The Hive (Blog) – Page 5 – Bumbumbee Creative

Posted on 20 September 20203 October 2020 by bbbeecreative — Leave a comment

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.

Posted on 6 September 20206 September 2020 by bbbeecreative — 2 Comments

Protecting the little artist in us all

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.

Posted on 12 August 202021 March 2024 by bbbeecreative — Leave a comment

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.

Posted on 29 July 202022 September 2021 by bbbeecreative — Leave a comment

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 25^th July until 9^th 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 …

Posted on 12 July 202023 September 2021 by bbbeecreative — 1 Comment

Let Illuminated lettering light up your world

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 …

Posted on 10 July 202022 September 2021 by bbbeecreative — Leave a comment

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

Posted on 8 July 202023 September 2021 by bbbeecreative — Leave a comment

Keep connected

Wow, it’s hard to believe BumBumBee Creative is 6 weeks old. It has already become such a part of our lives here – much as a new baby does. It’s hard to imagine life ‘before’.

For those of you with new babies, it’s probably been a bit of a challenging time. We want nothing more than to take our new member of the family out into the big world, show them off, and share them with our closest friends and family. COVID has changed all of that the last few months and with two little ones of our own, we know it feels to be cooped up at home feeling slightly disconnected from the world outside.

For those with slightly older children, we hope you have found some of the craft ideas on our Facebook and Instagram page inspiring enough to try. They are guaranteed boredom busters for the kids and it’s always fun to create something new out of nothing. Children get such a sense of pride when they create something and see it hanging up on the wall or on the fridge so their sense of wellbeing increases significantly.

COVID has undoubtedly been difficult but it’s important to try to find the silver lining to that cloud, for our little ones if nothing else. It’s almost hard to imagine life ‘before’ COVID too isn’t it? Children pick up very quickly if things are not right and can feed off that energy. They are too young to process or understand what’s going on so this can result in some ‘out of character’ behaviour.

We try our best to turn everything into an adventure or project – and let’s face it – when the paints come out things can get a little bit more adventurous than you’d like. After all, a yellow handprint on your freshly painted living room wall is not the sense of adventure anyone needs. Being prepared with a plastic table covering, paper on the floor, an old shirt or plastic apron for the kids and a handy old damp cloth seem to cover it in our house. Stir crazy vibes and tantrums can often be averted with a sudden art project.

One of the most important things we’ve learned through COVID is how important it is to stay connected. If the kids can’t hug their grandparents or aunties and uncles, and they are used to them being part of their life, social media, and FaceTime (or similar are great ways for them to stay in touch. I’ve even seen kids and grandparents doing painting sessions with each other on Zoom … so it’s a fun opportunity to get creative in all areas of your life.

Talking of keeping connected, we just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to all of you for connecting with us on Instagram and Facebook. It feels like a wonderful, vibrant, and creative community is forming and we are so grateful for your support. A connected community is more important now than ever. As a thank you we run lots of competitions and opportunities to win FREE artwork, so keep a lookout for our next giveaway … you could be our next winner.

Well, a lot can happen in 6 weeks, so who knows what the coming weeks will bring for us all, but as long as we all keep connected and keep being creative, we should just about emerge from lockdown with our sanity – and lots of lovely new artwork to adorn our homes.

Posted on 6 July 202023 September 2021 by bbbeecreative — Leave a comment

Paper sizes – quick reference guide

It may surprise you to know that there is an International paper size standard (ISO 216) which is adopted by everywhere except North America and parts of Latin America. The standard relates to the series of paper sizes we refer to as ‘A’ (so A4 paper for example), ‘B’ and ‘C’.

You may have also come across additional standards such as ISO 217 and ISO 269 but generally these refer to envelope sizes and trimmed paper.

BusyBeeTip: Each ISO paper size is one half of the area of the next largest size in the same series. For example A5 is half the size of A4.

BBBeeCreative is based in Scotland, UK so all our sizes are in line with ISO 216. For quick and easy reference please find the most common ones we use, listed below.

841 x 1189 mm
84.1 x 118.9 cm
33.110 x 46.811 inches

594 x 841 mm
59.4 x 84.1 cm
23.388 x 33.110 inches

42.0 x 59.4 cm

420 x 594. mm

16.535 x 23.388 inches

297 x 420 mm
29.7 x 42.0 cm
11.693 x 16.535 inches

210 x 297 mm

21.0 x 29.7 cm

8.3 x 11.7 inches

148 x 210 mm
14.8 x 21.0 cm
5.827 x 8.268 inches

105 x 148 mm
10.5 x 14.8 cm
4.134 x 5.827 inches

74 x 105 mm
7.4 x 10.5 cm
2.913 x 4.134 inches

52 x 74 mm
5.2 x 7.4 cm
2.047 x 2.913 inches

37 x 52 mm
3.7 x 5.2 cm
1.457 x 2.047 inches

A10

26 x 37 mm
2.6 x 3.7 cm
1.024 x 1.457 inches

Posted on 25 June 202010 February 2022 by bbbeecreative — Leave a comment

Premium mounts for your designs

Here at Bumbumbee Creative we pride ourselves on a quality finish and stylish presentation. When you opt to have your wall art or personalised items shipped, you will receive a beautifully packaged product, protecting and displaying your artwork:

The complete package to protect and display your artwork includes:

1.4mm bevel cut acid free white core mount, 1mm PH neutral cream core backing board and a cellophane envelope.
Print is on premium quality paper 220gsm.
Acid free hinging tape is used to attach the print to the window mount.

Posted on 9 June 202022 September 2021 by bbbeecreative — Leave a comment

Be an individual …

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When you commission a unique design from BBBeeCreative, rest assured your artwork will be as individual as you are.

Each design starts life as a carefully crafted concept tailored to your brief and budget. Once you have signed off on the concept, your design will begin to take form through a series of drafts before being worked up to the finished product you receive.

Because each commission is personally designed and created just for you, each piece will be slightly different from the last. This means you receive a genuinely unique creation.

Please refer to the Terms & Conditions of Commissioned Projects so you have an understanding of the full scope of the project and requirements of a brief.