Bead Journal Project

So, I decided I didn't have enough to do already...I went and signed myself up in the Bead Journal Project. This is the third year of the Project, although my first year as a participant. There are 287 beaders from all over the world who have chosen to create a beaded journal.

There are three basic rules:

1.) Create one piece per month.

2.) Include some beads on each piece.

3.) Make all twelve pieces the same size/shape.

I originally started beading due to my interest in historic costuming: I wanted all the "goodies" to complement my outfits and that meant making them myself, yes I am entirely self taught, lots of research and trial and error.

In recent years, my work has taken a turn away from the costuming aspect of beading and I miss it. So my bead journal is going to be fantasy dressmakers swatchbook; I'll be attempting to recreate traditional needlework techniques in beads. January's "swatch" will be Filet-Bead, a technique I developed many years ago to replicate filet crochet.

Here's an example I created many years ago:

I hope I can come up with twelve ideas, currently I'm considering tatting, braidwork, ribbon work, maybe even patchwork quilting.

I'm looking forward to both the challenge and the opportunity to combine traditional techniques with a modern outlook, it should be interesting!