What's in the name Challenge

 Karen over at My Colonial Home is hosting a challenge to tell the story of how your blog got it's name and why you started blogging.Anyone with a blog can join in the fun..I started my blog October 2010.I was visiting everyone (the lurker..smile..) way before then but decided I really wanted to be more of a part of the community and friendship.I loved how everyone shared ideas,invited you into their beautiful homes and as I found out later how much they care....So where did the name come from? Well back 18 years ago the country prim shops were more handmade and local folk artist, not mass produced like today.Pieces were original and very often one of a kind.I had always since childhood thought I would be a artist when I grew up.Life takes other turns but I still always had the creative person inside..I rented a old house then with a huge yard I started growing flowers and herbs to dry and took up candle making...

 The only way to get oils then was to order them from the herb and health food store.At the time I mainly just made things for family and friends.The lady I got the oils from wanted to start selling my wares and they took off...I loved to paint and sit in the yard and weave wreaths from the herbs and people started requesting them to.Hubby at the time did barn restorations and the people would tell him to take the old crocks and watering cans and such so I incorporated them into my business and got a stand at the farmers market.I needed a name for labels and such.At the time it was a very herbal business and I've always loved beeskeps and bumble bee's so Bumble Bee Lane was born...

 At the time no computer so I started getting calls from shops who had purchased my products and wanted to do wholesale.I started doing wholesale and shows and open houses for the holidays and branched into offering antiques and primitive wares.Hubby would make birdhouses,cupboards,wood boxes.I would paint old windows,shutters and ironing boards.The wholesale was booming but I was getting burned out because I didn't want my name on it unless it was me doing it so the only help I had was hubby.So at this point I thought if everyone else is buying from the shops I'll open my own shop.Bumble bee lane was born officially.I only did antiques,my items, and local consignors for furniture,dolls and such.Unfortunately all the family and friends who promised to help never followed through.Hubby still had to work full time and I needed to find antiques and make items plus did some wholesale so finding someone to trust to run the shop was always a challenge.So I decided to close the shop and go back to work for a few years.I have always kept the Bumble Bee Lane as my name and thought it only fit for my blog name,It's been with me over 18 years..smile...It's a ever changing story now I do fleamarkets and shows mainly just antiques and primitives. People just don't buy the hand dids and wares in our area with all the imports cheaper.They want the look but don't care about if it's quality.hand did or old.Me I like history and things the neighbor won't have..smile...I'm so glad I took the leap into blogging I found so many kindred spirits and people I can truely call friends...It seems like the same girls run in the circle and you really know them,occasionally a new person comes in and are warmly welcomed,the bad apples usually pack up fairly quickly and we don't have the drama that is on facebook.Blogging is a community of sharing our homes,ideas,friendships and occasionally hardships.You find yourself thinking of certain blogging friends regularly.Our poor hubby's even get to know oh your "blog" or "prim" friend..giggles...You send cards,gifts,emails,encouragement to these kindred spirits and never think twice.They are as close to you as your best friend.I would not trade this little community for the world....

Ok long winded I know.Really had no clue how to write this post.I guess it just came out..smile..Now click over to Karen's blog and join in.Warm Blessings!~Amy