A Honeybee Garden
Bees are in decline but you can help restore a healthy bee population right in your own garden by doing a couple of things.
First stop using pesticides and herbicides. There are a number of ingredients that are toxic to bees. If you absolutely must use a pesticide, spray in the evening when bee activity has ceased.
Next, plant a bee friendly garden. To name a few from our garden, bee balm, cosmos, lavender, zinnias, Russian sage, sunflower, poppy, mint, marigold, black eyed susan, and asters all attract bees and have ample pollen for the bees to make honey. Include various heights of flowers and only single form flowers. Those with double forms(multiple layers of petals) have less pollen.
Basically bees prefer a naturalistic landscape to live and feed. Maybe by educating others we can reverse the effects of the decline of bees and learn to live together.
New Gallery Table
Being self-employed now for 14 years one learns many things they never thought they could do. Last summer Jeff took a welding course at a local college and has since then made several works of art, one being this register/check out table to better serve our valued customers. Made from welded steel and birch wood. It also features a glass encasement for selling unique handmade jewelry. Stop in for a visit this summer and see all the new things we are doing.
Summer Artisan Drive About: June 25th and 26th, 2010
The Stecoah Artisans are having the 9th Annual Artisan Drive About, a self guided driving tour of 9 artist studios and shops in Graham County, NC. The idea came about many years ago to provide a brochure and artisan tour and map for the Graham County artisans. Started by Karen Mickler of Yellow Branch Pottery and Cheese, and Crim and Jeff Bassett of Bee Global Studio Gallery, people now come from all over to experience the beautiful mountains and meet many creative and talented artists living and working in the area.
On the Drive About one can find Bee Global’s blooming wildflower gardens and unique beeswax lighting to Yellow Branch’s stoneware pottery and fresh cheese, made from their jersey cows. There are hand turned wooden bowls made and sold in a 75 year old tobacco barn that brings a sense of Appalachian curiosity. Visit the Stecoah Valley Art Center, the hub of this small mountain community, and one can find traditional and contemporary art and crafts; weavings, pottery, photography, Cherokee crafts and more.
A silent auction will be taking place in conjunction with the Artisan Drive About. The auction items consist of local and regional art donated by artists themselves. The money raised will go towards the arts program at the Stecoah Valley Center, SVC. The auction will be held both days, June 25 and 26th, and taking place at the SVC. The final bid will be Saturday night after the evening music performance. It’s a lot of fun!
For more information, please visit: www.stecoahvalleycenter.com
Or click here to download a printable map of all the participating artisans.
Winters Renewal
Winter is an introspective time. It’s a time of resting the creative mind but also preparing for the work that lies ahead.
We usually spend our winter month’s tidying the flower garden, which requires moving numerous tractor loads, to the delight of my boys, of aged plant material to the compost. Going through the endless seed catalogs and deciding what new and exciting seeds we will plant takes time. Inside the studio the worktables are filled with beeswax, tools and clay for candle making, sculpting and mold-making. As we work, our wood stove glows from within. During this time we also update our website and product information as well as clean and assess inventory. Staying on top of orders is a priority as well.
In these cold winter months we huddle together like the bees of our hives knowing that with winter’s renewal we will be ready for a busy and prosperous new year.
Bee Global site featured in Double Plus article
The Bee Global site was recently featured in the Double Plus article “10 Beautiful Examples of Miva Merchant Sites”. An article about what is possible working within the confines of the Miva Merchant E-commerce platform (the shopping cart our site uses).
Bee Global Featured in Verve Magazine
We were fortunate to be featured in Verve magazine’s November/December 2009 Around Town section—Happenin’ Holiday Art in Out-of-the-Way Places (page 20).
Thanksgiving Artisan Drive about
It is time once again to make a picnic, gas up the car and grab your sense of adventure for the 9th annual Graham Co., NC Thanksgiving Artisan Drive About. Situated in the beautiful area of Western North Carolina, this event is becoming a happening where folks mark their calendars to attend. Taking place the weekend of Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 27th and Sat. the 28th. From 10-5. There are about 8 locations in which one can experience meeting the artist with the art. Pottery, farmstead cheeses, candles, hand dipped ornaments, wood turnings, paintings, jewelry and more can be found along this tour. Bring along your festive spirit and holiday wish list for many unique gifts.
For more info go to: www.stecoahartisans.com
Fall Craft Guild Fair Report
Asheville, NC was busy with folks lining up at the doors to see what new art each exhibitor had for the Southern Highland Craft Fair, held Oct. 15-18. We had a great show and came home with very little product. Our booth was visited by many patrons of years past as well as some new faces. We really appreciate everyone’s support over the years and would like to continue to create lots more unusal beeswax art. Check back with us on the dates for next year’s Southern Highland Craft Shows.
NEW-Colored & Scented Pillar Candles
Bee Global’s new colored and scented beeswax candles are un-bee-lievably irresistible. Made with pure beeswax and lightly scented with natural artisan perfumes made here in the U.S. Each pillar is hand poured and colored using dyes made with only eco-friendly ingredients. Choose from amy of our 7 scents and colors:
Adventures in beekeeping #2
I wish I was writing to tell the stories told during the long hours of a sourwood honey harvest, but this year that will not bee. Many factors could be cited for the dearth of honey including the rainy weather, our inexperience, establishing new hives, but ultimately I think it’s just the nature of beekeeping. The reality check is we began the season with 8 hives of Russian bees, yet after a succession of mid summer queen supersedures, we now stand with 4 hives. The existing hives are thriving and healthy, which gives encouragement as we head into the fall and winter season. In preparation for the winter I have been feeding the bees regularly and have tested for varroa mites with a powder sugar dusting. We look forward to meeting Spring with vibrant hives and the anticipation of a great honey season.
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