Sunday, June 21, 2009

happy summer solstice

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!!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

hooray for summer......

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.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

ready for summer!!

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

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

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

exhausted

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!!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

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

Sunday, May 3, 2009

missing the sunshine

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.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

unique los angeles

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.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

irvington artisan market - april 25, 2009

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

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

May 2nd (Sat), 11am - 7pm
May 3rd (Sun), 11am - 5pm
UNIQUE Los Angeles
California Market Center
110 East Ninth St
Los Angeles, CA 

May 9th (Sat), 10am - 5pm
En Plein Air - French Market
Portland French School
6318 SW Corbett Ave,
Portland, OR 97239

May 10th (Sun), 11am - 4pm
Crafty Wonderland
Doug Fir Lounge
830 E. Burnside
Portland, OR 

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

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

in reverse

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)

Sunday, March 8, 2009

back in business

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