Keepers of the Bees ~ Pine Ridge Treasures Ceramic Blog Hop

It was such a great surprise when I received my kit for this blog hop from Lisa Lodge of A Grateful Artist / Pine Ridge Treasures as it contained the most beautiful ceramic bee piece from Gaia beads. Lisa couldn't possibly have known that I was currently working on my Washington state beekeepers certification and had become very passionate about the welfare of our bee friends.  I was so excited to work on projects that reflected this new interest and hopefully help educate people on the importance of bees in our lives.  Healthy bees are critical for sustaining human health and happiness.  Honeybees don't just make honey; they pollinate many of our most used crops ~  apples, nuts, avocados, soybeans, asparagus, broccoli, celery, squash, cucumbers, citrus fruit, peaches, kiwi, cherries, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, cantaloupe and lots, lots more!  Approximately one-third of our diet comes from insect-pollinated plants and the honey bee is responsible for 80 percent of that pollination.  Even cattle, which feed on alfalfa, depend on bees.  If the bee colonies continue to collapse, we could end up with just grains and water to sustain us!  This is the biggest general threat to our food supply!  Perhaps you can see why I am so passionate about this cause and why I am studying to become a responsible beekeeper!  
  

My first piece , Beekeeper, is a bead embroidered cuff bracelet that spotlights the beautiful Gaia focal.  It is captured by golden multi-hued seed beads that represent one product of the bees work . . . honey! The two faceted green stones were also in my kit and complimented the focal perfectly.  A couple of tiny worker bees buzz freely from delicate copper chain and the piece closes with copper fittings and double linked copper chain.  The piece is backed in gorgeous soft golden leather.  

BEEKEEPER

My second piece, Honeycomb, uses the new bead shape of the same name.  This piece was inspired by a Joanne Zammit design and I must admit they were some of the hardest beads I have ever worked with!  When I finished the main part of the focal, it was too flimsy to hang straight, so in an effort to alleviate that problem I used a piece of 16g copper wire and some honey colored bicones that had come in my kit.  To the now solid honeycomb I attached a beautiful glass honey drop and strung the piece from a hand made bead and wire chain.

HONEYCOMB

My last two pieces use the amazing hexagon crystals that came in my kit in a freeform wire focal piece.  One of my creative goals for this year was to challenge myself with a new technique and so I chose to work with wire.  I shaped, textured and antiqued raw copper wire and then wrapped these beautiful crystals into their spots.  The chain for this piece is the first handmade wire chain I ever made and I love it so much!  The matching earrings make this an incredible set!!!

BEE-DAZZLED

Thank you so much Lisa for the amazing kit that inspired these pieces.  A percentage of their sales will be donated to the Washington State Bee Protection fund.  Please continue to learn more about how you can help protect our bee friends at: 

http://agr.wa.gov/fp/pubs/docs/388-TenWaysToProtectBeesFromPesticides.pdf

Check out what these other amazing artists created for this Ceramic Blog Hop at:

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha’s Ramblings

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware

Gloria Allen, Gloria Allen Designs

Saundra Farren, Something by Saundra

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love

Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes