Saving the Bees

One of my favorite authors is Sue Monk Kidd, I remember reading her haunting and compelling Secret Life of Bees book many years ago. I love stories that are character driven and challenging to our senses. I like how it offered us insight to forgiveness and how many times in life we need to offer ourselves some grace. "The world will give you that once in awhile, a brief timeout; the boxing bell rings and you go to your corner, where somebody dabs mercy on your beat-up life" It also shows the difference between appearances and reality.  "Someone who thinks death is the scariest thing, doesn't know a thing about life." This is in part my inspiration for this project.

1.  Take GSLC embellishments apart, I am using Honeycomb and Bees-Small, Flourished Frame Connie, and Catweed Shape Set.

 2.  Use decorative scrapbook paper to build a substrate for your design, I glued mine on a piece of cardboard to give it stability.

3.  Before gluing decorative paper to the cardboard I distressed the edges using Wendy Vecchi Acorn Ink and a blending tool.
4.   Use versa mark and Torched Copper enamel and walnut stain embossing powders to age GSLC Connie Frame. Curing with a heating tool until you are satisfied with the process.

5.  Glue GSLC Frame on top of decorative paper, centering it.

6.   Distress GSLC Honeycomb first using Ranger Brick Embossing Powders and a heating tool. Add further layers dry brushing on Copper, Antique Gold, and Quinacridone Gold Acrylic Paints.

 

7.   Emboss the GSLC bee bodies with versa mark and Wendy Vecchi Tree Branch embossing powders and heating tool.

8.  Emboss the GSLC bee wings with versa mark and Perfect Peacock embossing powders and heating tool.
9.  Add strips to GSLC bee Bodies using a black sharpie and use also on bee legs and antennas.

10.                Start assembling composition using Weldbond and scissors to cut section of the honeycomb.

11.                Using alcohol ink and a blending tool to color GSLC Catweed Shape Set. I used autumn colors of green, yellow, orange, red, and brown.

12.                Spray with rubbing alcohol and water to further distress the Catweed
13.                Add these to your composition using scissors and Weldbond to layer on top of what you have added so far.

14.                Place assemblage inside of decorative frame.Some final thoughts.
It is sad to hear of all of the sorrows that the honey bees are encountering, in another life I'd love to be a beekeeper, to in some small way restore the balance of these incredible creatures. One of my favorite beverages is to take equal small portions of honey and coconut palm sugar and add to half and half and fill to top with iced coffee. It is refreshing and is my go to second breath after coming home from teaching all day and wanting to create in the art studio.
 One final quote from the book:
“Knowing can be a curse on a person's life. I'd traded in a pack of lies for a pack of truth, and I didn't know which one was heavier. Which one took the most strength to carry around? It was a ridiculous question, though, because once you know the truth, you can't ever go back and pick up your suitcase of lies. Heavier or not, the truth is yours now.”
― Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life

 

 

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Honeycomb and Bees Small, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Flourished Frame Connie, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Catweed Shape Set, Decorative 5 by 7 Frame, Decorative Scrapbook Paper,  Wendy Vecchi Acorn Permanent Ink, Blending Tool, Versa Mark, Tim Holtz Walnut Stain Embossing Powders, Ice Resin Torched Copper, Heating Tool, Weldbond, Ranger Brick Embossing Powder, Wendy Vecchi Tree Branch Embossing Powder, Extreme Peacock Embossing Powder, Black Sharpie, Copper, Antique Gold, and Quinacridone Gold Acrylic Paint, Paintbrush, Alcohol Inks in Autumn Hues, Rubbing Alcohol and Water in Spray Bottles, Scissors

I cannot wait to see your interpretation of this project. Share it on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Craft Group Page on Facebook. I would love to see what new creations you are working on!