November Bead Journal Page

When I selected this fabric, and the beads, it was because I LIKED it, not because it reminded my of November in any way. For some reason, when I am at a loss for a theme, I seem to be drawn to this ferny batik fabric. And after all, purple and gold and green are Mardi Gras colors, right?

But as I stitched away, I was thinking of a specific song from on of my favorite musicals --- and then yesterday I found out that it was St. Andrew's Day! Now I'm 25% Scottish and I love the Highlands and the only time I was ever able to visit them, it was in late October/early November, when a frost had turned the bracken brown-gold. There was still a touch of purple of heather on the hills... (the song with that title was from Brigadoon...)

So... introducing "The Heather on the Hill"!



Sorry for the glare. That large "bead" is a sort of lavendery gold, with a green "flower" motif in the center... and my flash insisted it was needed.

October BJP

It took me longer to do this than any of the nine previous pieces --- and it didn't quite work but I have learned from my mistakes.

I call it "Wine Dark Sea" and it represents our cruise to the Eastern Mediterranean. The large blue stone was a key fob from Rhodes and was, I think, intended to ward off the evil eye. But it attracted me because of the blue-and-white colors of Greece. And the water around Rhodes was almost the color of the fabric!

Back to Basics and Learn a New Technique, Week Forty-seven

Well, with Thanksgiving occupying most of my time yesterday and today, not a lot of report on this we. I have been working on my October BJP ... It's taking a lot longer than any other piece I've done, and it's not ready to show yet...

The Witches Wheel is complete!

Designer Glendon Place, stitched in DMC 2 strands over 2 on Solar 32 ct Belfast Linen, embellished with five colors of Mill Hill seed beads.

Back to Basics and Learn a New Technique, Week Forty-six

A third witch done; one to go (and two cauldrons and a score of eyes)!

Back to Basics and Learn a New Technique, Week Forty-five

Only one day of "stitching" this week - beading on Witches Wheel. This will be slow... five colors of beads and LOTS of places where beads form major free-hand motifs! And some will HAVE to be done "in hand" because I don't have q-snaps or a hoop large enough to allow the entire working area to be available.

Don't know if you can see the beading on this at all --- royal orchid and some citron so far, but they do catch the light.

I found the fabric and beads I want to use for my October bead Journal Project too --- when I finish Witches Wheel, I guess! And of course, there are taxes to work on *and* a web site for my cruise photos... Where will I find the time to catch up?

Back to Basics and Learn a New Technique, Weeks Forty-three and Forty-four, late

Needlepoint on the cruise. Didn't get a lot done.

Here is what it looked like at the end of week forty-two:

and here is the end of week forty-three:

One of these days I will figure out why canvases are never printed STRAIGHT! Anyway, all I got done were the inner and outer "frames" which will limit how straight the picture will be. We won't talk about the two mistakes already committed, will we? (frogging needlepoint wool is NOT an option, especially with a kit!) This goes back into retirement because...

Witches Wheel and October's Bad journal await! LOTS of beading in my future!