You know that saying,
Save the Best for Last
Well, DeFIniTEly NOT what will be running through your head when you see my December BJP.
Its downright dreadful. Though when I look at it I will see the year my mom dressed my sisters, herself and my dad (poor dad) in blue and white striped rugby shirts during our vacation to King's Island amusement park, which is in Cincinnati. I loved that park! My favorite ride was the Steeple Chase. A sort of fast moving merry go round. So fun!
And when I look at it I will be once again dumbstruck at how I choose (unwittingly) to use a basketweave stitch without even realizing the huge symbolism. You see, for years I had an addiction. To Longaberger Baskets, which are made in Dresden, Ohio. Yes, I admit to blowing my entire grocery budget for a basket. Don't get me wrong, no one ever went hungry on account of this basket buying frenzy. Besides, the girls were young and happy with pancakes or french toast or pasta and sauce . . .. well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it, anyway.
I will hopefully forget that I started over way too many times. What could possibly be so challenging about a simple blue and white basket weave??! Well, for starters, choosing the wrong beads and not paying attention to the way the shading was affecting the effect!
After 3 or 4 false starts and a whole mountain of snipped off thread and a pricked to death base (Thank Goodness I was using Nicole's super-duper-awesome-how-could-I-ever-bead-without-it BeadBacking. That stuff ROCKS!), and I was ready to toss Ohio out the window.
But I wasn't going to let Ohio get the better of me! So on I went - first encircling the quarter
Then making the stripes wider
and, well, although far from perfect, the BJP 2011 is a wrap.
I loved participating in this bead journal journey and am already well on my way into my January 2012 piece.
I am so grateful for the support and friendships (both old and new) that have gotten me through 2011. It certainly hasn't been my favorite year. Thank you thank you thank you to all of you who take the time to send me a note and encourage me to keep beading and offer me words of wisdom when I need them most. I really mean it when I say that I keep you all close at heart-forever.
~Bead Happy and Often~
Save the Best for Last
Well, DeFIniTEly NOT what will be running through your head when you see my December BJP.
Its downright dreadful. Though when I look at it I will see the year my mom dressed my sisters, herself and my dad (poor dad) in blue and white striped rugby shirts during our vacation to King's Island amusement park, which is in Cincinnati. I loved that park! My favorite ride was the Steeple Chase. A sort of fast moving merry go round. So fun!
And when I look at it I will be once again dumbstruck at how I choose (unwittingly) to use a basketweave stitch without even realizing the huge symbolism. You see, for years I had an addiction. To Longaberger Baskets, which are made in Dresden, Ohio. Yes, I admit to blowing my entire grocery budget for a basket. Don't get me wrong, no one ever went hungry on account of this basket buying frenzy. Besides, the girls were young and happy with pancakes or french toast or pasta and sauce . . .. well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it, anyway.
I will hopefully forget that I started over way too many times. What could possibly be so challenging about a simple blue and white basket weave??! Well, for starters, choosing the wrong beads and not paying attention to the way the shading was affecting the effect!
After 3 or 4 false starts and a whole mountain of snipped off thread and a pricked to death base (Thank Goodness I was using Nicole's super-duper-awesome-how-could-I-ever-bead-without-it BeadBacking. That stuff ROCKS!), and I was ready to toss Ohio out the window.
Then making the stripes wider
and, well, although far from perfect, the BJP 2011 is a wrap.
I loved participating in this bead journal journey and am already well on my way into my January 2012 piece.
I am so grateful for the support and friendships (both old and new) that have gotten me through 2011. It certainly hasn't been my favorite year. Thank you thank you thank you to all of you who take the time to send me a note and encourage me to keep beading and offer me words of wisdom when I need them most. I really mean it when I say that I keep you all close at heart-forever.
~Bead Happy and Often~
8 comments:
Congrats on sticking with and finishing your BJP for 2011. I am looking forward to what you are planning for this year!
May 2012 bring you good health and much happiness. Happy New Year!
Growing up in Louisville, Kings Island was always a summer destination for my family. Your post gave me a good laugh, as it brought back memories of my mother dressing my sister and me in denim wrap-around skirts and red bandana print blouses for our annual trip to that amusement park. I actually love your basket-weave stitching! Looking forward to your projects in 2012.
I had a box of quarters in my bead supplies for a long while. Thinking the state ones could some how be used in jewelry. So once I saw your first quarter and that someone had actually done something with them (not just thought of doing something with them) it was so much fun to see what you did with each one.
I hope this year is full of blessings, and that the struggles are behind you.
Happy New Year!! I can't wait to see what you create this year :)
p.s. Do you find Nicoles bead backing better then the Lacy's??? I don't know if I just got a bad batch, but this last few pieces of Lacy's just hasn't held up. Lots of white fluff coming through into my beading where it hasn't done that before. And hasn't held up when having to tear it out. So I'm thinking of trying Nicoles. I would love to know what you think.
How cool!! Love seeing your work in progress (along with completed pic of course!). Best to you in 2012!
Very fun,I really like the woven effect. I sold Longaberger for about 10 years and have lots of baskets!
Cool stuff.
I really like the texture wtih the beads in the woven style. Very fun. I sold Longaberger baskets for a time and have lots of baskets in my studio! :)
I love that this has symbolism to memories in your life. I think it just takes it to another level.
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