastern dance troupe. I choreographed middle eastern/west African/Caribbean fusion for my solos.
3. I talk a lot! :)
4. I really like to take pictures. I have pictures of my family and friends in really nice and really embarrassing poses! ha ha!
5. I like movies, but I can't afford to go to the theater very often. So I borrow them from the library.
6. I loooove to read or at least listen to books on CD while I bead.
7. Crime shows are my favorite TV, but I only watch the original CSI and Forensic Files. I also like MonsterQuest and UFO shows on the History Channel.

I hope these 7 bead artists will play, too, because Tag, You're It!

dot at http://speediebeadie.blogspot.com/
????? at http://sewmany.blogspot.com/
Renetha at http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/ really like that puzzle piece!
????? at http://mybeadjournal.blogspot.com/
????? at http://capricornbeader.blogspot.com/
jeanette at http://beadyshenanigans.blogspot.com/
jes at http://jesbeads.blogspot.com/

Please post 7 little known facts about you and tag 7 others to join in the parade!

It's gettin' kinda ugly...

Bleh! The part I added after the leaves is overpowering the leaves and is ugly. I've already taken it apart, and I'm going to fill in less space with size 15 beads so they don't overpower the piece. :)

October Progress

I've added the leaves to the fabric. I like how the maple leaf sections line up with the individual leaves on the fabric, so as I add my embellishments, I will make sure not to cover those up. Looking at this, I can see how I'm less stressed with this piece compared to September's. I'm going to leave a lot of the space, but it still needs some work so it's not so structured. :)

I think I finally found a look I like...

...for my blog. I've changed it so many times! but I finally found a look I think I'll stick with...for a while. :) Anyway, I've made most of the major pieces for October. I still have a few to do before I attach them to my circle. Thought I would share.

I'm going for a stretch

I know I just finished September, but I'm starting October while I'm on a roll. I was brainstorming for a theme when I found this quote, "Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." ~Albert Camus. I'm working another huge project that has dozens of beaded flowers, so I decided to do a small one that I could finish, using some of the techniques and patterns from Diane Fitzgerald's book The Beaded Garden.


To stretch my creativity, I pulled out some fabric that I bought about 3 years ago that is totally not my usual style. I usually go for bright bold colors and patterns with an ethnic feel to them. But this one time I bought some fabric that looked "classic," Victorian and sort of like wallpaper. So I'm using one of these fabrics and I picked a fall color pallet that's not really a color scheme I use a lot. So far, I've only done one leaf, but it's a start.

Finished!

I finished my September piece! It doesn't look finished because I'm leaving the edges ragged. I'm not sure how I will put all the pieces together when I'm done, so I'm leaving options. This is my first abstract piece in a looooong time. It came together pretty quickly once I had enough time to sit and finish it. I think the meaning behind it is pretty clear, though.

It's sort of a swirl of emotions - some dark, most light, spring green for renewal and making resolutions...I think I mentioned before that September is my personal beginning of the new year. It's a little chaotic, sort of like my life. The spaces represent me trying to take a breath. If you look closely, you can almost see the 9s, which represent transformation. You'll also notice several yin yangs - my yearning for harmony and balance in my life. That's really my one resolution for this year - to whittle my life down to what's important and create more balance.

I have a tendency to take on too much at work and in my personal life and then not have time for what's really important to me. Hope you like it! I do! And I'm looking forward to doing October's piece.

Sorry the pic isn't the best. I do people better than objects. :o)

Crystal Tanzanite Bead

I just used the beady name generator...cute

My Your Beady Name is: is Crystal Tanzanite Bead.
Take Your Beady Name Generator today!
Created with Rum and Monkey's Name Generator Generator.

Finally!

I finally chose a size and shape - the size and shape of a CD. I beaded for an hour last night and I like how my piece is coming along. It has a weird feel so far. I started with one color combination and switched to a second one partway through. I should be able to bring them together so that they work in concert, though. I think I'll do better now that I'm started.

I can do this

Ok, so it's September 22nd, I have an idea of what I MIGHT want to do, but I haven't made any real decisions, yet. I'm looking at other people's posts and blogs and feeling very insecure because it's so close to the end of the month and I don't know if I can finish my first piece on time, especially since I haven't started!

And there is so much of my problem. Why compare? Why not just do what I do and be satisfied? OK, that kind of ties in with my theme idea for September - transition and acceptance. I was thinking about something with the number 9. 9 means endings and transitions in numerology. It's also appropriate for the 9th month and my birthday is in September. Even though most people make resolutions and start their year in January, I usually review my year and make changes in September.

That wasn't so hard! I guess I just needed to write it out! It's late tonight, but I'll get started tomorrow. I'm getting some ideas now that I've written down possibilities for a theme. Maybe I can do this after all!