soe blog

Embroidered necklace

2010-02-09T20:37:00.000+01:00

This necklace I made to wear on a wedding. I worked like crazy, got it done in the nick of time and never wore it to the wedding! Because it really didn't work with the dress. But I still like the necklace very much, these are my favourite colors: purples, blues, greys, silvers with touches of green.
I used Delica's (11/0 and 15/0), Swarovski's, true cuts and seed beads. Bead embroidery on Lacy's stiff stuff and herringbone stitch. Backed with ultrasuede. It hangs niceley around the neck and works for women with (a lot of) cleavage because of the V-line.
I am really curious about what you think of this necklace since this is completely my own design. February is still blank by the way....

BJP10: January

2010-02-08T20:58:00.000+01:00

The bracelet for January of BJP10 is ready. It is about darkness, feeling blue, the shimmer of snow.
When it was finished I worked like a madman on a necklace for a wedding (which in the end I didn't wear!). It turned out nicely and I will soon have a picture to show you.
Now I am thinking about February.....

I'm in.

2010-01-03T12:36:00.000+01:00

Last night I decided to actually do the BJP 2010. What kept me behind is the fact that I still haven't finished my BJP08/09 and that there are a lot of changes coming up in this year. And I didn't have inspiration. But the muse came by just in time. She kept me awake last night and I decided what I want to try. I want to make embroidered bracelets. Because I think they will be smaller than my CD-shaped pages of last year. And because I like using what I made. So now I am off to decide on the exact shape. I already picked my January colors!
soe

Join the Bead Journal Project 2010!

2009-10-18T20:31:00.000+02:00

If you liked the idea of journaling with (some) beads, you can join the BJP too. Here is more information:

The new Bead Journal Project starts in January 2010.
Registration starts October 1, 2009 at beadjournalproject.com/reg.htm.
No experience is necessary! The goal is to create one visual journal piece a month for a year that includes beads.
Participants work can be seen at beadjournalproject.com/bjp.htm.

I liked the experience a lot. I learned a lot and I had fun. So join us!

soe

UFO finished.

2009-09-11T15:47:00.000+02:00

I feel more energetic now that I am losing weight. That is nice! So I got the inspiration to finish an UFO. The bracelet is inspired by a bracelet in Beadwork, I can't find the specs right now. Love to hear your comment.

soe

BJP May

2009-09-11T15:33:00.000+02:00

There is not much meaning behind the piece of May. Because May was a long time ago and I just finished it. So it's not a journal either. But there are 5's and 9's in it (for May 2009). And it was an experiment for me. To me this is a very Dutch piece, because of the colors: red, white, blue (of the flag) and Orange (of the kingdom). For some reason these colors remind me of May.

The colors also inspired me to make a bracelet in Delfts Blue, also a very Dutch piece.

Let me know what you think!

You can see an overview of all the BJP pages from soe here. Thank you for watching and commenting!

soe

June down, April, May, August to go

2009-08-18T16:15:00.000+02:00

In June I started thinking about losing weight. I am over 40 years, busy life, and there are too many downsides to being overweight. The biggest one for me is that I can't seem to hold my kids close enough. My belly is in between. I know that it's not true in the real sense of the word and it may sound strange. But it feels like that to me and I really dislike it. So, at the end of June I decided to do something about it and I knew what. Yesterday I started my diet and it feels good that I am not waiting anymore (for a magic touch of the fairy or something else to get me moving).

The big one is a 6 and a 9 for June 2009. The small figure is a pendant I got from my mother and my sister as a fertility symbol out of a folk museum. And when I have lost some weight we might have a shot at no 3 (children that is). It reminds me very much of a figure from (o gosh, what's his name? Famous artist, same time as Picasso, worked in France). I'll edit that later! Yep, Giacometti.

I would very much like to hear your comments. Thank you in advance!

A little secret.

2009-08-08T21:30:00.000+02:00

These are the diaries I made so far. In every entry I tried to get the month and the year in. Can you find the dates? Some you aren't able to see because of the way the picture is taken, some are in your face and some are more difficult. I am curious what you find out. Let me know!

July is done (but April, May and June aren't!).

2009-08-04T12:00:00.000+02:00

Yes, still somewhat behind (snicker), but working. Right now I am enjoying my holiday and am able to bead some. So, here is July 2009. Not much symbolism that I am aware of. I had to tidy up my bead stash and saw these colors laying together. They looked like summer to me, so I started to use them and just stitched away. In retrospect it reminds me of the park I am cycling through to get to work: all the flowers and greens and the paths in the fields.

I am thinking about June, that will be the next one I'll do. If you feel like it: please let me know what you think. Thank you!

March is done

2009-05-19T21:43:00.000+02:00

Now I am two months behind. Yes, I feel the pressure!
Here is March.
My bankcard is glued on stiff stuff and I used the colors of my bank. I made a web for the financial web in which a lot of people are caught. And were I am sometimes caught in, or at least it feels that way. This month is about our finances. With two children going to daycare for 3 days a week, a house and all that, we have to take care. Or better: I have to take care, since I am known to have these outbursts of moneyspending. I put some old European coins in the web: worthless money. That is how it feels to me with this global economical crisis. I count my blessings: two beautiful, great, healthy boys, a super husband (although we are not married), a rewarding job, all of our parents around, and so much more.
I love to hear your comments!

BJP February 2009

2009-03-29T12:28:00.000+02:00

February is done. Here are my thoughts about it. Since the Chinese New Year has started in February I put down a dragon and the Chinese character for Ox (the year of the Ox has started). For me thinking about China is connected with the Tibethan culture and their struggle for freedom. March 10 is my birthday and also the day the Tibet was invaded by the Chinese. So I put down the Tibethan year that started in February too: 2136. In dots.

It defines a new start, spring is on its way, I start to awaken again.

I like the all white part. Since there are no colors to distract your attention goes to the form. All these tiny little parts that lay together and form something bigger is one of the reasons why I am so attracted to beads. I like the black and white with one more color. Because that works with almost all colors.

So, I would like to know what you think about it!

Still alive

2009-03-06T16:45:00.000+01:00

Haven't fallen out of the BJP yet. Really! I have December 2008 and January 2009 to show for it. And started on the February 2009. Still too late, but hanging in there.

December was busy. Making some bracelets for Christmas, I didn't have much inspiration for December. I wanted to use red and green because they fit the Christmas theme and because they are out of my comfort zone. Apart from that I didn't know what was going to happen on the circle.

The colors still are out of my comfort zone. I am not very pleased with the result because of that. I do like the little Christmas tree, because that was improvised and turned out good. And I like having experimented.

So for January I used colors I like. And the ton-sur-ton that I am addicted to. The colors are for a new beginning, a fresh start. Not yet full of color but getting there. In the middle is a tibethan sign, I don't know what it is for (I remember for a long, prosperous life, but I am not sure). And I was thinking mandala. Maybe it is a bit boring, but I like it a lot.

For February I am thinking Chinese New Year, a dragon, year of the ox, Tibethian year of 2136, black, white, red.

March maybe something with flowers and loss of money. We are on a tight budget these days so it might be good to bead about it.

Next time I will show you the bracelets I finally made for myself. Again in the same angle as the last ones I was showing, but heck, I wanted some for myself!

BJP November is done.

2008-12-02T21:51:00.000+01:00

November has been ready for some time now. And here it is. This time I wasn't stubborn anymore in not leaving stiff stuff at the edges. With it the circles are much easier to attach to something (I haven't decided what yet).

I used grey and black beads, charlottes, silver seedbeads, plastic beads, pressed glass, chips, gemstone slice, tag and pendant. It is supposed to symbolize the November greyness that hangs around our houses nowadays. It can be dull but it also has a certain bluesiness and its own misty chic.

I beaded a lot when Obama got chosen and I searched for a tag with "hope" on it. But "dream" might even be a better word. How far do you dare to dream, what do you allow yourself? It also is a question I asked my clients a lot lately.

I sometimes feel like I am living my dreamlife now. And most of the time I am busy doing other things. I need to realise more often how blessed I am and how much I like it now. Instead of thinking what I am going to do after the baby had it's bottle I want to focus my attention on feeding my little baby, smell him, hear the little sounds, feel his little arms around my fingers, see the blond hairs and his big eyes. I know that when I look back at this time it will be one of the happiest times of my life. And I want to be able to feel that right now, while it is happening. That is what this diary also is about.

Ofcourse it is much better in real life: more shine and glitter. Let me know what you think!

Another one

2008-11-10T10:44:00.000+01:00

This bracelet I made for my mother for Christmas, because she said she'd like something in blue. But when she saw the first one she said: I would very much like that in black.....

So, now I think I can make my MIL very happy with this. I like the blue with copper.

Waddayathink?

New bracelet

2008-10-30T23:02:00.000+01:00

One of the teachers from the daycare centre is leaving and I made her a bracelet. Hopefully she'll like it. The challenge for me were the colors. I never used this green before. But I really like how it turned out. Maybe I'll make one for myself too!

BJP Octobre is ready

2008-10-20T10:30:00.000+02:00

Finished in time! This is the Octobre page. The colors go from bright to dark, as does Octobre does around here. There are some really nice, sunny days, and some really dark, rainy, windy days. It is a sky and the water that surrounds us now that we live on a little island.

It also stands for the worries I have since I have children. I can enjoy them immensly (sp?), but there also always is a worry in the back of my head. Are they okay? At first I thought I was only worrying (sp?) because babies are vulnarable. But then I realised that it would always be with me, just the subject would change in time. Now I worry about their development, upbringing, etc. Later it will probably be about are they feeling okay at school, have friends. And even later: is his wife okay, is his work okay?

Then, while I was beading this, the news came that on the daycare centre that my two boys go to a little boy was found dead in his bed. He was 3 months old and we don't know what caused it. It will probably be called SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). His name is Jelle. I remembered him by beading an apple sead in the waves. Jelle is the little sead that will not turn into a tree. The daycare centre was researched and they found nothing wrong. So my boys are there again, and life is slowly getting back in track again.

September is ready

2008-09-23T00:16:00.000+02:00

The september page for the Bead Journal Project is ready.

I learned a lot. For instance: Keep It Stupid Simple. I wanted to do much to much on this page. 3 colourgroups, different colourshades in the groups, different techniques, too many symbols, too many kinds of beads.

Also: give beads the room to breathe. When I am putting them too close together it makes it messy. Showing some of the base material is o.k. Especially when you've coloured it before you start beading (my third lesson).

Explanation for what you see. My journal theme for this month is leaving my newborn at the daycare centre while I am going back to work. I do like the daycare centre and I fully agree with him going there. But it is still hard to leave him after spending 6 months so close together. The money is old European coins. A French and a German one which both show a woman: one sowing and one planting a little tree. Also a Belgian coin of 1 Franc (because you've got to start somewhere). These coins represent me making money for my family. The two wheels represent my bike. The greens represent the woods and fields that I cycle through going to work. In September they are still mostly green, but the browns are coming up. The white shell represents the alabaster skin of my little son, the orange/browns his hair colour (that has now turned completely blond). The blue represents the Adidas suit he wore a lot (because his mom liked it so much). One of the happy accidents (thank you Bob Ross) is that it also looks like green forests, brown earth and blue water. Also in the October peace it seems to go a lot about my surroundings. We moved to an Island in Amsterdam and I a more surrounded by nature now. Also I see a lot of circles. Starting out with the format, but also the forms on the circle.

Another happy accident is the blue "wave". I just started it and liked it very much. In my next piece I am going to explore that further when beading the waves of the water that surrounds us.

Tell me what you think. I am very, very new to designing and I just let it happen this time. But I have a lot to learn about that.

Theme for september

2008-08-28T22:47:00.000+02:00

Journaling is what i am going to do with the pages every month. Everytime I am going to look for the issues in my life and bead about that, or with that in mind. So I don't have an ongoing theme for the whole year. Maybe next year.
This september I will start working again after maternity leave. I had an extra long maternity leave since my little son didn't drink well because of severe gastrooesofageal reflux (all his food comes up again). So my issue is leaving him in daycare while I go working.
Actually I like my work very much and I also feel that his daycare centre is good and I agree with him going there. But there are a lot of mixed feelings all over.
What I'll use is:
* old European coins (we have the Euro now) that represent me making a living and supporting my family
* all kinds of greens for the look of the trees and bushes that I will bike along going to work
* orange/reds and blues represent my youngest. Red for the color of his hair (now his red hair has changed to a more blondish color, but I still see him like that in my mind) and blues for the clothes I see him in.
Apart from the colors I can use anything I have in the house. I will let it be improvisational from then on (a first for me!).
Love reading the introductions from everyone. Tension seems to be building, LOL.

Waiting while doing other things

2008-08-23T13:21:00.001+02:00

Still waiting to be able to start. I got my "proper preparation to prevent piss pole performance" (as Ten says) done: started this blog, thought about it (a lot). Now I have to get my beads organised after moving to our current house. And find out how my scanner works.
While I am waiting I did make some other things. I made a brown dress, a dark fuchsia skirt, two beaded flowers (that make a broche) for my neighbor's birthday and I worked on my beaded bag.
The beaded bag is my start up project. When I feel I want to do something, but can't get around to design, choose colors or am generally stuck, I pick up this project. It is just bead embroidering circles, doesn't matter what color I pick. It is already there, ready to go. I'll scan this to show.

greetings,
soe

Note: With some help of my SO I now know how to use the scanner. Scanned the bag in progress. Since it can't lay flat on the scanner it's not the best image I can get. But for now I am too lazy to take out the camera. Anyway, here it is.

Decisions

2008-08-19T22:59:00.001+02:00

Still I am not working on my BJP, because my stiff stuff hasn't arrived yet. I am thinking about it though. I decided some things:
* I am going to use the best beads and other things I need that I can find. I will not wait for a better project or a better beading version of me. I do not want to grow out of my favourite sunday clothes.
* The format will be round with a hole in the middle. Like a CD.
* I am going to try out new stitches besides the good old back stitch.
The biggest challenge I see is getting my monthly journals in on time.

soe

Working on it

2008-08-07T16:32:00.000+02:00

Working on learning how this blog thing works, working on starting up the beading again, working on getting everything ready for the BJP 2008-09, working on getting back to work after maternity leave, working on sewing my clothes. When I put it down in words I see that I actually am very busy and doing a lot. I just don't have a finished project to show for it. I am going to try and find a photograph for this blog and find out how my scanner works to be able to let you see the progress on the BJP-project. Wish me luck!

Syl