Saturday, July 18, 2009

Bead Journal Pages - April and May

I have been doing pretty good keeping up with my pages, but I'm a little behind in photographing and blogging.



The pattern in the fabric I chose for April reminded me of a fountain, that brought back childhood memories of trips to the Disneyland Hotel and watching the 'Dancing Waters' show. It was one of the few things a family could experience that was free. The water and lights in the fountains were timed to 'dance' with classical and pop music. It was magical. Happy memories came with beading this piece. It includes glass seed beads in various sizes, 15/0 being the smallest as well as glass pearls.



As always... I took shots of the back.

May brought a new blessing into my life, a new granddaughter. My only child has 3 children of his own and this one was the last. This is the first one I have been here to watch grow from birth and I couldn't be happier. May is also the month in which my grandmother was born, she has been the most influential woman in my life. See died in 1998 at the age of 98, I miss her and think of her just as much today as 11 years ago. More importantly I feel her presence in my life as if she watches over me and my loved ones. So my page for May is dedicated to the love of family.



This page includes size 15/0 beads for the stems on the flowers, 3mm Swarovski bicones serve as the leaves on the flowers and the flowers themselves are 6mm Swarovski margarita beads. The angel is a beautiful vintage Swarovski pendant. Lots of crystal = lots of sparkle which I can't accurately capture on camera.



And here's the back of May.

13 comments:

Timaree said...

These are terrific Grace. I remember going to where things were free as a kid too. In San Diego that meant the zoo, museums (it was before prop 13) and the beach. I've seen fountains that do lights and fountain nozzles to music though and it can be mesmerizing.

Family is sooo important. I'm glad you get to be around so much for this grandchild. Eleven years is nothing for missing someone you love. I was awed when I heard the missing in my great-aunts voice when she talked about her daddy more than 50 years after he'd died.

Mary Timme said...

Very Cool. I like them both and the memories they have for you. Those crystals are difficult to catch on camera.

jerri said...

You are so very, very talented!

girlgonethreadwild said...

Jus' too sweet for words!!

Love the symbolism.. the EXPRESSION of days past.. and those NEW!

xo, me :)

KV said...

I really like both of these, Grace. They express a lot of joy and happiness!


Kathy V in NM

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Hi Grace.
Both pages are the perfect expression of your thoughts, I think. The first is exciting, just how you probably felt as a small girl watching the water fountain perform its antics.

And of COURSE the second page is so so sweet, just like the pics I've seen of your new spoiled....I mean grand baby.

XX, Carol

Doris said...

Love both pages, Grace, and both fabrics. I usually go for the bright, cheerful ones, like the one you used for April, but, right now, I'm obviously in a mellow, Shabby Chic-ish kind of mode. Your May page goes with that perfectly.

Robin said...

These are wonderful, Grace!

The April piece brought back fun memories of musical fountains in my life too. Thanks for that!!!

I love the simple beauty of your May piece... so sweet and such a great acknowledgement of the importance of your family and two special people born in May.

pam ehlers stec said...

These are wonderful! The beaded fountain is so joyful and happy. I really like the May piece as well. It's so delicate and lovely. What a wonderful tribute to your family.

GraceBeading said...

Thanks so much for your feedback and memories, I appreciate it!

Timaree - so true, my grandma lost her husband almost 60 years before she died. She never remarried and I remember her talking about him in just about every conversation we ever had. She loved him so much.

Thanks again everyone.

Anonymous said...

Way to go Grace! I'm about to give up on mine mainly because I'm not doing well with the whole weight loss thing and that's what my BJP was supposed to be about. I'm ashamed to work on it anymore.

Beadily yours
Susan Feldkamp
nightbeaderatlarge.blogspot.com

Marty S said...

Two wonderful pages. I love the way the background fabric and your beading are so well integrated.
Marty S
Crackpot Beader

Pursuing Art... said...

I like both these pages so much, Grace! I remember the fountain at Disneyland myself...it was mesmerizing. You portrayed the water well...love the colors and the different sized beads.

I adore your May page and all it signifies for you! I like the simple flowers blooming, the clouds, the rosebud fabric and the special angel pendant...it's lovely! XO ~Lisa

Leaves of Grass

This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body - Walt Whitman