Author: bbbeecreative

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Sparklers under a starry night

One of the things we love about Burntisland is the sense of community. There is a history here for so many of us who were born and raised around Fife, and we are a welcoming town for those who choose to make Burntisland their home. Many of us have childhood memories of coming to the historic Highland Games, or enjoying Fair in the summer months, but as winter beckoned, it was the Bonfire and Firework display that brought us to Burntisland. Sadly, 2019 was the last time Burntisland had a Bonfire and Fireworks night – but five years later, the community has brought it back through Crowdfunding – and we couldn’t be more excited!

In 2020, organisers were forced to cancel the free annual celebration, along with a whole host of community events, due to the coronavirus. The long-standing event on the Links was shelved because of the restrictions on mass gatherings .

The Burntisland Bonfire Committee worked so hard to make this happen for 2024, setting a target of £2000 (by the end of August). Even though Bonfire night doesn’t take place until November, it takes many months to organize, hence the August deadline.

It’s so exciting to know that target has been met, and any extra donations received over the £2000 will be put towards next year’s event.

It’s a fantastic night for the kids in the community as we all gather in front of a huge bonfire, then watch a fireworks display filled with “ooos” and “aaaaahs”.

I love to see the kid’s faces positively glowing amongst the sparklers, and there’s normally plenty of hot food and cups of hot chocolate (or mulled wine for the grown-ups).

My latest illustration celebrates the return of Burntisland’s Fireworks display. Send me a message on Facebook (or click the link below) if you would like to be placed on back-order. You can be one of the first to receive these prints when they become available later in September 2024.

Did you know?

Bonfire Night takes place on the 5th of November every year. It is a celebration of a failed attempt in 1605 to blow up the House of Lords and assassinate King James I/VI. James was King of Scotland as James VI, but also King of England and Ireland as James I after the union of the crowns and his reign was known as the Jacobean era. James’s survival was celebrated with bonfires, and it was an act of parliament in 1606 that saw the observance of the 5th of November made law. It’s no longer obligatory to celebrate the 5th of November, but many of us still do.
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And just like that …

As I write this, I can’t help but reflect on August as a month of paradoxical emotions. I’m sure, if you are a parent of school-aged children, you will understand this sentiment. There’s the joy of summer holidays and having the kids home all day every day, and then yes – the kids are home all day every day …lol. 

While I felt immense pride to see my girl walk hand in hand with her big brother to school on her first day, (I promise I beamed huge, encouraging smiles to them both as we walked), I confess my heart was simultaneously, quietly breaking. Both my babies are at school now and all I can do is hope we have prepared them well for what awaits them in the wider world. I think as mothers we feel we are losing something when our children start school, whether it’s treasured time spent together, or  the ability to completely protect our babies. When we wave goodbye to the youngest one – the “last” of our babies, there are even more complex emotions at play. It can seem like the end of an era – or the end of a cycle in our lives as women and that can be confronting in ways we’d never even thought of until that moment.

As for my sister and brother-in-law, well their trip home came to an end, as we knew it must. It feels like another ending and yet I know on a logical level it was a brand new beginning in so many ways. My sister hadn’t met my youngest yet, largely thanks to Covid’s travel restrictions, as well as big changes in my sister’s life. This trip changed all that, and it was wonderful to watch new lifelong bonds of family being created right in front of my eyes.

The summer holidays have given us so much laughter and joy – new memories we will all share. It’s important to hold on to those feelings and not to allow the sadness that accompanies a summer’s end to overshadow those magical times. Similarly we must embrace the pride we see in our children as they travel effortlessly through their first days at school.

Time to release those emotions now and submit to the ebb and flow of life … I’m realising that when there are tough emotions at play, or if it feels like “summer is over”, then we have to focus on the positive, or create our own little piece of sunshine until summer comes around again. And it will! This is a lesson well taught by nature. Yes, summer ends and autumn wraps her russet cloak around us, but if we allow ourselves to be enveloped by luxurious hot chocolates and cosy hats and scarves, it won’t be long before we emerge blinking in the Spring sunshine once again – rejuvenated and renewed.

For my sister and I, our little piece of sunshine lies in not just our shared bond, but our creative endeavours over the next 12-18 months. In order to counteract that feeling of painful separation, we’ve discussed a few more creative collaborations. When we work together we feel more connected and the miles between us disappear. The upside of us working together is, not only will we feel more connected until we see each other again, but our collaborations will I’m sure, be appreciated and enjoyed when we release them into the world. I’m looking forward to sharing more on that once our plans take shape.

In the meantime, If you are struggling with ‘end of summer’ or ‘back to school’ vibes, I suggest remembering the importance of self-care. Chances are, summer has been a time of “doing”, non-stop. The kids have been off school, people have been visiting – there was an expectation to be “on the go” all the time … You’ve probably felt there was very little time for yourself, let alone get creative. Believe me I know how you feel. Well now it’s time to reclaim a little bit of time just for you.

Until next time …

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The art of ‘noticing’

If you are a long-time supporter of my work you will know that I am inspired by the Fife coastal path, birds, flora, and fauna. But what does it mean to be inspired by nature? For me, it means nature is the “fuel” or the driving force of my creativity. It provides a spark of an idea. The ideas come from colours, textures, patterns, shapes and lines and then I just delve in and explore – I take these elements from nature and see how far I can take them. Hours and hours can disappear just by noticing the patterns on a leaf or how the sunlight on petals can look like vibrant drapery. Inspiration comes from moments of silent observation and exploration and from taking time to “notice”.

Next time you are searching for inspiration, why not just step outside into nature and take time to observe. See how deep you can go in the detail of a simple leaf or petal, or how the light shades and tones bark on a tree. Allow your mind and imagination to play with the shapes. Smell the air around you and listen to the sounds of nature. To notice is to interact with your environment. Then simply carry this with you and spill it or pour it into your chosen medium, whether words, clay, painting or illustrations.

As well as being a rich source of creative inspiration, noticing is a meditation and you may be surprised how calm and centred you feel if you allow yourself to go with the flow.

Until next time busy bees …

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Summer vibes are here again …

It’s amazing how it only takes a few days of sunshine to get some summer inspiration happening. In Scotland, we seize the day when the sun comes out because we are all too aware it could disappear behind a cloud in hours, if not minutes later. So we make the most of every possible glimpse of that big yellow ball in the sky. We really do notice that serotonin boost too. Everyone is out and about and generally much happier and friendlier in the summer months. Sunlight is crucial to our health and wellbeing, and it’s been proven to lower blood pressure, improve our mood, as well as help us get better quality sleep. Try telling that to the little monsters that don’t want to go to bed because it’s still light outside.

Yesterday was Games Day in Burntisland – the second oldest highland games in the world, dating back to 1652. There is so much going on in the summer with the shows, our traditional funfair, beside the glorious beach! My Burntisland Map print encompasses some of the town’s history and landmarks so if you are visiting for Games Day, or for the beach-filled days of summer, be sure to pick up a souvenir at one of our wonderful stockists.

In amongst all the fun of the fair and the summer feel-good vibes, my sister at Write from Source felt inspired to write a little seasonal Haiku to go with an illustration of summer garlands I had been working on. Both the Burntisland Map and my latest print are available to buy. You can either message me on Facebook Messenger or visit Bumbumbee’s online store.

In the meantime, I hope you are all having as much fun in these summer holidays as our little bumbumbees are here. Must dash outside before those rain clouds roll in.

Until next time…

Burntisland Map Print

Your summer souvenir
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Seasonal Haiku

Prints available. Message me on Facebook
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Spring Promises of Bluebells, Butterflies & Birds

bluebells

Our human brains love ‘patterns’. We have a natural aptitude in recognizing them. Writers, particularly journalists, love nothing more than an amazing alliteration where the first consonant in every word (or stressed syllables within the words) is repeated. You can see patterns in poetic stanzas using ABA rhyming patterns or even the not-so-humble syllabic Haiku – all examples of a pattern.

As a nature lover, I observe patterns all around as we cycle through the seasons. Nature is full of patterns from the rings inside a tree trunk, to the waves that ebb and flow on our coastal beaches. I find it mesmerising and meditative to study the patterns in the smallest petal, leaf, feather or scale. My latest illustration is a pattern that brought me joy to create. Its shape and emergence in our Scottish woodlands is a welcome reminder, a hopeful promise, that Spring is softening the hard ground, and the sun will rise above the horizon for more than a few hours a day.

There is a very good reason why our brains love patterns and it’s key to our survival. Pattern recognition allows us to anticipate what comes next. Our brains are busily matching and sorting, comparing images we see with images we have stored so we can assess whether something could be a threat. Put simply, patterns help us make sense of the world and our place in it.

When you look at the graceful bowing bell of the bluebell or watch the butterfly ‘s natural display of geometric colours and patterns as it gathers the bluebell’s nectar, you instantly feel the associated memories come flooding back. Memories of sunshine and bird song that have been in hibernation along with your summer clothes and bucket and spade.

In the natural world, the ‘blue’ Bluebell connects us to the blue of water and the blue of the sky. Water is the source of life, while blue skies mean optimism and possibilities. So we can say the colour blue reminds us of freedom and care -free days – it reminds us of Spring and new beginnings.  

We made it through the winter. Welcome to Spring everyone. I hope you enjoy my latest Bluebell pattern ….

This Round of Robins could be winging their way to you

Does someone in your life love to watch the birds in the garden? Our latest illustration featuring a Round of Robins could make the perfect gift.
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The Fickle Nature of February

round of robbins

February flew in on the wings of a Robin or two  – in fact – a ‘Round of Robins’ made their first appearance on my sketchpad. As the trio of cheeky chirpy chappies took shape, my biggest dilemma was whether to use gold colouring in the background, or whether to keep the image crisp and white. It’s such a subjective thing and when you are the one creating, you can find you’re too close to be able to ‘see’ the illustration objectively. In the end, I put it to the vote, and the majority of you liked the gold background. It turned out to be a wonderful, warming choice that brought the Robins together on their bough of ivy. If you’d like to buy a print head over to our Online Store or, if you don’t see the print you’d like, simply message Bumbumbee on Facebook and we’ll sort the rest.

We also popped in to restock a few illustrations at the gorgeous Gallery at Culross Pottery. I’m always so grateful to our stockists and to the wonderful customers who support these unique local businesses. We are so lucky to have such a vibrant community of creatives in the area – all supporting one another.

Those of you who are Scottish born and bred, will know February is an ‘in between’ time of year. You are so close to Spring you can nearly taste it, but winter holds on for a few last hurrahs. Sometimes it’s just a case of getting through it, particularly when you are still getting up in the dark to go to work. Back to school after New Year was all a bit of a blur for us, so we made sure we made the most of mid-term.

The Bumbumbee family headed to the Aberfolyle, a gorgeous village in Stirling for the full immersion in nature experience. It was, as you would expect, decidedly dreich, but that didn’t spoil the fun. Time well spent just being a family and soaking up (quite literally) natures’ colours, textures and noises and smells. There were thundering waterfalls, the smells of moss and atmospheric mists and low clouds washing our faces and nipping our noses. Even the youngest crazy child returned to our lodgings beaming, cleansed and happy.

On that note, I hope you are all beginning to emerge from your winter hibernations (now that would be nice wouldn’t it?). It’s a good time to start planning new projects and thinking about a new creative pursuits or just think about refreshing the energy around your home.  Look out for the messengers of Spring in the shape of delicate flowers and beautiful birds. And if the rain is stoatin off the pavement or a smizzle on your cheeks, try to remember there are parts of the world who are praying for rain.  I know – it’s hard to imagine isn’t it? But living in beautiful Scotland – we sometimes forget just how lucky we are.

Until next time

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Good vibrations for 2024

good vibrations colour peach fuzz

Imagine how different our life could be if we were all surrounded by kindness. Not just through the lens of positivity – but real, authentic kindness from strangers and loved ones. Can you imagine the effects that would have on us? Imagine how that would open us up. We would feel safe, we would reach out to connect with others more because we wouldn’t let our self-limiting, inner narrative control our actions. We would be able to flourish without fear of judgement and push the boundaries while feeling supported.   Imagine surrounding yourself in a colour that could promote this level of comfort in your life. If you read my November blog, you’ll know this is the promise of Peach Fuzz, the Pantone Colour of the Year for 2024. You will feel embraced, lifted up, and held in compassion. You will feel all the comfort of Hygge in a gorgeous peachy dream. It got me thinking about how colour influences our mood, sets a scene or communicates with us on the most subtle of levels.

Colour is taken for granted – it’s just ‘there’. Unless you are studying the colour wheel or colour theory, you are unlikely to think about it too much. And yet, colour is one of our most important ‘messengers’ directing us, communicating with us and keeping us safe in the world. Our world is full of colour-driven controls and processes.

Children will often use colours to express themselves emotionally … which can be very useful if they can’t articulate the feelings or moods they may be experiencing. If your child is struggling in some area of their life right now, consider using colour as an extra ‘tool’ to help them feel comforted, loved and supported. If your child is highly strung, perhaps blues, greens and turquoise might be a calming accent to add to their room – even if it’s just on one wall. Pay attention to the colours your child enjoys because you can use them to help foster feelings of joy, creativity, and safety, or whatever they may feel is lacking in their life. If they are lacking confidence, red may be a good colour to introduce (but proceed with caution on the red front … too much red might not be a great colour for a child with anger issues).

In the world of colour therapy, colour is used to treat certain mental and physical health conditions – and using this colour this way can be traced back to the Ancient Egyptians. They would use coloured glass in their sunniest rooms to benefit from the colour’s vibration.  Even the medical world uses colour – I’m thinking infra-red and ultra-violet and so on. It might be a fun game to play with your wee ones on a rainy day (and let’s be honest, we don’t have a shortage of those days). Ask them to think of all the uses of colour and work out what the colour is communicating, or even how the colour makes them feel. Perhaps in the process you’ll find out which colours your children out the ones they gravitate to – and then you can use this information in the future. If nothing else, you will be giving your children a good introduction to colour theory and you might even plant the seed, or spark an interest in colour on a creative or psychological level.

Even if you think this is all hocus pocus, think about the rooms you like in your house, your favourite colours in life, or even the colour of clothes you constantly buy. What colours do you surround yourself with and how do they make you feel? It would be interesting to find out if there is a universal favourite colour.

For now, I am loving the comfort and warmth of Peach Fuzz. If you’d like to get all warm and fuzzy with our latest notepads and cards, head over to our online store or Facebook for details. I’m sure you will see peach fuzz creeping into a few of my illustrations over the coming months, along with the rich colours of nature as the seasons progress. Sending you all good vibrations for 2024.

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Peaceful Peach Fuzz

peach fuzz pampas grass

As we move into the most festive (and coldest) time of year, why not consider enveloping yourself in some gorgeous “Peach Fuzz”– the newly crowned Pantone Colour of the Year, 2024. 

“In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connections, we chose a colour radiant with warmth and modern elegance. A shade that resonates with compassion, offers a tactile embrace, and effortlessly bridges the youthful with the timeless.”

Leatrice Eiseman, PANTONE Executive Director

I think we can all agree there have been so many harrowing images on our screens throughout 2023 as the worst of humanity came into focus. While we don’t wish to watch such horrors on our TV screens, we also can’t turn our backs on what is happening elsewhere in the world. Being aware without risking traumatising ourselves or our families with the 24/7 news coverage seems to be the way we try to operate in such times. It’s a balancing act. As parents we feel such deep empathy for parents who are powerless to spare their own children in the way we can when we switch the channel.  

It’s hardly surprising we feel a need for a more gentle, “nurturing” environment, or kind, compassionate friends and family around us. At such times we dream of a peaceful future for the world – and for our children.

I hope the gentle nature of Peach Fuzz reminds you to nurture yourself too for a change. Of course you want to make sure your family have THE BEST Christmas EVER – but don’t forget you. Human connection, kindness, warmth and gentleness seems would seem to be the perfect antidote to the stress we all experience in the build-up to Christmas and to soothe the heartache as the world goes mad around us. 

I think the events of the past few years have actually helped us re-assess our priorities, we have re-evaluated what’s important to us – and for some of us that means we would like our lives to look very different. Some of us may be in the process of making that happen. Times such as these make us think of those who are dear to us and it’s right to pause in gratitude for bonds shared and memories made.

It may be time to, not only nurture yourself, but to prioritise the things that bring you joy and contentment.  As long as we keep love, kindness and compassion at the core of who we are, I believe we will build a better world – a safer, more peaceful world for our children – and a more balanced and harmonious lives for ourselves.

Pantone chose Peach Fuzz as colour of the year because it expressed a desire to be close to those we love and the joy we feel when we allow ourselves to tune into who we are and just ‘be’.  It evokes a feeling of when life seemed simpler but with a wise contemporary twist.

Colour, whether it’s in our homes or expressed in the clothes we wear can really help set a mood or emotion. Peach Fuzz feels like a safe, comforting world to live in so you might want to consider this when redecorating the kids room or bringing a modern twist to your home.

On that note, I hope 2024 brings those you love to your side, and I hope you connect with the joy of creativity and the flush of peach in your lives. I also hope 2024 turns out to be gentle and peaceful for you and your loved ones – but with a whole lot of laughter and excitement on Christmas morning.

Me? Oh I can dream – it’s back to the crazy excited kids that didn’t get the memo about “gentler, more peaceful times” … And for that I am truly grateful. 

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Christmas Cards hot off the press

Well, the pressure was on to get everything off to the printer in time but we made it. Christmas may still feel like a long way off but those printer deadlines wait for no one!

This year I created a couple of detailed illustrations featuring seasonal foliage, including berries and pince cones and I combined these illustrations with a couple of wintery Haikus my sister wrote. I turned the designs into some festive greeting cards and I’m sure you’ll agree, they are little pocket-sized pieces of Christmas.

The cards are available in our shop – Bumbumbee Creative Store – or if you prefer, look out for me at the local markets – I’m sure I’ll be carrying a few with me.

Don’t forget our other Christmas designs. They are all unique and are styles in the Bumbumbee aesthetic so you won’t find these designs anywhere else beyond my store, the markets, or our wonderful local stockists.

I’d love to hear which Christmas cards are your favourite.

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Autumnal Musings

It seems the Summer is being nudged sideways by an impatient Autumn this year. Here in Scotland, we tend to feel the nights drawing in a few weeks before our cousins South of the Border and similarly, the Summer takes its time making an appearance again come June.

There are two separate dates marking the start of the seasons. One is defined by the Earth’s axis and orbit around the Sun and the second is a fixed date used by meteorologists. Meteorologically speaking, Autumn starts 1st of September, but in Scotland, we are generally talking about the former, which means this year, Autumn starts on the 23rd of September and ends on the 21st of December.

I know people are always saying how quickly time passes, but when I look back on the Summer that is ebbing away, I do genuinely wonder where it all disappeared to. It’s not until I look back on all the goodies that have been on the packing table these last three months that I realise how busy it’s been.

Our online store is growing with new illustrations and summery stationery vibes. We’ve also had some new additions to the ‘Scottish Rain Words line, with the reaction to the new Tea Towel being huge. In fact, we’ve practically gone global with that one which is very exciting. I worked out in recent weeks, it’s made its way across the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway!  If you still haven’t got one, it would be a great gift for the Pluviophile in your life, and of course, you have to make sure you get one for yourself too. 

We also enjoyed glamping during the summer holidays – a time that was much needed to just reconnect with nature, each other and ourselves. In amongst it all I had the lurgy, so it felt doubly important to step off that treadmill for a bit. The kids thought it was great fun taking our enamel mugs out into the wilds. It’s great they are so easily entertained.

As I reflect on the Summer that’s now gently setting with the sun, I think about the things I love about Autumn. It’s important to have gratitude and appreciation for life in the here and now, instead of wishing away our colder seasons.

There is a lovely hush that wraps around Scotland in Autumn- granted it’s normally in the form of a damp mist, but it’s a great time to get all cosied up for those chilly walks. It’s time to look forward to the spectrum of leaves decked out in oranges, reds, and yellows, illuminated in a crisp, golden afternoon light. The treasures tipped on the kitchen table are no longer sunflower seeds and petals, but conkers from the Horse Chestnut trees and pinecones that remind me Christmas won’t be too far away.

There’s always something to inspire and restore you here in Scotland, whether it’s along the coast, or in the countryside and forests. I do hope you enjoy our wanderings as much as we do.

Before I go, I just wanted to thank you all for supporting small business. I love to hear your suggestions for my new patterns and prints – keep those ideas coming. It means the world to me, and I am so grateful. I am also beyond grateful to the wonderful stockists who come back for more when they have sold out – and the bunch of amazing creatives I collaborate with and license to. I appreciate you all. Thank you.

Who else is excited to see what Autumn brings? Maybe a new Christmas card design?