The Foundation of Happiness

For my March bead journal, I decided to continue with February's theme of happiness. This month I focused on the foundation of my happiness, my family.

While I worked on the February page, I thought about friends instead of family in relation to happiness. I have to admit that bothered me. It was worse than bothered. I felt guilty. It was almost creepy. I gave myself the heebie-jeebies thinking about it. And by the time I finished February (in the middle of March, I freely admit), I was ready to think about my family.

To me the term "family" is generously inclusive. In addition to the usual suspects, our family includes our other-in-laws, our auxiliary grandson, our daughter-in-law's brother-in-law's father and brother.

Technical Details:

The foundation is Lacy's Stiff Stuff painted with Adirondack Color Wash Spray in Stream.

The beads are various shades of teal, with more than the usual number of metallic beads included. Those metallic beads all have a teal cast, but it doesn't show up in the photo. Sizes are 15/0, 11/0, and 8/0. There are cubes, triangles, hexes, and twisted hexes, with a few bugles and drop beads.

The good old backstitch again dominates. There is a bugle ruffle, some fringe, and a section of wallpaper stitch. There are a couple of nameless (meaning I don't know the names) stitches, too.

The page is 2.75 inches by 2.75 inches.

I used green C-lon thread.

What I Was Thinking:

With the theme of family as the foundation of happiness, I wanted to portray something primarily solid and strong. The teal color immediately came mind as solid but not dreary. The metallic beads are meant to add weight. The vertical columns are pillars, representing how a family holds a member up. In contrast, the sparkly beads and the ruffle and fringe show fun and happiness coming out of the strength.

Issues that Came Up:

The beads are a little squished together. I guess I just had to squeeze a little more family into the piece.

I was surprised at how much contrast there was between the metallic beads and the glass beads. Spread out, the contrast is not so noticeable.

Now I know why I like to have the background the same color as the beads. When it is different, as it is in this piece, I find it a distraction. My attention is drawn to the contrast between the background and the beads. A totally unnecessary waste of valuable brain space.

The ruffle looks like a slithering snake. That's the word from the seven-year-old grandson, and his five-year-old brother agrees.