Friday, February 29, 2008

In the Pink! And Happy Leap Year Day!

If this wasn't leap year, I'm not sure I could've started February's BJP in February! Whew!
So since I was so far behind on January, I decided to make February a little smaller! Duh! ;) In these pics you can see I've painted the Timtex, decided on the focal charm, & checked to see if I have enough of the certain color heart sequins that a special friend here gave to me! I'm feeling really frilly about this one...kinda like those paper hearts you can use under food. So we'll see what happens!
Here's a peak at February:


January BJP finally emerges!

Well, it's been catch up time, but my January BJP is completed...well the focal piece anyway. Gotta remember these are all going to be put on boards! So here's a few views:




Friday, February 22, 2008

Pay it Forward



There is a blogger Pay It Forward going on, & since I love the concept, I decided to join in. The idea is this: As part of the PIF venture, I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment here on my blog requesting to join the PIF exchange. I am not sure what that gift will be yet, and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days! That is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is to pay it forward by making this same promise on your blog.
I really love that this supports the random acts of kindness philosophy, & gives a boost to handmade, all in one. I saw this awhile ago on someone's blog, but forgot who it was! Then I saw it again on a fellow BJP blog, KV, which you can check out here.
I also want to tell you about another person who is so generous! I buy some of my face molds from The Enchanted Gallery. You can check it out here.
Kimberly, of The Enchanted Gallery, has some beautiful stock photos online that she lets us folks use. That is how I got the background for the picture at the top of this post. I just added the text. I will keep this graphic on my blog under projects I'm involved in...just as a reminder to myself to give back, since I've been given so much.
I'm looking forward to see who the first 3 people will be to comment! I will have to be able to contact you to get your gift to you, but we'll deal with that once you comment!
So, on your marks, get set, go!

January BJP

Well, I sure have learned alot about painting with beads!!! Using watercolors, acrylics, etc., I had no clue how many beads you'd need to get the shading, tints, colors and texture that I'd want as a painter! I just don't have the money to buy every single bead there is, & by gosh, ya just can't mix 'em like paint! So, what to do...I guess become an impressionist, abstract artist, something! Anyway, here's my work tray:
Not sure if it shows my limited palette & size of beads, but I'm learning to make do!!! After all, this is just my "feeling" of emerging from a cocoon into the new year, so it doesn't have to be realistic!
Here's a couple of close ups to give you a better id
ea:

Hopefully I'll be done with January soon so I can finish February before it's over. That is one benefit of not feeling well! I have a wonderful, relaxing project to do while I'm getting well on the couch! :)

The Flu, The Computer & Me!

Yikes! I don't know if any of you have been hit by the flu/cold season this year, but it sure seems that everyone I talk or email to either has been sick or knows someone who is! That little bug hit me this last week too! So here's hoping we all get well soon!
On top of that, the day I got sick, my computer had a break down! So it's off to the Computer Hospital for it!

And then...I had to borrow my DH's laptop which has updated graphics programs on it...so I've been spending time trying to learn how to use them! I'm pooped!
So I didn't get a chance to work on my etsy shop this week...just alot of moodling going on. I will be adding some things to my shop once I get my computer back. Of course all my pics are on there! So I took a quick pic of one drawing I may add when I can. Here it is:

I think I've just realized that all of these resized pics are gonna be pretty dang small!!! Well, just in case you can't tell what it is, these are Bean Poles! ;) It was done during the 2006 Daily Devotions project. Hopefully I'll get better at this new graphics program for 2008!

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Beachcomber's Cuff Finished!

Whew! Finally finished this one! Had alot of family stuff going on & wasn't sure I'd make it by Friday! But I did! So it's posted on my etsy shop if you want to check it out here! Here's a preview!

Happy Aloha Friday to all!

Setting up for Catch up!

OK...I'm setting up for catch up! Got my January & February BJP pieces cut out, February painted & beads, charms, etc. starting to get picked out. Here's where I'm at so far!
Hopefully I'll get caught up by the end of the month! Oh, & BTW, ACEY guessed right! The very first one to guess! January's symbol is a butterfly cocoon!!!

Friday, February 1, 2008

The Beachcomber's Cuff

Decided to make a cuff for my shop...I have other things to put into inventory, but just had to start this! Here's a couple pics to show where I'm at with it!



It's actually forming as I bead it so I know it will fit over the brass blank. However, I've noticed one thing. I really need some help with photographing my stuff! Or at least with photo editing. None of these snapshots really show the true colors of the bead & shells. They all have different shades in each picture, yet I took them in the same spot under the same light! So I guess when I get caught up, that will be another thing I need to do!

Aloha Friday After All

OK...so I REALLY wanted to do my regular Aloha Friday update....SO...I left the computer on all night so I could get to it this morning before DH wakes up & wants to fix things! :)

This first post will just be a catch up for BJP. I'm behind, especially now that it's February already, but I do have my patterns cut out and ready to bead. Here they are:


Now I know you can tell what the symbol for February is, but can you tell what January is? Here's another pic:

So what do you think it is? :D Click on it for a bigger pic!