2013 - Here is to a new year of art and creativity!

BJP for January:

This is  the beadwork  for my January Bead Journal Project while it is still flat – the addition of the backing and the barrette hardware will make the design bend and it will become a little harder to see the entire design in a photograph or scan.  This is a larger sized barrette, for someone with thick hair.  It is intentionally asymmetrical with a garden theme that is true to where what I’m longing for in the middle of the Southeast Alaskan winter.  While I normally gravitate to vintage elements, the little focal flower buttons are contemporary. This piece was executed without a real set plan, and I liked how it ended up with a sort of medieval tapestry feel to it.  It is quite shimmery when it is seen in person.

I’m barely squeezing in with a January post to welcome 2013!  I had a blessed, fun, whirlwind and very busy Christmas and New year.  There is a lot to catch up on.  What I want to talk about today is the Bead Journal Project.  The reason I  originally created this blog was because I participated in the 2010 BJP.  I missed 2011 but was back in the game with 2012.  full disclosure: I still have journal covers to create for 2012!  (We don’t talk about 2010.)  With that said, I can’t overstate how much I enjoy meeting awesome bead artists from all over the world who share and cheer and show their amazing work month after month. I can’t resist and thus here I am again, beading away for 2013.
I decided to make barrettes, or hair ornaments this year.  I like that there is a lot of variety possible in the sizes and design.  I also would like to make cuff bracelets  I’ll do that some  months, just for a change of pace.  Maybe I should just call my projects Beaded adornments.
Happy 2013!  Thank you for visiting.  I appreciate your feedback and welcome your ideas.