Thursday, February 25, 2010

February complete a little early this time!

I'm not usually ahead of schedule when it comes to these pages. Unfortunately with school and work and everything else in my life, beading isn't a priority. So I'm very happy to have finished this months page BEFORE the end of the month, instead of half way through the next...

To continue with the theme of meditation which I chose for this year, I was inspired by the idea of a zen stone garden. So I went through my collection of tumbled stones, and found 5 which I thought went well together and yet were all unique. I worked on a nice layout between them, traced the placement on the ultrasuede, and started by beading around the forms in colours drawn from the stones.



Once I got to the background, I found that it reminded me of a stream with water flowing around the rocks. I haven't researched, but I seem to remember that it does have something to do with the meaning of the zen garden.

Anyway, I had a lot of fun doing the background, pulling an even broader range of colours, still based of the stones. I also found it rather meditative working this part. Just a side benefit...



I decided, from the beginning, that I had to leave the stones off until the end. It would have been too heavy, for one, and for two, it would have been almost impossible to work around them. So I was very excited to see the finished product. It's just a shame that it's so cloudy here today, and the colours of the stones don't come out so well in the photo.



Now I just have to figure out what to do for next month... :-D

13 comments:

Cyndi L said...

Absolutely lovely, Joanna! I can see the ripples of possibilities spreading out from each stone. The colors are so tranquil...makes me want to dive right in.

Anonymous said...

This is beautiful, and definitely meditative and peaceful! It has flow, always peaceful to me. I'm wondering, how did you attach the stones in the end?

Robin said...

Right from the very start, this is a bit of calm! Something I need right now, so thanks! At every stage of this piece, the meditation, the Zen garden feel, the flow of energy is apparent! I love it!

kaiteM said...

A beautiful calm and flowing piece, and i really enjoyed seeing the various progress photos too. I like your frame, that's a clever idea. Kaite

Carol Creech said...

I just love this. Gorgeous colors, soothing and meditative. I can see how it would have been peaceful to work on! I liked seeing that you added the stones at the end - I have tended to put my stones or whatever on first and bead around them. I'm also curious as to how you attached them.

Sweetpea said...

Yes, this page has such a great feeling...all tranquil and *liquidey*...and I totally understand your description of calmness beading the water, like you were flowing back & forth, back & forth, which is just how I feel viewing this piece. Well done!

Joanna L. said...

Thank you all for the feedback. Glad others can feel the calm, too!

I attached the stones with Beacon 527 multi-use glue. Not my favorite product for reasons of toxicity and fumes, but there are times where you have to use a product because nothing else will work. I'm not sure the stones would stay on if the piece would have to be moved regularly, but I don't think there's a glue in existence which would. Since I'm going to mount the pages in a frame once they're all done, I just want them to stay enough for that.

Carol said...

Beautiful. Love the ripples.

I wold love to know: how did you attach the stones?

Jody said...

Beautifully done, bravo!!!

robin michelle said...

A lovely piece! Very calm and peaceful feeling. Thanks for the sharing how you designed it, I liked seeing your pictures of the process.

beadbabe49 said...

I love, love, love the colors of this piece!

Bobbi Ann said...

This is so beautiful and peaceful to the soul. Very lovely!

Magpie Sue said...

Ooo, I find this very peaceful. Just like a sand garden. May have to make one of these for myself someday...