Wednesday, March 3, 2010

February BJP - Tranquility

So maybe I've been so tranquil during the past month that I haven't felt the urge to blog... Just a thought...



I started my February BJP February 1 and finished it February 28. In the meantime, I did a few other things, in part to delay the completion of the BJP until the end of the month.

I had decided in late January to use light blue beads and to meditate on the concept of Hope for my February BJP. A few days into February, I made two discoveries. First, the beads were sending feelings of Tranquility instead of Hope. I paid attention to the beads. February would be Tranquility. Second, I was working so quickly that I decided to slow down my beading. I wanted to savor the feeling of Tranquility for the entire month.

Slowing down was easy. I cleaned the house (including vacuuming!) for my book group meeting. That was snowed out so I was left with a clean house, a dessert, and a free evening. I made a couple of small beaded cards. I made three pairs of slacks and a pair of yoga pants. I temporarily perfected my pants pattern. I studied Spanish. I watched Olympic curling. (Who knew it could be so exciting?) And on February 28 I finished Tranquility.

Technical Details:

The foundation is Lacy's Stiff Stuff painted with a mixture of blue and white Dye-na-Flo.

The beads are 15/0s, 11/0s, 8/0s, and a few 6/0s. There are some lentils and some diagonally drilled cubes that are important parts of the design. There is one small blue heart.

As usual, it's done in the backstitch and the stop stitch. There are several rows of twisted beads.

The page is 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches.

I used C-lon AA light blue thread. I'm getting used to the C-lon thread, but Nymo still feels more natural to me.

In a departure for me, I started with some segments of circles drawn on the foundation using a compass. You can see the resulting curved lines in the completed page.

What I Was Thinking:


It was very interesting to find that the beads changed this month's theme for me. I considered two types of journaling. My assumption at the beginning of February was that I would journal (bead) about my chosen topic. In the end, I found myself responding to the visual stimulation of the first beads stitched. Robin Atkins has written about some different ways of bead journaling here.

I enjoyed thinking about what tranquility means to me. Peace, calmness, serenity, harmony, peace of mind, composure. And not getting into a twit over unexpected occurrences. I like tranquility. I was glad to have tranquility last the entire month.

I'd like to do a page using grey beads. But what would that color tell me? Right now I'm thinking sophisticated but subtle. Maybe I'll start with a small pin.

Issues that Came Up:


Ok, so I ripped out parts again. That's ok with me. Because I create the page in parts, without an overall plan, there are occasionally sections that detract from the whole. I am very willing to "edit" these parts as I complete more of the page.

This size is working well.

I felt guilty about going so long without blogging. But I didn't do anything about it.

And I was rooting for the Canadian hockey team in the Olympics. Do I dare tell my grandsons?

18 comments:

Crazy Mama said...

after working on mine for march, i was very happy to stop and look at yours for a while. it is tranquil. it's peaceful and calming. the blues you used tell a perfect story for tranquility. it's simply lovely!

Lois2037 said...

Your piece really does feel tranquil and calming. I love the colors you chose and the shapes they form.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Hi Marty. Well if your beads took over, they certainly knew the directions to go! It definitely is a tranquil piece. The lazy curves and calming effect of the bead colors depict tranquility perfectly.

Glad you got lots done in the snow storms. Glad too that they missed Northern Indiana!

Carol

Anonymous said...

Marty, your work is unique. I know right away when I view it that it's from "Crackpot Beader" -- very beautiful, every bead perfectly placed and as a result, it's serene.

Anne Marie - Toronto said...

I love the piece, Marty! Of course, I love all of your pieces. This one is very calm. It's interesting how colours effect your moods. Anyway, I was rooting for Canada too, but then I'm originally from Vancouver and now live in Toronto. I was feeling very much homesick with all that scenery. - Anne Marie

Anne Marie - Toronto said...

I love the piece, Marty! Of course, I love all of your pieces. This one is very calm. It's interesting how colours effect your moods. Anyway, I was rooting for Canada too, but then I'm originally from Vancouver and now live in Toronto. I was feeling very much homesick with all that scenery. - Anne Marie

kaiteM said...

Tranquility cetainly lives up to its name, i'd like to have a very large version on my wall to look at several times a day. Beautifully beaded and i like the circle segments. Kaite

Carol said...

It is indeed tranquil.

Thank you for showing that beading can be a stress releaser (and promote household task productivity to! LOL).

robin michelle said...

Very tranquil and peaceful feeling. Pretty shades of blue!

sydsider said...

Your pieces are delightful. I wish my pieces could flow like this.I look forward to more.

sydsider said...

Your pieces are a delight to look at. I wish my pieces could flow like yours. Looking forward to more.

Penny said...

This is a lovely piece - you and your beading certainly captured 'tranquility'. I loved it that you slowed up your beading -- I often do that. Of course taking out and putting back on slows things up too (which I also often do *smile*).

Cyndi L said...

What a lovely, sweet, and *tranquil* piece! You've achieved your goal, that's for sure :-)

Nancy in Indiana said...

Your grandsons will forgive you for rooting for Canada - especially the one who switched to rooting for Canada once they had won!

beadbabe49 said...

I really like the monochromatic color schemes you're working with in your first two pieces...is this your plan for all of them?

Robin said...

Tranquil, indeed! And how wonderful to have it last the whole month, to draw it out and savor it! I like tranquility too... the sense of it AND your piece!

Robin A.

Magpie Sue said...

Yup, you've really nailed tranquility. I calmed down just looking at it!

Thanks for letting us know how you started the piece (with the circle segments). Sometimes it's hard to know just where to begin with that first bead.

Sandy said...

It's beautiful. The beads inspire me too. Thanks for commenting on my blog.