Learning a Lesson From a Newbie

A few weeks ago, I started practicing for the BJP. I wanted to make sure I knew what I was doing and what I was in for. I wanted to plan my size and work out my theme. I visited the library, the bookstore and the Internet for instructions on the proper way to do bead embroidery. I was quite busy and all excited.

My inspiration for wanting to learn Bead Embroidery came a few years ago, when I learned my in-laws had a trunk of beads in their basement that had belonged to my Father-in-law's Mother. Grandma's beads were originally used by her, she hand beaded garments for a clothing designer way back when (the dates are a bit fuzzy but it was evidently before the 1960's). About a year ago, the basement flooded and when we went to help clean out the basement, I got to take these beads home. I went through them and took an inventory, this took a few days because there were so many. I really felt that I could do something with them for the women in my husband's family (it's a huge family too). Something to honor their Grandma, something that she would have made for them if she were still here. So, I joined BJP to learn all I could. Once I am confident in my ability to make something beautiful, that will be another Wish fulfilled and a huge project for me to undertake.

So, on to the BJP. I planned my theme, "Reflections of Me". Each month I would reveal a piece of myself in my work, whether it was something I loved or how I was feeling, or what I wanted to learn. I figured my possibilities would be broad enough to find 12 pieces worth making and still be able to learn a ton of things on the way. My size was to be 4 x 6". But after seeing those tiny seed beads on the fabric, I freaked out that it would take me too long and I'd fall behind, so I went to a smaller 4 x 4" square. This works out great. Not too big to fall behind and get frustrated and small enough to keep my interest.

I started my first project, a bit ambitiously in my opinion. I found a small mirror that was used on my daughter's dresser and glued it to my piece. I tried to do the beading around it and I just didn't like how it turned out, but decided to keep it there so that I could learn from the mistake. I then continued beading my design. All done (didn't take long) and was ready to trim and put the backing on. Here is where I got scared. " Trim close to the beads and stitches without cutting your stitches" ~ right? Yeah, I should have NOT done this in the evening because I DID trim the stitches! Yes, it was ruined! I had to pull out all those tiny little beads that were sewn on so tight. So, I am back to square one. Since I was pulling out stitches everywhere else, I figured I'd do the bezel on the mirror too. I just wanted to cry....

I considered scrapping the whole thing and just start again on something else. But, this is the one I wanted to start with. So I have to basically start over. I had to put it away for a while but, I think I will be ready to restart tomorrow. Now I know NOT to trim in the evening, to make sure I have enough light to see what I am doing and where I am cutting.