Actually, it's my June Bead Journal Project. I finished it during June, but I wasn't sure what it was about. How can you journal and not know what you're journaling--unless it's some kind of automatic writing directed by an other-worldly spirit. No, this is definitely not spooky, spirit-directed, automatic beading. I did it myself, and I decided how to do it.
In the end, this page seems to be about repetition and how repetition--or maybe the familiar--can be comfortable and satisfying. I don't want to think that I'm in a rut, but there are many times when I enjoy the familiar. Music in the background is one example. I have fewer than 15 CDs, and I seem to play about five of them over and over. None of this iPod shuffle stuff for me, playing songs in random order, calling my attention to the music instead of what I'm doing. So it's repetition, with a few variations.
Technical Details:
The foundation is Lacy's Stiff Stuff painted with dilute Emerald Dye-na-Flow.
The beads are 8/0s, 11/0s, 15/0s, charlottes, Delicas, cubes, hexes, and fringes. There are more than the usual number of larger, individually purchased glass beads.
The stitches used were backstitch, couching, and stop stitch. Most of the beads are in what Robin Atkins describes as the "wallpaper stitch."
The page is 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches.
I used C-lon thread in the color Seafoam.
What I Was Thinking:
Well, that's the whole issue. I was thinking a lot of stuff, but my thoughts changed as I stitched. Some of the thinking stuff resulted from an irritating incident at the beginning of June. (Notice how politely I put that.) But the irritation passed, and I moved on to a very busy month, which continues to make me wonder where June went. I kept stitching the wallpaper stitch, and I enjoyed it. By the time I was half finished with the page, I was quite intrigued by the ideas of repetition and variation. So I kept repeating and varying.
Issues That Came Up:
I began to see how challenging varied repetition could be. Interesting thought.
I enjoyed using these larger beads. They were part of a group purchased for a Hope Stone (see previous post) a couple of years ago.
The color of the beads signifies absolutely nothing, except that I hadn't used it before in the BJP.
It's interesting to see the limited range of values in this page and the May page.
So here I am at the beginning of July wondering what this month's bead journal will be about. And what color it will be. It's time to start digging in the bead stash.
13 comments:
Well, I don't have a clue what it's about either, but as always with your pieces, it's simply stunning! Your work has a definitive style. I think I could pick it out of dozens very easily. Perhaps that's all this is about -- your particular style of beading wanting to come out. I'd probably try not to over-think what went into it and just accept it did it's own thing. Not getting in the way of that is an achievement in itself.
Marty, I just love your meticulous stitching and the repetitive nature of this piece. It's a little mosaic jewel! I also have to say that I also admire your ability to work in a single colour family. That's not an easy thing to do so my hat is off to you! BTW, my May piece will be posted sometime this week.
No matter what you were thinking, or not thinking, I love this bjp! Turquoise is my favorite color. To me it represents water - perhaps you were thinking of summer and Lake Michigan or some of the other water areas around you??? I don't think it matters, it's just a great piece.
it's very meditative and reminds me of those blue repeat motifs you see on some temple walls. i like it a lot...k.
Perhaps instead of just "repetition" it is "variations on a theme" :-) If they can do it in music, surely we can do it in beads!
I NEVER think of your work as repetive, but ALWAYS see the variation. I try and try to achieve the skill of putting the different sizes together with your perfection.
I absolutely, as I have mentioned many times, love your work.
Carol
Love the colors and the story...on my computer it's a real tropical marine color which we never actually see in the ocean here.
Fortunately you kept on repeating - because this is absolutely beautiful. I too love this color, would surround myself with it if I could. Sometimes beading is all about meditation and repetition fits right in with that.
For me, this piece is all about the pleasure of looking at something lovely...nothing wrong with just pure joy being the meaning! Lovely design, even if it just grew, and great color. Thanks for sharing!
Delightful, Marty!!!!! I'm totally with you on the same 5 CD's over and over thing. And variations on repetition is quite a challinging accomplishment! I love it... It makes me feel calm and peaceful (which BTW, I needed tonight). I could do and look at the wallpaper stitch forever!
The captcha word below is "sista"... maybe we are!
LOVE this color. It's like cool water and I want to dive in.
I love it! Makes me think of water and waves. Very refreshing and beautifully done. I want to start combining various bead sizes in the same piece. I sure will find inspiration from all the beautiful BJP pages you make. Thank you for sharing the Technical details behind this: the information is very useful.
This looks really nice. There is nothing wrong with repetition. It can bring a level of peace to chaos around you. I love my Ipod to shuffle but I only listen to it when I want to listen to the music. No background sounds for me. I like repetitive quiet!! I am not sure modern people have enough repetition in their lives. Think how the old farmers would move through the years season by season with each year varying only in some weather or family growth or decline. Small changes in an otherwise repetitive cycle. I think that grounds us and keeps us from going insane!
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