B's Hive

why am i cranky & tired......

2011-12-09T09:49:00.000-08:00

because i have been preparing for the mother-of-them-all holiday sales event .... CRAFTY WONDERLAND!! don't miss out on this twice yearly sale. not only is it the best in the nw, it is such a great way to support local businesses (no amazon, you cannot gather my sales info here. your stupid scanner won't work on me!). come see me at the convention center this weekend, and you and your friends can have $10 off any regular priced tee for mentioning this post (that's twice as good as amazon.com's offer of $5 off to rip off local businesses) ....wheeee :)

.... like i said tired & cranky. i just couldn't help sending out a little dig to big brother, tax evading, amazon.com. ok, enough! see you this weekend.

Crafty Wonderland Super Colossal Holiday Sale
Dec 10th, 11am - 6pm
Dec 11th, 11am - 6pm
@ the Oregon Convention Center
777 NE MLK Jr. Blvd, Exhibit Hall C

Sunday Best Holiday Sale

2011-11-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

each year i look forward to vending at this wonderful little sale. curator, julie of studio olivine, has created a very special event that takes place at the the cleaners in the pearl district of downtown portland. i'm not sure that i can give this sale an accurate description without butchering the look and feel that one gets when in attendance, but it is modern and beautiful. there are printed items, both paper & fiber, sewn items, jewelry, ceramics ....so many things to go home with. instead of trying to explain, please take a peak at the sunday best holiday sale blog. julie has done a really good job of highlighting some of the beautiful items that will be for sale this weekend.

sunday best holiday sale
dec 2nd, 5pm - 9pm
dec 3rd, 10am - 7pm
@ the cleaners
sw 10th & stark
portland, or

oooh, & on friday night we will have hot cider that you can warm up with whisky or rum ....doesn't that sound cheery!!!!

25% OFF until December 2nd!!

2011-11-28T19:08:00.000-08:00

so....i don't really like mondays. do you? i don't feel like shopping on mondays. i just want to get through the day, get home, and chill after a weekend full of activities. especially after a weekend of thanksgiving/black friday-ing/crazy traffic/craziness. get my drift?

anyway, in honor of not wanting to shop the deep discount weekend or cyber monday, i am creating cyber-week. that's right, one entire work week to use this super discount code in my etsy shop. why do you need a week you ask? because sometimes it's hard to shop on-line while you're at work, and this should give you plenty of time to flip back to your shopping screen while your boss isn't looking :) ....oooh pretty peacock feathers!

code: 25NOEL2011

a special event .... la fête de noël - november 27th

2011-11-18T10:04:00.000-08:00

hello friends we are so excited to be hosting our annual event, la fête de noël. if you're in portland be sure to join us for a special holiday party & wine tasting on sunday, november 27th ....wine & shopping, what could be better after a long weekend of feasting on turkey.

bring your friends! you can get more details and RSVP HERE!

be sure to visit our shops to see what will be for sale.
www.bhivedesigns.etsy.com
www.amyolsonjewelry.etsy.com
www.mimimusedesings.etsy.com
www.bigwoowear.etsy.com
Hummingbird Hoops

....and check out our website for vendor highlights!

shop udate

2011-11-17T12:07:00.000-08:00

hi there friends. i just wanted to let you know that i have updated the shop. there are some heavily discounted items that i would love to get rid of before i print my holiday inventory. take a look in my etsy shop today, before it's all gone!

i have also sent some inventory to the crafty wonderland pop-up shop. be sure to stop by the store if you are in downtown portland.

a holiday event ....let the season begin

2011-11-05T19:14:00.000-07:00

hello friends. i know, it's been too long since i have given this blog any attention. i really need to show this little business some love. i'm going to start with a little announcement about the abernathy art & craft fair. this lovely little neighborhood school fair is happening on Sunday, 11/6, from 11:00am - 4:00pm. be there or be square ....whatever that means.

i am also going to promise a super fabulous b hive "special" coming up soon ....so definitely pay attention to this blog in the next couple of weeks. it's gonna be really special!

have you missed me?

2011-08-18T10:57:00.001-07:00

ok, ok, i know....i have been a total slacker. i have not given the b hive any love for the past few months, i've just been busy with life. our house was under construction for a couple of months, and me and my boys have been hanging at the pool & doing summer stuff....no time for making stuff. with that said summer will be behind us here in the pacific northwest in a few short weeks, and i still have a lot of short sleeved beauties that i need to sell off.

so here's the deal, come see me this saturday at multnomah days, because i will be selling everything for $20 or less....aw snap! $15 short sleeved tees, and onesie....woohoo!....not to mention some $20 long sleeved tees to get you through our long wet wintery season.

the amazing little thinker toys shop in the village is letting me set up a table in front of their store. i'm thinking about a perfect senario, you bring your kids to see street fair (did i mention there's a parade), buy a tee for yourself while your kids peruse the toy shelves inside thinker toys.

i'll only be set up for part of the day from 9:00am - 2:00pm so don't dilly dally!

oooh, & i have some new prints..........................................................>>

Crafty Wonderland Spring Sale - May 7, 2011

2011-05-04T14:48:00.000-07:00

Don't miss out!

The Crafty Wonderland Super Colossal Spring Sale

is this Saturday, May 7th at the Oregon Convention Center.

Come see me :)

5/7/11

Sat, 11-6pm

Oregon Convention Center

777 NE MLK Jr. Blvd

Exhibit Hall D

Portland, OR

the shop is open....and addie rose jewelry

2011-04-12T09:02:00.000-07:00

yes, i actually managed to get off of the couch & re-open my little shop. here's how it happened....

i received an email from a high school friend of mine requesting a shirt. i typically close my shop after the winter holiday shows until April or May to spend time with my family. it is always such a nice reprieve, but i figured that this was a good reason to mess up my studio again.

so there it is, an incentive & all of a sudden the shop is open. and the best part about it is that this transaction was actually a trade. trading with other crafters is one of my favorite past-times, and i am so excited to have one of colette's little gems. you really must check out her etsy shop. she makes personalized hand stamped jewelry that anyone can use....even the family dog :) the necklace pictured is what i have requested....with miles & jackson of course.

Addie Rose Jewelry

a little puppy love....

2011-03-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

my family was recently saddened to say goodbye to one of our doggies, lily (the large eared chihuahua pictured on the left). she was a good dog, a little peculiar, but we loved her nonetheless. husband and i had her for almost 13 years, which is a long time to live with a beloved animal. we bought (rescued) her in new mexico, a story which is legendary in itself....involving indoor skunks, ferrets, mutts, and chickens, but i'll save that for another time. needless to say, we miss her. as a result i have been feeling a lot of love for her brother murphy.

murphy is the same age as lily. he will be 13 in may, and his age is definitely starting to show. he has a number of benign tumors making his physique lumpy, he has trouble walking up and down the stairs, he has trouble walking on tiled floors, and he frequently cries out in pain. we do our best to keep him comfortable, and he is definitely happy. he still takes short neighborhood walks, and he still wags his tail when we come home (if he hears us). the one thing he has been missing lately is a comfy bed. if you are a dog owner, you know that there are a lot of really ugly dog beds out in the market. not only are they unattractive, but they are never the right size or shape, and are never quite as comfy as the couch.

so, i made murphy the prettiest dog bed ever....and it's personalized with a little b hive designs print!

and guess what....he slept on his new bed all night long, and he didn't even think about getting up on the couch. oh murphy dog, i love you, and i'm so happy you finally have a comfy bed!

Bargain Hunting 101 - 2/6/11

2011-02-05T13:10:00.000-08:00

who wants to sit around and watch football?....not me. as a matter of fact, i can't think of anything i like less than that. football + big meaty men = ew....lean baseball players in cute baseball knickers, maybe :)

this is why i will be enjoying my super bowl sunday at bargain hunting 101. if you feel like me and like a great bargain, come visit me tomorrow at the crystal ballroom. all b hive designs items will be 50% off. i haven't had a sale like that....ever! oh, & i have way more stuff than is actually offered online, including skirts :)

here are the dets:

bargain hunting 101

sunday, february 6, 2011

12:00pm - 5:00pm

crystal ballroom, p-town

bargainhuntingpdx.com

a coupon code....and my birthday?

2010-12-14T09:58:00.001-08:00

now that the crafty wonderland sale is over, i am finally able to relax and enjoy this holiday season with my family. it took a full day to recover from my whirlwind weekend, but now that i am rested and free of stress i am ready to clean house a bit. which is why i am offering you a birthday sale....what? a birthday sale at christmas time?

so here's the scoop....when i was a kid, and even now as an adult, i would always receive combo christmas/birthday gifts. my birthday is two weeks after christmas, but still close enough for people to combine shipping or purchases. obviously now that i am a "grown up", i receive a lot fewer gifts. so i decided to celebrate my birthday this year for an entire month with a super duper coupon code....just a little combo christmas/birthday gift from me to you :) you can use this code in either my etsy shop or at www.bhivedesigns.com until midnight of my birthday on January 13, 2011. i will be adding new items to the shop this week, so be sure to keep checking back....to include this super cute giraffe onesie :)

Coupon code good through 1/13/2011

40WINTER2010

the "mother of them all" craft event!!

2010-12-10T22:42:00.000-08:00

finally....crafty wonderland super colossal holiday sale!!

Come Visit Me Today or Tomorrow!!

12/11/10 & 12/12/10

Crafty Wonderland

Super Colossal Holiday Sale

Sat & Sun, 11am - 5pm

Oregon Convention Center

Exhibit Hall C

777 NE MLK Jr. Blvd.

Portland, OR 97232

a little decorating....and a lot of work

2010-12-08T20:49:00.000-08:00

it has been difficult juggling the balls of my life these past few weeks. i have been crazy busy in the b hive, i still have two small children to feed and clothe every day, get to school, get to after school sports, help with homework, animals to care for, a husband to kiss now and then, and a part-time job three days a week....not to mention all of the christmas decorating. i managed to drag a very LARGE tree back to my house last week....and i really mean drag. once i got the large forest specimen back to my house i was a little shocked by how heavy it was. needless to say it was pouring rain and husband was out of town so i was on my own with the tree. i was just praying that none of the neighbors were looking out of their window as i struggled to get it up our driveway. by the time i got it into the backyard i was covered in mud, my shoes were destroyed, and my hair was full of pine needles. i was a mess....but one week later i am happy that i took the time to get our tree when i did. even though the tree is a wee bit big for our house (there is only one inch to spare between the star and the ceiling), it is so lovely and festive with it's twinkly lights at night......p.s. that's my murphy dog resting his head near the tree :)

i love creating little christmas vignettes throughout the house. this year i took a little extra time out of my busy life to create a few new items for my mantle. a couple of months ago i found a large birch branch down by the river, and i knew i had to have it. i wasn't quite sure what i would do with it, but i took it home anyway....much to husband's dismay (he's afraid i'm a hoarder). yesterday, i put my beautiful white branch to good use, and i created the most beautiful little candle holders that i've ever seen. i was so excited about how they turned out that i think i went a little overboard with the self-praise....husband teased me and said i should enter a mantle decorating contest. well anyway i love my little creation, and i wanted to share it with you.

i hope you're enjoying you're own holiday traditions as much as i am enjoying mine!!

the sunday best holiday sale....my favorite!

2010-12-04T06:10:00.000-08:00

ok, peeps....this is it....my favorite little sale of the year. the sunday best holiday sale is such a treasure. this is a carefully curated collection, put together by julie of studio olivine. i can't say enough about how much i love each and every artist that is participating, but i will give you a little sneak peak at a few. on the right is the wonderful handiwork of anna joyce design. anna makes a variety of appliqued home good including stockings for christmas. you know i have a fondness for birds....love, love, love this sweatshirt. in the center is a necklace from tasi designs. the sisters that create this beautiful jewelry are sweet as apple pie, and i am always filled with desire when i see their beautiful jewelry. and last but not least are the perfect letterpress gifts from studio olivine. julie will be selling her printed goods, which include wall art hangings....there is even a special little collaboration between her and anna joyce that is a personal must have. but you really should come visit us this weekend to see for yourself. you will not be disappointed.

12/4/10 & 12/5/10

Sunday Best Holiday Sale

Sat, 11am -7pm
Sun, 11am - 5pm

The Cleaners

SW 10th & SW Stark

Portland, Oregon 97205

a little magic elf

2010-12-02T09:47:00.000-08:00

i am so in love with my little boys, i just really need to share this story....

a couple of days ago my nine year old jackson came home from a friends house and said, "mom, i need to look around the house for a red elf on a shelf." i had no idea what he was talking about, but apparently his friend has an elf that lives at his house during the advent season. jackson said that the elf appears every morning in a different place. he also added that the elves might not come to our neighborhood....this could have been my out....but, being the good mom that i am i did a little research. apparently there is an "elf on the shelf" phenomenon. there is a little story about an elf that santa sends to live at your house prior to christmas. this little elf reports back to santa each night while the children sleep. the reports to santa include whether or not the children have been naughty or nice. of course when i read about this i had to find a red elf.

last night after work i quickly ran to our friendly neighborhood toy store, thinker toys, for an elf on the shelf kit. the kit includes an elf & a story book about the elf. before the boys returned home i was able to get the elf set up in their bedroom with a note from santa, the story book, two chocolate coins and a number tag indicating the number of days until christmas (in lieu of an advent calendar). when the boys came home i was in the kitchen preparing dinner. we were chatting about our evening the night before, and miles was wondering how he ended up in my bed during the middle of the night (a nightly occurence for our 4 year old). i suggested that maybe an elf brought him downstairs. within a few seconds jackson said, "i need to look around for an elf." i nonchalantly replied "ok", and continued making dinner. within a few minutes i could hear jackson yelling, "mom, i found an elf, i found an elf". he was sooo excited. he ran downstairs with the little elf and said, "i think he came because i believed in him". my heart seriously melted!! it was all very exciting....except i will say that miles was a little apprehensive of the elf. he looked at me and asked if the elf could fly, and whether or not he really had brought him downstairs the night before. after we read the story book about the elf, the boys named him cinnamon, and i caught them periodically whispering to him throughout the evening. apparently he can take requests directly to santa. miles is still a little unsure about the elf's magic, but i can tell you that he was not afraid of him this morning when he found him with a couple of chocolates on his lap :)

oh, i love christmas time....

cyber monday....BOGO SALE!

2010-11-29T06:56:00.000-08:00

hello friends. it's cyber monday....woohoo! a few crafty friends of mine are having a Buy One Get One Sale on etsy today. place your holiday orders today, because i am offering 50% off the higher priced item purchased. Be sure to check out the list of other participating vendors. Each vendor has their own deal for the day, which should be listed on the front page of their Etsy shop. this is a ONE DAY ONLY SALE! when you place your order, be sure to type "BOGO" in the notes during checkout. **The BOGO discount will be given after payment has been received in the form of a refund (off of the higher priced item).** Check out the link below to find other participating vendors (or search the term "pdx bogo" on etsy)....

http://littledaisychains.blogspot.com/2010/11/pdx-etsys-cyber-monday-bogo-sale.html

give handmade sale....today, 11/28/10

2010-11-28T06:30:00.000-08:00

the give handmade sale is an event not to be missed!!

each year the vendors of this event (formerly known as the secret society sale) contribute 10% of their sales to the oregon food bank. i am so excited to be a part of this group of artists for the third year in a row, and i hope to see you here today......after all, MALL is 4-letter word!!

11/28/10

Give Handmade Sale

(a.k.a. the Secret Society Sale)

11:00am - 5:00pm

Left Bank Annex

101 N Wiedler

Portland, Oregon 97227

http://www.givehandmadesale.com/

so much to do....so little time....and a "thank you"

2010-11-27T20:31:00.000-08:00

i have barely been able to adjust to the time change after a whirlwind trip to visit family for thanksgiving, and i am already preparing for another event this sunday. but before i tell you about the upcoming event, i really must say a big "thank you" to everyone who came to my little event la fête de Noël. this was such a fun event to host, and was made especially beautiful by the lovely ivette of grace and ivy. her home was lovely as usual, and she really went above and beyond her hosting duties to make this a very special occasion. be sure to read about her experience on her blog....she always has such nice photographs to see (yes, i pilfered one of these from her blog).

a sweet deal

2010-11-19T08:15:00.000-08:00

hello peeps....as promised, i am announcing the sweet little deal for my event this saturday, la fête de Noël. i love to keep it simple, so....

women's tees

short sleeve - $20.00

long sleeve - $25.00

skirts - you must come to see the deal :)

kid's tees

$10 - woohoo!

this is a savings of up to 15-40% off. check out my website to see some examples of what you will find at the sale. i will have other items that have not been listed online, including skirts. hope to see you there!.....oh, & i think that my co-hosts will be offering some sort of special for the event as well. i'll keep you posted.

DETAILS:

la fête de Noël

November 20, 2010

1:00pm – 7:00pm

14363 Amberwood Cir. Lake Oswego, 97035

introducing some friends

2010-11-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

i am so excited to share a little bit about some of my crafty friends. i am co-hosting a trunk show this saturday, la fête de Noël, with the lovely ladies listed below so i thought you might want to know about all of the goodness that you will be able to peruse at our lovely little party. oh, & i think i forgot to mention that there will be champagne at our party....if that doesn't get you there, then i don't know what will :)

amy olson jewelry

i met amy two years ago working at our very first crafty wonderland event together in october 2008. we immediately befriended each other, and i feel so lucky to be working with her again this saturday. i love amy's jewelry designs. they are so delicate and feminine....much like amy herself. read the post i wrote a couple of years ago when i first met amy....i was obviously immediately enamored with her work.

www.amyolsonjewelry.etsy.com

www.amyolsonjewelry.wordpress.com

mimi muse designs

jen lees is the creator of the lovely handmade greeting cards called mimi muse designs. i met jen three years ago at a small craft fair called the rebel rabbit. it was jen's first event selling her cards, and i had only been selling my shirts for a couple of months when i met her. it is always such a pleasure to work with jen. she is a rare and kind individual who makes everyone smile, especially when they see her beautiful work. jen has expanded her business to include decorated switch plates, magnets, and whatever else she has a whim to collage.

www.mimimusedesigns.com

www.mimimusedesigns.etsy.com

grace and ivy

grace and ivy organic beauty products are created by the very lovely ivette newport (a.k.a. ivy). i met ivy only a few months ago, and quickly felt a strong bond with her. she is a very elegant and creative person with a keen eye for beauty. in addition to creating her beauty products, ivy also contributes to two blogs. i am always amazed with her creative posts filled with beautiful photographs, insightful ideas, and spiritual journeys. she recently took her readers on vicarious vacations, and her curated posts definitely promote my addiction to daydreaming. you really must visit her websites to fully appreciate ivy, the artist.

www.graceandivy.com

www.graceivy.etsy.com

www.graceandivy.wordpress.com

www.curateandlove.blogspot.com

b hive designs

....and then there's me, but you should already know about me, right? by the way, if you click on my link you will notice that my online shop is actually open....woohoo! there will also be more items listed on the site by the end of the week. maybe even a couple of new designs :)

i can't tell you enough how much you will enjoy seeing the work of my friends this weekend at the sale. there is nothing better than seeing a product in person, and meeting the artist who created it. but, if you are not lucky enough to live in rainy p-town then at least i have left you with a number of shops to peruse online....have a lovely week.

la fete de noel - 11/20/10

2010-11-15T23:32:00.000-08:00

i am so excited to share this special holiday party with you. i will be selling my designs with some of my friends this saturday at a lovely little sale, where there is sure to be some good fun, a few drinks, and some really great deals. i will be offering a very special deal on my printed goods, which i will announce on friday....so be sure to stay tuned. i know you will have a great time with us!! in the meantime, check out some of the other items that you will find at the sale, amy olson jewelry, grace & ivy organic beauty products, mimi muse greeting cards, and of course a little b hive designs.

DETAILS:

November 20, 2010

1:00pm – 7:00pm

14363 Amberwood Cir. Lake Oswego, 97035

click on the image to view

seriously....i have to work?

2010-11-15T11:58:00.001-08:00

ok, so i am still a little fuzzy in the head after a week in hawaii. i took a much needed vacation with a girlfriend, and literally sat on a beach doing nothing (well, except for the occasional sip of a tropical drink) for 5 days....no husband, no children. my major decision of the day was "should i lay on the beach, or sit by the pool"....oh, the life. but, now i am home, happy to see my little family once again & faced with a lot of work. i will be announcing a super special sale tomorrow that you p-town folks will be interested in. i am also going to be listing some items for sale on-line, and there will be a super duper BOGO sale on Etsy that i am involved in coming up soon as well. i'll give you the dets on all of this in the next couple of days. for now, i must get a few more ducks in a row, and continue daydreaming about this....

2010 holiday sales events

2010-10-26T15:14:00.001-07:00

you can find b hive designs at the following events....woo hoo!

i can't wait to share my new goodies with you....more news coming soon.

11/20/10

TBA

4:00pm - 7:00pm

11/28/10

Give Handmade Sale

(a.ka. the Secret Society Sale)

11:00am - 5:00pm

Left Bank Annex

101 N Wiedler

Portland, Oregon 97227

http://www.givehandmadesale.com/

12/4/10 & 12/5/10

Sunday Best Holiday Sale

Saturday, 11:00am to 7:00pm

Sunday, 11:00am to 5:00pm

The Cleaners at The Ace Hotel

SW 10th & SW Stark

Portland, Oregon 97205

http://sundaybestholidaysale.blogspot.com/

12/11/10 & 12/12/10

Crafty Wonderland

Super Colossal Holiday Sale

Saturday & Sunday, 11:00am - 5:00pm

at the Oregon Convention Center

Exhibit Hall C

777 NE MLK Jr. Blvd.

Portland, OR 97232

http://craftywonderland.com/

done cleaning & back to work

2010-10-24T20:00:00.001-07:00

hip hip hooray!

my studio is finally back in working order. i am not brave enough to show you the "before" photo, but let's just say you may have mistaken me for a hoarder (as husband lovingly refers to me on occasion). i figured i should show you what my workspace looks like now before it gets all mucked up again. it was so nice to wake up this morning and print some shirts in my clean space....and on that note the b hive is up and running again!!

i will have a list of my winter events for you very very soon. i am really excited to share the list with you, because i am only working at the best events this year.

as a matter of fact i just delivered a special little box of goodness to the sweet girls of crafty wonderland for their super awesome new venture....a pop-up shop downtown for the holiday season. i feel really lucky to be part of this great collection of artists, and the bonus is that you don't need to wait for an event to shop. you can shop at your leisure....see below for details....

Crafty Wonderland Holiday Pop-Up Shop!

Open November 9th - December 30th, 2010

802 SW 10th Ave. in Portland

(at the corner of SW 10th + Yamhill - across from the central library)

GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION

+ small wonders art show opening

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH FROM NOON-5PM

Selling work from over 80 Portland artists + crafters!

One stop shopping for amazing local handmade goods!

HOURS:

BEFORE THANKSGIVING:

10am-6pm MON. through SAT.

12am-5pm SUN.

AFTER THANKSGIVING:

10am-7pm MON. through SAT.

12am-6pm SUN.

my return

2010-10-19T08:40:00.000-07:00

i have been feeling like a big fat loser.

i have seriously ignored my business for months now. i have not printed anything, i have not drawn anything new, i have ignored business opportunities, and i opted for vacation time instead of working more events this holiday season. i guess you could say that i've been in a creative rut. truthfully, i have been enjoying a little more free time with my family. i have been able to see all of my son's soccer games this season. i have been taking my little to art classes and swim lessons during time that i should be using to create new things. i can honestly say that i haven't even opened my studio door since august (except to hide piles of things that i don't want to see in the house....all piled neatly by the door)......not to mention my retail websites being closed for months. i think i have been feeling a little bit scarlett o'hara-ish lately, after all tomorrow is another day.

but tomorrow is finally today!

i am heading outside to clean up my studio, clean off some screens, and make some stuff. i have some new ideas that i really want to get started on, and to be perfectly honest all of a sudden i have some deadlines. i can't wait to share all of the wonderful things that i will be involved in this holiday season. plus, i will be taking my business in a new direction....making some changes, keeping some oldies but goodies, and making some new items all together. i can't wait, but right now i must clean to start things off.

oh, and as of tomorrow i will not feel like a big fat loser anymore!

since, every post should have a photo, i give you this. the last of my family time outdoors before the rain take over p-town. i love these peeps!

bargain hunting 101 - sunday 8/15

2010-08-10T07:35:00.000-07:00

super awesome sale!

bargain hunting 101, part 2. this is a super fun twice yearly sale held at the crystal ballroom. there will be many different types of vendors here including crafters of clothing, handbags, jewelry, baby clothes, hats, photography, artwork, and other retailers such as Frock, Moxie, Haggis McBaggis, Gypsy Chic, Queen Bee, etc. check out the vendor list.

i hope to see you there....

sunday, august 15

12-5pm

crystal ballroom

1332 w burnside

p-town

worst blogger, ever?....and a little musical

2010-07-20T22:30:00.000-07:00

i have the feeling that i might be the worst blogger ever. i just can't seem to keep up with posting. it's not that i don't have anything interesting to say or show you, but it just seems to take so much time to actually sit down, photoshop a pretty picture to post, write a witty story, or even notify you about fun events. i could blame it on the sunshine, and my desire to be outside during the summer, but the truth is i have never been very good at this. part of my problem is that my thoughts are constantly overlapping. i am a daydreamer by nature, and even as i sit here typing i am thinking about the way that the sand will feel in my toes at the end of the week when i go camping at the beach. maybe i need medication to help me focus....or maybe i just need to pinch myself once in a while to get me out of the clouds.

anyway, as a daydreamer i tend to love romantic old movies & musicals, especially gone with the wind, singing in the rain, the sound of music, holiday inn, mary poppins, wuthering heights, jane eyre, the wizard of oz, and so many more. i recently came across this video....a modern combo of some of my favorite things, singing and dancing just like an old movie.

as noted two sentences ago, i love the sound of music, so when i saw this video it really made me want to post some other clips from the movie. apparently this is a copyright infringement, so i will settle with some of my favorite lyrics & you can sing along on your own :)

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into Springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad.

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into Springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad.

a list

2010-06-04T10:16:00.000-07:00

last weekend husband and i were driving to a friends house for a cookout (during a rain break), and we had a lovely moment. we were running late as usual, the boys were in the back seat being themselves, and then we noticed that miles was listing the things that he could see out of the window; tree, truck, tree, party place, traffic, tree, etc. it reminded me of something that i heard julia roberts say about her children in an oprah interview....

"That's the thing about being new to the world, you're just so present and impressed with everything... The older you get and the grumpier you get, (it's like), 'We've got to get there. We're going to be late.' You know, they're in the car; 'Look at the tree!' Everything is exciting."

....here we were rushing to our friends home, thinking about the next thing, and miles was blissfully present in his time and space. la di da :) when i heard julia roberts say this, the first thing that i thought of was laying in my neighbors grass as a child just watching the clouds go by and thinking about the roundness of earth, without another care in the world. i think i need a little more childhood simplicity in my life. so, in honor of simple pleasures and being present in my own time and space, i give you a list of simple things that i love....also an attempt to look at the sunny side of life on this miserable gray p-town day.

watching a smile spread on my boy's faces
feeling the sun on my face
being barefoot
listening to the wind move through a ponderosa pine
ocean waves
hiking through the woods
the smell of cut grass
birds chirping in the morning
my bed
silence

happy friday!

dear portland

2010-05-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

dear portland,
i love you, i really do.
it's just so hard sometimes

when you're rainy and cold

for days on end.

but, when i think of this,

i love you all over again.

alberta art hop - 5/15/10

2010-05-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

be there or be square :)

spend some time strolling along alberta street this saturday, & check out some really crafty peeps!

splurge on yourself

2010-05-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

splurge artist boutique is one of my favorite stores in p-town. i recently dropped off a gaggle of shirts, and spied a number of items that i really want for myself. here are just a few things you can find at this lovely little shopping spot....b hive designs shirts of course, and....

yedomi jewelry, created by the lovely naomi pictured on the left. You can find her making these delicate beauties most days in the store. you really need to see them in person....my photos do not do them justice (click on the photo to get a closer look).

the reason why i sell my shirts at splurge is because of the husband/wife partnership that is plywerk. i met kim and kjell a couple of years ago doing our thing at a local craft fair. kim is a truly amazing photographer (& super sweet), and kjell is just kjell....very friendly, always networking and building his business. what is plywerk?.....a super cool way to mount a photograph, drawing, or image of any kind. check it out!

ok, so there are a lot of other artists who sell their work at splurge whom i love, but don't have the patience to list here. you just need to go in for yourself to see all of the goodness! in the meantime, check out their website & blog :)

oh, cuteness!....so many goodies to be had.

a french affair

2010-05-06T13:54:00.000-07:00

hello....happy may!

i must admit my mind is elsewhere this week. my heart is heavy with sorrow for the loss of a little girl this time last year. this morning was especially difficult as i watched her classmates, and my son, give her a very touching tribute....their tiny hands clutching lighted candles in her honor. it was too difficult to hold back my tears....i wept as though her passing was only yesterday. this is the problem with becoming a parent, there is so much love in our hearts that sometimes we can't help exploding. luckily for me, husband is much more emotionally balanced. he took our sadness, and is turning it into good-ness for our son's school. check out seebluegrasschadrun.blogspot.com. we will never forget you mk!

with that said, nothing cheers my spirit more than watching children play. so come join me this saturday at the portland french school's en plein air - french market. it is always a care-free event with super yummy french crepes, live music, and more!!

....oh, & the weather report is 68˚, mostly sunny!! a perfect day to come out and play.

may 8, 2010
10am - 5pm
6318 SW Corbett Ave
Portland, OR 97239

oh how i heart these

2010-05-03T13:03:00.000-07:00

hello everyone!....big "thank you" to everyone who came to visit me at crafty wonderland this last weekend. it truly was a great event, and as usual so much fun to work with all my crafty peeps. i came away with a couple of really great new items that i would love to share with you.

first i did a trade with the lovely rachel austin. this is very much like the painting that i brought home with me....oh, hearts! but now i think i need to add this one to my collection (except on a p-town map!).

next i bought this locket (except mine has an aqua background) from locket 2 you. they are such lovely folks, and i've been lucky to work next to them at two crafty wonderland shows. it's always nice to see a familiar face at such a big event.

and last, but definitely not least was a gift for husband from the lovely seasons of seasons k designs. seasons and her mother cinnamon own one of the best stores in portland called presents of mind. over the past few years they have supported so many local artisans (including myself). seasons has carried my designs in her store for the past two years, and i was so happy to be able to return the love by purchasing one of her great designs.

husband received this "portland" shirt, and i will be purchasing this lovely for myself!

just one more shout out....thank you so much to sara (a.k.a. super shopper from dc) from hello craft for supporting the p-town vendors at crafty wonderland this last weekend. you rock! hello craft is hosting the summit of awesome here in portland on june 16-18....be sure to check it out :)

happy sunny, then rainy, then hail stormy day!....crazy p-town weather lately, eh.

the mother of all craftiness

2010-04-30T20:50:00.001-07:00

all i can say is....aw snap!

don't miss out on this super amazing event.

see dets below :)

Crafty Wonderland Super Colossal Spring Sale!
May 1st + 2nd
from 11am-5pm both days
at the OREGON CONVENTION CENTER
777 NE MLK Jr. Blvd, Exhibit Hall D
All Ages * Free Admission
* Goodie Bags for the first 200 shoppers EACH DAY! *
* Free Craft Activities and so much more! *

Irvington Artisan Spring Market - April 25, 2010

2010-04-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

i am so happy to announce that the irvington artisan spring market is just around the corner! mark your calendars, because this might be your last chance to attend the market....ever (according to becka, the organizer, this is the last event but i am hoping it isn't so). i will be setting up my goodies this sunday, april 25th, with a number of other wonderful artisans. you can check out the list and some of their profiles at www.irvingtonartisanmarket.blogspot.com. be sure to check it out. the sun will be shining, and i have some new designs to share with you....yay!

click on the poster to see the details!

back again

2010-03-02T19:43:00.000-08:00

hello there!

i am slowly starting to return to my little "b hive". it has been a nice break since the winter holidays, but now it's time to start printing again. i have been working on a new website, something simpler & easier to maintain. i'm really excited about how it looks. so, to kick off my return to work and the start of spring i am offering 20% off of my remaining winter items. there's not much in the store, but it's enough to open my little shop & introduce my new website. just visit www.bhivedesigns.com, and use the discount code SPRING2010 to receive 20% off of your purchase during the month of march. stay tuned for some new designs that will be introduced in april!!

in honor of spring i give you this lovely photograph that i took a couple of days ago in my front yard. beautiful cherry blossoms blooming in winter....a little global warming maybe?

merry christmas!!

2009-12-19T09:47:00.000-08:00

here's an early merry christmas to you!!

i'm headed to santa fe in a couple of days. a much

needed break to relax and visit family. husband and i haven't been to santa fe for christmas since 2005....4 years, yikes! it is truly one of the most spectacular places to be during the holidays. the buildings are lined with lighted farolitos, often times there is snow, and the air is always cool and crisp with a hint of burning cedar. so wonderful! the best part about christmas in santa fe is strolling along canyon road on christmas eve. many of the art galleries are open, serving hot cider and cookies. carolers gather in the street around bonfires, and there are farolitos (luminarias) to light your way down the street. it is incredibly festive. i feel so lucky that my parents moved from one paradise to another. with any luck i will also get to see my oldest sister and her family.....it's been 3 years since i've seen my sister, and that was only briefly for a family emergency. needless to say this is a much needed visit, and i cannot wait to be surrounded by the love and comfort of my own people....and the amazing breakfast at Tia Sofias in downtown santa fe (seriously, cannot wait!).

before i am able to relax in the comfort of my parent's home, i have just one more little bit of b hive business to attend to. if you know of any last minute shoppers, be sure to send them my way. i'll be here on sunday, 12/20/09 from 3:00pm - 9:00pm. this is a 21+ event....even better!

Heart of Craft Holiday Fair

3:00pm - 9:00pm

The Woods

6637 Milwaukie Ave

Portland, OR 97202

**all b hive designs items are on sale. kids items are 50% off, skirts are 50% off, women's shirts are $10 off through 12/31/09. check out the shop or come see me on sunday**

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

since i was the 4th child in my family, my parents were not very good at documenting my life. this is one of about 3 christmas photos from my entire childhood. i have no idea how old i was in this photo, 6 maybe......santa looks like he might be a little hungover :)......BTW i wish my hair was still that tame, minus the bangs.

a perfect day

2009-12-12T08:35:00.000-08:00

when i was

a little girl

i would pray

for rain on christmas

the sun was

always shining

where i played

everything perfect

all the time

it seemed

only fair to have

a cold day

here and there

a day to cozy up

with family,

good food, gifts,

and a fire

now that i am

old(er)

i wish for those

perfect days

days of eternal

sunshine and

perfection

oh, please

just one more

perfect day

crafty, crafty, crafty - 12/13/09 @ 11AM

2009-12-09T12:36:00.000-08:00

this is it people.

the mega sale of the year.....crafty wonderland's super colossal holiday sale!
i am not kidding when i tell you that this sale will be awesome. i am so excited....bouncing over here :)

last year i had the privelege of selling my goodies at this sale. if any of you were in p-town last year at this time you might remember that there was a very serious snow storm (serious for us anyway). that snow storm began on the morning of the super colossal sale. i remember waking up early in the morning to get my things together, and when i walked out to my studio there was no snow on the ground. by the time i stepped out of the studio to pack up my car it looked like a blizzard. me and my crafty friends bared the elements to get to the convention center that morning not knowing what to expect. some things that i saw on my way there....semi-trucks jacknifed on the highway, cars abandoned on the street, and no sign of life on the sidewalks. as you can imagine all of this made me very nervous. i mean who would want to leave their house on a day like that to buy handmade goods? regardless of the weather the spirit of the sale was not dampened, in fact as i was setting up there were reports of a line forming outside the convention center hall. a line? are you kidding me? i honestly couldn't believe that any one would be crazy enough to drive to the sale at all, not to mention early enough to wait in a line. but when i checked for myself, lo and behold there was indeed a line of anxious shoppers. to my surprise it was a very good day after all. the snow kept falling, the shoppers kept coming, and i went home happy.

needless to say, i have been checking the weather updates religiously this week. even though the snow did not stop the show last year, it made for a very fightful car ride & bone chilling preparation in the studio. temperatures have been in the 20's this week, my fingers are freezing, the ink is harder to pull through the screen, but i am hopeful that it will not snow. so far the weather reports are calling for light rain on sunday. we can deal with that, right? i mean it wouldn't be a propper portland winter without rain. so keep your fingers crossed for me......no snow until december 14th!

can't wait to see you at crafty!!!!!!!!!!!!

OREGON CONVENTION CENTER

HALL D

p.s. crafty wonderland has decided to take a break after this holiday sale. they will no longer be holding their monthly events at the doug fir. while this is very sad for those of us who love this sale, it will make the events that they do hold that much more special. so be sure to come out this sunday to support your favorite local artists. you might not see them again for a while!

two great sales this weekend!!

2009-11-27T18:35:00.000-08:00

First up.....Sunday Best Holiday Sale. Saturday 11.28 & Sunday 11.29

visit sundaybestholidaysale.blogspot.com for more info

Second....Secret Society Sale. Sunday 11.29

visit www.secretsocietysale.com for more info

hope to see you at one of these really great sales. you really must check out the list of vendors......some super great artists!!

sunday best holiday sale - 11/28 & 11/29

2009-11-24T09:22:00.000-08:00

i know you're tired of my event postings.....to be truthful, i am too. but i really need to share some info about this sale with you, because i am just so honored to be a part of it.

the sunday best holiday sale is the brainchild of julie dutton (studio olivine) & tay macintyre (honey & milk). i remember seeing an ad for this event last year, and wishing that i could be a part of it. the list of artists were among my favorites with a heavy emphasis on print design, which of course is what i love. a couple of months ago i recieved an email from julie inviting me to participate in the sale. i think i recieved her invite at 11:58pm, and my very excited "yes" reply was sent at 11:59pm. so needless to say, i am extremely excited to share this news with you. i just know that anyone who attends this sale will be impressed with the collection of artists in attendance, and will walk away with some very special treasures.

please visit the sunday best holiday sale website for more info, and a full list of vendors. i've listed a few of my favorites below:

elisabethbentz

hadley hutton

jill bliss

studio olivine

honey & milk

old school stationers

pigeon toe ceramics

b hive designs

special sale - today 11/22/09!!!!!

2009-11-22T00:49:00.000-08:00

if you're in portland, come visit us!

(click on the image for a closer look)

bhivedesigns.etsy.com

amyolsonjewelry.etsy.com

octavineillustration.etsy.com

here's a little secret......all b hive designs shirts will be on super discount. oh, who am i kidding, go ahead and spread the word :)

oh, and one more little treat....there will be a small handful of big woo wear hats (see my post from 11/18 for more info), so get here early!

1-4pm

0404 SW Dakota St

Portland, OR

countdown to cute :o

2009-11-20T00:07:00.000-08:00

oh.....how cute are these!

just a few of my prints that i turned into little zippered pouches. i really just want to keep them all for myself, but i guess i'll share. you can scoop one up at the irvington artisan market this saturday, oooh & i'll have some skirts too. be sure to get there early. those skirts seem to vanish every time i hang them up to sell.

just a little bit of awesome for your weekend.....cheers :)

Irvington Artisan Market

November 21, 2009

10am-6pm

@The Irvington Tennis Club

In the Historic Ballroom

NE 21st & Thompson

Portland, OR

Irvington Artisan Winter Market - November 21, 2009

2009-11-18T07:52:00.000-08:00

hooray!

i love this market for so many reasons. the main reason is the organizer, becka extraordinaire. becka is a good friend of mine who recently gave birth to her second child. how she is managing to pull off this event, i do not know. she has gathered a collection of talented artists, including herself (Sheila Marie Jewelry Designs) that you really should know about. if you visit the market's website you will find a list of all the vendors, and a few artisan profiles as well (that's still a work in progress).

one of my favorite artists that will be in attendance is geralyn simpson of big woo wear. she literally makes the cutest hats ever! i already own three of my own, and i am still tempted to buy more. every time i wear one of her hats i receive many compliments on her behalf, and people want to know where i bought it. well this is your opportunity people. geralyn has removed all of her items from her website, because she simply cannot meet the demand for her hats. each hat takes a considerable amount of time to create, all crocheted by hand, and let me tell you they are definitely worth more than the piddly $18 that she sells them for. so be sure to visit us at the irvington artisan market on saturday so that you can scoop one up for yourself.

Irvington Artisan Market

November 21, 2009

10am-6pm

@The Irvington Tennis Club

In the Historic Ballroom

NE 21st & Thompson

Portland, OR

oh, the list.....

2009-11-13T10:28:00.000-08:00

i have a few different to-do lists that are each a few miles long......ever feel that way? one of the items on my list is to list all of my upcoming events so that the holiday shopping can commence. but thruthfully, the events list is just too daunting at the moment. every time i look at it i think about all of the other items on my to-do list, which then makes me very sleepy. so i will settle with listing just two upcoming events, and try to only worry about my to-do's for today. come see me!!

november 13th (fri), 2:15-6:00pm &
november 14th (sat), 10:00 am-4:00pm
llewellyn holiday market
llewellyn elementary school
6301 SE 14th Avenue
portland, or
** 10% of sales will go to llewellyn elementary school **

november 15th (sun), 11am - 4pm
abernathy craft fair
abernethy elementary school
2421 se orange avenue
portland, or
** 20% of sales will go to abernathy elementary school **

here's hoping the sun will shine on us this weekend :)

p.s. working at these school fairs kind of make me miss grandma!

$10 & $20 SALE....ends saturday, 11/7, at midnight!

2009-11-04T09:48:00.000-08:00

hello peeps!
here's a good one to pass on to your friends. i really need to clear out my studio to make room for the enormous amount of goods that i am making for the holiday season. this will be my last sale until after christmas....so stock up! everything in the shop is either $10 or $20....woohoo!
here's the breakdown:
women's Long Sleeve = $20
women's Short Sleeve = $10
kid's Short Sleeve = $10
BUY 2 shirts & i'll reimburse your shipping fees!
SALE ENDS SATURDAY, 11/7 at Midnight!!

buy here....www.bhivedesigns.etsy.com or at www.bhivedesigns.com

happy fall!!!!

crafting for a cause

2009-10-22T10:02:00.000-07:00

yikes!!.....i meant to post about this earlier, but as usual life sucked me into its vortex or busy-ness. anyway, please check out this website to learn more about wheels for henry. there are a number of vendors who are participating in fundraising for some new wheels for henry, including b hive designs. i will be donating 20% of my sales through Octber 31st. a feel good purchase!

Wheels for Henry is an online Benefit Bazaar to help raise funds for a converted (wheelchair) van for a hardworking single mom in Portland, Oregon. Chloe Eudaly is the proprietress of Reading Frenzy, a disability advocate, and the proud mom of an amazing kid who happens to get around in a wheelchair. They’re more than halfway to funding a used converted van (The van is approx. $45,000) and are now turning to family, friends and the broader community to help raise the rest (We have about $19,500 to go.).

sewing & decorating

2009-10-17T21:45:00.000-07:00

i may have said this before, but i am a terrible procrastinator. i always seem to get things done on time (for the most part), but i am always so stressed getting them done. take for instance last night, when i sat sewing in my studio until midnight because i had to finish my girlfriends gift for the shower i was hosting for her today. needless to say the gift is beautiful (at least i think so), but i wish i could figure out how to be more "martha" like. or at least how "martha" appears to be stress free when creating her lovelies. anyway, here is the finished product, and i had to add the pom pom photo because they are just so cute. i think i'll give a little tutorial on this decoration in the near future........but for now i must sleep!

after sewing this super girly cover for the moses basket, i stuffed it full of the sweetest gifts......if you look closely you'll even see one of my cherry blossom newborn gowns. i couldn't give a gift without including a little b hive designs :)

fall, fall, fall

2009-10-12T18:55:00.000-07:00

i have a love hate relationship with this season. it has been so beautiful here in portland for the past couple of weeks. the chill in the air feels refreshing, and the sun is still shining. but, i can't help anticipating the rain that is looming in my future, instead of just enjoying the dry beauty of fall. guess i'm in a mood.....

on that note i obviously need a pick me up, and maybe you do too. so i've got one for you.....a sale. i am offering free shipping on all orders placed through Friday, 10/16. i have also listed a few new items for fall, and moved a few new items into the sale section from summer.

take a look......(one for yourself, and one for your little)

B Hive Designs
Etsy

stray birds of summer come to my window

to sing and fly away.

and yellow leaves of autumn,

which have no songs,

flutter and fall there with a sigh.

~ Tagore

getting crafty again

2009-10-10T12:54:00.001-07:00

i am getting crafty again.....crafty wonderland that is.

come see me tomorrow at the doug fir. a number of my favorites will be there selling with me!!

Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E. Burnside, Portland, OR
11am-4pm * All Ages * Free Admission

Top: Michelle Summers, Fernworks, Moontea Artwork

Middle: Scrumptious Suds, Misha Ashton, Snarky Cards

Bottom: Mimi Muse, B Hive Designs, Dolcetti

p.s. i already have 4 fernworks pieces. it might seem a little excessive, but once you see them in person you will understand why!.....hoping i will be able to resist buying another :)

finally a break & some crafts

2009-09-21T20:57:00.000-07:00

you have no idea how relieved i was to finish working on saturday. the alberta street fair was, as usual, a very spirited event.....with a punk rock marching band to boot. i was not very optimistic when i arrived at the event on saturday morning. it was raining and miserable. but, just like the weather man reported the sun came out just in time for the parade. i sold most of my items, which was a pleasant surprise, and I happily packed up my tent for the last time this year....hooray!

so, what does a girl do when she finally has a day off? why make stuff of course! i was so excited to finally have a day off on sunday, that i immediately went to work on some invitations for a baby shower that i am hosting in october. a good friend of mine is going to have her first child, and it's going to be a girl. i am so excited for her and her husband, and i am also thrilled to have a reason to buy girly things.

this project also gave me a reason to use my gocco. if you don't know what a gocco is, it is one of the best small inventions ever. i love this little thing so much, and it's days are almost numbered (checkout save gocco and read all about it). anyway, this is a little screen-printer that was made in japan up until a few years ago. the company that made the supplies for the little gocco has stopped production of supplies and has shipped its last amount of inventory as of last december. so, much like the polaroid (although that is coming back now), it will soon be a thing of the past. needless to say, i am only using my supplies for special occasions, and this baby shower is definitely just that, very special.

the thing that i love the most about the gocco, is that it is so easy to use. i can make a screen and start printing in under 4 minutes, and it is child friendly! last year a number of neighborhood children used my gocco to make a bundle of christmas gifts :) for this project i printed invitations, thank you notes for the the mom-to-be, and with the extra ink and scraps of paper left over from cutting i printed some gift tags......all of it, just too cute for words......not to mention the lovely pink and chocolate brown color scheme. i can't wait for my friend to receive her little package of goodies. there will be a few more posts about this event, because i have some super craftiness planned that you just might want to read about.

p.s. WWNRD?...she would use recycled card stock, water based ink, re-purposed ribbon...oh, and she would call it card camp!

goodbye sun....hello rain

2009-09-17T21:10:00.000-07:00

the end of summer is almost official. only 3 days left! i always dread this time of year. even though i love the fall...for the most part, and love the holiday season it just seems to be so super busy. summertime is so much more relaxing. woe is me.

the only good thing is that the summer weather seems to be sticking around in the northwest just long enough for one more outdoor event....the alberta street fair. i am really excited to set up my tent one last time this year, and mingle with the people. i always meet some very interesting folks at my events, and i know that albert street will not fail me. this event showcases a very interesting parade....enough said :0

anyway, just a little update....the lovely skirt on the right is one of the "comfy" skirts i posted about last week. i sold out of all of the skirts, purple, black & burgundy, except for one of these lovelies. if you are interested, you should stop by for a visit this weekend. i'll be on alberta near 24th.

alberta street fair

september 19, 2009

11am-6pm

muddy boot organic festival

2009-09-11T21:22:00.000-07:00

muddy boot organic festival

Saturday, 9/12, 12:00pm - 9:00pm (vendors until 6:00pm)

Sunday, 9/13, 12:00pm - 6:00pm

location:

st phillip neri

2408 se 16th ave.

portland, or 97214

this will be the third consecutive year that i have participated in the muddy boot organic festival. this is a really great event with really great music, organic foods beer and wine, workshops and exhibits on sustainable living, kids activities and entertainment, and of course some really great organic cotton shirts printed with environmentally friendly water based inks by yours truly. one addition to the organic cotton shirts are some super awesome skirts that are made by texture clothing in bellingham. the amazing owner of texture , teresa, sews them up for me & i print them with my own lovely designs. they are truly the most comfortable skirt you will own. as a matter of fact they are called the "comfy" skirt. the skirts consist of hemp, organic cotton, and a tiny bit of lycra to make them super comfy. i am always pleasantly surprised by how well these skirts sell, as a matter of fact it is almost impossible to keep a current picture of my inventory because they tend to sell out quickly. these two photos will give you an idea of how cute the skirts are, but you really just need to stop by the muddy boot organic festival to really appreciate them.

don't get too excited about the mustard skirt on the right.....it is actually sold out, but you get the idea....super comfy waist band (there is actually a little pocket hiding in the waistband), nice a-line & drape. i currently have a pretty purple colored skirt, black, and burgundy for fall.

just in case you're interested in these skirts you can also buy them from teresa directly at www.textureclothing.com , or if you are in portland you can buy them at the master peace on hawthorne.

have a wonderfully sunny weekend!!

bargain hunting 101

2009-08-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

everyone should stop by the crystal ballroom today, you won't be disappointed. there is actually a line outside waiting to get in because the shopping is gonna be sooooo good....i gotta go buy something before the rush!

TODAY

12 - 5pm

Crystal Ballroom

1332 W Burnside

P-Town!!
www.bargainhuntingpdx.com

busy b weekend

2009-08-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

summer is almost over.....yes it is true! but, in the spirit of true summer fun you can still enjoy yourself at one of the last portland street fairs of the season.....and in my humble opinion the sweetest street fair of them all, multnomah days. the fair begins with a quaint little parade that starts at 10:00am this saturday, 8/15. after the parade you can stroll through the little shops on capitol hwy & visit all of the unique vendors that will be lining the streets. you won't be able to miss my booth. it will undoubtedly be the cutest out of the bunch :)

and on sunday....bargain hunting 101!!!!
i am so excited to be a part of this event. i missed their winter sale, and i personally cannot wait to shop for myself this sunday. you will be happy to know that all of the vendors will be selling their goodies at bargain sale prices, including myself. you really must check out the list of vendors that will be at the event.....oh, i can't wait!

For more info about the events please visit
www.multnomahvillage.org
www.bargainhuntingpdx.com

b on the road again......next stop seattle!

2009-07-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

ONLY 3 MORE DAYS!!!!.......or 2 if you read this on thursday.

i can't wait for the urban craft uprising show in seattle. i had such a great time at their christmas show that i am really looking forward to the summer sale. you really must check out the vendor list to see why i am so excited.....crystalyn kae handbags, texture skirts, fernworks jewelry, estrella soap, mugwump accessories, rachel austin paintings, and of course b hive designs shirts! the list could go on and on, but you can just check it out for yourself either on-line or if you're in seattle this weekend at the seattle center exhibition hall. you'll find me conveniently located by the front entrance.....woo hoo!

if you just can't make it to the super duper UCU sale, then be sure to check out my teeny little etsy sale which ends thursday, 7/30!!

mini sale

2009-07-22T02:02:00.001-07:00

as promised.....a mini sale!

check it out at www.bhivedesigns.etsy.com & save until thursday, 7/30.

all orders placed during the mini sale will be shipped on friday, 7/31........then i'm off to seattle for the super deluxe urban craft uprising event on 8/1 & 8/2.

ooooh, and i have a new design too, look how cute..........there are a few women's shirts with this design that are on sale, but you need to click on the link above to find it :)

worker "b" all over p-town

2009-07-12T10:52:00.000-07:00

i have certainly been a busy "b" this summer. yesterday i had two booths set up in portland, one on mississippi ave. & the other in the pearl at the bastille day festival. the weather was beautiful and i had so many wonderful customers. i even received an email from someone last night who informed me that they had accidentally taken home one extra shirt. can you believe that! how sweet and true can one person be?

the funny thing about setting up for two shows, is how different the shoppers can be just a few short miles away from each other. for example i sold out of this lovely green shirt on mississippi, but my little worker "b" in the pearl only sold a couple. what is that all about? not to mention the difference in sizes that were left over at the end of the day. after going through what was left of my big day yesterday, i am inclined to have a little sale. there are quite a few random sizes of each shirt/design left over, and it would be nice to start with a fresh batch of prints for the super deluxe urban craft uprising sale in seattle on august 1st & 2nd. so, i will be listing some new sale items within the next couple of days & i'll keep you posted when all of my goodies are ready for purchase...............happy, happy summer!

happy summer solstice

2009-06-21T08:24:00.001-07:00

happy happy summer solstice!!
when i was a kid my mother took me to the summer solstice parade each summer in santa barbara, a crazy parade of hippies & happies, non-motorized floats, rainbows & streamers. it was always a lovely parade. but now that i have been working at the fremont fair in seattle the past couple of years that little parade of my memory seems so tame in comparison. the fremont fair is a two day festival in celebration of summer and the solstice. it is honestly one of my favorite events. the people are so colorful (literally), and friendly. everyone is just so happy to see the sun in the northwest. even though i don't get to see the parade from where i work, i get to see the parade people walking through the streets all day long, and let me tell you it must be a very entertaining parade......lots of painted naked people on bikes.

so, if you are in seattle this weekend be sure to stop by the fremont fair. i have lots of little lovelies for you, and you will definitely be entertained :)

p.s. happy father's day!!

hooray for summer......

2009-06-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

there is nothing better than summer. i can't think of anything better than a carefree summer day....really. the family and i kicked things off right with a camping trip near mt. hood this last weekend. it was such a beautiful location, filled with our friends, their children, and simple pleasures. my boys were busy the entire weekend exploring the woods, balancing on log bridges, making boats to float down a small stream, hiking, laughing, and roasting marshmallows.

the best part about camping is that very little parenting is required. my children rarely asked for anything, including food. they were very content to play, and explore the freedom of the outdoors. they made boats and played on a small bridge for hours at a time. the bridge was just far enough away from camp for the boys to feel a bit of independence, and it was just near enough to camp to keep an eye on them. of course this did not prevent the little one from falling head first into the stream.

this small business of mine keeps my weekends very busy. as you can see from my list of events in a previous post, i am working most weekends during the summer. family time on the weekends is a luxury for me during the warm months. but this year you might find someone else working for me at some of these events, so that i can cherish a few more moments like this with my family.

ready for summer!!

2009-06-02T11:12:00.001-07:00

you have no idea how happy i am that may is officially over. that was literally the longest, and the busiest month that i can remember. so now that the air has cleared, the sun is out (mostly), and school is almost over for the year, i am getting really excited about all of my summer activities. here are a few of the things that i am looking forward to, bike riding, swimming with my boys, art projects, camping, gardening, bbq's, running in the sunshine with husband, and super fun street fairs!

take a look at the list below. i hope to see you at some of my summer events!! be sure to check my events list periodically for updates and changes.

summer events

2009-06-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

COME SEE ME!!
** up to 20% off at all events **

June 13 (Sat) 8am - 3pm
Portland Farmers Market
Saturday Farmers Market at PSU
SW Park Ave. & SW Montgomery St.
Portland, OR 97201

June 20 & 21 (Sat & Sun)
Fremont Fair
3400 Fremont Ave N
Seattle, WA 98103
www.fremontfair.org

June 27 (Sat) 8am - 3pm
Portland Farmers Market
Saturday Farmers Market at PSU
SW Park Ave. & SW Montgomery St.
Portland, OR 97201

July 11 (Sat)
Mississippi Avenue Street Fair
Portland, OR

July 25 (Sat) 8am - 3pm
Portland Farmers Market
Saturday Farmers Market at PSU
SW Park Ave. & SW Montgomery St.
Portland, OR 97201

August 1 & 2 (Sat & Sun)
Urban Craft Uprising
Seattle Center Exhibition Hall
www.urbancraftuprising.com

August 15 (Sat)
Multnomah Days
Multnomah Village
Portland, OR 97219
www.multnomahvillage.org

August 22 (Sat) 8am - 3pm
Portland Farmers Market
Saturday Farmers Market at PSU
SW Park Ave. & SW Montgomery St.
Portland, OR 97201

exhausted

2009-05-19T11:13:00.001-07:00

i feel like i have had the longest three weeks of my entire life. last night when i started typing this post i did not even get past typing the title of the post before i felt the need to go to bed. i spent this last weekend driving and flying back and forth between portland and seattle. i had an event planned in seattle for the past few months, then my son's first communion was scheduled for the same weekend, and our friends suffered the loss of their sweet little daughter. so i spent the weekend grieving, printing, working, attending a funeral (or rather a celebration of life), working an event, flying home for first communion and back to work again, and then driving home late on sunday........i am totally exhausted & missing my family like crazy. oh, did i mention i am training for a marathon too..............need sleep!

i think that's enough feeling sorry for myself. the one thing that i have learned these past few weeks is that most of the worries and problems that i have on a day to day basis are really kind of trivial in the grand scheme of things. it is easy to get worked up over the little things in life when you are a busy parent, wife, and small business owner. i had an order for a store that was overdue this last week, and i just honestly could not bring myself to drive across town to deliver it. i could not worry about delivering this order when my friends, family, community, and myself were consumed with grief. all i wanted to do was to help my friends in some way to get through their daughter's funeral, even if it was just making sandwiches & filling cups with candy, or finding the perfect yellow flower to wear to her celebration. so the order was delivered late, and life goes on.

be sure to check out PedX shoe shangri-la for their new shipment of b hive shirts and hoodies!

pedX shoe shangrila
2230 ne alberta street
portland, OR 97211

p.s. thanks pedX for being so patient!!

a bit of yellow for mk

2009-05-05T08:54:00.001-07:00

the past few days have been extremely worrisome for many of my friends and family. a very sweet little friend of ours has suffered liver failure and is in very critical condition. this tragedy was completely unexpected and occurred virtually over-night. i had a very difficult time concentrating on my work this last weekend, because i was so worried about our friend MK. the truth is that when you have children of your own, you can't help thinking that this could be happening to your own child, and all you want to do is find a way to help. yesterday when i arrived home my husband was cooking dinner for MK's family, and my son had a little yellow ribbon pinned to his shirt in support of his friend. so, even though this post has nothing to do with b hive designs, i just feel like i need to send a little yellow ribbon out into the virtual world for MK. she needs all of the prayers and good intentions that she can get right now!..............we love you MK

missing the sunshine

2009-05-03T13:11:00.000-07:00

i'm in LA, but i am missing out on all of the sunshine! at least i am surrounded by a number of really cool artists here at UNIQUE.

it's funny, when i am in portland i often daydream about california and the sunshine that i left behind when i moved up north, but now that i am here i am feeling a little homesick and wishing there was a little more green on the horizon. i can honestly say that i also miss the people of the northwest. the shoppers have been great here, but i still miss my peeps. i will definitely give props to the amazing sonja, who organizes the UNIQUE event. she managed to arrange a truly unique showing of arts and crafts, and in an amazing loft-like location that overlooks downtown LA.

now that the show is coming to a close, new shirts, skirts, and other goodness will be listed in my shops. be sure to check out my website and my etsy shop shop.

unique los angeles

2009-04-28T19:15:00.001-07:00

unique, unique......gosh i hope my tees, blouses and crafts are unique enough! i am headed to LA to sell my goodies at the UNIQUE Los Angeles show. i am really excited to take this trip. not only will i see my sister, her family, and my best friend, but i will be selling amongst some really talented artists. a number of whom will be traveling, just like me, from p-town. you should definitely check out the vendor list on their website, pretty impressive!

i am also very excited to sell a few new designs. my "not blossoms" design, modeled here by the lovely miss rachel, is such a delicate print. i have it printed in a number of variations, in multiple colors, on tees, blouses, skirts, and kitchen linens. i can't wait to showcase this design and a number of others this weekend.

with that said, many of you may have noticed that my website is empty. well, the truth is i just can't keep up with the picture taking, listing, etc., that is required of an on-line store. plus, most of my pieces are one of a kind & i don't have very much backstock. so i've decided to leave my website and my etsy shop empty through the weekend. i promise to load the shops up with lots more goodies when i return to portland next week.

until then, shop handmade at a local craft show...........see my list below.

irvington artisan market - april 25, 2009

2009-04-21T09:25:00.001-07:00

i am so excited to be working at the irvington artisan market this coming saturday. not only is it the official start of my work year, but i will be introducing my new line of eco-friendly shirts. my little workshop is now officially lead & phthalate free!

as i mentioned in a few of my previous posts i was encouraged to change all of my inks in order to comply with the cpsia, and as a result i think that i have an even better product to offer you. in addition to changing the inks that i am using, all of my children's shirts are organic cotton, made in the usa, and certified lead & phthalate free by the manufacturer.

i will also be introducing a few new designs and great colors for summer. so be sure to stop by the irvington artisan market this saturday to pick up a cool tee for yourself, or as a gift for your mom.

happy spring!

springtime events

2009-04-21T09:24:00.001-07:00

HERE IT IS

chances to buy b hive designs

** COME SEE ME & RECEIVE UP TO 20% OFF **

April 25th (Sat), 10am - 4pm

Irvington Artisan Market

In the Historic Ballroom at the Irvington Tennis Club

2131 NE Thompson

Portland, OR

www.irvingtonartisanmarket.blogspot.com

May 2nd (Sat), 11am - 7pm
May 3rd (Sun), 11am - 5pm
UNIQUE Los Angeles

California Market Center

110 East Ninth St

Los Angeles, CA

www.uniquelosangeles.com

May 9th (Sat), 10am - 5pm
En Plein Air - French Market

Portland French School

6318 SW Corbett Ave,

Portland, OR 97239

www.portlandfrenchschool.org

May 10th (Sun), 11am - 4pm
Crafty Wonderland

Doug Fir Lounge

830 E. Burnside

Portland, OR

www.craftywonderland.com

May 16th (Sat), 10am - 6pm
May 17th (Sun), 10am - 7pm
University District Street Fairl

Exit 169 (the 45th/50th Street Exit)

when traveling north or south on Interstate 5

Seattle, WA

www.udistrictstreetfair.org

in reverse

2009-03-11T17:39:00.000-07:00

the past few weeks i have been trying to reorganize my business. the catalyst for this change was the cpsia, but it is something that i have wanted to do for the past couple of years. i have invested in an entirely new eco-friendly lot of inks. i am really excited about using my new ink, but of course in order to do so i will need to destroy all of my screens and recreate new ones that can withstand the water used in the clean up process. in other words, it might be a while before i get some new designs printed with my new ink. i'm not even entirely sure how the inks will print on my different colored shirts, so it is sort of like starting my business all over again. in the meantime, you can still buy the remainder of my inventory on my website or on etsy. all of the children's shirts will be half off until i print new shirts, and all women's short sleeved shirts are on special too. ooh, and i have a new design....just a little something to remind you that spring is almost here!.....(click on the picture to get a better look)

back in business

2009-03-08T09:08:00.000-07:00

so, I took a little break after the holiday season.......but, now i'm back!

come visit me today, sunday 3/8/09, at the crafty wonderland sale. i have some super deals to kick start your spring/summer wardrobe. all children's shirts are $10 off, all women's short sleeve and long sleeve crew necks are $10 off, and everything else is $5 off!!

doug fir lounge

830 e. burnside

portland, or

11am - 4pm

blowout sale.....onesies & kids tees

2009-01-29T17:40:00.000-08:00

so, enough doom & gloom over the cpsia......let's embrace the positive. buy B HIVE DESIGNS onesies and kids tees for 50% off until 2/9/09. hip hip hooray!

i'll even throw in a little bonus. the first person to buy the super cute little newborn gown pictured here (only $10), will receive a blanket to match! it's the perfect baby gift.

only 11 days left!!!!

Where to buy my kids tees.....
www.bhivedesigns.com
www.bhivedesigns.etsy.com

p.s. all women's short sleeved shirts are also on sale, so be sure to check those out too!

CPSIA Blog Day

2009-01-28T20:19:00.000-08:00

oh, the cpsia. have you heard about this new law that will take effect on february 10? well, this law will definitely put producers of handmade children's items out of business, and many small firms that make toys and children's products. this act will have far reaching ramifications beyond my little one person business. think about a small business that produces children's clothing, or toys, or cloth diapers, or baby slings, baby quilts, etc., etc. this small business can have anywhere from 1 to 50 employees. for example a locally owned children's clothing business probably employs a pattern maker, more than one seamstress, a graphic designer, not to mention the owner/visionary of the business....all jobless on February 10, because they can't afford the lead/phthalate testing and certification. not to mention the price you will be paying as a result of the testing costs. it is too much to detail what is required of the testing, but let's just say that for most of us it is redundant testing. most crafters and handmade artisans can buy components that have already been tested and certified from large companies (i.e. i can purchase lead/phthalate free shirts & ink, but i would still need to test these components again).

as a fellow "handmade artisan", i am joining the many bloggers today who are voicing their concerns over the cpsia's new set of laws. please read this statement at www.boulieblog.com

i also think that it is worth it to read this article by Paul H. Rubin.

and last but not least, i just want to say that i am not entirely opposed to this act. i completely believe that lead/phthalate levels need to be regulated in children's products. i just think that the cpsia needs some revisions. i mean what's next, is grandma going to be jailed for making her grandchild a quilt?......you know what i mean:)

a sign of spring......maybe

2009-01-23T12:46:00.001-08:00

this morning on my way to pick up miles from his play group i witnessed my first sign that winter is waning. not only have our days been sunshiny, it has been getting dark later, and now there are blossoms on the trees too! yay!

say goodbye to the little tees

2009-01-15T11:02:00.000-08:00

i am just so sad today!!!!

when i started my little business of making shirts in the summer of 2007, my main motivation was to dress my own two children in unique clothing that was made locally. i was so tired of the ridiculous clothing options for boys....i mean how many different dinosaurs and trucks does one little boy need. so, i bought some shirts from american apparel and started printing owls, pigs, birds, dogs, trees, and other designs that really are not very childlike, but look great on my kids. i was so happy to print on shirts that are made in the USA (los angeles to be exact), and that are 100% cotton. not only was i supporting our own US economy by purchasing these shirts, but i managed to create a small business of my own. a business that works with the needs of my family, and that fuels my creative needs. i am able to be at home with my children, and i only work long hours while they are asleep or on one of the few days that i have childcare. sounds like the perfect stay at home solution, right?

well, as of february 10 this year, i could face conviction with fines of tens of thousands of dollars and potentially even jail time if i continue this innocent little business.

the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which will take effect on february 10, will force me to shut down production of all of my children's products. this new law, while very good in many ways, will ultimately be the demise of many unique and talented arts and crafts people who make products for children. i cannot complain about the law overall. this law will regulate lead and phthalate levels in children's products. as a mother, i have never understood how so many children's toys could be sold in this country with high levels of lead and phthalates, so i am grateful and 100% supporive of this type of law. however, there are many layers to this law that need to be clarified. for example, as the law stood last week, all thrift stores and re-sale stores would have been banned from selling any used items. luckily, the public complained and the law was revised to exclude re-sellers. could you imagine what that would have done to so many low-income families, and families affected by our economic crisis who depend on low cost resell items. not to mention the fact that once this law takes effect on february 10, the cost of all children's items will be going up to accomodate the new testing and certification that will be required of each item.

so, b hive designs shirts for kids are a thing of the past. i will not be able to afford the labratory batch testing that is required off all children's items. the cost alone would raise the cost of a onesie to about $100 each, and i just don't think anyone would pay that much for a teeny weeny piece of fabric that will inevitably be covered in food and goo. the frustrating thing for me is that even if i were to buy shirts that are already cerfitified lead and phthalate free, and if i were to print with ink that is already certified lead and phthalate free, i would still be required to test the final product. i guess i will need to change the "about" page on my website. here is what is says until february 10......

"The goal of my business is to be creative and promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle for my children. All of my baby & kid’s tees are made in the USA sweatshop free. And all adult tees are either made in the USA sweatshop free, are oganic cotton, or are conventional cotton made by manufacturers who comply with strict fair labor principles. The totes are made from organic cotton, and the grocery bags are made from recycled cotton, manufactured fair wage, fair labor. I am also an avid recycler, and only purchase paper that is 100% post consumer content for my business purposes."

so much for trying to do the right thing. but never fear, you will still be able to buy kids shirts at the mall, because big corporations who can afford the testing will win again!

sorry about that little bitter jab, but i just can't help being a little upset. i love all of my little tees. they are the cutest little things, and my customers love them. it is a sad, sad day!

needless to say, this is it, your last chance to buy a b hive designs shirt for your little ones. i have about 3 weeks to deplete my inventory, so every last item that i have will be 50% off through 2/9/2009. i have limited stock on-line, but i will be posting more items within the next week. so be sure to check back if you can't find what you want.

also, this does not mean that i am going out of business. you will still be able to purchase all of my adult shirts after february 10. this law only applies to items made for children under the age of 12.

Where to buy my kids tees.....
www.bhivedesigns.com
www.bhivedesigns.etsy.com

Splurge artist boutique
1323 NE Fremont
Portland, OR 97212
503.288.7770
www.splurgeportland.com

50% OFF SALE 12/27 - 12/30

2008-12-27T11:36:00.000-08:00

check out the store for some really great end of year specials. all children's shirts and select women's shirts are 50% off through 12/30/08!! all orders placed by 12/30/08 will be shipped on new year's eve.

visit b hive designs or my etsy shop today!

what to do on a snow day

2008-12-21T22:40:00.000-08:00

the past week has been the snowiest week in portland since i've lived here. luckily i'm not a complete stranger to snow. even though i grew up in southern california, husband and i lived in the mountains in new mexico and in colorado for a bit, so i've lived in snow and more importantly driven in snow. but when you live in a city that doesn't normally see snow, you get a little trapped. portland is just not equipped to deal with the snow. we have a lot of hills, very few snow plows, no salt trucks, freezing rain, and a lot of inexperienced drivers on the road. so to say the least we're getting a bit of the cabin fever.

so what do you do when you're not sledding in a canoe in the snow....

....you eat, cook, bake, and create indoors. here is what i decided to create today.

chocolate-pecan toffee. i have made this little treat to give as gifts to friends and family for christmas the past few years. this candy is a personal favorite of mine and my family. every year husband gives me a hard time about giving away all of the candy. i have actually made him his own special batch in years past, but it usually disappears in one evening......obviously a case of selective memory. so try a batch for yourself, and see if you can manage to keep them in the house.

chocolate-pecan toffee
2 sticks of room temperature butter (unsalted)
+ a little more to butter the pan
1/3 c. water
1 c. sugar
2 c. chopped pecans
a handful of halved pecans
8 oz semisweet chocolate
2 tbsp corn syrup

butter a 9-inch pan. line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper (butter paper too). heat the butter and water until the butter is melted, then add the sugar. stir constantly on med-high heat until it turns a med-dark amber color. (you can use a pastry brush dipped in water to brush away sugar crystals that form on the sides of the pan). remove from heat and add the chopped pecans. pour into the 9-inch pan & spread across the bottom of the pan. let cool.

warm the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan with simmering water. you can add the corn syrup to the chocolate at this point (optional). once the chocolate has melted, spread it over the pecan toffee. arrange the halved pecans on top of the chocolate.

once the chocolate is cool, you can cut into small squares.....then eat.....enjoy!

only a few more days to shop handmade in 2008!!!!

2008-12-19T09:48:00.000-08:00

the past couple of months have been pretty hectic for me and my family. i have been working at an event for almost every weekend since the beginning of october (except for a short reprieve in paris....oh, paris). when you have children weekends do not tend to be restful. as a matter of fact they tend to be incredibly busy, with soccer games, swim class, play dates, art classes, music classes, etc., etc. while most families are tidying up their homes from a week's worth of mess, eating lunches together, and playing in the park, i have been printing until 1am or 2am, and then setting up for a show at 8am and selling my goodies on saturday or sunday for the past few months. don't get me wrong, i absolutely love the making and selling part, but what i have not loved this year is being away from my family. so, i can honestly say that i am thrilled to announce that my last event of the year has been cancelled!!!! there will be no solstice arts & crafts market at psu on saturday.

there may be a few people in portland who were looking forward to the solstice arts & crafts market, especially after the weather made it hard for people to attend the absolutely amazing crafty wonderland show this last sunday. since i was lucky enough to be a vendor at the super colossal sale, i was also lucky enough to be a customer (see my lovely new fernworks necklace and una top!). but the great thing about all of the handmade nw events is that even though they have canceled you can still shop handmade by checking out the vendor list for the event. when i looked at the vendor list last night i was a little disappointed that i would not have an opportunity to meet e.soule, who sells her truly precious still life photos. i absolutely love her little zoo collection, and to be honest i don't think i have ever met someone other than a family member who shares my last name. i have been asked numerous times if she is my sister, so it would have been nice to put a face with a name. but alas, the show is canceled, so i will have to settle with an on-line purchase. my little miles will adore this little elephant....oh, there are just too many to choose from, so be sure to check out her etsy site.

so stay in doors this weekend and shop handmade and local on-line. here are a few of my favorite artisans to choose from....just a few, because linking is tedious.....

octavine illustration - art deco inspired artwork
plywerk - amazing photography or custom photo mounts
una - see the pretty shirt pictured above.....love, love, love it.
amy olson jewelry - very feminine jewelry
fused glass house - the perfect pendant for you or as a gift!
moss - sweet jewelry, very anthropologie!
stubborn - very modern, cool jewelry, and bags too...
hadley hutton - super sweet prints
thinking mama - most adorable baby hats
pearly grey - retro baby designs
peri ponchos - unique ponchos for your little girl
mugwump - totally hip bags & accessories
yedomi - the most beautiful glamorous jewelry
mimi muse - beautiful vintage inspired notecards
scrumptious suds - best soap ever, husband loves it too!

ok, there are just way too many to list, and some of my favorites like big woo wear (super cute hats), don't even have any product in their shops.

Happy Shopping!

did i say "snow day is over...."

2008-12-18T11:05:00.001-08:00

i should know better....not 15 minutes after i posted about the snow melting and school being open again it starts to snow again. and, of course school is closed for the fourth day this week. thanks to very good and generous friends i do have a few hours of childcare. no matter how much we love those little guys, my husband and i definitely need a few hours without them. especially to do a little shopping. we tried shopping with them a couple of days ago....big mistake. there is nothing like chasing after a two year old in a store, who is screaming, laughing, slamming dressing room doors, and crawling under clothing racks. so we are off to shop for a couple of hours, and to have an adult conversation at lunch (in other words we won't be saying, "....please take another bite" and "....sit down in your seat"). happy snow day.....again!

snowy, snowy, snow day is over special!!!!

2008-12-18T00:39:00.001-08:00

oh, snow....beautiful snow!!
doesn't everyone love the snow?

i can tell you that my son has been on the edge of his seat everyday with the prospect of yet another school cancellation, and we have definitely taken advantage of every last snowflake on the ground. i love nothing better than looking out my window to see happy, laughing children flinging themselves down the driveway, and then standing up with a handful of snow to be eaten...ew!

however, there is a downside to all of the fluffy white beauty....we are all starting to feel a little trapped. it's not that we are not able to leave the house, it's just that there is really no place to go. we've exhausted the sledding in the neighborhood, and our little two year old can only tolerate so much cold before he says that he is "freezy". so needless to say we have spent a lot of time in doors....drinking hot chocolate.

the problem with so much time in doors, no school and no nanny, is that it is difficult to get much work done....not to mention the freezing temperature in my studio. i have had no luck re-creating my cherry blossom screen, because i need the hose that is outside....frozen. but, all of this changed this morning when we awoke to no more snow, and the report that school is open....much to the dismay of many children.

so, in honor of our glorious snow & the melting there of, i am offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders placed through the end of friday (12/19). check out my etsy shop and my website for lots of new goodies including gifts for under $20.

can't everyone use a sweet little kitchen towel set for only $15, and some even sweeter little note cards with handmade envelopes made from re-purposed children's books (books that were falling apart of course!) for only $8?

so many sweet things to splurge on......

2008-12-17T23:44:00.000-08:00

the best thing about the work that i choose to do is that i continually meet other artists and crafters who make amazing things. one of my favorite places in portland is splurge artist boutique. the owners of splurge, mugwump, oneroot, plywerk, and yedomi have created a treasure trove of local artisans. you can find jewelry, clothing, photography, books, bags, housware items, candles, artwork, and of course B Hive Designs shirts, all handmade and all local.

walking into their store is always inspiring, and all of the owners have been incredibly supportive of my own little business. so, be sure to stop by splurge before christmas to stock up on some incredibly unique gifts & to see some of my new designs!

The Elusive Cherry Blossom

2008-12-10T22:26:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have one of those days, when you just can't seem to do anything right? Well, it seems like I have been having one of those days, every day this week. I think it is a symptom of having too much to do. Granted, it's my own fault that I have too much to do, but it is also just "that time of the year". The holiday season puts us all on edge a little, doesn't it? Or maybe it's just me. I am worried about having enough product to sell, I'm worried about selling enough product, I'm worried about spending enough time with my children & husband, I'm worried about finding the perfect gift for my children & husband, I'm worried about getting my kids to school/daycare on time with healthy lunches packed for the day, and I'm worried about not looking like a total wreck every day while I try to juggle the rest of my worries.

Maybe I'm just thinking about my worries too much, I don't know. But one thing I do know is that in the midst of my fury to print enough product to sell, I managed to completely destroy my cherry blossom screen.....and splatter white ink all over my studio at the same time! Since I started printing my cherry blossom design, I have not been able to keep this particular color combination in stock. There is something about this blue shirt with white blossoms that everyone seems to like. Every time I have printed this specific shirt, it has sold out. Which is why it has never actually been listed for sale on my website......hence, the elusive cherry blossom.

I really can't imagine having enough time to create a new cherry blossom screen prior to Christmas, so if you are lucky enough to live in Portland Oregon there is still one last chance to buy this shirt. I just delivered an order to my favorite shoe store in town, Switch Shoes in Multnomah Village. The lovely ladies of Switch just happen to be throwing a party on Thursday (12/11) from 6pm to 11pm. They have some amazing deals on shoes up to 70% off, a DJ, plus they'll be serving champagne and goodies! So check it out, and scoop up a cherry blossom shirt before they are all gone.

Thank You Seattle!!

2008-12-08T10:15:00.000-08:00

I just need to say a very big thank you to the city of Seattle and the Urban Craft Uprising. I had the most amazing time working at the UCU show this last weekend....I actually SOLD OUT!! That has never happened before. I was so overwhelmed with all of the love from my customers, many of whom told me that they came to the show just to buy my shirts. There is no better motivation to printing into the wee hours of the night/morning....So, from me to you THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!!

Stay tuned for another special sale prior to Christmas and Hanukkah!

Oh, and don't forget about the Crafty Wonderland Super Colossal Sale this Sunday, December 14th from 11am-7pm at The Oregon Convention Center. I will be selling women's and kid's shirts, notecards and some newly printed kitchen towels. You will love these towel sets. They are the perfect gift item for only $15, wrapped in a package of two!

Check out all of the other amazing vendors scheduled to be at the show. I was going to list some of my favorites, but there are just too many to list. I can guarantee that you will love most of them too!

SALE, SALE, SALE -- until 12/7/2008

2008-12-01T11:53:00.000-08:00

25% OFF SALE
PLUS FREE SHIPPING
One Week Only!!
11/30 - 12/7
Receive 25% off all Women's Shirts, plus free shipping on all items. Many new items have been listed on my website and on etsy.

Check out my new Parisian Bird design soon, because it's selling fast! And don't forget about the little guys as well. I have posted more babies & kids items, including my new little piggy design.

Winter 2008 - Events

2008-11-28T23:58:00.000-08:00

Oh, the holiday markets abound. Here is a list of my upcoming events. Be sure to visit me & receive up to 20% off retail prices! Click on the web links below to view some of the other amazing vendors that you can shop from as well. All handcrafted, all local, and all unique!!

*HAPPY HOLIDAYS*

December 2nd (Tue), 10am - 6pm
Handmade NW
Downtown Holiday Artisans Fair
World Trade Center
121 SW Salmon St
Portland, OR 97204
www.handmadenw.com

December 5th (Fri), 3pm - 6pm & December 6th (Sat), 9am - 4pm
French American International School
8500 NW Johnson Street
Portland, Oregon 97229
www.faispdx.com

December 6th (Sat) & 7th (Sun), 11am - 5pm
Urban Craft Uprising
Seattle Center Exhibition Hall
Seattle, WA
www.urbancraftuprising.com

December 7th (Sun), 11am - 6pm
Handmade NW
Formal Holiday Artisans Fair
Chelsea Ballroom
1510 SE 9th (SE Hawthorne at 9th)
Portland, OR 97214
www.handmadenw.com

December 14th (Sun), 11am - 7pm
Crafty Wonderland
Oregon Convention Center
Exhibit Hall - E
777 NE MLK Jr. Blvd.
Portland, OR 97232
www.craftywonderland.com

December 20th (Sat), 8am - 3pm
Handmade NW
2nd Annual Winter Solstice Sale at PSU
Smith Memorial Student Union
1825 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97201
www.handmadenw.com

Monster Crafts

2008-11-28T15:54:00.000-08:00

The day after Thanksgiving is such a perfect day to spend time with your family. All of the cooking is done, leftovers are at the ready and most people have the day off of work. I usually spend time working on the weekends, but with Saturday & Sunday still on the horizon I found myself relaxed and in no hurry to work today. After a morning trip to the Children's Museum to entertain my 2-year old, I took the rare opportunity to spend time with my older son during nap-time. There was some serious fun to be had in my studio making monsters. I thought it would be a good idea to start making some Christmas gifts, so we drew pictures of monsters. The pictures were sweet, but we needed more, so Jackson named his monster "Bob" and wrote a story about him.

We took our image of "Bob" and used him as a pattern to make a stuffed monster, cutting two pieces for the body (front & back). Jackson chose the fabric that he wanted "Bob" to be made of, and I sewed the eyes, mouth, and arms to the front piece. Once all of the little bits were sewn together we placed the back of his body face down on the front of the body, and sewed it all together (except for one little spot in order to turn it inside out & stuff it).

Stuffing the little guy was the most fun, because he really came to life. Once he was all stuffed I sewed the little opening shut with a few stitches & voila we had a little monster with a story. Jackson will give this little gift to his brother, but he loved the project so much that he insisted on making more for himself. We might need to make a few more for his friends as well.

p.s. If you look closely you'll notice that Jackson is wearing a B Hive Designs shirt.......and I did not even ask him to, what a good son!

I Love Paris........all the time!

2008-11-24T20:27:00.000-08:00

I love Paris! I can't say it enough, I absolutely love Paris. I recently had the opportunity to travel to Paris for 5 days. Needless to say, it was a much needed break from reality & a wealth of inspiration for my designs.
The best part about my trip was everything! I had a great time hanging out with friends, eating great food, visiting the Musee de L'Orangerie, photographing the Notre Dame gargoyles, walking the grounds of Chateau de Versailles, stumbling upon an antique market (purchases pictured below), buying new boots, walking, walking, and more walking...........oh, I love Paris!
Many many thanks to John & Nancy, Jonathan & Andy, & Hilary for letting me crash their vacation!

Shopping in Paris is such a treat. I love everything about walking through town, peeking into shops of all kinds, and people watching. The residents of Paris are unassumingly glamorous, and there are so many rare treats to find. I was so overwhelmed with all the wonderful items to find at the antique market that it was difficult to concentrate on what I wanted.

Strolling around at my leisure afforded me ample time to think about new designs & to collect inspiration. I have already started working on my latest design, which I call "Parisian Bird". It is a two part design with scroll work from Notre Dame Cathedral and an original B Hive Designs bird. The bird is especially precious with a little piece of antique lace decorating its belly.

Come check out my new design this weekend at the Secret Society Sale this Sunday, 11/30, at the Secret Society Ballroom (116 NE Russell). All of the vendors of the Secret Society Sale will be donating 10% of their sales to the Oregon Food Bank. You can shop for the holidays, support your local economy, and feed the hungry with just one purchase!

A Bit of Nostalgia

2008-10-17T20:13:00.001-07:00

When I was growing up my parents would take us to our family ranch during the summer months. The ranch was a magical place where we would go on hikes, play on our tree swing, read, ride motorcycles & dune buggies, watch the "cowboys" herd cattle, and just be. As kids, my sisters and I were allowed to venture out on our own. We would play house at the Indian Rock (a large rock formation on our ranch that has many caves with Chumash Indian rock paintings), we would play in the creek, and we would hike around looking for relics of our ancestors past lives. One of the places we loved to investigate was the barn at the "old" house, where we almost always came across a barn owl hiding in the rafters.

I recently visited the ranch with one of my sisters last May. It had been 12 years since I had been there, and needless to say it was a little emotional for me. It is a place that I hold dear to my heart, and a place that holds endless happy memories for me. The visit made me wish that I could live closer to such a treasure, but as life would have it I live about 900 miles away from the ranch. Needless to say, I searched for an owl in the barn. Unfortunately, we did not see one that day, but every time I look at my little owl print I am flooded with happiness.

If you like this owl design you can find it at Amalee. I just delivered a bundle of birdy shirts that includes this women's long sleeve organic cotton top. Amalee is located just off of N Missippi St. at 909 N Beech St. in Portland.

Crafty Craft Shows

2008-10-13T12:33:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I worked at three separate events. On Friday I visited my friends at Splurge and set up a booth for 2nd Friday Art Walk & Sidewalk Sale. On Saturday I set up a tent at the Lake Oswego Farmers Market, and on Sunday I worked at my first ever Crafty Wonderland sale. It was a little tiring to say the least, but it was also really great to be working with some very talented local artists. I am always inspired when I come home from an event, so I wanted to share some of the great little items that I acquired this weekend.

The first item I acquired was from Nate Bagley of Talitha Leather. His table was set up directly across from me at the Crafty Wonderland sale, and I couldn't help looking at his bags all day long. They are beautifully handcrafted leather bags, made in a variety of colors and styles. The red triangle bag was ultimately my favorite, and it will now be seen sporting around town on my shoulder.

The second item that I acquired this weekend is this absolutely gorgeous necklace from Amy Olson. Amy was my neighbor at the Crafty Wonderland sale, so I learned a lot about her jewelry and design aesthetic. Her jewelry is very feminine, and she uses a variety of components including sterling silver, gold, vintage brass, semi-precious gemstones, and other various vintage pieces. You can find Amy's jewelry on her website or you can meet her in person at the Handmade Northwest event to be held at Montgomery Park, October 14th and 15th from 9am to 4pm.

The last item that I acquired this weekend is a gift for my girlfriends new baby boy. I just could not resist this adorable hat made by Thinking Mama. This little hat is made from a recycled sweater, and it is the softest, sweetest little baby item ever. I cannot wait to see it on my friends new little baby.

And as for new B Hive Designs shirts, I have a few new items for the fall, and a few old favorites as well. I will be listing more long sleeve shirts on my website within the week. By the way, wouldn't this top look great on a mama with her baby wearing the little Thinking Mama hat!!

Happy Happy Fall!

End of Summer

2008-09-04T20:38:00.000-07:00

The official last day of summer is not for another couple of weeks, but it really feels like it is already over. Since school started this week our schedules have gotten busier, we need to wake up earlier, the sun is setting earlier, and there is a hint of Fall in the breeze. But those of us in Portland will have a few more precious sunshiny days this weekend with temperatures in the 80's! And I know a really great way to spend one of your last warm weekends of the year.....at the Muddy Boot Organic Festival. I will be selling some really great new organic cotton shirts, and other eco-friendly items. Plus all of my short sleeve summer shirts will be discounted for the weekend! This is a very fun festival celebrating local organic foods and sustainable living in Portland, and there is some really great music both Saturday and Sunday (check out the festival schedule).

September 6-7, 2008 at the St. Philip Neri church at 2408 SE 16th Avenue (near 18th & Division) in Portland, Oregon

Summer 2008 - Events

2008-07-10T07:12:00.001-07:00

Come visit me this summer at the following events & save up to 15% off my retail prices!!

July 12 (Sat)
Mississippi Avenue Street Fair
Portland, OR

July 19 (Sat) 6am – 6pm
PDX Etsy Art & Craft
Portland State University
South Park Blocks, South End of The Farmers Market
SW Park Avenue between SW Market & Jackson Streets
Portland, OR

August 9 (Sat), 11am-6pm
Irvington Artisan Market
Irvington Tennis Club
2131 NE Thompson St.
Portland, OR 97212

August 16 (Sat)
Multnomah Days
Multnomah Village
Portland, OR 97219

August 19 & 20 (Tue & Wed), 8am - 3pm
Handmade NW Summer Artisans Fair
Montgomery Park
2701 NW Vaughn Street
Portland, OR 97210

New Shirts!!

2008-07-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I've been a little busy lately.....kids....printing....life, and I have not posted since April.....YIKES!

But, I do have newly printed tees to share with all of you. I love these little cap sleeve baby doll tees. They are super soft 100% Pima Cotton, & they are such lovely happy colors. I am so happy it is summer time you have no idea. All I want to do is print very vibrant images to reflect my love for happy sunshiny days.

Speaking of sunshiny days, what says summer more than a bright happy sunflower. Check out www.bhivedesigns.com to buy this little item, and you will look like summer yourself!

A Fun Little Project

2008-04-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

I found a good use for the cute little stamps I inherited.......magnets. The stamp art fits perfectly on the backs of craft glass, add a magnet, and voila a perfect little gift item. This was such a fun and easy project. And, it is definitely something you could make with your kids. Here is what I did.

1. Buy some clear craft glass (I found bags of glass at the Dollar Store).
2. Trace the shape of the glass on your picture.
3. Cut out the image a bit smaller than the tracing.
4. Glue the picture to the glass (I used a gel medium or modpodge).
5. Use a clear drying epoxy on the back to adhere a magnet
(I bought strong ceramic magnets at the hardware store).
6. Enjoy your little creation.

Happy crafting!!

Finding Inspiration

2008-04-17T21:32:00.000-07:00

Every day is an opportunity for inspiration. The past few days I have been battling the weather in an attempt to clean up my garden & paint my porch. Not an easy task during Spring in Oregon. But while I was outside I allowed my garden to bloom in my imagination, took a few pictures of flowers in bloom, and played with the color palette of my plantings. I thought about the hummingbirds who would be visiting , and the berries we would be eating soon. I found myself day-dreaming about warmer weather, and then the clouds rolled in.

So, since I was forced inside again by the cold, I decided to look through some of my Grandparent's stamp collections. I inherited (actually my son inherited) some really old books of stamps, one of which my Grandfather dated 1915. The artwork of older stamps is very intricate and mostly printed in one color. They are very patriotic and honorable. As the years progress the stamp art changes, becoming more colorful and simplistic. It is an interesting transition. Needless to say, they are beautiful & inspiring. So, one day soon I will find some time to visit my studio, and when that day comes there are little "stampy" things to be made & new flower designs to be printed.

It's Official

2008-04-08T23:59:00.000-07:00

It's a funny thing to see your work walking around in the world. A couple of days ago, I was taking my son to school & a fellow mom was walking in the hallway wearing one of my shirts. Yay! Even though I have personally sold many of my little lovelies, and seen friends wearing my designs, it is always gratifying to know that other people are randomly picking up my ideas and wearing them. So with that little event I am starting this blog to share, network, inspire, learn, and remind myself why I do the things that I do.

B's Hive

why am i cranky & tired......

Sunday Best Holiday Sale

25% OFF until December 2nd!!

a special event .... la fête de noël - november 27th

shop udate

a holiday event ....let the season begin

have you missed me?

Crafty Wonderland Spring Sale - May 7, 2011

the shop is open....and addie rose jewelry

a little puppy love....

Bargain Hunting 101 - 2/6/11

a coupon code....and my birthday?

the "mother of them all" craft event!!

a little decorating....and a lot of work

the sunday best holiday sale....my favorite!

a little magic elf

cyber monday....BOGO SALE!

give handmade sale....today, 11/28/10

so much to do....so little time....and a "thank you"

a sweet deal

introducing some friends

la fete de noel - 11/20/10

seriously....i have to work?

** 2010 holiday sales events **

done cleaning & back to work

my return

bargain hunting 101 - sunday 8/15

worst blogger, ever?....and a little musical

a list

dear portland

alberta art hop - 5/15/10

splurge on yourself

a french affair

oh how i heart these

the mother of all craftiness

Irvington Artisan Spring Market - April 25, 2010

back again

merry christmas!!

a perfect day

crafty, crafty, crafty - 12/13/09 @ 11AM

two great sales this weekend!!

sunday best holiday sale - 11/28 & 11/29

special sale - today 11/22/09!!!!!

countdown to cute :o

Irvington Artisan Winter Market - November 21, 2009

oh, the list.....

$10 & $20 SALE....ends saturday, 11/7, at midnight!

crafting for a cause

sewing & decorating

fall, fall, fall

getting crafty again

finally a break & some crafts

goodbye sun....hello rain

muddy boot organic festival

bargain hunting 101

busy b weekend

b on the road again......next stop seattle!

mini sale

worker "b" all over p-town

happy summer solstice

hooray for summer......

ready for summer!!

summer events

exhausted

a bit of yellow for mk

missing the sunshine

unique los angeles

irvington artisan market - april 25, 2009

springtime events

in reverse

back in business

blowout sale.....onesies & kids tees

CPSIA Blog Day

a sign of spring......maybe

say goodbye to the little tees

50% OFF SALE 12/27 - 12/30

what to do on a snow day

only a few more days to shop handmade in 2008!!!!

did i say "snow day is over...."

2010 holiday sales events