Progress on May BJP

I did get started on May's BJP while I was in Alaska but I have no hopes of getting it done by the end of the month... I have 2 other projects that need to be postmarked before May 31 and this can wait and be late. Stitching time is practically nonexistent this month competing with absolute necessary outside chores...

We have both the Western Bluebird and the Mountain Bluebird in our area.. It is usually the red-breasted Western Bluebird that have nested here although I haven't seen any this year.

April BJP - installment 4 - Hips! Hips! Hooray for Roses!

Since my bird garden is festooned with daffodils in April it's only fitting that my April BJP be a goldfinch. I know that without this project I would have NEVER gotten around to documenting the development of my garden for the birds and how it changed my life... My first plan was to use part of the story with each finished bird but now thinking I'm going to use the birds for a cover for a book about the garden... Go to my blog to see the goldfinch and installment 4 - Hips! Hips! Hooray for Roses!

Gerry K.

http://olderrose.blogspot.com

Bird for April

While I was waiting for CQ RR blocks to arrive I was able to get a good start on my bird for the Bead Journal Project for April. All I have left to do is the background and I have some really odd, but nice, peachy matte beads for that. I have no idea where I got them...in some grab bag or whatever but they will work great on this block... It's posted on my blog.

Gerry K
http://olderrose.blogspot.com

Let the mulching begin.....

My March bead journal project is the Red-breasted Nuthatch. It's a spritely little bird and one of my favorites to watch at the feeder. Also this is the third installment of the saga of my garden for the birds..

Gerry Krueger

http://olderrose.blogspot.com

You've got to Have Hearts!

Happy Valentine Everyone....
This is my favorite necklace. I started it several years ago and each year around this time of year I add a few more hearts... The red heart on the upper left was my son's from boy scout stuff about 40 years ago.

I'm very superstitious about this necklace and do indeed believe it gives me "heart" and wear it when I need special or extra strength. I'm always watching for hearts in my thrift store trips.......

Avian podiatry

Avian podiatry......diagnosis and treatment of bird foot disorders... After considering options and responses I've decided just to forget the feet on nuthatch. I am only fascinated with it's feet because when this little bird LOOKS like it is walking down the tree trunk, it is actually sidestepping down...which I find that remarkable...
But Robin and others mentioned using wire for the feet and I think that is an exciting solution and by the time I finish the series of 12 birds I'm sure I'll use that suggestion...

March BJP progress

I'm really focusing on getting more texture in my bead embroidery and the bark on this tree was fun. I just kept layering and weaving lots of colors and several kinds of beads and I'm happy with it except the feet of the red-breasted nuthatch got lost and I'm not sure what to do about that??? Maybe Robin can give me some advice...

progress is on blog....

http://olderrose.blogspot.com

A Garden for the Birds - Installment Two

Since the magpie was already done I am able to post Installment Two- "A New Plan"..... for February..
http://olderrose.blogspot.com

Next month will be "Let the Mulching Begin" Thanks to everyone who is following the saga of my garden for the birds...

A Garden for the Birds - Installment One

A Garden for the Birds - Installment One - The Purchase

I've blogged the text and photos for my January effort. Since the magpie will be installment two for February I am a bit ahead but that is great because I can see lots of things piling up the next two months...

Gerry K.
http://olderrose.blogspot.com

A Garden for the Birds in Twelve Installments

First I wanted to do the birds and then tell the story and then finally figured how to attach the story to the birds so I made a new January page. If you follow this story you'll learn how a 20 acre garden for the birds turned my life upside down…

You’ll find out how I started this garden in May 1980 in a Zone 4 arid region with next to no water and how having no water turned into a blessing.

How this garden which I simply started to attract birds for my husband led to :

-a collection of hundreds of old-fashioned roses
-a nursery specializing in plants for the birds.
-the sale 10s of thousands of plants using no plastic pots
-thousands of people visiting the garden to learn to attract birds and conserve water
-eroded land turned into a forest
-being featured in a one book and in Better Homes and Gardens
-sending rootstock to David Austin’s breeding program
-speaking engagements around the world
-hugs from former customers who still bring me pictures of their gardens. …
-a wonderful wild garden full of birds and wildlife that started with a dead tree….. 　 　
The new January page is on my blog (http://olderrose.blogspot.com) and I should have the installment one attached by the end of the week...

New January piece!

I'm busy working on my new January piece (the magpie will be Feb) and am soooooooo excited because I finally can see how I can do the journal pieces and incorporate the story as well. I'm off today to the hardware store for some metal tubing and Michaels for matte board and the fabric store for felt...

I chose the birds theme because this May is the 30th anniversary of a personal commitment which took me on a wild journey....

Camera

I know Robin that I saw somewhere that you mentioned a camera you used and loved. Your photographs of beads are so great. Would you share again what your camera is? I'm about to upgrade and looking for recommendations so if anyone else has the camera of their dreams, would you jump in and mention it....

Gerry Krueger
Spokane, WA
http://olderrose.blogspot.com

Beading with a friend......

A friend and I get together about every 6-8 weeks and bead for an entire day. She always comes to my house so I don't have to drive and in turn I make her a gourmet lunch.. Today we had Moroccan lamb and a green salad with a chocolate orange tart for dessert..

Usually I'm lucky to get one necklace and earrings finished but today I was able to whip out three. All are from mismatched beads, thrift store pieces disassembled, and vintage jewelry restyled. Some of the beads on the green necklace are beads my DIL brought back for me from South Africa.

My apologies...

I did the exact same thing that drives me to distraction with others. I showed the piece and then forget to add the details until reminded in a comment. This is quite small...6"x6". Both the embroidery and the beadwork are done on the same piece of dyed and patched muslin. I did the embroidery first and then the beadwork. I did paint the button in the fan which is about 1 1/4 inch around.

For the record, I do really appreciate when people add sizes and other pertinent details about their posted work.

Start with a path!

This was my very first attempt at bead embroidery a couple years ago. I just knew from looking at Robin's work that I wanted to do this but did not have the foggiest idea where to begin. So I just started by making a bugle bead path that extends from the path on my painted button and I worked out from there...and before I knew it the piece was done.

When I took Robin's class this fall she said when she is without inspiration or an area is overwhelming she starts with a path and works out from there. I could hardly believe my ears. I believe in paths.....

So today I received an email from someone interested in bead embroidery and wanted my advice. Should she take an online class or buy one of Robin's books...I told her to skip the class and buy Robin's "Heart to Hands Bead Embroidery" since the first half is inspiration and the second half is technique.. Buy the book and make a path!!!!

Gerry K.

p.s. The neutral embroidered background is the fan's memory!!!

Doing an overview....

I set the quail aside and beaded the little nuthatch. We have both the pygmy and the red-breasted nuthatches. I chose the latter because it is so much more colorful. Then I decided to transfer all the designs I have sketched so far on muslin so I could see them all together. The quail is kinda static but I'm happy with the rest.

Gerry K.
Spokane, WA
http://olderrose.blogspot.com

Musical notes beads

How clever of you Robin to suggest polymer clay to make the beads.... I shall do that very thing and it opens all kinds of possibilities for unique beads.... You can watch for it on my future BJPs. Thank you

Gerry K.
Spokane, WA
http://olderrose

Second bird

I'm so charged up over this project that I was awake at 3am this morning to make some notes and sketches. Since the weather is so cold it is easy to sit by the wood stove and bead and stitch... I posted my progress on my blog this morning... http://olderrose.blogspot.com

Gerry Krueger
Spokane, WA
http://olderrose.blogspot.com/

2010 January BJP project done!!

Sorry about the incomplete link..... try http://olderrose.blogspot.com Gerry

2010 January BJP done!!!!

I was already signed up for BJP when I was able to take the wonderful class on bead embroidery in November from Robin Atkins... I came home so excited that I plunged ahead with my project. Since I have this one done I will be doing two pieces in January and will have one extra for a month that I run out of time. I chose 3 1/2 by 5 inches and it didn't take all that long with #11 beads. But Robin has me totally hooked on #15 beads and that takes a whole lot longer... If you wish you can see it at my blog.... http://olderrose.blogspot.com
Happy New Year everyone...

Gerry Krueger
Spokane, WA