BJP 2011 January Still Going...

Now that the round robin blocks are done for this month...I can get back to working on the January Journal Page for Beading Journal Project 2011. Here is where I am on my dragonfly...

If you want to see where I started...check out the tags for BJP2011 in the sidebar. There is still a lot of beading to do in the wings...and I don't have an idea on completing the blue wings yet...but, it will come...all in due time says my muse! Here's a close up for you...isn't the "bling factor" great with this!

 One thing I have definitely learned...start with smaller projects! This dragonfly is about 7 inches long and has a wing span of about 6.5 inches. So, it's taking a lot of seed and bugle beads to fill it up! I'm not sure what the February project page will include...but, the insect will be small! That might help me to get both of them finished by the end of February. Okay...back to beading...

More Beading...

I have not been able to put this down! So, I'm still beading...

I added four Paua shell cabochons. The eyes are two little shank crystal beads, and to make them stand up and not fall to the side, I surrounded them with pearls for a base. The head is a jewelry crystal element that had to be couched down. I love the bling factor in this dragonfly!

Here's where I am now...and I have to stop for a while. I have to get back to some other stitch projects. The upper wings are being filled in with crystal seed beads and some bugles...and I'm thinking that the bottom ones will be a mix of different blues. I'm not at all sure yet about the tail...so we shall see how that goes.
For now...it's back to working on Melissa's block!

BJP 2011 Beading Started...

Wow, I am in love with this project! It is letting me use some beads that I have been "saving" for something special...and that feels great! I started with two Swarvoski teardrop beads...and used a surface peyote stitch to surround them.

Here is the side angle, the peyote make a little wall around and over the stone. If you want to get some really good instruction on this go to Beads East. They have great tutorials on various surface beading techniques.

Then, I added two round Swarvoski rivolis. These were a challenge because they were not beads (no hole)...and they were not flat on the back. Instead, the back came to a point! Yikes. I had to really hold them still while surrounding them with beads...yeah, more peyote stitch!

 I'm having such fun, I almost forgot to stop and take photos!

BJP 2011 January Thinking

Here is my January Dragonfly for BJP2011.

This is my first year to join in on the Beaded Journal Project...and I already having a head full of ideas! Finally, I decided on a theme for my monthly beaded projects...critters! If you follow the blog, you know that I do a lot of blocks and projects for friends, cyber friends, and family.
 One thing I want to do for myself is a large crazy quilt project. I have visions of shabby chic with loads of white, cream, beige fabrics with bits of pastels in lace and embellishments. I have not pieced the first block, because I do not want them to be square...and have not decided on what I "do" want yet! Agrrrrr...some on brain, you can do it! Sorry, I digress...
Anyway, I thought that critters would be a good addition to the project...when it ever gets off the ground! And, I want the critters to be all sizes...some large, some small, some round, some not so round...a real variety.
Therefore, all of my BJP 2011 monthly projects will be critters that I can later stitch down to the crazy quilt full size project. This complicates the creation process some too...because each item must be able to be attached firmly to the final crazy quilt project. So, this first one is also a test! As you might be able to tell from the photo, I used water soluble (traced with a chalk pencil) and hooped it on top of felt. After stitching all the beads firmly into place...I hope to be able to carefully cut the dragonfly out and then be able to handstitch him into the CQ project...more about that when the time comes I'm sure!!

Here are the big stones I'm thinking of using...and other smaller ones will cover the wings, body, and tail. So wish me luck! I'm off on a new adventure in beading! Oh, here's a closeup of the main beads...I wish you could see just how gorgeous these are!