KISS stands for keep it simple, silly and that's what I'm going to be doing in next year's bead journals.
The first year I did some pretty heavy bead embroidery on my pieces, the next year I was into fabric manipulation for 3-D effects and this year I beaded the tiny hand in the center of my pieces with very little beading on the two larger fabric hands that framed the smallest hand.
It gave the pieces more impact but with fabric instead of with beads, so each piece took less than 6 hours of actual work. And the second year pieces (the 3-D fabric ones) took as little as 1 hour to bead and another hour to add the backing, as I finished them all with fabric sleeves to hang by.
Look closely at the photos and you will see very few beads and most of them are larger beads or nailheads or sew ons that are quite large compared to the seed beads.
So...if you're worried that the BJP is too major a committment of time or energy, then just design it simpler...after all, you're in charge and this is for fun and inspiration....if there's stress and shame involved, it's something you're putting on yourself and certainly not something inherent in the project!
10 comments:
Lots of food for thought!
I haven't been able to find too many interesting fabrics anywhere around where I live but I do so love the fabrics you use!
Mine are almost all batiks, roberta...and you can order online too, if your local stores are somewhat lacking!
They are just lovely!
We used to have many fabric stores here but they all seem to have disappeared. Too bad really, since half the fun is touching!
Yeah, same here...luckily we still have one quilt store that is doing well despite having walmart to compete with...but their fabric is superior and well worth the extra cost and apparently we have enough quilters to keep it doing well!
I agree that half the fun is seeing the fabric in person, so to speak!
Good post Bobbi. I think KISS is an excellent idea. I'm sure many are not aware that you DON"T have to encrust a page.
hi carol...yes, it always surprises me how often folks don't read the "rules" or suggestions for a project like the bjp!
All three are wonderful. I can't decide which one is the best. What a great comment to make about an artist!
I'll bet it is cold up there, 'cause it is really cold down here, but we are wimps.
I just signed up for another year... even though I haven't completed either of the two years I've been a participant! I think I know why I've hit the wall in the past. Hopefully I can overcome that next year. :- )
Not too cold, pat...temps in the 50's are warm for winter here...
hey sue....yeah, although I finished all the beading, I still have several backs to finish from the second year...just can't seem to get motivated but I changed the way of displaying them this year and found that easier to complete.
I didn't finish the last two years. I didn't even get past one month this past year and I think it's for two reasons. One, I do like to encrust and can't seem to not do that and the second is what to do with the pieces. I plan to move down to a tiny home eventually and there is no way to have beadwork in frames. I tried making journals with the beads on the cover but that got so complicated I only did the one. So then the pressure and feeling of failure popped up. I know it shouldn't but it did so I am opting out this year. My husband got me a new lamp for my birthday so I hope to get back to doing some beading (I'm working on simple stars for tree ornaments) now that I might have enough light to see by.
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