Bee Inspired

A little over 2 years ago, my husband and I moved from Virginia to Tennessee to start new jobs. While I love my new job, I miss the friends I left behind. Thanks to the miracle of technology, I still stay in touch with some of those friends.

Did I just sound really old there? "Kids these days and their crazy technology, I remember back when we had dial-up!" I can just picture my kids as teenagers rolling their eyes at me while they watch their holographic televisions. Mental note: ground the kids tomorrow for their future sassiness.

One friend in particular, Tammy, shares my love for creativity. She was one of the graphic designers at my old job, and she's helped me a TON with feedback on my banners, blog layout, and all the general graphic stuff that I don't understand because it's easier for me to use Picnik to create everything rather than trying to figure out the wonders of Photoshop :) Consequently, Tammy also has some mad drawing skills. I used to draw a lot when I was younger but I found out pretty quickly that, if you don't continue trying to hone your talent, your sketches slowly degrade until every portrait looks like a stick figure with an orange for a head.

Tammy obviously doesn't have that problem. She also knows that I'm trying to redo my craft room and that I'm obsessed with anything bee-related, so I was so excited when I got this in the mail recently:

Aren't crafty friends the best? I think it takes someone who is also cafty to truly appreciate a handmade gift. We recognize all the hard work that goes into actually making something yourself. I LOVE this picture so much! It's drawn with colored pencil, but it almost has a watercolor feel to it. I couldn't wait to put it in my craft room.

A few months ago, I picked up a couple white picture frames from a garage sale for $5, and I knew they would be perfect for my Bee Inspired drawing. I have been in the (very slow) process of redoing my craft room (more to come!), and so far I've decided that it will have a bee theme with burlap accents worked in. In July while I was in Virginia, I picked up 6-7 burlap bags up for free from a local coffee shop - score!

Some of them have these fun images on the front:

I didn't want to waste the decorative front of the coffee bag, so I decided to use the back. I just used a Sharpie to trace around the back of my frame and cut it out.

I debated about adhering the picture to the burlap, but I didn't want to permanently glue it on in case I wanted to reframe it later. I decided to use adhesive photo corners instead - sometimes the best solution is the simplest one :)

Then, all I did was put the picture and backing into my frame!

This is the perfect print to brighten up my craft room. It makes me smile every time I look at it - thank you Tammy!!