Friday, February 19, 2010

Illustration Friday-- Propagate

 
We raise bees with two other families, so I guess you could say we propagate them!  Did you know that a Queen can lay up to 2000 eggs per day?  Or that you should never eat a banana near a beehive?  (The pheromone for "attack!" smells like bananas.)  Also, honey contains all the substances necessary for life and can last forever if sealed.  It has been found in the Pyramids-- still good!

We checked on our bees a couple of weeks ago, and they were surviving the tough winter we're having, but since then we've had some pretty rockin' snowstorms!

I submitted this design as a garden flag, but it didn't sell.  :(   I was thinking it would look pretty darn cute waving on one of those curlicue posts next to the hives!  Oh well... 

27 comments:

  1. I agree that your design would be great as a garden flag. Thanks for the interesting facts, too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love it, it would make a great flag. My mother in law always hangs those.

    ReplyDelete
  3. That is very very sweet. I love it.
    Very good entry to ´the IF topic

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Krista, what's the technique if you don't mind me asking?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Coffee, black please, but not in the pot.
    I like your garden flag design, lot of work though, so many details.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Krista this is really wonderful - so vibrant and detailed! Those flag people don't know what they're missing, they really missed out! Thanks for the bee lesson too, fascinating stuff! Hey did you guys ever get stung?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Absolutely beautiful. Can't beleive it didn't sell as a flag. Bees are fascinating little creatures, aren't they? Since I was a design major in college, I was able to take whatever science class I wanted. I took a bee keeping course and it turned out to be my favorite.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Very great illustration Krista! Love your design technique. So beautiful and inviting! Your eye for color is also exceptional. Glad you posted this. I really do love it! That is so interesting about eating bananas near a hive. I did not know that. Thanks for the wonderful work and the interesting little tidbits. God bless

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Krista,
    Thank you for visiting my blog. I actually think the bee design is beautiful and would fit perfectly as a garden flag. The colors and the details are beautiful.
    I checked out your blog, and the Skinny Santa is adorable. Also, do you do custom designs on the sneakers. Those are so unique, love them!
    Keep up the good work, it looks like you have quite alot of good things coming your way!

    ReplyDelete
  10. such sweet goodness, it would make a great flag.
    I never knew that about bananas!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for all your lovely comments. Kinga, I use goauche in a watercolor-ish style mostly, but opaquely when necessary. Susan, we usually wear bee suits, and we haven't been stung! And Heather, it is so much fun designing the
    Keds on Zazzle. They have so many items, but I got caught up in the shoes!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Aww, Krista! This is SO sweet..it really should've been one of those flags. The sentiment is so cute too. Looking at your recent posts, you are one busy woman..with such amazing range! I love that you challenge yourself with letterforms, composition, palette, and "feel". Each illustration has such charm in it's very own way. I am so thankful to have discovered your work and your kindness - it's been so great to visit you each week. I will touch base now and again during me "off" time from blogging...keep on rockin' Krista! : )

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Krista, We have a company that comes out and raises bees on our property. At the end of the season, they give us 60 pounds of honey! We call them "our" bees but the bees don't care. They just keep on humming and creating, just like the rest of us! I love this flag! I'm sure my bees would've too!

    ReplyDelete
  14. i am surprised because it is so lovely! I love the bee house :) i did not know that about the bananas and we have lots of bee people in Topanga! very beautiful and you are so talented ;)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow very nice!! Love your style

    ReplyDelete
  16. You are so kind, Krista! Thanks re: the site so far...I may be overhauling it, though...but I think you will see some familiar characters when I do "unveil" it. Gads, I have so much work ahead of me...I just wanted to pop by and thank you though. See you soon!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oooo, bee suits, COOL! Get that photographer husband of yours to take your pic in one!!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautiful illustration. I just love honey and just love eating it on the spoon.

    Do you sell your honey via a website?

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Krista, you have a great design sense, the repetition of the elements adds a lot of harmony

    I think it would make a grand garden flag

    ReplyDelete
  20. I like the idea of you 'propagating' bees with friends, seeing that they're almost extinct in some parts of the world :( ... And this design, like your others *sigh* is sweet and lovely, Krista. Oh, and thanks for the info on the banana scent! Totally useful ;p

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Krista! You really did your BEE homework — awesome! Love the energy, the color, and it's a perfect take on the challenge. Rock on!

    ReplyDelete