Introducing BETII_12/09

This is BETII_12/09, my prototype for the Bead Journal Blog for 2010. The name stands for Beaded Extra Terrestrial Intelligent Individual and the numbers represent December 09, naturally, so this little creature has both a name and serial number.

The BJP doesn't start until January, 2010, (tomorrow) but i thought i'd like to do a test run on my chosen shape which i blogged about a week or so ago. I love the shape, it gives me plenty of room to explore several themes during the year such as faces, beaded words, flat dolls, background collages and media, and all with a lot of zaniness. No blank canvas to get stuck on here.

Now, an explanation of this one for you. She was made in December so a passing reference to the Festive Season with a little red and green plus handmade beads made out of rolled christmas stamps and a few wrapped (silver paper) presents. The words Fire & Flood refer to the bushfires and floods which have already devastated families and homes both near us in NSW and in SA and WA. It's also a reference to the unbelievable and shocking non-decisions which were allowed to over-rule at Copenhagen earlier in the month. The world, especially Australia, will see more fires and floods if the governments continue to sit on their hands and look skywards. Wasn't it Nero who fiddled while Rome burnt? I've beaded a little tidal watermark at the bottom of the figure, i expect it will slowly rise over the 12 months of the BJP. The broken bits of blue are found road litter, representing perhaps meteors as BETII is extraterrestrial after all.

Obviously she is a mixed media object, the blue background is a collaged fabric paper (fab'paper), the head and armlets are heavy aluminium foil, she has washers for eyes and a Chinese lucky coin for a mouth (reminding me to shut my mouth occasionally and have more luck with it!). The long beads are rolled christmas stamps, oh and there is a scarab beetle there too as she has a link with Ancient Egypt. The silver paper presents could also be shining stars in the christmas sky.

Every month in 2010 I'll be making another BETII, using something significant that has happened during that time as the theme, so make sure you check in towards the end of each month. I'm already wondering about January and how it will pan out. Thanks for dropping by, and may you all have a very safe, happy and healthy New Year and 2010.