Apologies for the title, I couldn’t resist it!
Earlier this year I made my mum a cross-stitch small with a bee on it. We used to keep bees so it was a bit of a memory jogger too. She loved it, the bumble bee is a beautiful design by Robyn’s Nest on Etsy. I surrounded it with cheerful bee fabric in sunny yellows.
I think the bumble bee is just gorgeous, in fact I loved it so much that I’ve stitched it again for myself – there’s not many designs I’ve made twice!
I wanted to finish it a bit differently, for a start I wanted more of a rectangular finish, my mums turned out a bit bigger than what I wanted for my cross-stitch smalls display and I find the longer shape quite useful when arranging them.
I’ve managed to get a bit of a collection of bee fabrics, I had a play and decided on a more understated one with bees on an allium. I pulled out my trimmings drawer and eventually picked some bee ribbon and a length of mini pompoms in cream. It was a bit fiddly stitching the pompoms under the ribbon but after a couple of sessions with the seam ripper I got it neat enough to be happy.
I felt it needed a little something more so I added three mother of pearl buttons, I think these are 6mm ones. I just had to decide on the edging, I felt it needed something but with the pompoms I didn’t think mu usual twisted cord would work. In the end I used some narrow ric-rac in a soft green and stitched it on with gold beads. I’m not sure about the gold beads, they could be a bit too much, but they’re not coming off. If anyone asks, they represent the sacs of pollen and nectar the bees collect on their legs!
I’m getting a bit of a collection of bee smalls now, but I think this is my favourite at the moment.
thecraftycreek 
I absolutely love this one, Margaret! Gold beads and all! When you are tired of it, send it to me! 🙂
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Thanks Laura, it’s going to be my favourite for a while I think 🙂
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This is just stunning! Love the bee, love the beading, the whole project. Beautiful!
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Really cute!
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There is something so appealing about bumble bees, and this one is a delight! think the gold beads finish it perfectly.
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This one is a stunner. I like them all though.
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Very nice, My husband’s grandfather was a bee keeper.
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You can’t beat a bee unless you have two bees. The smalls are lovely.
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So gorgeous…enjoyed both finishes!
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Gold beads are perfect…like drops of honey 🙂
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so pretty! Great cross stitching!
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How gorgeous!
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that’s a really lovely finish . . . bee-utiful in fact ^^
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Great finish on this one, Margaret!
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