January's bead project

So I sat down and created a picture of what I thought this month's project might look like. It originated from the fact that I was laid off a few months ago and am still looking for work. It was about possibilities - which direction do I go now?

Then I sat down with the different backing pieces and selected the piece I wanted. It was a very small circle/square piece in alternating black and white which to my mind is very chaotic and confusing. I was going to create the box from fabric and applique it onto the material but I found myself making a big black smudge in the centre with a black felt marker (a very odoriferous black felt marker!). Then I thought about where I wanted the path for each opportunity to go. Well, didn't that change as well! Instead of being straight lines to the opportunity, they meandered, disappeared and reappeared. Because I thought I might have to take some over the edge, I decided I would have to bead the edge first and then work on the front.

The end result is that I have beads front and back!

For me this piece is about possiblities rising out of dejection and confusion. I just have to rise above the dejection and confusion in order to see them.  The other thing I've realized is that I don't always know the path that will lead to my goals. I might think I know part of it but the rest of it is hidden from view.  It's only when I've completed part of my journey that I'll be able to see the rest of the path.

In some instances the original direction doesn't even point towards the final goal. It's a lot like life. I may think that what I want to achieve is accomplished by heading in a certain direction when really there's going to be a change somewhere down the road. There's also going to be opportunities to change the goal at a crossroads.

I wasn't surprised that the finished result didn't fully match the original idea - that usually happens to me. I was surprised at how quickly I completed it. Mind you, I was compelled to complete it in one sitting and stayed up late to do it!!!