Key #1

Sometime ago my Beyond the Borders group tossed around ideas for a new group challenge. One of my favorites was to use a common theme such as "Key". I like it since it presents many possibilities: house keys, car keys, a piano key, the answer key ... but the idea I had was to use an old key (formerly a lost key -- or is it the lock that is lost?).

I had experimented with gelatin mono-printing and joined Robin Atkin's Beaded Journal Project about that same time, so I used all three variables and created this:
I began this piece in July of 2007 using one of my mono-prints as its base. I captured the key onto the fabric using only beading-stitches (similar to stitching on a cabochon), then added more beading beyond that. Next came the two laser-cut hearts and I hit a bit of a stall and couldn't quite figure out how to finish the piece. Then in December of 2007, my BTB group held a fiber swap (in lieu of a gift exchange) and one of the pieces I received that day became the perfect final touch with its swirling tangle of a funky fiber. Thank you Mary Ann Littlejohn - it's one of your fibers!

This piece honors the 20th wedding anniversary that I celebrated with my dear husband Ronnie last July 26, 2007 (now you know the secret of the "26"). I have named it "Key to My Heart."

Note: it represents the 2nd of my Beaded Journal pieces, the one for the month of July, of course. I'm currently rather behind with my BJP pieces - but have finished a few, have several others in progress and am slowly, steadily catching up.