Another Lesson Learned, A New Month's Project

Being back in the world of software development has a down side.  I have so many artsy projects waiting for me that I don't know which way to turn when I have some free time.  I DO know that my January BJP vessel is on hold until I get a package in the mail.  Huh?  Well, I've learned another lesson - the hard way.  While working on the last part of this piece - the collar - I discovered that trying to do peyote stitch using cheap seed beads with irregular sizes and tiny holes was an exercise in futility.  I've been making the collar in sections, and I've now made two attempts at the red section.  Fahgettaboudit!  Not gonna happen.  Nope.  I should be getting a package in the next few days, and I'm hoping that I can finally put this piece "to bed" by the end of the weekend.

I've already designed February in my head, and I've started laying out the fibers for the vessel.  Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, February is always an interesting month.  We always get a warm spell, we always get rain, it's often overcast, and everything turns pink.  Pink blossoms are everywhere!  Lots of redbud trees, and bushes whose names escape me, along with tulip trees and other shades of pink flora.  Here's what's in my front yard right now.

   

And here are some other "pinks in the 'hood".

So I've decided that this month's vessel will be a reflection of February - one of my favorite months.  Here's the very first layer of fiber.  This vessel will be shaped a bit differently from the January piece, despite the fact that I'm using the same template.

But alas, high-tech is calling me.  While I'm working on accounting issues, YOU go have yourselves a happy and creative day!