Bead Journal Project: September
September 26, 2008 by Cyndi Lavin
Filed under Artist Communities, Bead Embroidery, Bead Journal Project, Beading, Non-Wearables
The Bead Journal Project started up again this month, and I was ready and eager to dive right in. This year I’m making my pieces smaller. I know that last year’s postcard sized pieces weren’t really that big to begin with, but I found it sometimes challenging to keep up with it. This year, I want the pieces to be more heartfelt and less about techniques.
Huh?
Well, last year I used the full moons as my guiding theme, so each month’s pieces was based upon the name of that moon. This year, I’ve chosen hearts, but simply as a guiding shape instead of a controlling theme. Each month, I’m choosing a fragment of scripture from one of the Psalms, and creating a little 4 x 4 inch beaded piece that illustrates the feeling of that verse for me. Here is my piece for September:
Psalm 9:2
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
I did not intend for the shape inside the heart to be an ‘S’. It’s supposed to just be a shape, an indication of a welling up from the depths of my soul, resulting in an outpouring of song. Oh well, ‘S’ can stand for sing or for song too, I suppose 
Information about the Bead Journal Project
Bead Journal Project blog
I love the simplicity of this hear and I get it! Wonderful.
Thank you, Heidi. I feel it’s risky for me to put out such a simple design month after month for this project, but *feeling* the connection is just more important to me this year than fancy techniques.
very nice – but I did like last year’s moons!
Thanks Pam…I did too!
It’s nice to be able to pull something so different out of yourself from last year isn’t it? This is really nice. Seeing as I can’t sing at all and always feel bad about it I really like this page. It’s like perhaps we can sing with our beads instead of our voice. Very nice. I saw the S and just figured it was a symbol for sing or song. The wisps floating upward speak very well.
Don’t feel bad about it, Timaree! You just make your own kind of music, as we all do in some area of life or another
I like the idea of singing with my beads!
It’s wonderful, I love it! I’m not done and I kept mine small for that reason. I have issues with deadlines! And singing with beads-Make your own Kind of Music! Thanks for that lovely idea, Timaree!
I’d have to write a whole post to put down all my thoughts about this heart-psalm and the comments you’ve received. The bottom line, though, is that I love the way seeing it instantly lifted my spirits! Without reading about it, I knew it has a spiritual message, one of joy and calm. One thing in your comments above though…. why do you think they all need to be “simple” or even similar month after month? I think you’ll do as you feel and as the psalm suggests… sometimes it may be very sparce and at other times heavily encrusted with beading… right? Also, I just have to say, that the time seems right for your inspiration this year! Hugs, Robin A.
Love hearts, love psalms-what a winning combination!
Jill, thank you so much! I know it’s hard to keep up with deadlines sometimes, but just keep working at your own pace…your personal challenge and enjoyment is what matters!
Thank you, Robin, for “getting it” without even having to be told
I have decided that they *are* all going to be both similar and simple…it’s part of my entire plan for the year. I have plenty of projects that are free-wheeling and allow me to do whatever I want…this project is one that I chose to have boundaries. They make me happy! I’ve already got the backgrounds cut out, and there will be three “pages” in each of four colors, following the seasons. Just as there are seasons in the year, there are also spiritual seasons, and to be able to tell this year-long story, I need to keep the theme and style consistent.
Thank you, Lillian! I hope you won’t be tired of mine by the end of the year
Hi Cyndi…I’m finally getting around to visiting other BJP members today!
Your September page is lovely! I think your theme of hearts and psalms will be a great project. I can see it’s what lies within your heart. I, too, like the simplicity of it.
I look forward to seeing your monthly pages! I remember your moons last year and really liked those too!
Have a nice weekend…
~Lisa
Thank you, Lisa! That’s very sweet of you to visit and to comment on them