Lee Lee and the Bee

Currently Working On: Intricate Arabesque

I created a very intricate pattern the other day in Photoshop and I'm starting to add it to some invitations and stationery at my dedicated wedding store "Bee-autiful Weddings". I think in the future, I will also make it available as a fabric via Spoonflower and also as a pattern for general items at a lot of my other stores, so keep an eye out for that!

For now though, here is a little sample....

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Featured seller!

A few weeks ago, I got a lovely and surprising email from Jes, the Zazzle Community Producer, saying that I had been chosen to be featured on the official Zazzle blog.

I was of course delighted to be asked and honored to be included amongst some of the other wonderfully talented people who have been previously featured there. I got straight onto answering the interview questions they had for me and lo and behold, just last week, my interview popped up live on the blog.

I was a bit cuffed about that to say the least.

Below is the interview, quoted in full for my readers, but you can also click here to see it over on the official Zazzle blog.

Zazzle Featured Interview with LeeLeeandtheBee

by Jes, Zazzle Community Producer

Lee, from the Zazzle store LeeLeeandtheBee, talks with us about her art and her time as a Zazzler. Check out the interview below and don’t forget to check out her store LeeLeeandtheBee!

Bio: My name is Lee Leplaw Deichmann – also known as Lee Lee. I am the artist and designer responsible for the Lee Lee and the Bee network of stores on zazzle . I am an Australian woman, but I live in Denmark with my Danish husband and our mad cat, Kalimah.

I spent many years back in Australia working in retail stores as both a sales assistant and later as a manager, but I always felt that it wasn’t really my ‘thing’. When I moved to Denmark to marry, I was given the opportunity to re-invent what I wanted to be, career-wise, and so, with the support of my husband, chose to follow a lifelong dream and become an artist.

I am also an avid internet junkie, a crochet nerd, a MASSIVE Doctor Who and sci-fi fan, a social networking geek, a lover of all things steampunk, a vegetarian and a proud ginger.

Zazzle: When and how did you first become interested in art, and how long have you been making it?

Lee: I think I have always created art, well, for as long as I can remember anyway. I always loved drawing and painting as a kid. Luckily it was always something that was encouraged in me and I carried on trying to find time for it in my life as I grew older.

Zazzle: Do you have any fun stories about being a seller on Zazzle?

Lee: I think the interaction with the Zazzle community is always fun and helpful, be it via the Zazzle forums, or through other groups that I am part of on Facebook or other sites (and a big shout out to my ‘Zamily’ - you guys know who you are!). Most of the people I have met through Zazzle have been helpful, informative and always up for a bit of fun and silliness. It makes me happy to think there are other folks like me out there in the world who love doing this. I love the challenges that the Zazzle community sometimes sets for each other and how everyone strives to be better every day.

Zazzle: What’s your favorite Zazzle product to create?

Lee: Anything flat really ,where one can see the whole design, like posters, mousepads etc. It’s probably because when I create a piece for Zazzle, I usually start with making the image for ‘flat’ products first and then tweaking it to work on other types of products later. T-shirt designs are quite fun too.

Zazzle: How would you describe your style?

Lee: Eclectic, colourful, sometimes a little odd. My husband likes to describe it as ‘talented but sometimes a little crazy-insane’ but I usually prefer to leave out the ‘crazy-insane’ bit… although sometimes he is probably right. Case in point:

Zazzle: What has been your favorite design you’ve created, and why?

Lee: Probably ‘Holiday’. I was asked by my best friend’s husband to create a cover image for the album his band was going to release, and after being given the brief, came up with this design. The band ended up going with another design altogether, but I was really pleased with it and posted it for sale through my main store. I loved the feel of it, and that the original ‘sketch’ ending up being perfect for the end design and the effect of the overall piece. It was nice to experiment with the textures of it too. I was quite proud of the end result.

Zazzle: What is the first product you ever sold on Zazzle?

Lee: A Christmas design called ‘Robin’ on a magnet.

Zazzle: How many hours do you typically spend working on your Zazzle store?

Lee: I’m lucky that I have a husband that is happy to support me in my artistic endeavours and so I’m pretty much a full time Zazzle. I try to follow a normal ‘working’ schedule when it comes to creating art for Zazzle and other projects. I would say that 8 hours of most of my days are dedicated to creating pieces, posting products, marketing and blogging. I am learning to love every part of the process and finding more and more ways to streamline the work I do.

Zazzle: What got you interest in selling your art Zazzle?

Lee: A good friend of mine – the awesome and very talented Mireille Sillander, aka Boogybunny – mentioned to me back in 2009 that she had just joined Zazzle and created a store. She suggested that I also give it a try as it was free and kind of fun. I’ve been addicted ever since, so she’s the one to blame!

Zazzle: What tips can you give someone who is just starting out on Zazzle?

Lee: Be original and find your own voice! Just because everyone else is creating products in a particular style, doesn’t mean you have to as well – remember that trends have to start somewhere and you could be that trend starter!

Try and respect the intellectual property and copyright of others and keep the marketplace original and fresh – it not only helps you to stand out from the crowd, but it helps the rest of the Zazzle community as well.

Make sure your images fit the products you are posting, use the guide files Zazzle provides and really showcase your creativity!

Strive to ‘be better’ with every design. If you feel like your style is becoming stale or you are stuck in a rut, take time out to read some online tutorials, put pencil to paper to just draw, or go out and photograph the world around you. You will be surprised where you find inspiration and how that inspiration can motivate you to build your skill base.

Zazzle:Thanks Lee!

Currently working on: "When Hearts Collide"

Yeah, yeah, I know! I'm leaving it a bit late for valentine's designs. But my procrastination and inability to start things until the last minute should come as no surprise to anyone who follows my work and strange brain shenanigans.

Little Bird Blue

A little while ago, in an online artists community I am a part of, someone suggested that we all try our hand at a Bluebird. I cant remember why cause my brain doesn't work well at remembering things sometimes, but it sounded fun.

Now, me being me, I got caught up in doing a bunch of other things and then suddenly realised that I hadn't gotten around to my bluebird picture. So I cheated a bit. Just a bit though. I used an old image (my 'Mister Robin Finds The Key' design in fact) and bluebirded the be-jebus out of it.

Then, again me being me, I took forever to actually post it about the place cause I kept getting side-tracked with shiney things like Pinterest (which is stupidly addictive and I officially love it) and Twitter and setting up a spanking new laptop to work from (which I also officially love).

But now, here it is in all of it's cheaty-pants design glory. 'Little Bird Blue' is available now through most of my online outlets, and hopefully in the future will also be made into a repeating patterned fabric over on Spoonflower as well. So keep eyes open for an update on that one in the future.

Click on any of the various store links below to see what is available in the "Little Bird Blue" range.

Vote for me in the spoonflower 'Cityscapes' competition!

Once again I've had a grand old time creating a design specifically for a Spoonflower weekly fabric competition.

This week's theme was "cityscapes" and I just couldn't resist showing off some of my favourite bits of architecture here in old Aarhus, Denmark.

The design, 'Cycling Aarhus' is a simple repeating pattern of these favourite buildings, interspersed with the bicycles that are a permanent fixture of Danish society. The buildings featured include Aarhus Domkirke (The Cathedral), Toldboden (Royal Customs House) and Domhuset (The Courthouse). I'm guessing it would be perfect for curtains and interiors, for lovers of architecture, travellers, your Danish friends, cyclists, and anyone who enjoys simple line designs in pastel colours.

I think voting is open until Thursday, 19th of January 2012, so get in quick to cast your votes. You can vote for as many designs as you like, and be warned, there are some fabulous patterns on display, so you might want to put your drooling bib on.

Alternative voting link: http://www.spoonflower.com/contest_voters/new?contest_id=118

This design, and variations of it, is also now available in my webshops including Zazzle, Artflakes, Society6, RedBubble and Skreened. I'm also working on getting it made available on a bunch of products in my CafePress store too, but have not quite finished making all the images required. So stay tuned for more info on that.

'Lee Lee and the Bee' gets a makeover!

Hello all. Well, if you have visited any of my stores or blogs before, you know that what you see right here is a big change up!

Gone is the old white text on a black background and in comes the fresh new light page with darker texts.

The reason for my doing this is twofold.

First, it's a whole new year and I felt like I needed a refreshing change. I work on these sites everyday and sometimes, a punch in the face with a re-design is just what one needs to keep sane and to rejuvenate.

Secondly. I am getting old, and all that white on black was hurting my eyes! My poor old person eyes! And if it's hurting my eyes, I can only imagine how hard it is for folks with even older eyes than my to cope with it.

So welcome to the 'New and Improved' Lee Lee and the Bee network. Feel free to browse around all of my stores and profiles and let me know what you think.

Singing the season with the Yule Chorus

I saw some toddlers the other day, all out for a walk with their pre-school teachers. These kids, who were probably 5 or 6 years old maximum, were all rugged up against the cold in the most fun coloured jumpsuits, jackets, hats and scarves. As they noisily bustled and rustled past me, one of them particularly caught my eye. She was decked out like a little Christmas ornament, all in red and green and with a grubby, well-loved Santa hat shoved jauntily on her head. She was obviously well liked and happy too, as a couple of her friends were holding her hands and as the three of them walked along they were singing some little song which made no sense to me at the time, but was so pretty.

This amount of adorable was too much to bear. I just had to come home, and after putting my shopping away, create something to illustrate just how cute these girls were in their big foompy padded winter jumpsuits with their rosy cheeks. And so the 'Yule Chorus' range was born.

The design depicts three young girls in an almost 'kokeshi' style wear Christmas patterned cloaks, warm scarves, and Santa and elf hats as they stand in a row singing carols loudly. Now what could be more indicative of the season than excited children singing traditional songs? Nothing...that's what!

Click on any of the various store links below to see what is available in the "Yule Chorus" range.

Lobster Claus. A Christmas Re-boot!

I know what you're thinking. What the heck have lobsters got to do with christmas? Well, let me just tell you this about lobsters and christmas......

Actually.....I cant really remember why I thought it would be a good combination. I originally made this little fella back in 2009 when I began playing around with selling my designs online for the first time. In fact , I think he may have been my first ever attempt at something 'christmasy'. I'm sure, at the time, I had a good reason for pairing a lobster with a candy cane and santa hat, but for the life of me, that reason has escaped me. I do however still find the play on words (Lobster claws + Santa Claus = Lobster Claus) pretty freaking amusing.

But then I'm daft like that.

Anyway, this happy little lobster is perfect for your wacky friends, for seafood restaurants to send out as seasons greetings, for fishermen and divers, for marine biologists, for kooky kids, and basically for anyone who yearns for a zany christmas.

Click on any of the various store links below to see what is available in the "Lobster Claus" range.

The Three Wise Elves and The Surprise Christmas.

I looked out the window the other day and the grounds-keeper for our apartment complex was putting up Christmas lights around the courtyard. This came as a shock to me for a couple of reasons.

First, as a work-from-home type, with all the mod-cons at my fingertips, I generally don’t pay much attention to what’s happening around the place, so I really didn't realise it was that time again. I know, I should be a bit more alert of the world but look.....INTERNET! GRAPHICS TAB! SHINY THINGS THAT GO BOOP AND PING! Not really an excuse I know. More of an explanation. A really lame explanation.

And second, it crept up on me without warning! Christmas is a sneak I tell you! Why only yesterday it was summer and we were doing fancy summer things! Now look. Grey, and cold and getting darker everyday!

I really do believe it happens faster every year you know. I remember grown-ups saying that when I was a kid, and I would look at them like they were berko in the coconut. For me, the time each year went by sooooo slowly. Even slower for me perhaps than most kids cause my birthday is only a week after Christmas, and most of the time my Christmas and birthday presents were bundled into one big mass of awesome on Christmas day. I would therefore usually get one super-amazing-day-of-gifts-and-win per year and then have 365 days to wait for the next one.

So when I saw those Christmas lights going up the other day I had a bit of a flashback to the 'SQUEEEE-PRESENTS!” Lee Lee of yesteryear.

Then grown-up “Get some work done, you lazy bones” Lee Lee smacked me in the chops and I realised that I should get some new Christmas designs out into the world. So I sat down with a sketchbook and a pencil and had a grand old time coming up with some fun bits and bobs for the silly season.

And these little fellas are the first guys to jump off that sketchbook page.

'Three Wise Elves' features three old and wise looking elves standing in the snow wearing Christmas patterned cloaks and tall, red winter hats, their long white beards almost touching the snowy ground. I've based them on traditional Scandinavian Nisse or Tomte, who are a very common decoration at Christmas time here in the Nordic Countries. It wasn't until well after I had started to add the products to the stores that I noticed how much they look like little yuletide gnome versions of ZZ Top. This realisation of course made me giggle like a mad woman. I mean just look at them. It's like the guitars are just gonna start up any second now.

Regular visitors may notice that there are a lot more places now where one can start getting hold of products with my designs on. Wouldn't you know, I've just gone and branched out and all. I'd had a few customers and friends express an interest in getting my stuff through some of these other places, so to add to the already hectic workload I am giving myself over the holiday season, I'll also be trying to update all these new sites and shops as well. Stay tuned for more updates as time goes by!

For now though, feel free to peruse what’s available in the 'Three Wise Elves' ranges using the links below. And don’t forget, if you like my work, feel free to share away across the internets!

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