Destiny-October 2014 BJP

"Destiny"

 October 2014 BJP

     This months bead journal project has been a ton of fun to do. Ten months into this years BJP challenge and I'm excited to share my project once again.  I blindly picked "destiny" from my stash of 12 discs I'd chosen to use as part of my years theme-"chasing time." The  time piece is included and once again is a movable component and has been part of the entire years pieces. 

 

                            Destiny is my Retirement!  

      I had planned to work 3 more years before retiring however challenges at work and home changed our plan leading to an early retirement. 

 

 

     The spiral path leads to the pearl in the middle.  To me the pearl is me who grew and developed and is now reaping the rewards of retirement which I look forward too.  My rewards include being able to assist with family needs specifically helping out with my in-laws as they need more assistance; taking care of my health, being able to work on my hobbies which include beading, quilting, writing, reading, family and friends.  

 

     The turning time piece moves and catches the rewards and blessings of my retirement represented as me:

                                             The Pearl

      I could not have summed up my road to retirement any better then how a pearl is developed.   An article written  at  How Stuff Works (http://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/question630.htm) sums up the life cycle of the beautiful pearl which for me ultimately relates to my past year prior to retirement starting with traveling a lot, being bullied, severe pain with arthritis, plantar faciitis, and finally not being available to assist when my husband  had to take days off of work in a short period of time to take his parents to numerous  appointments while his work was extremely busy.  

     The article states, "Pearls are found inside a living creature, an oyster. Pearls are the result of a biological process -- the oyster's way of protecting itself from foreign substances. The formation of a natural pearl begins when a foreign substance slips into the oyster between the mantle and the shell, which irritate­s the mantle. It's kind of like the oyster getting a splinter. The oyster's natural reaction is to cover up that irritant to protect itself. The man­tle covers the irritant with layers of the same nacre substance that is used to create the shell. This eventually forms a pearl. So a pearl is a foreign substance covered with layers of nacre." It is truly amazing how something that starts out as an irritant develops into something so beautiful.

 

     The two hearts in the left corner represent the love and respect I have every single moment of every single day for my husband who is my best friend. He has been a partner in my life for 34 years.  

     The intentional asymmetry of the piece is a personal reminder for me things don't  always need to be black and white and to accept all that is good and reject the rest. 

        I've completed my 2nd week of retirement as of today!  I've already begun to improved my eating habits, gotten back to the gym, reconnected with some dear friends and family; spent time beading, quilting, and reading all while my husband says I simply glow.  

 

"Destiny is my Retirement"

September-Wander

Wander

BJP- 2014

BJP 2014

It wasn't clear what my September project would reveal to me until starting it.  Wander was the tag pulled out for this month. As I began to embellish the felted piece it became clear the piece would tell the tale of how Alzheimer's disease has attached itself to my family.  

My introduction to the debilitating disease was more than 30 years ago when being introduced to my future grandfather in-law.  He was severely affected. He didn't speak, his eyes were not engaged.  He looked at the ground and his feet wanted to move. It was frightening to wonder how someone could live in a world absent of connection.  Lo and behold did I know I'd be surrounded by the dreadful disease in the near future.

Family members who have lost their lives who've been affected by dementia or Alzheimer's include:

Grandpa Grandon

Grandma Banta

 Uncle Jim Banta

 

Those that are touching our lives everyday, again all in laws:

My Mother-in-law Pat Grandon

Cousin Jim Banta Jr.

 

To each of them I dedicate my September BJP piece: Wander 

 

This piece is felted, embroidery is applied as are beads.The couching train is the wandering train of the mind of Alzheimer's, the changes that take place and the chaos of it all. 

 

The time piece is movable and shown as a piece representing how slowly time ticks away once changes from the disease start.  For some it is slower than others. 

A current study of 10 Alzheimer's affected patients has promise.  I've encouraged my husband to take a look at it and perhaps challenge himself to follow the program to offset any potential affliction himself.  I will walk with him side by side to roadblock any chance he'd become a victim to this dreadful disease; even if it means some day he will do yoga or meditation.

UCLA study: Non-drug treatment may reverse memory loss in Alzheimer's patients

http://6abc.com/337057/ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspire August 2014 BJP

August 2014 BJP

Inspire

 

Inspire was motivated by the work we are doing to our front yard.  We will have possession of our home one year this coming October.  We've completely remodeled the inside and officially moved in in March of 2014. The front yard had been a project that was put on the list of things to do, but had very low priority.  This project is now front and center!  It is very exciting to see the project coming along.  

The colors of Inspire represent happy colors for me.  Our front door is a muted pumpkin spice color.  There will be a fragrant garden around a small courtyard near the front door.  I am hoping we will attract a lot of butterflies!

         

The time piece is movable and symbolizes steady movement and consistency leading to success.  The edging is a ruffle stitch.

 

 I really like the blue with the and green french knots and fringe stitch around his corner of the piece.  The orange squares are like stepping stones surrounding the piece.

It has been a lot of fun learning how the beads tell the story and lay the way they will.  Working within the story of the beads takes patience, doesn't allow for force and allows me to 'feel' the piece I'm working on. 

 

Yard Pictures

Before the fence came down and opened the yard.

 The new courtyard

The walk way from the sidewalk and home of water fountain

We will bring this piece home next Saturday.

I hope you've enjoyed this months journal project!

 

 

.

ARTFUL July BJP

                       

ARTFUL

 July BJP 

July had been an extremely difficult time for me in my professional life.  I have been the victim of bullying in the work place. The difficulties carried over into August. Only now; the beginning of September; are things becoming bearable, tolerable  and manageable.   I would never in my wildest dreams had imagined that I'd be a victim of such mistreatment, but I was/am.

This piece reflects the struggles I've tolerated.   It reflects questions about what is Grey verse Black and White when it comes to job duties and responsibilities.  I am an RN, highly educated and certified to do the work I do, which is education.  I am in charge of the education program of all staff surrounding an innovation grant awarded to a large corporation in California from the Centers of Medicare Innovation (CMMI). The goal  of the program is to empower elderly patients to provide self care which ultimately leads to fewer unnecessary hospitalizations.  The result is billions of Medicare dollars saved. 

I won't go into detail of the bullying other then to say, if you are unhappy going to work, lack the confidence you had to do your job, cry at work, feel unsupported, receive inappropriate emails and phone calls from co-workers; you too may be the victim of bullying.  Most companies do not tolerate this activity.  One of the hardest things to do is tell someone. Do yourself a favor and tell!  It is hard but worth it.  Things are turning around for me in my job now that my HR and management team are able to support me. 

This piece is reflective of the Black, White and Grey of all things.  The time piece is moveable like all others for this year's BJPs.  As the piece is turned the clock points to the white here and the grey below. 

The Artful tab was difficult to work with.  My husband selected it from the remaining tabs for the year.  I had to really think about how to incorporate Artful and Bullying together within the same piece.  For me Artful was and continues to be my sense of grace to my leadership team for their support and kindness while keeping from my staff my issue.  

Please tell someone if you think you are being bullied!  Here is a website to help identify if you're being bullied and helps in next steps to take:

http://www.workplacebullying.org/individuals/problem/being-bullied/ 

June-Listen to Your Creative Self

Listen to Your Creative Self 

     I have wanted to learn how to do crazy quilting from the time I was in high school (a few years ago at least).  During my selection for the June journal project Listen was chosen as my token for my bead journal theme. The decision was made to incorporate my crazy quilting lessons with the bead journal project by listening to my creative self and putting together two of the things I love to do.  The results are pleasing. 

 Here are some details of the stitches I learned and you can see the movable time piece that was included.  

Here is more detail of the piece. 

     The month of June was a time to let my creative self, who'd been begging to emerge, come out. When we purchased our new home there was no indication that I'd have both a beading studio AND a sewing room.  My sewing room was going to originally be my "walk in closet".  But because this was a year for simplification (January project) I had given away a ton of clothes which left an open room.  I now have a beautiful sewing room.  It is amazing how that space has awaken my creative self.  I find I am listening to the voice that says "the whole thing doesn't have to have beads on it to be part of the bead journal project".  And listening to the idea that learning is part of the journey.  

    I still don't have enough time to enjoy what I do however, I'm learning to listen and trust my creative self more. 

May-Breath

Just Breath

Just Breath was created by stepping out of the box and being bold with color, using Shibori ribbon for the first time,and using the cute little clam beads.  I like the effect.  

 The moving time piece in the lilly pond is the movable component that captures the movement of the water. 

     Just Breath has been all about taking time to relax.  The golden Shibori ribbon represents the "road to catching time".

This piece was extremely enjoyable to make.  The intension was to listen to the beads and bead in the negative space without overcrowding the space but filling it up smoothly, and loosely. 

     During the month of May the home we'd been living in for 13 years and the home we went back and forth between for the past several months while renovations were taking place, went into escrow.  It is bitter sweet to be in the final chapter of a year long process of buying, renovating and selling our home.   Almost all boxes are unpacked. Now there are flowers to be planted and memories to be made.

                          It is time to JUST BREATH!

April Showers Bring May Flowers

BELIEVE

 in the power of nature

California has had a very real scare this winter which could have led to a dramatic drought for us this summer.  Mother nature decided to give us rain, albeit not quiet enough but definitely more than anticipated or even thought possible a few short weeks ago.

The Frog symbolizes for me a water dweller and protector.  I Believe he will do all he can to protect the precious commodity of my states water and is a symbol to me to never forget how precious it is. 

I wanted to work on beading looser and more freely.  I selected beads and put them together like I've never done before.  I'm usually more monochromatic or lean towards opposites.  I love the current effect of beading loosely, of the bead sizes and colors together.

I did a different edging and tried to learn how the beads behave. The clock parts are movable in this piece just as in all others for this years BJP theme.

There is always 

"Time to Believe"

Moving Day

Moving Day

 

March has been a difficult month for us.  We purchased a home June of 2013.  Renovations began November 2013.  We fired our contractor at the end of January; removing the obstacle in our way to moving day!  There was a lot of chaos and humming of workers as we got closer to moving. We never anticipated wearing the contractor hat, but we did.  5 months later we had no earthly idea we'd have such a difficult time moving our cat, Romeo.

Romeo decided on moving day he was not coming with us!  We moved is sister easily.  Well, pretty easily, she meowed all the way home!  Romeo wasn't having anything to do with the moving box we put together for him. He punched through it twice.  It was decided perhaps he'd come with me on day three.  No way man!  He was suspicious, eyes darting back and forth when rubbing his ears.  Day four I contacted a friend who had a pet trap and since she was part of the feral cat society I asked for recommendations to trapping the cat to bring him to his new home.  Sardines she says, they work.  

Trap set, sardines in place during my lunch hour I returned after work.  To my surprise the trap had been tripped and the sardines were gone however there was one problem, Romeo wasn't in the trap!!  He wouldn't come near me after what I can imagine a day he'd had.  Dejected, I left with him staying alone in the house for a fourth night.  

Day 5 daddy went to get him.  He walked in the house and announced to scared Romeo...."Romeo, today is moving day" after about an hour and half, over the counter relaxation herbs for cats and tons of trial and error Romeo's ass was kicked into the cage and brought home to us!  

It has been 4 weeks now and he is finally settling in.  He is back to trying to assist me with my beading projects! 

Romeo finally moved in!

He has truly taught us to simplify! 

Cherish Time

Cherish Time

The first of this month a dear friend lost her life very unexpectedly.  She was a vibrant, healthy, happy woman.  One day she didn't feel well, a few days later she was gone.  She reminded me how precious every single moment is and to cherish each moment as if it were the last.  The sayings "live life to it's fullest" or "live like it is your last day" are so true!

Besides the passing of my friend; this month has been particularly difficult as it marks 8 years since the passing of my father, whom I miss tremendously. While sleeping on the floor of his hospital room waiting for him to go to the light (die) I had a vision or dream.  In that vision I saw my dad on the path to heaven holding hands with two of my brothers while my third brother skipped along the path.  My dad was walking without pain; smiling and laughter could be heard.  The path was marked with the most beautiful flowers and trees.  My dad turned back, looked at me and smiled his crooked smile before he turned and began walking down the path to heaven.  At that moment in time I knew his soul had left his body and that he was reunited completed with my brothers who greeted him and took him to the light. I woke and was with him when he took his last few breaths a few moments later. The vision I was provided will always be treasured.  

This project although dedicated to Debra Drabert, also honors the vision I was given during the passing of my father. My wish for her on her journey is that her angels, family and friends greeted her and walked with her to heaven.

While working on this project, my uncle Frank lost his life on earth too.  Peace be with you Uncle Frank!

Barbara

                                     "Chasing Time"

January has been a continuation of the past few months.  I've been chasing time.  Today my neighbor actually received his Christmas gift.   In his case time actually passed me by.  This entire month has been filled with suitcases which are never completely emptied because I'm home for a day and out again for a few.  Days off are spent with contractors to make sure our home renovations is going on schedule (which is behind by several weeks!).  Work projects are being completed the night before due.

It is crazy to take up the challenge of committing to a bead journal.  On the other hand it is crazy NOT to.  The time spent this month coming up with a theme, gathering beads and components and actually taking a bead embroidery were exactly what the doctor ordered.  Some element of sanity was added to my schedule while I continued to chase time.