The Queen Bee Quilt

I'm honored to share this recent design with you all. Back in mid to late August Carrie Bloomston asked me along with many other designers if I could make something with her newest Dreamer fabric line with Windham Fabrics. Normally I would immediately reply yes, but I had this power struggle going on in my mind and heart as I had so much on my plate at the time and knew one more thing might break me. I talked it over with her and asked her to send the fabric and I would surely make something but it might not be done in time to make it into her Dreamer lookbook. She was ok with that and sent me the fabrics of my choosing.
They arrived a few days later and all the pinks and greens...and bees kept pulling me in.

I had an idea and began sketching it out. But it wasn't the Queen Bee. It was totally different and I myself wasn't sold on it being the right concept. I slept on it for the night before cutting into the fabric knowing I had one chance to get it right.

The next day social media was all ablaze with the horrible news that millions of bees had died in the south, as they sprayed for the zika virus. I saw this one image over and over of these tiny bees lifeless piled up in someone's hands. It was devastating, and in an instant my mind switched gears completely and I knew what I wanted to do, and what I wanted it to say or represent.

I have suffered with allergies all of my life. They became horrible when I moved to Maine as I became surrounded by more trees, more grass and more flowers of all kinds. I took medication for said allergies because that was the only thing that helped. But I quickly began to feel like a walking medicine cabinet and had to find a better solution. I found the bees. My sister told me all about the benefits of bee pollen when it came to allergies. As I began digging further - I found out that raw honey could also help if it was local to me. This liquid gold held all the promise. I found a raw honey maker around the corner from me and bought a few jars. I drank hot water with fresh squeezed lemon and honey everyday, and had some on my toast with peanut butter (when I could eat those two things). A year later and I was no longer taking meds for my allergies. It's now been at least 6 or 7 years but I've lost track. The honey bees saved me and I am forever indebted to these tiny creatures that work their entire lives making only 1/4 teaspoon of honey each.

As I worked on this quilt, I decided to donate a portion of the proceeds to a save the bees foundation. I spoke with Windham fabrics, asked if they would be willing to do that too - and quickly found out they already had plans in motion to do donate to Xerces. It just seemed like all of the wheels were in motion and it was coming together just as someone higher up had planned. I too will be donating a portion of the proceeds of my Queen Bee Quilt pattern sales to the Xerces Society and hope that you'll consider making a donation as well.

Windham fabrics will be selling Queen Bee Quilt kits (printed pattern and fabric) so be on the lookout for that info. I'll be selling a PDF version of the quilt pattern - formatted on larger paper (due to the size of the bee) and will advise when that is available as well.

For your chance to win a fat quarter bundle of Dreamer for your own creations - visit Carrie's Dreamer fabric post to leave a comment.  

Thank you so much already for the love and sweet comments on this quilt (from facebook and instagram). I appreciate your support more than you know!

Disclaimer: I received fabric from Carrie Bloomston for the making of this quilt, but all opinions are my own. There are no affiliate links.