Thoughts About the January Journal "Page"

Whenever I have a project to do but no specific design in mind, thoughts come into my head at the strangest times.  I usually keep some sort of writing material with me so I can jot down notes or sketches.  Awhile ago I decided that my format for the Bead Journal Project would be a small felted vessel but I wasn't sure if I'd have a specific theme or if I would just play it by ear each month.  The ear thing won out, so I'm just letting ideas float into my head about my life, feelings, concerns, goals, etc. while I try to visualize translating those ideas into bead work.  I don't know when I'll be able to make my first vessel - it had better be soon though, since I will still have to bead it after it's dry.

I didn't want to lose track of the thoughts I had about my January piece so I made a few sketches.  This probably isn't the final sketch - version 2 replaced version 1 rather quickly.  But I thought I would document my process here.  There may not even be a final sketch on paper, as I may change my mind while I'm in the beading process itself.

I had every intention of making the vessel today.  But I was having a strong feeling about organizing my office, so rather than spend the day in the wet lab, I started attacking the piles of stuff that have prevented me from working efficiently for ages.  Here's the first part that I tackled.  How on earth does a person let things get as out of control as this?!  Well, at least now I can walk into my office without tripping on something - yay!

I still have a very long way to go, since I kept finding distractions such as laundry, the need to eat, mom wanting to go out for a cappuccino, and marveling at discovering things that I thought had been "lost" forever. Like a bag full of Czech pressed glass leaf beads...

Since I started this post I got interrupted with making and eating dinner, sorting through more stuff that was in the piles that I removed, watching a bit of TV, discarding more stuff, and now it's time to hit the sack.  Maybe I'll dream about another design for January's journal vessel.

Until next time, have a happy and creative week!