Monday 30 December 2013

BJP 2013 ~ December Ta-dah

When I joined the BJP for 2013 I really had no idea whether I could successfully start a blog or what I would create over the year. My initial sketch appeared on my new blog on the 16th December 2012 after a few practice posts and I waited patiently for January to start. Each month a new leaf was beaded and a blog post written and always someone wrote a comment. It was lovely to know someone somewhere was looking so a big thank you to those who left me a comment and encouraged me along the way.
December's leaf is based on the Christmas Rose otherwise known as Lenten Rose or Hellebore. Ours don't come into flower until about February so I have a little while to wait to see them in the garden.


Most of my leaves develop as they go but this time I knew I wanted to make a brick stitch rosette to represent a Christmas bauble. So I picked out all my christmassy coloured beads and round and round I went.

It is the first time I have used the cube beads in a rosette and I really like the effect. What do you think?
Finally the whole leaf.
 
Bits and bobs had been collected for displaying the leaves together so I started by making labels on woven ribbon with back stitch. I then made a cross stitch title, sewed on ribbon for the stem and as a border and beaded a couple of felt hearts for decoration before finally sewing all twelve leaves in place.


 A few tacking stitches still need to be removed but here they are altogether just in time.
 
 

One of the things I like best is that friends and family that visit all have their favourite leaf and each leaf is the favourite of someone. Me, I just love the fact that over the year, step by step, I made twelve leaves and they are so colourful and each leaf looks better because of the others round it.

On to the next challenge of trying to write a post and put photos onto Facebook. I have a few ideas for 2014. I really liked beading the Red Admiral for the August leaf and would like to do more and perhaps a felt picture with beaded beach huts would be good. We shall see what the New Year brings. Wishing you all health and happiness in the New Year :)

5 comments:

  1. Evanna, you are the best leaf artist I know, and you mounted the leaves absolutely perfectly! It is nice to know that each one of them has found a special admirer, so they can all be happy and proud.
    I must change the subject and ask you: Do you by any chance own a Cheshire cat? And if so, does it grin sometimes?

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  2. Evanna, I like your triumphant "ta-dah" every time you come forward with another nice leaf! And they ARE very nice. congratulations. huisvlijtigLIESje.blogspot.com

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  3. Your last leaf is beautiful. You reflected the best parts of Christmas baubles. The way you put together so many different colors, sizes and shapes of beads is inspiring. I'm afraid if I tried that it would just look like a mess.

    I bet the finished work is AMAZING in person. You have found a way to put them all together that is absolutely perfect. The individual leaves are spectacular.
    All together they have the timeless feel of a botanical illustration. Marvelous!!!

    I'm really looking forward to seeing what you do in 2014. Last year I was just following the BJP, but this year I'm going to jump in and give it a try. beadcontagion.blogspot.com

    Happy New Year to you :-)

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  4. Evanna your leaves are beautiful, they look even more so mounted. Congratulations on completing. I still have to mount mine, must get a move on. I look forward to seeing what you come up with in 2014.

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  5. I've loved following these develop through the year. I'm not totally sure but I think I probably like December's leaf best ... the circular brick stitch bit is stunning!

    Have a wonderful New Year m'dear ... I can't wait to see what you come up with in 2014!

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