After avidly watching the goings on in The Bead Journal Projects 2008 and 2009, organized and masterfully led by Bead Artist Robin Atkins, I was most excited to join in on The Bead Journal Project 2010. This is a year long project that tasks each member with creating a beaded piece each month that meets our own specifications. This is a journal project including beads for ourselves.
The simple rules are :
-a consistent format (anything that we choose-other members have chosen, beaded dolls, beaded buttons and beaded 2x2 squares)
-inclusion of beads
-posting of work on the Bead Journal Blog to share our process.
The components that I wanted to focus on for my project are:
-creating a body of work for myself
-creating pages for an eventual book of beaded projects
-4x6 portrait size pieces on a page size of 5x7
-reuse, rcycle, repurpose for a collage of media and textures
-inclusion of fiber and fabric techniques
-each month would document personally important themes , events etc
I did not want to tie myself to a very specific theme but keep things more open and less structured to avoid creating a stressful deadline situation.
I knew from the outset of the month that my piece would include my son Matthew's 18th birthday, snow, and the Blue Moon that occured on New Year's Eve. As the month progressed and other events occured, such as the tragedy in Haiti, my resolve to create my page wavered and I almost quit before I had even started!!
Should I change my focus? Should I not even begin? Was I taking on too much and simply overwhelming my art committment load for the year? Yes, the doubts came flooding in.
Then I read Robin Atkin's post about her January project and I realized that these sorts of issues usually build up when faced with starting something. That was indeed my issue. I needed to simply S-T-A-R-T. Blank Canvas Syndrome had set in and if I could FOCUS and get something started, I would be fine.
The very important milestone of my Eldest Child's 18th Birthday is represented by a total of 18 beads on this needle felted, fulled cashmere background. There are three stars in the sky and 13 pearls tucked into the fleece "snow". A vintage gray Mother of Pearl button has become the New Year's Eve Blue Moon.
I have used supplies that I have collected from my overflowing stash and I have repurposed a thrift store cashmere sweater for my background. I have accomplished my first page in the project. The canvas of this project is no longer blank, I have begun!
I am working on collecting my thoughts for my February Page and I am sure that this month will flow much more easily and will include more bead work. For now I am very pleased that I was able to follow through and I am pleased with the simplicity of my first effort. I know that I can create very complicated encrusted beadwork, but to honor this January and the event of Matthew's birthday, this piece is very appropriate.
Stay tuned for my February Journal piece!!!
