May through August

 In just a few weeks we will be leaving for the summer and not returning to our home (my beads) until sometime mid to late September.  I've been a beading maniac trying to get a bit ahead so that I don't have to play too much catch up when we return.

May - the inspiration for this piece was azalea blooms.  My little neighborhood was ablaze in fuchsia, pink and whites.  It was so pretty.

June - the below photograph provided the inspiration for the June bracelet.  As you can see by the photo the view was shades of grey and then there was a break in the clouds illuminating the marsh on the far shore.

 July - just had to make another piece of patriotic jewelry to go with my ever-growing collection.  With Memorial Day, Flag Day, July 4th and Veteran's Day there are many times throughout the year to celebrate with our national colors.

August - the beach!  This bracelet is an adaptation of the May bracelet.  I added more "waves" for this one and kept them all the same size unlike the original one which varied in height.

Submariners

This bracelet pays tribute to those who serve our country on board submarines.

130 men

90 days

no sun

no wind

no rain

running silent, running deep

I beaded this in such a way that one upper section can roll back revealing the steel grey "hull" of the "submarine". When all smoothed into place, the "submarine" is then fully surrounded by "water" as represented by the blue and green beads.

March BJP 2012

The title of this bracelet is Missing Pieces

Missing Pieces is about love and the sacrifices parents make for their children. I was thinking about the Mom in Indiana protecting her children during the recent tornado.

February BJP

The Fire Within - along the river series

Drawing on inspiration from the area in which I live, one recent morning the sky was full of dark grey storm clouds. There was a very narrow horizontal opening allowing the merest glimpse of the rising sun which shown through as a blazing orange.

The Fire Within

is about

the need to create

whether burning brightly

or

a smolder covered in ash.

Starting Over

Before we get too far into 2012 BJP, I am changing my plan for the year. These photos show my new bracelet design. There is no significance to the colors - simply matches a shirt I own. Inasmuch as this is my initial design I feel I should use it for January, 2012. This is one of the most comfortable bracelets I've ever worn - some flexibility but rigid enough to hold its shape.

February BJP

In an effort to better understand the decrease/step-up sequence, I worked this ornament in alternating panels of red and green. 3mm crystals encircle the bottom section.

January BJP 20121

For BJP 2012 I will be making twelve Christmas ornaments. The basic shape is from a pattern by Paula Adams to which I will be changing color placement/embellishment. The ornament measures approximately 3" in length. I did have trouble identifying the step-up when it fell at a decrease. Guess the next ornament will have to address that issue. (beads - Delica, 3mm AB crystals)