Golden Bees

I decided I wanted to try something a little different with my handmade bees and swapped the silver for gold to see how it would look....

 I think it suits them:

I will be crafting some hair slides in the gold version too, but for now you can
purchase the broaches from my Etsy store
or from my stall in the Backyard Market on Sundays, 10am - pm.

This little chap measures about 3cm long and including his wings in about 3.5cm high.
The wire I have used is very sturdy and really shines out. 

I am pleased with the result - as I hope my customers will be too!

20% OF PROFIT FROM BEE SALES IS DONATED TO THE SOIL ASSOSIATION TO HELP THEM SAVE THE HONEY BEES

Abergavenny: Discovery Beautiful Countryside & Knitted Treasures!

I was lucky enough to get away camping for a few days this August Bank Holiday Weekend; the destination being Abergavenny in Wales, situated between the Brecon Beacons & the Forest of Dean; MTB perfection! We had some fun treking to the tops of some rather big hills on the bike, with our dog closely following, to discover some wonderful views such as this:Without boring you all too much with my holiday snaps; here's only a couple from a beautiful little cycle we had along a canal one day too:

On my final day there we spotted signs for a Gift Fair that was being held in Abergavenny Town Hall and had to stop off for a quick peak! It was definitely worth it; there was everything from stalls of old-school comics & action figures; to books, craft supplies (wonderful!), local hand made food, jewellery to name a few!

An absolutely fantastic find was Odd Balls stall; chock full of fabulous bags, broaches, phone holders, purses and such, all made my a lovely lady named Belinda. She uses 'odds & bods' to create some very irrestistable recycled goodies!

Here was my handmade souvenir from her; a big & beautiful purple flower broach! Please e-mail Belinda on bee.oddballs@gmail.com to find out more!

My second fantastic knitted discovery was Amanda Bland's stall. She is a knit wear designer who creates unquie hand knitted scarves; not only does she sell these but also an amazing array of yarn, needles & all the patterns so you can recreate them yourself too!

My favourite was the 'Big Necklace' and after a lot of umming and ahhh-ing I finally went for a green - purple - yellow - sparkle eyelash style yarn to take home with me!

Here is my creation of it all:

A close up to show off the super snazzy yarn used to make my new scarf / necklace!

Please e-mail Amanda on a.j.bland@hotmail.co.uk; there was a wonderful selection to choose from!

On my list of things I wanted to find this holiday was a pot of locally produced honey; which was being sold in the gift fair. Already started on it as you can see; it tastes delicious! Also came away with a handful of jars of various chunteys; which have all been sampled and are so, so tasty! Buying local honey something we should all be doing, it is a super easy way to help support all the bee keepers and help save the honey bees!

I also have to mention the brilliant caravan / campsite we pitched ourselves up at; which I really, really to recommend staying at if you are thinking of visiting the area for a few days: www.blossompark.co.uk

The owners were so friendly and accomodating! It was in a perfect location; stunning scenery, short drive/ride to the village, lovely clean toilets/showers, electricty, cheap to rent a good size pitch... The owners even lent us a pack of playing cards on a rainy night! (I'd forgotten my knitting...)

So; all in all, a fantastic trip!

Egg Mag!

I have been using my old copy of the fantastic Egg Mag to create paper bags, which I use to sell my items in at my market stalls.

Here they are having made themselves onto the lovely EggMag's website:

http://www.eggmag.co.uk/eggstras/eggcam.html

Check them out and keep your eye out around London & Brighton for a free copy of the mag, it's utterly awesome!!!

Not to mention the magazine which inspired me to donate my profit from all of my bee sales to help save the honey bees!

I have also finally been able to part with my pile of old Howies catalouges; (for some reason they're so lovely it's hard to part with them?!) by recycling them in the same fashion.

Have a look through my previous posts for some pics of them! Better still, come and see me on Sunday's at the Backyard Market on Brick Lane and view them for real!

See my website for more information on my creations & my honey-bee-saving-bees!

www.laurabaxendale.co.uk

Long Live The Honey Bees!

Spend money & help save the honey bee!

From now on, I shall donate 20% of my profits from all bee related creations to charities which are working to help save the British Honey Bee!

Recycled plastic & silver plated wire bee hair slides - £6 per pair.

Recycled bee beer bottle top bracelet.

Gold, wooden & pearl beads.

Inside message 'Long Live the Bees'

Bee Broach £4.50