Author: bbbeecreative

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Putting the brilliance in resilience

Happy New Year from all at Bumbumbee Creative. We hope you and your family were able to make the best of the very different circumstances we found ourselves in over Christmas and New Year.

Though 2020 may be behind us, there is a creeping realisation that 2021 may be more of the same – well – at least for these darker weeks of January and February. So, what to do in the meantime? Perhaps just continue to work our way through the spirits in the drink’s cabinet? Oh – wait – we did that at Hogmanay!

I’m finding a sense of community and some level of connection is vital in terms of keeping up the spirits right now. For many, this is a challenging time of year – even in the ‘brightest’ of winters. The short dark days and brooding skies force many indoors and away from their connections with people and nature. With the added ingredients of enforced isolation and fear around COVID, we are all required to dig deep and find reserves of resilience, compassion and a whole lot of creative imagination. 50 ways to stop yourself going insane … someone must have written that blog post somewhere – even if it was for no other reason than to stop themselves going insane. I digress!

On a positive note, plenty people do seem to be working through things creatively. Something interesting that’s occurred as a result of this extra time indoors, segregated from the outside world, is that many have used this time to learn something new online.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to play music or perhaps learn how to draw? Now is actually a really good time to get into that creative hobby or new language you just never had time for before. There are so many tutorials out there from YouTube to Udemy or even on the TV.

The Mental Health Organisation has written an interesting article about how the arts can help improve your mental health so if you’d like to read more on this do click on the MHO link. Suffice to say,  dabbling with one of these course online may actually do your mental health a favour.

Even if you have never so much as looked in the direction of a colouring in book in your life, why not just pick up a paintbrush and throw some bright yellows and oranges on to a piece of paper. Set yourself a project task like painting a sunrise or perhaps sunflowers – something from nature that’s bright, warm and cheery.  Find a colour as ‘brilliant’ as possible (and I mean brilliant in the ‘very bright’ sense of the word). Bright, cheerful, joyous colours, and particularly colours found in nature, have a remarkable effect on our mental health and wellbeing.

As for our little busy bumbumbees, we are doing our best to keep things fun, cheery and stimulating for them. We’ve noticed Rosie can get quite creative when it comes to sticking her hands up to the elbows, or even her whole face, into a bowl of something bright and colourful.

Wherever you are for the start of 2021, we hope you can find something to bring warmth and brightness to your life. We hope you find that little reserve of resilience by adapting to the change in your current circumstances, whether that’s through a new online art course, a Facetime chat with your friends or you might even find some inspiration on our Instagram page for a mini project. Our little Bumbumbee community is here too – so do feel free to share photos of your creative endeavours or let me know how you’ve been spending your time. Sending you lots of ‘brilliantly’ happy yellow sunflowers and sunbeams – and all good things ahead for 2021. The sun will shine again …yes … even here in Scotland!

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Howe Collective Market Weekend

HoweCollective

10% off all items in store for this weekend only

Bumbumbee Creative is delighted to be joining the Howe Collective for Market Weekend this weekend!

You will receive 10% off any item in our online store when you apply the HOWE10 discount code before checkout. Discount Code will be valid on 14th & 15th November until midnight GMT so get in quick.

To make it even easier to order you can also email emma@bbbeecreative.com or message BumBumbee Creative on Facebook (but remember to quote the HOWE10 code to receive your discount). 

This is a  #shoplocal event so do please support us and your local artists, designers and talented makers of gorgeous things.

Enjoy these special offers and new products all made with love 

You can get involved in all the action when you FOLLOW @howecollective on Facebook and Instagram or if you search online for #hconlinemarket for a list of stalls.

Like, share, comment and help us spread the word! 
HoweCollective

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The importance of making our mark

Fiver Fest New Product

If you are familiar with my artwork, you will know, like many artists, I am inspired by the landscape, nature, wildlife and the environment in general. However, if you take a closer look at ‘Burntisland Map’, one of my coastal creations inspired by my life in this historic sea-port town, you will see something unique, almost hidden, amongst the brushstrokes.

To the north of this historic Burgh, looms The Binn, a volcanic plug, which rises 193 metres (632 ft) above sea level, and a well-loved Landmark on the Fife coastline. As if boasting our very own extinct volcano was not unique enough, a discovery of its ancient carvings is certainly something to capture the imagination.

The carvings are known as ‘Cup and Ring’ – and consist of a wide cup-mark with three very well-defined concentric rings around it. Archaeologists estimate the markings are around 4000 years old – which means they were already pretty old when the carvings were made in the Wemyss Caves 3000 years ago.

It’s unlikely that you will discover these carvings unless you have been shown where they are. After all, they have managed to remain hidden and protected for 4000 years. It’s one of the reasons I decided their appearance should be subtle, and slightly hidden from view in my artwork too.

We can but imagine who took hundreds of hours to carve these, or perhaps even more intriguingly, why they were created in the first place? What do they mean? From the earliest times, we as humans have always desired to make our mark. We wish to let the world know we lived a life and we have a need to ‘express’ the nature of that life whether that’s through words, books, music, paintings or … rock carvings.

With that said, there is something modern about these marks, as though they are radio or transmission waves, rippling out under a starlit sky across the Firth of Forth. Whatever their purpose or significance, these carvings are a communication – a bridge, a tangible connection, between the ancient world and now.

These Cup and Ring marks provide a much-needed reminder that, long before the threat of COVID, and long before our current homes and schools and businesses were built, there have always been artisans, creatives, farmers, fishermen, traders and families each sharing a desire to make their mark – to connect and contribute to the thriving community of Burntisland.

Regardless of their actual meaning, to me personally, the Cup and Ring carvings symbolise hope. As we face these times of uncertainty, our distant ancestors sent us a message of endurance and resilience – much like the rocks on which these carvings were. It’s a message that our community has weathered many storms, from shipwrecks, to witchcraft trials, to rebellions to recessions – but we are all still here.

It is my wish that when you give a home to this special piece, you will be reminded just how resilient we all are – and no matter how challenging life may seem, it’s never too late to make your mark. Where there is community, you will always find hope.

If you would like to buy ‘Burntisland Map’ it is a brand new design created to especially to celebrate our local town and the amazing community that live and work here. Don’t forget to enter the promotional code – valid until 24th October, 2020.

Alternatively, why not make a bee line for our original ‘Bee Happy‘ series of greeting cards – original artwork and yours for a Fiver – but get in quick. These beauties are flying out the door fast.

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Fiver Fest

Fiver Fest

Fiver Fest BurntislandIf you are local to the Burntisland area, or a frequent visitor to Bumbumbee’s social media pages and website, you may have noticed we are getting a little bit excited about an upcoming event. From the 10th  October until 24th October 2020, we are taking part in the TOTALLY LOCALLY, Burntisland Fiver Fest.

Totally Locally Burntisland is a community initiative to support our local shops, businesses, crafts people and artists. 

There are over 50 independent businesses (including Bumbumbee Creative) coming together to make this one of our largest and most successful events yet. 

This year, more than any other, it is vital we support our local and small businesses.  Here at Bumbumbee Creative, we want to do our part to make Burntisland an even stronger, more vibrant and resilient place to live and work.  Working with other local businesses in this way really fosters a sense of community and we can already feel a new vibrancy, a spirit of cooperation, and pride in our local High Street.

We are sworn to secrecy about what exactly we will be offering but do keep checking back to our website, Instagram and Facebook for details.

All we will say is, businesses taking part will each put on special £5 offers over 2 weeks, to show the diversity and value of what they sell, and to say thank you to the communities that support them.

So keep an eye out for some special promotions coming your way very soon – and help support local shops, businesses, crafts people and artists.  Oh and make sure you support Bumbumbee Creative (unfortunately the organisers got our business name wrong in a flyer that was going out to thousands !! Aagghh …what can you do – except take it on the chin … and spread the word that Bumbumbee is Burntisland’s very own creative.)

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A Wild One

She's a Wild One

It’s birthday time in the Bumbumbee family. Our gorgeous Rosie is a ‘wild ONE’ and we just don’t know where that whole year has gone. Given that late September and early October are the busiest months for births we know there will be a few of you out there that feel the same.

It has been the strangest year for sure, but at least our busy little bees don’t really allow us the time to wallow too much in the doom and gloom that could so easily take over otherwise. For now, the family unit and a few close friends, are all our little one-year olds really know. With many of us working from home or on maternity leave, the current situation has allowed us to keep our babies close just that little bit longer.

The end of September and the early days of October signal a change in the seasons in Scotland. Like our Nordic cousins, we share a high latitude which means we have enjoyed long daylight hours and an extended twilight for many weeks. The wildlife and birds are busy well into the evening and the air seems to hum in the background. Our coastal walks around Burntisland have been filled with adventure and wonder – seeing everything through children’s eyes – like the air – refreshing.  Everything feels so alive.

As we move into Autumn, the days draw in and a quietness returns – though we may still experience a few days of lingering summer sunlight here and there. So yes, the days will soon get shorter, but we know we can look forward to nature turning up the heat in a burst of oranges and golds and reds.  The cusp of the seasons provides a truly beautiful and vibrant kaleidoscope of colours to inspire.

Looking back over Rosie’s first year, I genuinely feel art, nature, the seasons and the great outdoors (when we’ve been able to venture out) have been a blessing in the truest sense. We can use art to express our innermost feelings and emotions (vital for us all) as well as to bring nature indoors when we can’t get outside. Those summer days have been filled with buzzing bees and songbirds one day, and the sounds of waves and seagulls the next. Nature’s orchestra has been the backdrop to our children’s shrieks and giggles – these being the most treasured sounds of all.

As I wrap the last of her presents in wrapping paper I created especially for her, I feel fairly sure in a few short years from now, Rosie will tell me she’d much prefer the latest ‘manufactured’ Disney Princess themed characters all glitter and pink. I’m sure I will happily oblige (read ‘give in’), but for this very special birthday my little Rosie will surrounded by the raw and resilient Scottish Wildflowers from the landscape of her birth with a little hint of vintage for that timeless twist and a reminder of the greens, yellows and pinks of her first summer.

We’d love to hear how you spent your little one’s first birthday and your reflections of a very ‘different’ year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Protecting the little artist in us all

lots of coloured paint

Pablo Picasso has had many inspirational quotes attributed to him but one I can certainly ascribe to is “Every child is an artist. The problem is to remain an artist once they grow up.” 

We were lucky in our house as there were always creative project in progress in one room or another. Because art was a part of our lives and we were surrounded by it, remaining an artist as an adult, certainly wasn’t a problem. I often wonder if it will be the same for Adam and Rosie as they grow up from being little artists – will they become full grown artists too?

The world Adam and Rosie (and all our children) are growing up in, is, after all, a very different world now. Of course life changes – it has to – but sometimes I wonder about the enormity of the changes that have taken place in 2020. 

Being back at school has its own challenges. As an Art teacher my classroom experience is a very different one to the classes I attended in High School. I mean – talk about ‘sanitised art’.  We’re wiping surface down as soon as a student looks in the general direction of a paintbrush. Art should be messy, art should be an interactive and immersive experience where paint platters merge in a kaleidoscopic cacophony of colour.

Don’t get me wrong. I know we have to be responsible and take care of one another but with face coverings ‘masking’ our identity, it seems harsh to be sanitising the expressive and creative environment too.

Yes, we all have to play our part in this new world, but I do wonder whether this will stifle or enhance creativity on a wider scale. Will our children ‘experience’ art in altogether different way – and will that change the nature of the artwork we see in years to come?

Maybe expressive modalities such as art will be the thing that gets us all through given the benefits to our mental health and emotional wellbeing. We just have  to make sure our children get the same chance to be messy, experimental little artists as we did. If they can’t explore at school maybe we should make a commitment to have that liberating, fun art time at home? That way, we are least giving them the best chance of still being able to access that inner little artist when they are all grown up.

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Setting the tone

For those of you who follow us on Instagram, you may have seen the range of wrapping papers and gift tags being created for a certain little ‘wild one’. It’s Rosie’s First Birthday coming up very soon and I wanted to create a very colourful – not forgetting stylish – event to mark the occasion. As I played with the various colours (OK, obsessed about various colours – it really is a rabbit hole once you go down there), I thought about the role colour plays in our lives– not just from a creative perspective.

Colour influences us in so many ways – some of which we are not even aware of. Take branding for example. Our own, Bumbumbee core palette is centred around the beautiful, vibrant yellow of the bumblebee. This colour represents ‘joy’ and ‘happiness’ which is certainly what we would like people to feel when they connect with us in the community or through our artwork.

Interestingly, given I am also a teacher, the colour ‘yellow’ has been shown to stimulate our intellect – so if you are studying it’s a good idea to surround yourself with yellow.

Nature is full of colour; our world is full of colour and it communicates with us in ways that support our health and wellbeing. We know when we see a ‘Red’ light we should stop (or risk being hit by a car). We have expressions that communicate emotions and feelings around colour – ‘green with envy’, ‘feeling blue’ or ‘in the pink’. Even the medical profession and complementary therapists harness the power of colour and the wavelengths at which they vibrate. You may even have experienced infrared or ultraviolet light in the medical environment. Red stimulates blood flow, oranges and yellows stimulate our nerves and blues and violet are ‘cooling’ and can be utilised for anti-inflammatory properties.

One of the most obvious ways we can ‘experience’ the effect of colour is in our own homes. How we use colour will either create a calming and relaxed vibe or perhaps a warm, inviting atmosphere.

If you are really hoping your child sleeps through the night and wakes up refreshed, then it’s probably best to ensure muted tones. It seems to be universally accepted that blue is the best colour to promote sleep.  Blue is said to contribute to longer rest and is calm and soothing. The reason for this has a lot to do with your eyes. There are special receptors in your eyes called “ganglion cells” and these are sensitive to the colour blue. These cells communicate with the part of your brain that controls your circadian rhythm – so worth keeping in mind if you have a restless child at night.

When you think about the many ways in which we use colour, you realise just how important it is for our children’s development – which in turn shows you how important visual arts and crafts are. Here are just a few examples to think about.

We use colour to:

  • speed up a visual search
  • improve object recognition
  • enhance meaning
  • convey structure
  • establish identity
  • symbolism
  • improve usability
  • communicate mood

So, you can see why I spend a ‘seemingly’ inordinate amount of time ‘playing’ with background colours and shades, tones and hues. It’s about creating a memorable and happy experience – setting the right tone and enhancing meaning. It’s also a creative and fun way to engage with a one year old and introduce her to a world beyond the traditional ‘pinks’.

Well, as I mentioned earlier, I also teach, so I am heading back into the classroom after a long break. I have to say I am feeling a little blue myself – simply because it means leaving behind my special little ‘wild one’ and her brother. They add their own splash of colour to our lives and lockdown has certainly been an ‘experience’. That said, I am lucky I get to share my passion for colour with a new generation of Scottish school children.

In the meantime, I will look forward to my little ‘wild ones’ colourful birthday celebration and who knows I may have a few more colour variations of wrapping paper in me yet so watch this space.

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Marine Week 2020

One of the great things about living in Fife is the fact you don’t have to travel too far before you hit the coastline. We have some amazing sandy beaches and walks alongside ruined castles and secret coves. So you can imagine here at Bumbumbee, our little creatives get a little bit excited about Marine Week because it means it’s time to grab our buckets and spades and hit the shores.

National Marine Week 2020 runs from 25th July until 9th of August. All over the UK people are taking part in sea-themed events which, at any other time of the year, would be a bit on the chilly side so it’s well-timed for the height of summer. National Marine Week is The Wildlife Trusts’ nationwide celebration of all things marine. 

There are so many sea creatures, marine mammals and birds to be found along the coast in the rock pools, on the rocks, and amongst the seaweed. In fact there are over 30,000 species of marine life in the UK alone.

We gave snorkeling in the Firth of Forth a miss, and Rosie is still a bit young for a seabed safari, but we were struck with some creative inspiration – of the coastal variety … look out soon for some more designs to dive into …

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Let Illuminated lettering light up your world

ABC Lettering

Bumbumbee is always busy with new creations, but it’s been busier than usual recently.  You see it’s a certain little lady’s first birthday very soon and I have been pulling out the creative stops to conjure up something special to mark the occasion. While I was in the ‘zone’ thinking through numerous ideas, I began exploring concepts around personalised decoration.

Creating in the ‘wee small hours’ as is often the case around here, I worked through a few mock-ups, designs and themes until I settled upon ‘Illuminated Lettering’.

Contrary to what it may sound like, ‘Illuminated Lettering’ does not light up – well not in the way Blackpool does. That said, ‘Illuminated’ comes from the Latin ‘illuminare’ which does actually mean ‘to light up’ – so traditionally there is a ‘glow’ created by radiant colours used for the lettering or illustrations.

Many of you would know of ‘Illuminated lettering’ if you have been to church or are familiar with the artwork in Bibles. In the Christian Scripture Manuscripts, that lettering would often be decorated by real gold and silver. These hand-made illuminated manuscripts were initially created by monks in abbeys.  Just imagine what a painstaking process that must have been.

As you can see, I have taken this concept and given it a modern twist using gorgeous, Scottish wildflowers for inspiration, though the range of potential customisations is limitless.

Here at Bumbumbee, we think you’ll agree these decorated alphabet letters would brighten up any room or birthday party celebration. They work equally well on their own if you want to use them as artwork to represent your family members in your household. After all, they are pieces of art in their own right.

So without further ado, I’m pleased to announce our latest Bumbumbee creation is now up on our online store. Well, I couldn’t keep these letters to ourselves could I?

To order, just message me to let me know which letters you would like and I’d love to know how you will use your ‘Illuminated Letters’ too. I have also included a link to our online store so you can go ahead and order there too.

As with all our Artwork, a file can be emailed to you once I’ve completed your letter(s) – so you have the flexibility to print out at home yourself. Alternatively, I can organise delivery with a quality window mount so it’s ready to hang on the wall. 

Take me to the store …

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Children’s Art Week 2020

In spite of it being called Children’s Art ‘Week’, the activities are actually spread across 3 weeks. To be honest, our little resident artists are still a bit small to really understand it, but the teacher in me loves any opportunity to get the kids involved in Art projects. You can never start them too young in my opinion. Regardless of whether they ‘get’ the intent or the educational purpose behind it, they have loads of fun. WIN-WIN!

Children’s Art Week is a UK-wide programme that gives children and young people the opportunity to get involved in a wide range of art activities online, at home, and in schools across three weeks in June and July. Each week focuses on a specific theme.

Week 1 (from 29 June): The Natural World
Week 2 (from 6 July): Connecting across generations
Week 3 (from 13 July): Literacy and creative writing

We brought Week one, ‘The Natural World’ to a close with leaf prints, Adam insisted they had to be rainbow print! 🌈🌿🍃

Children’s Art Week is run by Engage, the National Association for Gallery Education and supported in 2020 by Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust and Garfield Weston Foundation.

The initiative is all about encouraging families, children and young people to take part in creative activities they might not have tried before.  There were over 17,000 participants last year – so it will be exciting to see how many took part this year. 

If you haven’t had a chance to take part, it’s not too late. Head over to the site and see what ways you can get involved. We’d love to see your creative projects.

Children’s Art Week 2020