Busy Bee Studio

You shopped till you dropped!!

 
It was wonderful to welcome you all . . . . . to the Busy Bee Studio,

this weekend . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. 

A Warm Welcome to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friends old and new . . .

You shopped till you dropped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Carefully selecting . . . . . just the right goodies!!

To take home with you . . . . . . .

We welcomed you with a real fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mulled  wine . . . . . . . . . . .and mince pies . . .

 
and Winston wore his jingle bell collar . . . . . . . . 

 We put out the bran tub . . . . . . . . . . 

Which went down well . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . .

and placed outside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

our fine selection of wares for your perusal. . . . . . . . 

We had a wonderful weekend so . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . 

MERRY CHRISTMAS . . . . . . . .and . . . . . . . . . . .

A BIG "THANK-YOU" TO ALL MY GORGEOUS CUSTOMERS xx

I am writing this on Sunday evening, after packing away,

so . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I'am now going to have a glass of wine and put my feet up . . . 

A glass of wine is my one weakness . . . . . . . . . . . . .

P. S. I think it was all a bit much for Gucci . . . . . 

 
 

Christmas "Open Weekend"

 
I am running around, like a headless chicken, making preparations,

for our Busy Bee Christmas Open Event on Sat 7th, and Sun 8th,

of November . . . . . . . . . . . . Christmas comes early round here!!

 
JBC has cut a couple of our Christmas trees . . . . . . . . . . . as you do!!

and they will be twinkling with white fairy lights . . . . . . . . . . . 

I hope to see you all down at the studio, between 10am - 4pm.

Mulled wine and mince pies are complementary.

I have decided to do a "bran tub" for you all . . . . . . .  . . . .

I have a lovely big picnic hamper to put it all in,

It will be £2.00 to have a go, but all the items will be worth,

£2.00 or more . . . . . . . . here are some of the goodies I

have been wrapping for you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Never thought I'd be rapping at my age!!

This living the dream is very hard work sometimes!! 

If you don't fancy a go on the BRAN TUB . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The studio is packed to the rafters with Christmas . . . . . . . .

 
Stuffed with GORGEOUS GOODIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 . . . . and Gucci will be there to charm you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

And even the bathroom is full!! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 
Come on now, where else does a girl keep her cushions?

See you at the weekend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xxx

Pumpkin Party . . . . .Open Event, Sunday18th Oct, 10am-4pm

 

I hope to see you all, down at the New Studio,

this Sunday for our Pumpkin Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

We will be open 10am- 4pm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

for the sale of gorgeous goodies and needful things!

Outside I will have lots of Pumpkin and Halloween stock . . . . . . .

but  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

inside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

Christmas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Has . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Arrived . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 
For those of you who can't visit . . . . . . . . . . . .I will start to

put the Christmas goodies onto the website next week . . . . . .

See you Sunday . . . . . . . .I'll have the kettle on!!! 

Gorgeous Builder . . . . leaves me!!

 
I always knew it would happen . . . . . . . . . . .  

one day . . . . . . . . . . Sooner or later

"Gorgeous Builder" would leave me,

and go off with another building job . . . . . . . . . . .

Well it's finally happened and he's up and left . . . . . . . . . . .

AND HE'S FINISHED THE LANDSCAPING!!!

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAY!!

 
Oooooooooooh, look at the lovely curved wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

He has done such a lovely job . . . . . . Thank you Gorgeous Builder!! 

It's still not quite finished as "JBC" and I still have quite a lot

to do, I need to paint the outside woodwork, and it needs turfing

along the edge of the slope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

We have made a good start and planted a hedge,

along the top of the wall,

We also have a field gate to move and a fence to put up and paint,

but I feel like it's nearly there. Whoever would have thought,

It would take a year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ?

Look out for Fridays post . . . . . . . "CHRISTMAS" has arrived at

BUSY BEE STUDIO and I am going to share it with you all!!

Hope to see you at our "Pumpkin Party" this Sunday 10am-4pm

Gorgeous, gorgeous, builder!!

Work on the new studio is moving on a pace . . . . . . . . .

The landscaping now includes this GORGEOUS curvy wall, which has

reclaimed bricks on it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

It's going to be rendered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .it's huge . . . .

and runs right along the back of the building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"Great Wall of China" springs to mind!! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Next  . . . . . . . gorgeous, gorgeous builder is going to build a patio here,

so we can all, sit here at our Busy Bee "Open Events" and enjoy a cuppa!!

Can you see gorgeous builders tea mugs on the wall, he likes plenty of tea . . . . .

And the beautiful dog is supervising my photo taking!!

However, Winston the very beautiful dog  . . . . . . . . . . . .

did take Gorgeous builders string line,  . . . . . . . . . . . the string line you use to get

your brick wall straight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and he unravelled it very well . . . . . . . .

so well it's impossible to use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

not so beautiful!! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

P.S. Don't forget to vote for me,  . . . . . . . . . . if you haven't already . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

you just click on the Dorset Cereals egg cup . . . . .

If you have voted THANK YOU!! xx

Gorgeous builder is back. . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

Hip, hip . . . . . . . . . Hooray! . . . . . . . . . . Hooray . . . . . . . . . . . .

Gorgeous builder is back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

to make the outside, of the new studio look better . . . . . . . . . . .

It's called landscaping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!

He has dug two very long channels . . . . . . . .for foundations,

 

and filled them with enormous amounts of concrete . . . . . .

Eeeeeeeeeeeeek  . . . .  . . . . . . . . .carbon footprint!!

There are going to be two walls . . . . . . .  . . . . . The one in front of the building,

is going straight across the front of the goose house,

with steps up to the door and a planting pocket, in the top of the wall,

and one at the back  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . which will curve round the

studio to the front  . . . . .

The one at the back will hopefully hold up this bank side!!

 

I know it will look gorgeous when he's finished . . . . . .

but it's hard to keep the faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . !!

Look what we uncovered yesterday . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . .this IS gorgeous,

 

I knew it was there . . . . . . . . . but it's always been buried in the ground,

I didn't realize it was so beautiful, or big or  . . . . . . . .HEAVY!!

Gorgeous builder reckons, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .half a ton HEAVY!!

It's going to be a a water feature at the front of the goose-house,

so watch this space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

As we were in the field last night, repairing a fence this appeared . . .

 

We often get them flying over . . . .. . . but it's always a surprise!

Christmas courses/workshops in the studio are booking up nicely,

so if you haven't already looked at our selection of workshops,

click here, then go to "Workshops" section, to find out more.

AND . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .If you haven't already . .   . .

don't forget to vote for me on the Dorset Cerealsegg cup,

you just click on it  . . . . it's easy!!  

New Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . .part II

 

First a fabulous, Thank you to all my lovely customers who came on Sunday,

It was lovely to see you all, and I hope you enjoyed the flapjack biscuits!!

Now on with the serious business, of what was promised,

the working end of the studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

Big table to seat eight, all sorts goes on around this table, the table could

write a book, with the stories it's heard  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

and the wise, womanly, words, it's listened to, . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . .  . .

and of course the laughter!! . . . . . . . . . .There's no learning without laughter!!

Behind the curtains I keep all the working bits and bobs, necessary, but ugly,

so I like to hide them away !!

 

The walls are lined with tongue and groove and topped with a shaker peg rail,

I managed to get some "stuff" displayed at this end too!!

 

I am very proud of the nipple light switches . . . . . they were a big indulgence.

Gosh is that another weakness I have inadvertently discovered?

I am so weak, I can't fight them!!

Next open is Sunday 20th September, and look at the, "Dates for your diary"

in the Special  Events section on the Busy Bee Website,

a "Pumpkin Party" in October and our "Christmas Open"  in November.

Guess who was everywhere?  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

What was funny was a gorgeous customer,

 bought a chair, from the studio that Gucci had claimed as his own,

When she lifted it out to take it away Gucci sat in the empty space!!

He managed to find a few cushions in our conservatory later . . . . . . . . . . .

to console himself . .  . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .That cat gets everywhere!!

WARNING . . . . . . . . man at work!!

 

I am very sorry, but you will have to wait till Mondays post ,

to see the other end of the studio. The whole place is upside down

as JBC has begun the very serious business,

of making a "proper" shop counter . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . .

WARNING . . . . . . man at work!

 

There are tools, and very important bits of wood everywhere . . . . . . . .

"Busy Bee stuff" is in piles, and the "L" shaped counter is slowly emerging!!

Can't wait to have my own shop counter . . . Did you play shops when you were little?

I promise to show you all soon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I have put details on the website of our next three openings, including ,

The Pumpkin Party, and The Christmas Open weekend. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sorry to mention the "C" word. . . . . . . . . . so soon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I thought I would show you some of the vintage stuff . . . . . instead  . . . . . . . . . .

I have just put it all, on the Busy Bee Studio website . . . loads of lovely lace,

Gorgeous enamel jug and bowl set,

 

and lots of rosebud china  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

Rosebud china is my one weakness . . . . . . . . . .

I will have the kettle on, if you want to call in this Sunday, 16th August,

the studio is open 10am-4pm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . for the purchase of gorgeous,

needful things!

Moving House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

Well I've done it , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .all this week ,  . . . . . . . . all I have done,

Is move house.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . .

Well not literally because those of you who know me better,

know that I will move from our house, in a box!!  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .But I have to say,

it's felt  like moving house!! . . . . . I am not a girl who "travels light!"

It's official . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Busy Bee , has too much stuff . . . . . .

it's nothing to do with me . . . . . . . . . .Is it ?

Would you like to peek inside my new studio?

 

I have divided the studio into a working area for the courses, and an area,

to display all the gorgeous goodies, and needful things!!

The cupboard that separates the two areas was very, very, heavy!

. . . . . . . . . .  It took four coats of paint, to cover the dark brown it used to be.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I don't want you to think that "living the dream" is easy!!

I will show you the goodies side, first . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

Do you like my dresser, I bought it off. eBay? . . . . . . . . . I am not addicted ,

and can stop at any time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .!!

I painted the dresser and distressed it myself,

much to JBC's distress, he could't understand, why after putting

four coats of paint on it, I would want to  . . . . . . . . . "make it look scruffy again?"

I love these gorgeous little steps, they are handy for display!

 

I am waiting now for JBC to make me a counter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I have far too much stuff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

 . . . . . .It's when you have to carry it all, from one side of your drive,

to the other . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . that's when you discover things like that!

 

I am now waiting for gorgeous builder to return to landscape the outside . . . . . . . . .

 

I will show you the other end of the studio, where I hold my courses in the

next post    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .

Or you can come and see it in "real life" and shop for goodies,

at my open event this Sunday, 16th August 10am-4pm . . . . . I will have the kettle on!!

Whose stupid idea was this?

 

Whose stupid idea was it to have tongue and groove, all over the new studio ?

Oh yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . er . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .that would be me!!

Well it's a very stupid idea, when you have to paint it yourself!!

It takes forever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

and whilst I am in love with the idea of the finished product,

 

the reality of painting it all 4 times . . . . . . . . . . . . . .is not quite as wonderful!!

The real killer is the little brush, you have to wiggle into the gaps on each plank!

 

Harry has been supervising, and is very unimpressed,

he lifts his head at regular intervals, and looks disdainfully at my lack of progress!

I am using a Farrow and Ball paint called "French Grey", but I think it looks green,

What do you think?

 

The cream is "Clunch" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Well, enough of this chit chat, and enjoying myself,

I must get back to my painting . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . I may be some time!!

Oh I forgot to tell you  . . . . . .  . . . .Brent the photographer who came to

take pictures of our home, emailed me the photos . . . . . . . . . . . .  . just gorgeous!!

Our home is to be featured this time next year in the magazine . . . . . . . . . . .

"The English Home", whats even more exciting  . . . . . . . is that the American version

is going to feature our home as well!

Better get back to my painting . . . . . don't want all this going to my head,

the paint fumes are doing that already!!