As you know, our little group here on LostBumblebee Blog has a sponsored child in Uganda, named Edrisa. He is adorable, and has the cutest grumpy face! As you also know, here on the blog, there is a place for you to donate to download, and I totally appreciate when you do! We have sponsored Edrisa just just about a year now with your donations, as well as the art I sell in my Etsy Shop :)

I wanted to share with you guys some new stuff up in my shop, I'm on a little bit of a cultural kick, it amazes me the beauty in traditional cultural dress from around the world. So I've started a little collection called Tiny Human Peoples -my mom says the 'peoples' is redundant, because humans are people, and yup I get it... but it's more along the lines of Tiny Human People groups, peoples of the world, people groups- she's probably right... but I digress ;)  

Here they are!! I've got Columbian, Scottish, Korean, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, and Inuit, and I am continually adding to the group. (so far I am celebrating the female Cultural Dress of a few different cultures, as I continue to grow them, I'm hoping to add the male dress from each group as well :)

So please, take a look, share them, buy them for friends and family- get them personalized, and share, share, share... 

A dollar a download helps us keep Edrisa fed, but there are about 43 other children at the Baby home that we would also love to help. AND (it's not official yet- but I am starting to plan another campaign to go back to Uganda and spend some time working at the baby home and helping Fay with any graphic work, and work-work, she needs.... )

Thanks again for all of your love and support!
Share the love,
M.

www.lostbumblebee.etsy.com

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www.lostbumblebee.etsy.com

www.lostbumblebee.etsy.com

I saw this quote recently and it resounded with me... It just makes sense, it's the secret to a long happy life. Yes it is a simplified version of a long happy life, but it's a good start. It's a great recipe, and I've been implementing it in my day to day.

As you might know, I've gotten a little chubby lately, I'd love to blame it on the IVF, and the stress, the moving half way around the world, the and the ups and downs, but really the thing is, I love food, it's so yummy and it feels so great in my tummy... and I just want more... and more, and more- and hey, if there is cake, I'll have some of that too!

I eat pretty healthy, I cook most of what we eat, I'm a herbivore, lots of fruits and veggies, bread, lentils, beans, and no meat. Please note: the 'no meat' is a personal choice, based on what I like to eat, please do not feel in any way shape or form that this is what is right for you- this is what is right for me, now- at this moment, in my life- I am not religious about it, if I choose to taste some fish, or have a piece of salmon, I will- if one day I am craving a burger so badly, well then I will go out and have one- I've never really craved meat, so I just don't eat it... I just don't have the taste for it.) 

The key to that entire sentence is LOTS... I eat lots of fruit and LOTS of veggies... it's like I have this feeling if one banana is good than 3 are better!

I've been thinking a lot about this lately, mainly about portion size and control.  I think it's been mulling around in my head, because we are not large consumers of stuff. We don't buy what we don't need or use, we don't over indulge in spending and purchasing, we do not get caught up in the bigger is better... with stuff- but with food... somehow it has become excessive and more than I need. And I know this for sure, because I am wearing the evidence on my body and a reminder that I might actually be greedy- taking more than I need... it's kind of a big thing- Greed.

So as I start a new journey, to take less and leave more, to allow God to fill my heart and not me trying to fill my tummy... I don't actually know how to do this... I don't actually know how to stop being greedy. Oh,  I know how to lose weight- in 2005 I lost 100lbs with my doctor, I know the rules, I know the formula, I know it... but my heart didn't learn it. I am very capable of disciplining myself to do what needs to be done, to get the weight off... but unless my heart changes, nothing actually changes.

So I guess I am again on a new journey, a new adventure... would you like to join me? Maybe this print will help you along your way too...

Share the love,
M.

LostBumblebee ©2016 MDBN Eat half, walk double, laugh triple  PERSONAL USE ONLY

You are my Favourite work of art.
Period.

I fell in love with this saying, because we are such amazing creatures.
We are works of art created by God.
You and Me.

Know that,
You were created with a purpose.
You were created beautiful.
You are a work of art.

No matter what society says, no matter what the world thinks, no matter what we have made the outward standards of beauty- You my dear are beautiful, you my friend are a work of art, and you are so valuable.

Happy Monday,
Share the love,
M.

It's Monday, it's grey outside, it's tax time and I am overwhelmed :) I love owning my own business, but the business end of owning a business is well business-y, and I am in no way a business person. I just want to make pretty things :)  I need an agent/manager who takes care of everything business and just let's me make pretty things!

But amidst all the crazy stuff-  I did take the time, because I was procrastinating from doing my taxes (shh. don't tell my accountant) to create this beautiful Peacock.  When things are at their craziest, I find myself running to my art board, it feels like procrastination, but if I break it down, it is actually rejuvenation. I can do so much more in life, when I take time to create.

How do you rejuvenate? How to you make sure you don't get and stay overwhelmed?

Reminder, all graphics are free to download, but I am asking you to donate $1 per download to support the orphanage that we will be volunteering in  from September 27-November 3, 2015. Help us in this  Living Life ON Purpose Journey 2015.  You can do that -> using the donate button!

Share the love,
M.

LostBumblebee ©2015 MDBN All "LostBumblebee Grown Up Colouring Pages" are designed, sketched/ drawn, inked and vectorized by Melissa Dawn Baker-Nguyen and all have the LostBumblebee Logo on them. 

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all starts with a sketch.

Now to Refine and Ink it.

What I'm using right now to colour- loving both sets!

Choose Your Colours and let the magic begin!

My Finished Product :) Can't wait to see yours- upload it to Instagram and Tag @LostBumblebee in it!

You know how sometimes, just sometimes,  you feel totally out of place in life? Well, whenever I do something less than stellar, I like to blame it all on my roots... 

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This one I did with Pencil Crayons, it is the word Heart.

Why is it that when we get older the colouring books go away and we replace them with things like bank statements, hydro bills, emails, movies, computers, iPads, etc.

I love to colour, probably one of the main reasons I have a creative lifestyle. I take time to colour things in, I colour code my calendar, I colour in the squares for birthdays. I have all of the markers, crayons, pencil crayons, paints, and pastels you could ever imagine. I love when my nieces come over because if I can convince them, we get to colour! YAY! Although sometimes they would rather watch a movie, and that always boggles my mind. We can do both! I try to convince them... what ends up happening is I end up colouring while they watch a movie...

We've all gone the way of high-tech, I get it, Me too, sometimes it is easier just to pull something together in illustrator rather than actually sit down and write it out.

But sometimes we need to take a minute and colour, it frees our minds and our hearts.

I've been creating words lately and colouring them in, so I thought I'd share a few with you.
These ones are Hope and Gratitude. It's just a scribbled word, but when you colour in each section it becomes a kaleidoscope of colour, almost stained glass... it's a wonderful activity to do while you meditate and pray...

It's definitely different than my usual printable, these ones are DIY, you get to be creative, you get to make them beautiful...

Print them off on your printer at home, Colour them in and see how it feels... I hope you enjoy!
Share the love,
M.

>> More GROWN UP Colouring pages here :) <<

>> EVEN MORE GROWN UP Colouring Pages << 

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My hope all coloured in :) I used makers for this one

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I just wanted to give you all an update on our Living Life On Purpose 2015 Journey.

We are in fundraising full throttle! We are raising money like crazy people, (at least I feel like I am going crazy!) I am constantly trying to come up with new ideas for the blog, Etsy and basically anything I can do to help raise these funds.  It feels awesome and very scary all at the same time!

I want to thank you - each and every one of you- who has clicked that donate button. Every bit counts, 1 dollar or 100 dollars... big or small, it all adds up and it is making this journey a reality. You have heard my heart and you are sharing the love and you are inspiring me to keep on going.

Just think... even a little nobody Canadian girl can do something so wildly out of her comfort zone because I have your support, not just financially, but emotionally. I appreciate all of your kind words, and you sharing your stories. You are making this a reality. I cannot thank you enough. 

Our main sources of raising money are, selling my art work (family portraits + paintings), creating and selling Journal Cards, Illustrations and Prints on Etsy. That along with all donations that have come in via the blog, we have raised just under half of what we need.

With that half, we have bought our tickets. We will be working at a Children's Village in Uganda for what accidentally turned out to be 5 weeks, instead of 4...ooops ? or YAY! Either way, it is what it is.  We leave our cozy little home and head off to the great unknown on the 27th of September and we will be back on November 3rd. I am freaking out. I am excited, and I am scared, and nervous and well, freaking out.

Please connect with me, share your stories, let me hear your heart. You hear mine every day. I love to hear from you. Your encouragement is undoubtedly one of the highest honours you can give me and I thank you for that.

Please Pray for us as we continue to work our butts off, creating revenue and income to help in this journey and we'd like to leave the orphanage a financial gift to continue to help in paying for the children's education, healthcare, and love care. It takes a village to raise a child... and it takes a BIG village to raise an orphan... we are that village.

I cannot say thank you enough, you have grown my heart so big it is popping out of my chest. I am so honoured by each and every one of you. YOU ARE WONDERFUL !

Share the love,
Missie + Duy

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