Monday, August 06, 2018

Save the Bees BOM


Block #1

Block #1 is released today for the new Save The Bees BOM by Jacqueline Steeves. This is such a fun project and I hope you will join us and make your own version of the quilt.
Here is my version of block #1. I have been collecting bee fabrics in anticipation of this project and have used some of my favourites in this block. You can see my fabric collection here.
I pieced the border blocks by machine, but the applique was  stitched by hand, which perhaps explains why the leaves are not very uniform. I'm calling them "organic looking" leaves!





I started the applique by stitching the 4 pieces of the sunflower together. Then I stitched the whole flower to the background fabric. Some swear words may have been said trying to get those curves to be round instead of pointy. The farther away you stand, the better the curves look!


I used all the tips I learned in a class with Becky Goldsmith, such as using tiny applique pins (so the thread doesn't get caught), finger pressing the curves before you stitch, and using a toothpick to turn edges as needed. I did notice that by the time I started stitching the bee, my curves were improving. Maybe my next block will be even better!


The sweet little bee was appliqued and embroidered by hand. I had to give her a little french knot eye. 
Fun fact - do you know that bees have 5 eyes?!? Check it out here. I only gave my bee 1 eye so you have to imagine that there are 4 eyes on the other side of her head! 
I wasn't sure if I wanted to stitch the bee trail because I think it looks great as is, so I'll check out the other blocks (links below) and then decide if I want to add it.



Block #1 in my tomato garden
When you sign up for the BOM, not only will you get the free pattern, but each month you will have a chance to win one of 8 prizes. The prize for August is a copy of the Splendid Sampler book, courtesy of Martingdale! When you visit each of these featured blogs to see their version of block #1, make sure to enter their draw:
Giveaway = Splendid Sampler book, coaster and FQ

To enter my giveaway which includes a copy of the Splendid Sampler book, this bee coaster, and a fat quarter of this cute bee fabric, just scroll down to the bottom of this post, and click on where it says "comments". At the bottom of the list of comments, type your comment in the box and tell me something about bees. Do you know a beekeeper? Have you visited a bee hive? Do you love honey? Do you grow flowers to attract bees in your garden? Are you sewing along with us to make your very own Save the Bees quilt?
The draw closes on August 12 so make you visit all the above blogs before then. Good luck! Draw is now closed - winner is comment #19.

214 comments:

1 – 200 of 214   Newer›   Newest»
The Cozy Quilter said...

Your bee has personality! Nice block! My husband’s grandfather was a beekeeper and we have one of his empty honey tins on display in our living room along with an antique smoker. We grow flowers for the bees,butterflies and birds in our yard.

SandraC said...

We try to have gardens that attract bees and butterflies. Last week I was visiting a friend and her butterfly bush had many bees flitting around it, so this weekend I bought my own butterfly bush

Sandra Lanter said...

Along the edge, in the back of our city cemetery a man was allowed to have bee boxes and to plant wild flowers, The flowers were just beautiful and a nice addition to the drive.

Chantal said...

I love your block, Kathy. Due to illness I said I wouldn't enter BOW and the likes this year because I always fall off the wagon but this cute little block... oh! Tempting temptation!! Your applique looks very natural. Not all leaves in nature are symmetric. You did an excellent job!
I do have flowers all around the house for bees and butterflies. I don't have trap to get rid of them as I am not afraid of them. I love their humming sound as they visit my yard. My quilting journal was covered with bee fabric. You can see it here:
https://atthecornerofscrapandquilts.blogspot.com/2017/05/whatever-wednesday.html
Thanks for the chance of winning. Enjoy! ;^)

Mliss said...

Love the block!! Looking forward to making this quilt.
We have a honey bee house :) First year it was up it wasnt used and I was very disappointed. But this year its full. Im so happy.

Cathy44647 said...

Love watching the honey bees! And honey Is the best! Have you ever taken vanilla bean ice cream drizzled honey over top an added peanuts? An awesome treat!

sjaoce said...

I love this block. Looking forward to future blocks! Is anyone having trouble finding the pattern? When I click on the link it says, "Nothing found for the requested page." Thanks for any help you can give.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

no I didn't sign up - I have seen the block but had been so busy with other projects - yes I have been around a bee keeper - my brother has a farm and has several hives and he gets the honey - he just started about two years ago with the bees and the honey and is starting to sell his honey at the farmers market along with his veggies.

Lynne Stucke said...

We know a beekeeper in Louisiana, and allowed him to keep one of his hives in the corner of our property. Unfortunately, however, at lest half of the bees left the hive for some reason (following a new queen?) and moved into the wall space on the side of our house. Even less fortunately, from there they found a way into our house, so there was nothing to do but to destroy them all. It made me sad, but it was better than having the children sporting multiple bee stings!

time4stitchn said...

A relative of my husband was not only a bee keeper, but processed and sold honey at a company called Honey Acres. He continued it for decades and even established a small museum about bees and bee keeping including a live bee hive you could observe. I do grow flowers and am saddened by the loss of bees in past year. One of my favorite candies is honey encased in bitter chocolate; you can find them at Trader Joe's.

Quilter Kathy said...

It will be posted at 10 am. I was a little eager and posted mine too early!

Bridget said...

When I was small all the honey on the diner table came from the hive on my grandparent's farm. I didn't know it didn't come in the comb until I was an adult! My brother and nephews have hives so there is a steady supply of honey at our house. It is wonderful on my oatmeal.

BJ said...

This looks like such a fun BOM, but until I finish a few that I'm way behind on, I'm following my self-imposed rule to not join anything new. LOL - see how long that lasts! My grandfather had commercial beehives but I am allergic so I couldn't help much. I plant wildflowers for bees away from the house so I don't have to tend them. And a dear friend/business colleague has hives in his backyard; I buy my honey from him whenever it's available. I love it in all forms. Your block is adorable, and your applique will definitely improve with practice. "Organic" is a great descriptor!

jrquilts said...

LOVE YOUR BLOCK KATHY , I HAVE PLANTS IN MY GARDEN TO ATTRACT BOTH BEES AND BUTTERFLIES.

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Cute block and love the way you did your little bee!

Cathy said...

Such a sweet block! My aunt specifically asked for a bee charm for her necklace. Maybe she needs this little quilt too!

Jacquelynne Steves said...

You found such perfect bee fabrics for your block! Love it!

Ms Amy said...

Love honey! Allergic to bee stings but still plant flowers that attract bees. They are so important for pollination. Love watching the hives in action thru plexiglass.

Suzanne said...

My kitchen is decorated in a Bee and Bird theme...yes, the birds n bees! I love bee's, but they don't love me...I am allergic. Thanks for sharing this project.

Darlene B said...

I have an 89-year-old co-worker who is a beekeeper with his grandson. He brings honey into work to sell. It's fun to hear the stories, but I don't think I'd ever get too close to the hives!

FabShabbyRoses said...

Love the fabric you chose for this project! We have a beekeeper in the town I live in! He has tons and tons of hive boxes! It's interesting to drive by and see all the bee activity and him and his wife all dressed in their suits working on them! Clpetry126@frontiernet.net

Danny said...

I really love your choice of fabrics, makes me feel like I'm in the field with the flowers and bees.

Elizabeth Davis said...

My grandfather was a beekeeper.

Renee said...

My cousin is a beekeeper, and I hope to make this quilt for her.

Unknown said...

I'm very excited for the BOM! I love honey & have been thinking about expanding my garden to be more bee friendly. I've even been thinking about keeping bees, but I guess 1 step @ a time, LOL.

MissPat said...

While I've got a few of those bee fabrics, I won't be joining in because applique is just not my thing. I do have lots of flowers to attract the bees and butterflies and we try to buy local honey instead of the grocery store stuff.
Pat

Wildquilter said...

I have a friend that has bee hives, so I purchase fresh honey from her. In prodding my bee friend for answers to bee questions, I’ve been amazed at how little I understood about the the process

Unknown said...

This is my first BOM and I am very excited about it. I love honey, I had a very good friend that had bee hives. He died a few years ago and I miss him very much. He was 94 when he died

Katrina said...

While I am not at all a bee person I love having honey on biscuits, in teas and sometimes by itself. This quilt was too adorable to pass up and I really like you choice of fabrics to bring out colors in hives.

Geri Young said...

I have several 🐝 bee keeper friends/relatives. I LOVE honey & flowers. I garden using flowers passed down from my mom & sisters.

Unknown said...

We enjoy honey. Try to use flowers that will attracts bees to my veggies too. Looking forward to this BOM.

Anonymous said...

Our son-in-law supplies us with honey from his hives. Yum!

Jean said...

My husband is a master beekeeper and I am beekeeper "helper"! We have 14 colonies in the backyard right now. Needless to say we love honey, plant flowers to keep our bees happy and make lotions, soaps and candles to give to friends and family. I am attracted to all things 'bee'! Can't wait to get started on this quilt.

PS - have to brag on my husband, he mentors new bee keepers in our area and has captured or relocated over 300 colonies in 4 years. He gives these 'captured' bees to other bee keepers who have lost hives or to the area schools with observational hives.

bhappetat said...

I plant flowers fo pollinators. I’m a farmers daughter so know how important bees are for our food supply.

Geri A said...

I LOVE bumblebees. I frequently have them land on me. Hubby says I'm a bee charmer

Deanna W said...

A teaspoon of honey really is good medicine. Natural honey has lots of medicinal qualities. The fact that is tastes good and is sweet is just an added benefit!! You're so sweet like honey to offer up this little prize pack!!

Tina said...

Honey, YUM!. My husband makes the most wonderful mead (that is a honey wine). We buy local honey and it takes about 3 or 4 years to make a batch. The longer you wait the better it tastes.

Kendra said...

I have a few connections to honey bees....My aunt is a beekeeper. I intend to gift this quilt to her when it is finished. There are several boxes near the orchard at our local Boy Scout camp. We enjoy very much watching and learning about them. My daughter works for a company that sells honey and candy products made from the honey. All of their honey is imported from the Himalayan Mountains. Bees are important all over the world!

Unknown said...

I love honey, and am a huge supporter of buying honey from local beekeepers!! I am definitely going to participate in the bom. I am super excited about making this cute quilt:)

Kathy Langston said...

I love bees and I love honey. They are so good for keeping everything blooming and growing.

Michelle said...

I love bumblebees and honey! I love to buy honey from local producers and try to do my part to contribute to the pollination process.

Sue Green said...

I love honey on fresh bread. We have a friend who has hives and sells honey.

Teresa said...

I think your block is so cute. Bees...hmmmm..I have been stung by a bee and it hurt!

Unknown said...

I am still trying to determine my favorite but I like blanket stitch on the more whimsical items by hand or machine. I have also done satin stitch by machine. I have never done needle turn by hand but I want to try it on this BOM.

Cherie's Quilting Journey said...

Great block! I love honey on my biscuits.

Dava said...

Each spring we have a carpenter bee that hangs out around our front flower bed. He likes to fly back and forth over the steps to our porch. We have nicknamed him "Bob our guard bee" and we look for him each spring.

Sherill said...

So glad our local farmers's market as Honey available. It is so good! I just downloaded my copy of Block 1! Looking forward to starting this BOM!

hoosierstitcher said...

Doesn't everyone love honey? My bee experiences have not been good but bees are still cute in crafts! Your colors give this a nice more primitive look.

Unknown said...

I love your block! I am a beekeeper. We only have one hive, but we just harvested 16 quarts of honey from it! MMMMMMM. Can't wait to do this quilt!

Unknown said...

Sue Weaver is my name.

Susan said...

I love to use honey on a daily basis especially in my tea. I don't use pesticides and plant plenty of flowers to attract butterflies and bees.

Stitches said...

I have a friend that has tried to raise bees but sadly she doesn't have much luck keeping them through our winters. I love honey and use it quite a lot. I do enjoy seeing the bees that enjoy my flowers too. p.s. I think the bee trail would add a nice detail to your block..just saying..

Anonymous said...

JUST LEARNING ALL ABOUT BEES! DO NOT KNOW A BEEKEEPER CLOSE BY, BUT SEE THEIR HIVES ALONG OUR ROADS! THANKS FOR SHARING!

Susan Stanton said...

I've just started a "pollinator" garden for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It's amazing the number of insects and hummers that stop by for nectar.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Too many typos/grammar to publish original. I have many pollinator flower and herb beds. My husband and middle son got into beekeeping with five hives and purchased honey equipment to process the honey.

Ruth said...

I love bees and need them to pollinate my garden. Especially the squash and pumpkins for my grandkids.

barbara woods said...

my granbson tried to keep them don't know if he still has them are not

tac73 said...

I was surprised to see a whole group of bees sleeping on the stems of Flowers at my sister’s house last summer.

Bubba and Nana said...

I was part of the International Miniature Quilt Exchange sponsored by The Quilt Show and my partner from Canada and her husband are bee keepers and found it very interesting through our emails to learn about bee keeping. Also my brother in law in Washington state owns a lavender farm and a bee keeper has his hives there.

Sheila said...

When I think of bees I remember the late Joan Rivers. She incorporated bees into so many of her jewelry designs.

Sandy Rizzo said...

Bees are absolutely necessary to feed the people of this planet. I am participating in the SAVE THE BEES Sew Along.

Carolee said...

Love your block. I will be sewing along with save the bees quilt. I do love honey as well.

fournieces said...

I do know a new beekeeper. She got her first hive this year. I have a perennial garden and also lots of thyme in the gardens and love hearing the bees buzzing around it. If I stand still, it is like hearing a bee symphony!

Danette said...

I love any type of life, such as bees. I have sunflowers blooming right now in my backyard and the bees are busy at their centers. Thank you, peterstankovich@comcast.net

Jana said...

Before we moved into our current house, a huge colony and hive had to be removed from between the walls. I keep finding references to bees, so I think they go hand in hand with our house. This quilt will hang proudly ;)

Dorie said...

I love this block, I know bees are very important for food supply but I don't like bees. lol I was stung as a child when a bee crawled in my ear. I am grateful the lady who helped me had very long nails so she could get it out. Even the sound of the buzzing near me makes me freeze.

Pam McDonald said...

You have a cute little bee! I am more of a fan of Bumbles, they aren't aggressive and just flit around from flower to flower. I planted some Bee Balm plants and they are loving the first few flowers this year. I have a friend that raised bees and she said some wasps came in and killed them. That is so sad.

Kate said...

Sewing along. Who doesn't like honey�� I have several perennial flower beds that attract bees, birds and butterflies

BlessOSU said...

My husband would like to have a bee hive, but I think our tiny yard, and the next door neighbors are not in our favor! We do love honey!

Lydia said...

ohh I like the stitch with the little post sticking out (blanket stitch) Anyway, bees are truly a miracle creature. It does the impossible, flying with such small wings and fat body. They work together, every bee has a role to play and together they produce sweetness! love this BOM

Vickie Bell said...

I have always loved bees(and other little bugs!). Working on some wall hangings for my foyer using Moda bee fabrics and a little machine embroidery also.

Birthe Marie said...

This block is beautiful! :-)

judys said...

Love honey, my Dad used to get 10 lbs at a time from the local beekeeper at least twice a year (just for him!) And my friend's cousin is a beekeeper not too far from us.

Denise Waterfield said...

I have been watching stitchers on youtube that are bee keepers. I have learned about Queen bees and worker bees. Bees are very important to farmers.I love bees wax and honey!!

ellie said...

My son had a huge hive in his garage wall. He had a bee-keeper remove it, and he was told it was the largest the bee-keeper had ever seen in a house. He gave my son the honey!!

Unknown said...

I have used honey to help with my allergies while traveling. I am sewing along with the block of the month.

Sharon Quaintance Treece said...

My husbands cousin is an apiarist in Canada. We visited his honey operation on a trip to Washington from Alaska. We got to see all his hives and then went into their honey extracting building and watched how they remove the honey from the boards the hold the honey combs from the hives. We love honey, and to receive it from family was such a treat. I grow lots of flowers to attract bees. I am sewing along with everyone on this Save The Bees BOM.

Linda Eaves said...

I visited a beekeeper once and he gave me a tour of his backyard hives as I interviewed him for a magazine article. I also love honey and use it for my allergies.

Unknown said...

Dorothy writes: I am growing a garden with bee friendly flowers, trees and vegetables. I attempted to keep a bee hive earlier this year, but my bees keep flying away. I think they are tempted away by the larger farms nearby. We love reading about bees and are thankful for their help in the garden. We love cooking with honey in our bread and granola. Thanks.

Deb said...

Love your 1st block, I am also taking part in this BOM, I look forward to seeing your progress. I do plant flowers to attract bees and butterflies, I added my 3rd Bee House to my garden so the bees have a place to rest. I buy local honey from a woman that keeps her own hives which I would like to have someday. Fun fact the male carpenter bee does not sting, he is the large bee that hovers to protect the near by nest.

Karen said...

One of my husband's cousin's just started raising bees. I learned recently that a family in our boy's scout troop raises bees. And, last but not least, my husband would raise bees if we had the right land to do it on.

Unknown said...

The only thing I know about bees, is it really hurts when they sting!
Pat W.

Unknown said...

Your color scheme is unique. I really like it. A dear gentleman I met years ago through our county 4-H program is a beekeeper and loved teaching all about them. He also sets up displays in the grange building during our county fair to get the word out to as many as possible. His wife has played a big part in my interest in quilting. Every flower I plant in my yard is with bees, butterflies and hummingbirds in mind.

dianne said...

bees rhyme with knees ... I am VERY allergic to bee stings ... they say bzzz ... and that about sums up my bee knowledge

Linda said...

I am making the Bees quilt! Love your colors! Hubby and I are thinking about starting a couple of hives near our creek.

Unknown said...

The garden center where I work in the spring has several hives at the back of the property. They sell the honey in the retail area - talk about buying local!

Unknown said...

I do like honey and bee inspired fabric. LQS near me is ‘Beefore it’s a quilt’
I am sewing along with the group to make this quilt!

Carolyn S said...

Bee knowledge, there are only 7 species of bees that produce honey. Local native bees do not and they are responsible for a lot of our food too, like tomatoes.

Unknown said...

Can't wait to get ztstart. Love the be

Pam said...

I love bees - there is a business not too far from us - Hunter's Honey Farm - they have a hive in the retail area - bees come in and out and make the honey for you to see! I grow lots of flowers for bees, Monarch butterflies and hummingbirds. Love them all

Leslie K. said...

I don't know much about bees, but we have quite a few Russian Sage plants in our yard that all types of bees just love. We also have quite a few flowering bushes, as well as butterfly bushes, to attract all types of bees and butterflies in our yard.

Unknown said...

I used to have a butterfly bush that would be abuzz with bees. I loved to sit and listen to them work.

Unknown said...

My mom used to keep honey bees

Unknown said...

will be pulling fabric from my Mom's stash.
Looking forward to this BOM

H Baxter said...

When we retire in a few years our plan is to have land out far enough to have a beehive. My daughter and I already grow save the bees flowers.

Bobbie Z. said...

We have flowers in the garden to attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. We also have monarchs, swallowtails and bees enjoying the milkweed at the end of our country driveway. Blessed to enjoy nature.

mm said...

I am learning more about bees and am excited to do this BOM.

MDTerp said...

My purple coneflowers attract bees! Later, the birds come and eat the seeds and some I harvest for friends who would like to add purple coneflowers, and bees, to their gardens!

Lline said...

I love bees. From a distance and with respect but I love them.

Needled Mom said...

I love your block. There is so much detail in it. I know we need the bees, but they have become such a problem at the liquid feeders.

Tom said...


I love the colors you've chosen for this BOM. I have a good friend who is a beekeeper and often help him in early spring moving hives from orchard to orchard to pollinate fruit and nut trees.

Unknown said...

We keep flowers in the garden for bee's and hummingbirds. I myself like "honeyweiss" beer made with honey and that takes bee's!

Liz Horgan said...

Ha--not a fun comment about bees here. There must have been a hive near our grill that I noticed Saturday afternoon. Yesterday, my husband tried to figure out what was going on under the grill cover--where the bees seemed to be swarming--he got them all very,very mad, and 4 of them stung him.

Rita Lynn said...

When I was young my grandpa had bees. I just grow flowers to attract them. rita_l_39212@yahoo.com

ledamewood said...

My husband was a beekeeper until this year. He finally gave up. The hives are difficult to keep alive when you live in a town where most people have lawn care services. We miss watching the bees and hope some day we'll live in an area where we can keep the hives alive.

Julie in GA said...

I am very thankful for the bees that help pollinate our garden.

Sheree A. said...

I know someone who used to keep bees. She loved it and she shared a jar of her bee's honey with me.

Unknown said...

My brother and I used to fight over the honeycomb when all the honey was gone.

Unknown said...

I don't know why it says Unknown???? I am Claudette M. from GA

Unknown said...

My family loves honey, specially with peanut butter!

Rickand Bev said...

I grow flowers that attract bees and raw honey is our favorite

Linda Schiffer said...

My father and his father were beekeepers. I remember with great clarity how upset my Grandpa would get if we stepped on one of his honeybees while we were galavanting around the fields on his farm in the summer. :)

Linda

Karen said...

I kept bees in my twenties! It was great fun. Bee's are quite fascinating, and their honey is wonderful!

Karen in Kentucky said...

Not so fond of the bees, but sure do love the honey!

Ponderosa Postings said...

Yes, I grow bushes and flowers for bees. I have lots of lavender too.

Sue D said...

Love your choice of fabrics! Love honey and bees--we have kept bees in the past.
slrdowney at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

Your block looks so pretty. I love honey and used to grow plants to attract bees & birds. I Can't get anything to grow where I am now. I haven't started on my bee quilt yet.

Suzek said...

My main connection to bees is honey which I love. I try to buy local honey when I can.

Tabatha said...

I have bee balm and lavender in my yard that the bees love. My sister has a hive in colorado for the bees.

Unknown said...

Have never been a bee keeper but know someone who does. He loves it and it is a needed endevor

Mlhb1205@gmail.com said...

I am sew excited to do save The bees. I have loads of nectar rich plants in my garden blooming throughout spring, summer and fall. No pesticides here! My grass is clover! I love your block & fabric line. Thanks so much for your directions

Patricia said...

I dont know much about bees except that I dont want to step o them in the clover in my grass when I running out for the paper without my shoes

Cheryl said...

We had about 30,000 honey bees camped out in our garage 3 years ago! They got into the wall through the stacked stone outer wall and came through to the inside of the garage through a gap around a pipe. It took the beekeeper 3 days before he was able to come get them, then he had to come back 3 days later because it turned out that there were 2 queens in the wall, with 2 separate hives! Luckily, we caught it before they finished the hive and started making honey. While they were here, their buzzing was so loud, we could hear it all over the house. Kind of cool, but scary, too.

april dawn said...

I don't know any beekeepers. I'm not a fan of honey and I'm allergic to bee stings but I do plant flowers in my garden that attract them. Crazy right?!!!

Beth said...

Lots of bee-related things going on around here. Our friend Melanie's husband is a beekeeper, and it's so interesting to hear him talk about them. We would keep bees of our own except that my partner is allergic so we thought we'd best not. Instead I set out water for them, in low bowls with rocks set in them so they can rest while they drink; these work for butterflies, too.

Oceanpeg said...

Love capturing bees in action with camera in hand when they land on the flowers and when they do their polination thing on both flowes and veggie plants.

Sherri B said...

I love honey and I have always made sure each place I visit in the United States, is to buy the local honey just to see how the taste is different.

Mary said...

I love honey on my toast. Creamed honey is the best. Bees & Wasps aren't my friends. I got stung a couple years ago when they swarmed my front porch. I printed the Block. Not sure when I will start. Thanks for the Giveaway.

Unknown said...

I will make this quilt especially for all the bees. They are so needed for all our vegetables and fruit and so on.

ssjmommy said...

I love bees and grow flowers to attract them as well as keep a bee 'house' in my backyard. My daughter-in-law's mother is a beekeeper and I love honey but don't eat a lot because I don't want to 'rob the bees of their food.'

Sarah said...

Your bee block is very cute. This year I planted lavender in the pots in my front garden and the bees love them!

maria elena said...

Love honey on my tea and with yogurt in the morning. I buy my honey at the street markets or go to Arcadia where they have a little store that sells the organic kind. You know that is you have allergies, by using the honey from the region you live on you could get rid of your allergies!! Love the bees!

Mary Lou P. said...

Love your block and look forward to making mine!

Unknown said...

The Physician I work with keeps bees. He gives each of his employees a jar of honey at Christmas time. It is the best honey I have ever tasted (probably because it is local). Eating local honey is reported to reduce allergies to local flora.

Unknown said...

I am a beekeeper (this has been a tough year for bees) and have made three queen sized bee-themed quilts. This BOM will be my fourth!

Pat said...

Don't know much about bees, but do like and use lots of their Honey.

Michelle H said...

I live in South West Ontario and we have so many bees this year!!! It's great to see. We also have another Bee/Hummingbird bug that is the coolest thing I have seen in a long time. It looks like a giant bee, size of a hummingbird and has the wing speed of the bird. They also love nectar but unfortunately they do not produce honey.

wendy said...

I know two bee keepers, one is a very close friend. I love honey and quite often use it in my tea. Local honey is best!

Unknown said...

I like to use local honey in recipes.

Katie said...

Fried Chicken dipped in honey is my weakness ! I do not know any beekeepers 🐝 I love learning appliqué through this BOM...Thanks a bunch !

mumbird3 said...

We use lots of honey in smoothies!!! I know lots of beekeepers and hear all about the use of pesticides killing their hives!!! mumbird3tgmaildotcom

Unknown said...

We have 35 bee hives here on our farm in rural southern MN. I am really looking forward to making this quilt!!

Lisa England said...

I have a friend who keeps bees. Last summer we borrowed her bee suit to get rid of some hornets after my husband had a bad reaction to an earlier sting.

Unknown said...

I am so eager to get started on this project! One of my favorite travel habits is collecting local honey from where I have visited!

Unknown said...

Ha ha! I have always loved bees an honey. My grandfather had beehives in his backyard and I remember my father would always eat the comb in a jar of honey. I just recently discovered this and am in love with this idea ... https://beecosystem.buzz
Check it out! So very cool!

Anita Jackson @ Domestic Felicity said...

Your fabric choices are adorable! I have such an affinity for bees, and would love to be a beekeeper. I work away from home and stay in my home maybe 15 or so days through out the year so beekeeping will have to wait until I retire. A movie: watch The Secret Life of Bees or better yet, read the book by Sue Monk Kidd. A lovely story!

Brenda said...

I love your block in "bee" fabrics and your applique looks great. You see why I embroidered the back portion of my flower. I made one attempt at the needle turn applique and decided embroidery was the way to go especially at half the size. Brenda from The Quilting Nook.

Unknown said...

I do indeed know a beekeeper and even took a beekeeping class from him. I decided that since I am the only one in my family who loves honey, that it would be easier for me to keep buying it from him rather than to try to raise my own bees!! This is my first sew along and I hope to gift it to him!

Unknown said...

My husband is a beekeeper! I use honey to bake all of your bread as well as other foods. Most people do not realize that bacteria will not grow in honey because of its density. This is my first BOM--looking forward to participating!

Unknown said...

I have been reading and following an number of posts for local beekeepers. It's my intent to have hives within the next couple of years - I'm planning my yard - which is huge - to attract bees and support any I have...and yes I am working on the save the bees quilt - wish I had thought of the sunflower motif...may have to make some really quick adjustments.

Beckahn11 said...

I try every year to have a flower garden to attract bees and butterflies! I do know a lady that has a bee hive im slowly learning a few things about them!! I do like honey!! This is my first bom! I started quilting in jan of this year! Im so excited about doing this bom!!! So glad to b a part of it!!!

BarefootThunder said...

Your block is bee u ti ful !! perfect fabrics, and I love the saying on the coaster. My sons have a friend who is a beekeeper. beeswax is great for thread when hand quilting, and honey is yummy. ;)

Lisa said...

I love my garden and the BEES love it. I even have homes for the bees and also mason bees house. Love your quilt and color ideas!

kupton52 said...

I am...well, was, a beekeeper. I had 2 hives but lost both over the winter. Just waiting til January to order more. I love all-things-bees from collectibles to bee fabric to the real thing. They are amazing little creatures so YES, I'm making a Save the Bees quilt too.

Barb said...

I have been seeing a few more bees in my garden this summer--usually the Bumble variety--we need bees for pollination!
barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

Unknown said...

I have planted the front area of our property with lots of lavendar plants. I love looking out the window and watching the bees enjoy my garden!

Nina said...

I love planting flowers for bees and butterflies. The neighbors tried a hive... didn't quite work out for them. I'd be interested in trying it someday! Yes! I hope to work on these blocks with everyone!

Unknown said...

Yes I have a large selection of flowers and a bee house.

Marcia said...

I love your block, it's so cute. We have a large piece of property with many flowers, & blooming trees, which attract so many bees & butterflies. We love honey and I use it to cook & bake and especially in my favorite bread recipe.

Kathy E. said...

Loving all the different versions of this first block and I can't wait to have a few free hours to make one of my own! I don't know much about bees, and I don't care for honey, except for when my allergies are full blown...it's then that I take a teaspoon of local honey to help relieve the symptoms.

Dora said...

I know a beekeeper. Haven't ever been to a "typical" hive. Just one that was at a roadside stop (gas station maybe?, loooong time ago when I was in grade school). You could go inside the building and there was a glass wall where you could see part of the hive. The bees could come and go from an opening on the outside wall. Don't have much of a garden right now to attract many bees. Need to do some landscaping.

Jollygirl said...

Did you know there is a program called master bee keepers for people to learn how to keep bees? My brother-in-law is in the program and harvested honey this summer.

Unknown said...

I use raw, local honey 🍯 and plant flower in my garden. I'm a beginner, making this quilt for an eight yr old little girl. Her school project was to plant flowers to Save the Bees 🐝.

Bonnie58 said...

Love your block. Thanks for sharing. I love all the different flavours of honey I can purchase locally

gi quilt said...

Quick story: I grew up on a farm and we had bees. I did not like them because the hives were at the end of the garden and near a gate we when thru to ride our bikes on the road. We always had to hurry to not get stung. One day we “lost” our 5 year old brother. He was setting on top of the bee hive with his hands over his ears. No stings.

Machelle said...

What a great block! I have a daughter who shears that consuming honey from local bees helps her seasonal allergies. I don't know if there is any science behind this but she thinks it works for her!

Unknown said...

I am allergic to bees. The only kind of bee I like is a fabric one! lol.

Daryl @ Patchouli Moon Studio said...

I like your honey colored block! I belong to an applique group and we are the Bizzy Bees. That bee fabric is so cute and would be perfect for a quilt block! I have purchased honey at the farmers market and honey comb too. We have lots of flowers for the bees in our yard. They love the sunflowers we planted.

Kaye said...

I love honey especially local honey. There is a bee keeper down the road from me where I buy honey. Soooo good! I am always being mindful of the bees. I feed hummingbirds every year. Last year I had a small swarm of bees that would congregate on one or two of the feeders. I keep the feeder full for the bees. When I needed to refill it I would shake the feeder slightly and the bees would fly away. When I hung it back up they would immediately land back on the feeder. I haven't seen any this year so far. I'm hoping it just because there are still flowers for them to go to. I am making the "Save The Bees" quilt, too.

JANET said...

I had a hive pop up on my vine that covered the back fence of my home. The vine was at least 40 yrs old and beautiful. I had to call a bee keeper to come get it, and of course, the vine had to be cut. That hurt more that any bee sting.

Unknown said...

I love to work in the garden so I have many plants that attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds too!

Unknown said...

My grandfather was a bee keeper so in his memory I raise honey suckle and other flowers to attract bees to my garden.

Unknown said...

I love to watch the bees eating at the butterfly bush right outside my office window

Cindy Shelley said...

I love bees, I love honey. My small sewing group is known as: The Queen Bee Quilting Sisters.. out mascot is the Bee of course!!!!

Lee said...

Such a fun quilt a long. I love this block. I have taken my first of bee keeping classes and am looking forward to my next one where I put together my first hive and start my bee keeping! Thank you!

Heidi said...

I actually enjoy bees and love their honey. I live in a rural area and want a hive so the past few years I have been planting bushes and vines to feed bees. I was delighted this past spring when I was blessed to find one of my peach trees humming with hundreds of bees. You could hear them all happily humming!

DeAnna said...

Love the bee fabric and awesome handwork. I’m a new-bee to beekeeping and started my first hive this Spring. Looking forward to having many more.

Unknown said...

Without bees we would not survive. They pollinate are vegetable gardens and provide us with their honey.

gayle said...

My brother has kept bees for years and years and keeps me well supplied with luscious honey!
If you want more applique tutorials, Jan Patek has a bunch of excellent ones. I highly recommend!

Laura said...

Your applique is beautiful. I think bees are the most incredible insects as without them we'd not have fruit. These busy pollinators keep us in many wonderful things to eat. I am saddened that they are harmed by over use of various insecticides. My quilting group is called the Triple Bees and we collect bee things, so this quilt along is perfect for us.

Lisa said...

I love to plant flowers that attract bees, as well as hummingbirds and butterflies.

Sharon Aurora said...

My youngest son won second place in the state's Beekeeping Association for his well researched essay on the importance of bees and what can be done to save them. I think this quilt will be for him.

Linda C said...

I don't know a lot about bees other than we do need to work at saving them. I recently received a nice jar of honey as a hostess gift--from Florida. I am in Alabama and have two sources for more homegrown honey, known for its health benefits being "local".

Good job on the blocks!

Unknown said...

I actually took a beekeeping course in college, and have loved bees and wanted hives ever since!

Unknown said...

Hello,
I am a 3rd year beekeeper and just love those little creatures! My tip would always be to wear be aware of the bees and wear your protective gear if there is a colony near. It is summer and we are in a dearth and that means it is hot and a lot of the nectar sources have dried up. This means the bees are a little more testy than they would normally be, protecting their homes and food stores. I was watering my garden and a little lady flew up and stung me on the chin before I even saw her coming. Poor her, and poor me! lesson learnt, and all is better a few days later! :)
Have a great day!

Unknown said...

Definitely don't give up! :) My first year was awesome and then the second, I lost my bees over the winter. This year has been awesome, with a lot of lessons and learning! :) You can do it!

Unknown said...

Ooh, it sounds like you guys have a lot of adventures! :) Very cool! That is so kind of your husband to gift bees to those learning! If I am ever in the position to do this, I hope to give bees as well! :)

Deb said...

My son is a beekeeper. Yes, I grow flowers for the bees. Some honey I've had and loved, and another honey made me sick...so I tend to stay away from it.

Knittingdancer on Ravelry said...

My daddy had honey bee hives when I was a child. I can remember extracting the honey from the cone. It was a sticky mess but the honey was so good to eat.

Unknown said...

I planted a row of tomatillo plants along my back fence line, then read that they don't pollinate easily and sometimes they need to be hand pollinated. I don't have time for that, really who does? Just after reading that I went to admire my plants and noticed bees happily buzzing in my plants gladly pollinating for me and my plants are covered with tomatillos.

Jayne said...

I did get stung once by a bee!

Glenda X said...

I grew up on a bee farm eating raw honey & chewing on honeycombs. I no wonder buy Manuka Honey from New Zealand for its health benefits. Ironically, I now am allergic to bee 🐝 stings.

Unknown said...

Bee's scare me. I am afraid of getting stung. But I do love honey

Lauriejo said...

I love your block, the proportion really makes it feel like a really tall sunflower. I really need to plant a few. I only know one beekeeper, she sells honey at our local farmer's market. She makes the most delicious creamed honey. I never even knew such a thing existed! I could just sit and eat the whole jar.

Laurie T said...

Yes, I have started the Save the Bees Quilt. There's a couple around the corner from me who have bees and sells his honey from his home.

Gail said...

I worked in rural Montana a number of years ago. My younger brother stayed with me one summer and worked for a beekeeper. He truly enjoyed working outdoors most of the summer and learning about these fascinating creatures.

Gail said...

I lived in rural Montana many years ago. My brother lived with me one summer and worked for a beekeeper. He really enjoyed working outdoors and learning about these fascinating creatures.

Lucy said...

I love honey and by eating honey from local bees it helps with my allergies! A dream of mine is to have bee hives on our property.
I’m also hand sewing the appliqué - it’s taking me forever! I’d also like to make an embroidery block too!

Denise :) said...

One of the stitchers in our stitch group keeps bees and sells honey. There are actually a number of bee herders in our county, and oddly, I know the majority of them -- we never lack for local honey!! :)

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