BJP February finished!

Yes, that did say "February BJP" in my title! I'm a tad behind, but I'll catch up when we're back in Michigan. Here's my finished painted bunting and I'm happy with him. Each of my journal pieces are 9" x 11". I did take liberty with the colors of this bird and I have to say I enjoyed beading it (even ripping out areas time and again!). I posted on my 1st BJP bird last month which you can read here. I'm using Helene Knott's bird patterns from her article in the AQS magazine (Mar. 2011). Check out some of Helene's work on her web site here. Her designs of nature and landscapes are amazing as are her Oriental quilts. Fill up your coffee cup and click on her gallery to browse through her work. Just wonderful! This is just a closeup of the tail of my bird. Next I'll work on Helene's Blackpoll Warbler pattern. I've not finished the edges of each journal yet. I have a few ideas on how I want to display these. I thought once of putting into a large quilt but now I'm leaning towards attaching each piece to gallery wrap canvas. I am getting antsy to work in reds so a cardinal will be in one of my journal pieces I hope. My other 'little' project is working on an Easter peyote bracelet! I purchased Beth Murr's peyote pattern and started on it yesterday. Now I did take a lesson last winter on creating a peyote tube, then purchased and completed several beaded needle cases (patterns from Beth, of course!) but I've never beaded odd count peyote! OMG...I was like a mad woman yesterday trying to start the pattern! BUT....I did it! The bracelet is turning out really cute!! Check out Beth's blog and scroll down to the bunny bracelet. Beth also has some great You Tubes on beading that guide you so well in even count peyote (she's working on odd count peyote next!). I'll post pictures of my bracelet tomorrow when I return from Weaver's meeting. It's my last meeting of 2011 and I'll miss the ladies. We're going to be meeting with several of our friends here in Ocala the next week! Seems as if we gain all our weight the last week of our stay in Florida!! But we enjoy being with all our friends one last time this year! Tonight Jan and Larry are having us over for crab legs! So off for a bike ride..at least I can work off one crab leg calorie!