BJP 2007

Hurray!

Now announcing ... not only have I completed my first series of the Bead Journal Project but they all appear on my page of the BJP website.

Can you believe that it was just last June, well, June of 2007, when I began my first beaded design?  I selected the 4"x6" classic postcard to use for this series of Beaded pieces.   In three short years I have completed this self-challenge.  My oh my, how the time has flown by!

You can see all twelve pieces in the 2007 BJP Member's Gallery, or by clicking here.

Meanwhile, I have four more pieces to finish in my 2008 series of BJPs .....

Felted Bowl

The Sixth annual Houston-area Empty Bowls event is tomorrow. 

This year, I crocheted a bowl and then felted it.

Here is a bottom-side up view.

I made two -- and kept meaning to add embellishments of some sort, but ran out of time this year.  Be sure to come tomorrow and support the Houston Food Bank by enjoying a bowl of soup and selecting a bowl to keep as your special momento.

Empty Bowls 2010

This Saturday, May 22, is the Sixth Annual Empty Bowls event at the Houston Contemporary Craft Center.   As in the past two years, I have made a fiber-art bowl to donate to this worthy cause and I've encouraged my fellow art quilters and fiber artists to do the same.

If you have a bowl to donate -- they started collecting them last week and will be glad to accept yours too!  Just drop it by HCCC before Saturday or click here for more details.

If you are in or near Houston, be sure to stop to browse the wonderful selection of bowls and stay for a tasty lunch consisting of a bowl of soup (naturally!) and your choice of one lovely bowl to keep.  Minimum donation is $25.00, although they have a select group of upgraded bowls (these are fabulous!).  Come in the afternoon and look for me or my boys as we will be there volunteering.

Final BJP, first series

At long last, I have finished my 12th Bead Journal Project Piece from the initial BJP challenge.  This challenge started long ago, in a galaxy not so far away ... and I'm tickled to announce that I've finally finished my first series of BJPs!!!

Here is my final BJP, following "April Showers", we have "May Flowers" ...

Being from Texas, my favorite wild flowers are bluebonnets.  The ones feature here are made with hot-glue-gun-squiggles, painted with Lumiere blues and held in place with additional beading.  One reason this BJP is so late in being completed is that I made then misplaced the glue-gun-squiggles for a few months.  I stitched this piece together quickly once I relocated the squiggles, so I could close the book on my first year of the Bead Journal Project.

I am thrilled I have completed my 12 pieces for this year-long commitment, even if took me much longer than the original 12 consecutive months. Now to finish with my second series .... we won't even talk about my third series just yet ... but I plan to get there .... eventually!

A new Challenge

My Beyond the Borders art quilt group has been working on a new challenge piece.... I've finished my piece and wanted to give you a tiny sneak ...

Can you figure out what classic story these detail shots illustrate?  (I'd love to post more photos of this challenge group quilt, but first we're hoping to enter it into a few quilt shows and exhibits).

While meeting our challenge guidelines, I was quite surprised to realize that I have also made a third in my short-lived "Big Foot" series -- what fun!  Perhaps I will make a few more to add to this series ....

Another Little Quilt Swap #4

A new swap is getting started by one of my U.K. friends, Kate North.  Kate is an experienced hostess and has hosted Another Little Quilt Swap three times already.

If you are interested in more information, please look at the blog dedicated to the ALQS-4 swap:

http://anotherlittlequiltswap.blogspot.com/

On the blog you will find:
        a)  the rules and guidelines set forth clearly;
        b)  a list of International quilters interested in the 4th swap;
        c)  all the quilts from previous ALQS swaps, too. 

Intrigued?  If yes, simply send Kate an email (links on her blog and the ALQS blog).  Then create a special quilt (or two!) for this swap.
If life intercedes in an unexpected way, never fear, as only those that finish their quilts and send proof (ie digital photos of said quilt) to Kate by the deadline will be eligible to swap.

April Fool Harvey

The beginnings of my silly April Fool's BJP.  Can you tell it is totally inspired by the goofy nose that fell off the "Groucho Marx costume glasses".

I was quite puzzled over what to do with this guy's mouth and eventually decided to add a moustache over a couple of big white buck teeth. Can't forget the bowtie, although I'm wishing it was lime green now!

Now he reminds me of Harvey, the invisible six-foot tall rabbit that only Jimmy Stewart could see in an old classic film.  Now wasn't that rabbit named Harvey?  Better still, what is the name of that old movie ...

My simple BJP for April 2009 is named April Fool Harvey and he makes me smile ... all the time!  too goofy!

For more information on the Bead Journal Project, click here.  Be sure to have time to browse as there is lots of eye-candy!