I'm sorry, Kaytee... After some consideration, I removed the three slide shows and the widget which you posted to our blog for two reasons... one, because they didn't seem to be BJP related and two, because early on we set a blog guideline that there would be no slide shows due to loading time and space taken.
I hope you'll put this type of item on your own personal blog. You are very welcome to post links to slide shows of your work (even if it's not BJP related) on this blog. Please understand and not take this personally in any way.
Robin A.
Showing posts with label A1.protocol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A1.protocol. Show all posts
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
No Moving Pictures, Please
With apologies to those who enjoy moving pictures, I'm requesting that we do not post them on the BJP blog. Please feel free to post movies on your own blog and then put a link on the BJP blog.
The most important reason for this is that we are a HUGE blog with 892 posts already. Movies take up a lot of the limited space allowed by Blogger. I wouldn't want us to get cut off by Blogger.
The other reason is that many of our member do not have high speed Internet. For those of us who don't have this luxury, movies cause the blog to load very slowly, which is frustrating when you want to check for new posts on a daily basis.
Thank you for respecting this request. Robin A.
The most important reason for this is that we are a HUGE blog with 892 posts already. Movies take up a lot of the limited space allowed by Blogger. I wouldn't want us to get cut off by Blogger.
The other reason is that many of our member do not have high speed Internet. For those of us who don't have this luxury, movies cause the blog to load very slowly, which is frustrating when you want to check for new posts on a daily basis.
Thank you for respecting this request. Robin A.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Review of BJP Rules
There are only four rules of participation in the Bead Journal Project:
Happy fall (or spring, depending on your location) and happy beading. Our first four months have been beyond my wildest dreams, and the word AMAZING is just not big enough to accurately describe the process so far! Thank you and bless you...
Robin A, your BJP coordinator
1. You must complete 12 projects by May 31, 2008, which is one year from the starting date of June 1, 2007. If you skip a month for any reason, you'll have to make it up some time during the year.That's it. You do not have to write a blog, or post to the BJP blog, or post to Flickr (although that's been part of the fun for so many of us). Just do the beading!
2. All pieces must be the same size (not down to the micron... but close). If you are working with a rectangular shape, the orientation doesn't have to be consistent... your 12 pieces can include both vertical and horizontal orientation.
3. All pieces must include beads/beading of some type. However, they do not have to be beaded solidly. It is not required that the beading be bead embroidery or improvisational. Other techniques of beading are permissible.
4. Somehow your pieces must include the concept of "visual journaling." However, it is not required, or even suggested, that you make a book-style journal, only that your pieces reflect something personal or some sort of statement about yourself during each month. You are not required to write a journal or blog to accompany your 12 pieces, although some members are doing this.
There are many possibilities for "presentation" of your 12 journal pieces... the choice is completely up to you. Some ideas include: make them into a quilt, frame them, mount them on pages in a book form, put them in a special box. One member is making a beaded button for each month, and will make a garment using all 12 of them. Another member will sew her 12 pieces onto a pillow.
Happy fall (or spring, depending on your location) and happy beading. Our first four months have been beyond my wildest dreams, and the word AMAZING is just not big enough to accurately describe the process so far! Thank you and bless you...
Robin A, your BJP coordinator
Friday, July 20, 2007
Adding "Labels" to Your Posts
If you go to the side bar on the left, and scroll down until you see a drop-down window, you can click on the little arrow to see all of the "Lables" or "Topics" for our posts. Just now, I thinned the list a little, removing almost all of the labels that were not used more than 5 times. I hope nobody will be ticked at me about this... it's because the list was getting so long that it was difficult to find any one topic.
ADDING NEW LABLES/TOPICS
When you add a new topic to your post, it automatically gets placed on the drop-down list, and others can use it as well. Please, only add new topics that you think will be useful to others. Keep the topic brief and general.
Examples:
Don't add "August Bead Journal Project" as a topic. It's too long. Rather just add "August." (Note ~ I changed all of the variations on June's page to simply "June," and the same for "July.")
Don't add "How to sew on charms" as a topic. It's too long and too specific. Instead, call it "techniques," which is already an option.
Please don't add specific individual names. There are too many of us to start that.
PLEASE LABEL YOUR POSTS:
Labeling your post will help us to find it in the future. For example, if you wanted to take a look at everyone's June page, you would select "June" from the drop down topic menu. This would display all of the posts with this label but none of the other posts on our blog.
HOW TO LABEL YOUR POSTS:
At the bottom, right-hand corner of the post window you can see "Show all" next to a blank window. Click on "Show all" to reveal the possible labels (topics) already on the list. Click on any of the existing labels you feel apply to your post. After each click, the label will appear in the window, and you have labeled your post. Add a new label to the list by typing it into the window (see above for guidelines).
Thanks very much for your attention to this "housekeeping detail".... I appreciate it! Robin A.
ADDING NEW LABLES/TOPICS
When you add a new topic to your post, it automatically gets placed on the drop-down list, and others can use it as well. Please, only add new topics that you think will be useful to others. Keep the topic brief and general.
Examples:
Don't add "August Bead Journal Project" as a topic. It's too long. Rather just add "August." (Note ~ I changed all of the variations on June's page to simply "June," and the same for "July.")
Don't add "How to sew on charms" as a topic. It's too long and too specific. Instead, call it "techniques," which is already an option.
Please don't add specific individual names. There are too many of us to start that.
PLEASE LABEL YOUR POSTS:
Labeling your post will help us to find it in the future. For example, if you wanted to take a look at everyone's June page, you would select "June" from the drop down topic menu. This would display all of the posts with this label but none of the other posts on our blog.
HOW TO LABEL YOUR POSTS:
At the bottom, right-hand corner of the post window you can see "Show all" next to a blank window. Click on "Show all" to reveal the possible labels (topics) already on the list. Click on any of the existing labels you feel apply to your post. After each click, the label will appear in the window, and you have labeled your post. Add a new label to the list by typing it into the window (see above for guidelines).
Thanks very much for your attention to this "housekeeping detail".... I appreciate it! Robin A.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Reminder
I'm going to say this--(so Robin doesn't have to)--she asked us to not post photos of works in progress (or finished pages) here until September 2007, so this a reminder. It is ok to post them on your own blog, tho.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, Robin
Happy beading all...
Please correct me if I'm wrong, Robin
Happy beading all...
June 5, and I Haven't Started Yet + Request
The title says it all. The good news is that soon I'll have a week in MN, visiting my 90-year old Mom, with lots of time to bead. All I have to do is gather some favorite beads and stuff, put it all in a project box, and open it when I get there. The next step will be to pick up a bead I love, and sew it on somewhere. (That's my mantra for getting started.)
Here is my request... If you are posting work in progress or finished BJP pages on your website or blog, will you PLEASE write a short post about it here and provide a link to the appropriate page? Thanks so much!
Here is my request... If you are posting work in progress or finished BJP pages on your website or blog, will you PLEASE write a short post about it here and provide a link to the appropriate page? Thanks so much!
Posted by Robin A.
Friday, June 1, 2007
FAQ ~ Frequently Asked Questions
As I've been registering all of you for the BJP, there have been many questions. Everyone seems to be getting into this pretty smoothly. But just in case, here are a few of the questions that have come up many times.
Q. Do I have to turn in my piece every month?
A. No.
Q. How do I report that I finished my journal page at the end of the month?
A. There is no BJP police force. You do not have to report to anybody except yourself.
Q. What if I don’t finish my page by the end of the month?
A. Again, there is no PBJ police force. Try to keep yourself on schedule as best you can.
Q. Can I start my page before the beginning of the month?
A. Sure. Try to pace yourself, one piece per month.
Q. Can I publish pictures of my journal pages on the web?
A. Yes, but not on the BJP blog until after September 1st. You can publish pictures of your work on your own blog, website, or any other site any time you wish.
Q. Is there a charge for being part of the BJP?
A. No, not for the 2007-2008 BJP.
Q. Do I have to do solid bead embroidery or can the beading surface show?
A. This is entirely up to you. You don’t even have to do bead embroidery. You could do some type of bead weaving. You must use some beads on each month’s journal page.
Q. What do you mean by page?
A. Think of it as “page” (not literal), or maybe “piece.” It could be three dimensional, as in a doll form. You must pick a size/shape and stick with it for the entire year.
Q. What if I have to drop out?
A. We’ll miss you. Please let me know via email if you decide to drop out of the BJP.
Q. After I finish all 12 pages, do I have to bind them into a journal?
A. No, but you may if you wish.
Q. Is it OK if I’m just a beginning beader?
A. Yes. There are several beginners in the group. Like everybody else, you start at a certain level and hopefully stretch yourself both technically and creatively during the twelve months of the BJP.
Q. Can all 12 pieces be part of the same large piece? Can I divide one piece of cloth into 12 sections and bead one per month?
A. Yes.
Q. Will there be any instructions or a tutorial about how to bind our journals when we finish?
A. Not officially. There are many possible ways to bind pages, and some members don’t want to bind their work at all. But if you want assistance, you can ask other members for help by posting on the BJP blog.
Q. Do I need to write in a journal or on my BJP monthly page?
A. You may if you wish. Think of this as a visual journal. Try to express yourself with color, shapes, lines, forms. Words are OK too. A companion written journal to your bead journal pages might be nice.
Q. I have a friend who just heard about the BJP. Can she join?
A. Sorry, official membership closed May 30th for the 2007 BJP. Your friend can participate unofficially and is welcome to read the BJP blog.
Q. Do I have to have a website or blog; and do I have to read/write on the BJP blog?
A. No. The important core of the BJP is to challenge yourself to grow as an artist. The way to move in that direction is to create 12 bead journal pages, one per month for a year. Everything else is gravy; you can take it or leave it.
Q. Do I have to turn in my piece every month?
A. No.
Q. How do I report that I finished my journal page at the end of the month?
A. There is no BJP police force. You do not have to report to anybody except yourself.
Q. What if I don’t finish my page by the end of the month?
A. Again, there is no PBJ police force. Try to keep yourself on schedule as best you can.
Q. Can I start my page before the beginning of the month?
A. Sure. Try to pace yourself, one piece per month.
Q. Can I publish pictures of my journal pages on the web?
A. Yes, but not on the BJP blog until after September 1st. You can publish pictures of your work on your own blog, website, or any other site any time you wish.
Q. Is there a charge for being part of the BJP?
A. No, not for the 2007-2008 BJP.
Q. Do I have to do solid bead embroidery or can the beading surface show?
A. This is entirely up to you. You don’t even have to do bead embroidery. You could do some type of bead weaving. You must use some beads on each month’s journal page.
Q. What do you mean by page?
A. Think of it as “page” (not literal), or maybe “piece.” It could be three dimensional, as in a doll form. You must pick a size/shape and stick with it for the entire year.
Q. What if I have to drop out?
A. We’ll miss you. Please let me know via email if you decide to drop out of the BJP.
Q. After I finish all 12 pages, do I have to bind them into a journal?
A. No, but you may if you wish.
Q. Is it OK if I’m just a beginning beader?
A. Yes. There are several beginners in the group. Like everybody else, you start at a certain level and hopefully stretch yourself both technically and creatively during the twelve months of the BJP.
Q. Can all 12 pieces be part of the same large piece? Can I divide one piece of cloth into 12 sections and bead one per month?
A. Yes.
Q. Will there be any instructions or a tutorial about how to bind our journals when we finish?
A. Not officially. There are many possible ways to bind pages, and some members don’t want to bind their work at all. But if you want assistance, you can ask other members for help by posting on the BJP blog.
Q. Do I need to write in a journal or on my BJP monthly page?
A. You may if you wish. Think of this as a visual journal. Try to express yourself with color, shapes, lines, forms. Words are OK too. A companion written journal to your bead journal pages might be nice.
Q. I have a friend who just heard about the BJP. Can she join?
A. Sorry, official membership closed May 30th for the 2007 BJP. Your friend can participate unofficially and is welcome to read the BJP blog.
Q. Do I have to have a website or blog; and do I have to read/write on the BJP blog?
A. No. The important core of the BJP is to challenge yourself to grow as an artist. The way to move in that direction is to create 12 bead journal pages, one per month for a year. Everything else is gravy; you can take it or leave it.
Posted by Robin A
Saturday, May 26, 2007
BJP Announcements + Thanks!
Hi Everyone!
Participants ~ Just a quick note to let you know our group, started only 3 weeks ago with a single post on my blog, now has 154 participants - way, way more than I thought we might get! Heavens... we already have 99 posts on this BJP blog, which is more than I've managed to write on my personal blog in a whole year. Way to go!!!
Deadline ~ I want to remind you all, in case you have friends who are thinking about joining, that the dealine is only 4 days from now... May 30th. I'm planning to be firm about the deadline.
Posting pictures of our bead journal pages ~ I've been following the discussions about showing picturs vs. not showing pictures. I'd like to propose a three month grace period... Let's not show any in-progress or finished project pictures until after September 1st on this blog. You are welcome to show pictures on your own blog or website before that, and you are welcome to make an announcement about it with a link on this blog. That way anybody who wants to see can go take a look; those who don't want to see don't have to look. After September 1, we can all post pictures here if we wish. Does this plan sound OK?
Thanks ~ Some of you have been writing some very complimentary things about me and my books here... BLUSH... I just want to thank you so much and also to thank you for giving your energy, heart and time to this project. We will have a fantastic journey together!
Participants ~ Just a quick note to let you know our group, started only 3 weeks ago with a single post on my blog, now has 154 participants - way, way more than I thought we might get! Heavens... we already have 99 posts on this BJP blog, which is more than I've managed to write on my personal blog in a whole year. Way to go!!!
Deadline ~ I want to remind you all, in case you have friends who are thinking about joining, that the dealine is only 4 days from now... May 30th. I'm planning to be firm about the deadline.
Posting pictures of our bead journal pages ~ I've been following the discussions about showing picturs vs. not showing pictures. I'd like to propose a three month grace period... Let's not show any in-progress or finished project pictures until after September 1st on this blog. You are welcome to show pictures on your own blog or website before that, and you are welcome to make an announcement about it with a link on this blog. That way anybody who wants to see can go take a look; those who don't want to see don't have to look. After September 1, we can all post pictures here if we wish. Does this plan sound OK?
Thanks ~ Some of you have been writing some very complimentary things about me and my books here... BLUSH... I just want to thank you so much and also to thank you for giving your energy, heart and time to this project. We will have a fantastic journey together!
Posted by Robin
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Using "Labels" When You Write a Post
What Are Labels?
This is our filing system. It's a feature that can be very helpful for locating specific posts, especially down the road a bit. Already, in just two weeks, we have nearly 70 posts to this blog. How many will we have in a year?? Could be thousands!
How Do Labels Work?
When viewing our blog, labels appear in the side bar as a drop-down menu called Topics. If you want to review the discussions about a certain topic, let's say "bead embroidery," then you go to the Topics area of the side bar, click on the drop down arrow, and click on "bead embroidery." As a result, only the posts which have the "bead embroidery" label will show up. If you're not familiar with this blog feature, you might want to try it now.
How Can I Assign a Label when I write a Post?
At the bottom of the posting window, there is a thing called Labels for this post, a blank window, and the words "show all." Click on show all to see label choices. Click on one that applies to your post. It will now show up in the blank window. If more than one label applies to your post, repeat this process.
Can I Add a New Label?
Yes, but please, please give careful consideration to the wording of the label. Only add a new label if you think others will find it useful. We don't want a whole bunch of file folders with only one post in them. Labels should be general topics that we will all use. Because we have well over 100 author/participants, I suggest we not use individual names of participants as labels.
What are A. Labels?
A. labels, are for posts that should be read by all participants. These are the ones that are like Announcements; they are topics which might be referenced over and over again. So far we have A1. Protocol (which refers to rules or guidelines for posting and/or participating) and A2. Posting how-to. Please do not add any A. labels, without first contacting Robin, the project administrator.
Removing Labels
I have to admit that this morning, I went through the posts and removed some labels because I wanted to make labeling more consistent and more general. I'd like to keep the total number of labels under 25, if possible.
Thank you!
Thanks for remembering to label your posts, and for your attention to keeping our filing system useful for all of us.
This is our filing system. It's a feature that can be very helpful for locating specific posts, especially down the road a bit. Already, in just two weeks, we have nearly 70 posts to this blog. How many will we have in a year?? Could be thousands!
How Do Labels Work?
When viewing our blog, labels appear in the side bar as a drop-down menu called Topics. If you want to review the discussions about a certain topic, let's say "bead embroidery," then you go to the Topics area of the side bar, click on the drop down arrow, and click on "bead embroidery." As a result, only the posts which have the "bead embroidery" label will show up. If you're not familiar with this blog feature, you might want to try it now.
How Can I Assign a Label when I write a Post?
At the bottom of the posting window, there is a thing called Labels for this post, a blank window, and the words "show all." Click on show all to see label choices. Click on one that applies to your post. It will now show up in the blank window. If more than one label applies to your post, repeat this process.
Can I Add a New Label?
Yes, but please, please give careful consideration to the wording of the label. Only add a new label if you think others will find it useful. We don't want a whole bunch of file folders with only one post in them. Labels should be general topics that we will all use. Because we have well over 100 author/participants, I suggest we not use individual names of participants as labels.
What are A. Labels?
A. labels, are for posts that should be read by all participants. These are the ones that are like Announcements; they are topics which might be referenced over and over again. So far we have A1. Protocol (which refers to rules or guidelines for posting and/or participating) and A2. Posting how-to. Please do not add any A. labels, without first contacting Robin, the project administrator.
Removing Labels
I have to admit that this morning, I went through the posts and removed some labels because I wanted to make labeling more consistent and more general. I'd like to keep the total number of labels under 25, if possible.
Thank you!
Thanks for remembering to label your posts, and for your attention to keeping our filing system useful for all of us.
posted by Robin
Monday, May 21, 2007
Inspirations and Pictures!
The picture above is an improvisational bead embroidery piece by a good friend, Christy Hinkle. (Be sure to click to enlarge!) This is her first completed piece since taking my bead embroidery class. I'm so very proud of her! It's framed in a shadow box and graces her living room. I wanted you to see it, because it feels like it could be a journal page. I don't know if Christy is going to join us or not... she's thinking about it.
Sharing our ideas, inspirations and pictures is part of the BJP for all of us... that's why I started this blog. However, participation in the blog is definitely not mandatory. I know wonderful artists who just are not into anything about the computer. I'm sure there are some in the project who will never even check this blog. But for those who love it, as I do, we'll have fun with sharing.
Would someone like to write a "how-to post" about how to post pictures, including how to size the images for posting? I could do it, but I'm swamped at the moment and don't have time.
Aurora's photograph of the vintage fabric sample book in the post below was just wonderful, wasn't it?!!! I love reading what everybody writes, but when there's a photo, every part of me is happy.
I'm thinking (just one member's opinion) that I'd like to see photos of inspirations and member's other bead embroidery (or related) photos here any time, but not finished BJP pages until after the third month. I feel that for some of us, we might start something, then see another person's work, and abandon what we started in favor of something inspired by what the other person did. For this project, I think it would be really good if we don't abandon our early efforts, no matter what. But, after 3 months, we will have a sense of where we are going and what our pages intend for us, and it will be easier to stick with them.
This dialog about sharing pictures of our BJP pages needs to continue a bit longer, as there are still many new participants coming on board. Feel free to post your opinions and/or put them in the comments to this post.
Posted by Robin
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Thoughts about purpose and guidelines
Bead journal pages tell stories, break boundaries, and personify the maker’s search for artistic identity and creativity.
Bead journal pages are not about competitions or sales. Whether or not the artist is experienced in beading and/or journaling is not relevant to the BJP. The purpose of participation is to open doors into the artist’s own imagination and to develop self confidence.
Each page is a journal entry which reflects the artist’s experiences and growth process at a particular point in time; each is a little window into the personality of the artist.
Each artist makes her own decisions about size, style and theme. Here are some possibilities:
Size ~ Should remain consistent for each artist throughout the year
· small quilt size (8.5 x 11 inches), with beading as an embellishment
· postcard size (4 x 6 inches)
· artist trading card size (2.5 x 3.5 inches)
· circular or other non-angular shape
Style ~
· Pages designed to be combined into book form
· Loose pages, perhaps in an embellished box
· Three-dimensional, sculptural pages
· Pages designed to be hung on the wall
Theme ~ May carry through the entire year or not
· portraits
· explorations in color theory
· significant relationships
· nature
· life issues
· healing
· current events
BJP “rules” are gentle. Make one journal page per month. Try to start it during the first week of the month, and complete it before the last day of the month. Make all 12 journal pages roughly the same size. That’s it. The rest is your choice.
Discussions we might want to have as a group ~
· Do we want to share images? I understand that the Journal Quilt Project participants were asked NOT to share images in order to have maximum individuality.
· Do we want to find an exhibition opportunity for our journal pages? Any suggestions for an exhibition venue?
Bead journal pages are not about competitions or sales. Whether or not the artist is experienced in beading and/or journaling is not relevant to the BJP. The purpose of participation is to open doors into the artist’s own imagination and to develop self confidence.
Each page is a journal entry which reflects the artist’s experiences and growth process at a particular point in time; each is a little window into the personality of the artist.
Each artist makes her own decisions about size, style and theme. Here are some possibilities:
Size ~ Should remain consistent for each artist throughout the year
· small quilt size (8.5 x 11 inches), with beading as an embellishment
· postcard size (4 x 6 inches)
· artist trading card size (2.5 x 3.5 inches)
· circular or other non-angular shape
Style ~
· Pages designed to be combined into book form
· Loose pages, perhaps in an embellished box
· Three-dimensional, sculptural pages
· Pages designed to be hung on the wall
Theme ~ May carry through the entire year or not
· portraits
· explorations in color theory
· significant relationships
· nature
· life issues
· healing
· current events
BJP “rules” are gentle. Make one journal page per month. Try to start it during the first week of the month, and complete it before the last day of the month. Make all 12 journal pages roughly the same size. That’s it. The rest is your choice.
Discussions we might want to have as a group ~
· Do we want to share images? I understand that the Journal Quilt Project participants were asked NOT to share images in order to have maximum individuality.
· Do we want to find an exhibition opportunity for our journal pages? Any suggestions for an exhibition venue?
post by Robin A
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