I got started on the May Baskets. Last week I searched for an idea. I found one here for a Bee Bouquet.
I headed to the local “Dime Store”..I am not sure why I call it that..nothing there costs a dime anymore.
I needed colored paper and pipe cleaners.
This is the first one I made..the prototype..the others are in process on my desk.
It is taking longer than I thought. It is putzy work, but I love playing with paper. Cutting and gluing and creating.
This is what I used. I made my own pattern. The black piece is cut out of a 12 x 12 piece of black paper. I could get three sometimes four wings out of the blue 12 x 12 paper. The yellow strips are torn. I used my heart punches for the eyes. Three pipe cleaners are used per bee.
Fold the black piece into a cone shape..then staple in place.
Glue on some yellow torn stripes.
Glue on the yellow hearts for eyes and then the black.
Form one pipe cleaner into the antennae and staple into place.
Punch holes into both sides of the cone and add two pipe cleaners to form the handle.
Position the wings and staple them on.
Add a smile and heart shaped eyes with a silver pen.
Fill with candy or flowers.
On May 1st you take the May Basket and put it on someone's door. You knock on the door or ring the door bell. Then you run..if you are caught you might be kissed!
I challenge you to bring in the May with me on May 1st. I will report back on May 2nd with a blog post and photos of my deliveries on May Day…and possibly an old photo of me on May Day a long time ago.
I have celebrated May Day as long as I can remember. I made baskets with my brothers and my sister. I made baskets with my children. Now my children make May Baskets with their children. Now I make May Baskets to deliver to my great nieces and nephews..some day they will remember me as the old woman who used to bring them candy in a basket on the first day of May:)
I love this new bee pattern you have found and shared. Love that your children are carrying on this tradition with your grands.
ReplyDeleteYou turned me on to the idea but I still haven't done it. Maybe I will this year, but no promises! :-)
ReplyDeleteThat is a great idea for a May Basket. So glad you are carrying on the tradition.
ReplyDeleteWonderful bee basket . Hope the people you leave it for appreciate it I know I would being left on my door ! Have a great day !
ReplyDeleteCute!!! We just may be makin' May Baskets in Kid's Church tomorrow....wanna come???
ReplyDeleteGod bless ya sweetie and have a wonderful week end!!! :o)
You are very creative! You can leave one for me. I promise that if I see you I won't kiss you:)
ReplyDeleteOh, to be on the receiving side of this clever May Day busy-bee! We used to do this as kids & I love the idea of reviving this tradition.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of May Baskets until we moved to WI. On the first of May our little neighbor left us one with gorgeous flowers. What a nice thought.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely tradition. Perhaps it's something I should start doing over here!
ReplyDeleteAh...the dime store. Call it that for old time's sake--and to prove that it once, indeed, was possible to buy something for such a small price.
ReplyDeleteWe can't even call it the dollar store, now!
The May baskets are a nice idea. I remember when my daughter was young, her art teacher introduced that idea to her class. She had loads of fun delivering flowers--and never getting caught! ...although she wouldn't have minded a hug and a kiss! :)
I don't think I ever made May baskets in school even... I think they are a great tradition when you are tired of winter and anxious for warm weather. That bee is adorable.
ReplyDeleteWeren't they originally called the "five and dime"? I remember hearing them called that...making a trip over to the five and dime.
ReplyDeleteThese are so very cute! I didn't realize kissing was also involved in this May basket thing. I really missed out. ;) Did you ever do a May pole? We did that at school with crepe paper streamers. Seemed a waste of crepe paper to me. I must not have had the proper May holiday spirit. But I love that you all have this tradition!! :)
Wonderful idea and a great way to be remembered. :o)
ReplyDeleteThat is a really cute idea! My youngest daughter collects 'bee' things. I too do May Day! I always have, but the whole celebrations seems to have stopped with me. Oh, well...this old lady will continue celebrating as long as she can!
ReplyDeleteLinda
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Good on you for celebrating May Day with your baskets. I'm sure the people you share the baskets with will remember May Day and the creative lady who made the baskets. None of this old lady stuff!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I've never celebrated May day. Oh, I take that back - I kind of remember us doing the May pole in grade school one year. But that was half a century ago!
ReplyDeleteI heard about the May Pole and baskets and celebrations but we never did any of that. It looks like a wonderful tradition! Those baskets are darn cute and I love bees anyway. I told you I wished I lived next door because see...I might have gotten a May Basket from you. You might have gotten one from me the next year maybe...LOL!
ReplyDeleteHave fun! There's only 2 days left...not sure I can make it in time but there is one couple I would like to do that for. Happy May Day! I can't wait to see the festivities!
Interesting! Never heard of May Day Baskets. Hmmmm...
ReplyDelete