I've been a devoted Etsy shopper for as long as time itself (minus time turners, because they're just a law unto themselves!) From custom christmas cards to doggy birthday tea, where there's a witchCRAFTER there's a way and Etsy ALWAYS had the answers.

Nevertheless, I never thought about the other side of the Etsy fence: the land of makers and whimsical dreamers (cue image of Luna Lovegood + knitting = lifetime supply of House Elf hats...) That was, until two years ago, when I discovered the therapeutic wonders of yarn during IP treatment for an eating disorder (thanks to post-meal 'observations', you get a lot of sit-and-knit/stitch-and-sNitch time...)

Upon discharge, I was determined to keep the glass half Wool and am proud to say this vow remains UNBREAKABLE! I have been quite hooked ever since and quickly began forgoing patterns for "make-it-up-as-you-go" projects, namely creations inspired by the new Fantastic Beasts films. One rather lopsided Niffler was quickly followed by Sir Bumble the House Elf and from there they just kept coming!

As part of challenging perfectionism, my therapist encouraged me to share more of my Crafts on Instagram and that's how Bumble and Be Makes was born. More and more people started to ask me if I sold my beasties and eventually i decided to sock it to the "mind muggles" and just see what happened. 18 months later... Bumble and Be lives to tell the tale! Sir Bumble is now a CEO (Chief Elf Operator) and #TheSPEWCrew are flying free on THREE continents!

Yet no matter how high we fly, I will never forget why I started. Like Walt Disney, I will never lose sight of one thing: it all started with a (mouse) ELF. Bumble and Be is built on the belief that anyone can bloom, no matter the weeds that cover their path, or any winds that try to blow them off course. Like the bumblebee who symbolises personal strength and possibility, so too does my little corner of the Etsy world.

To every person who has bumbled along with me, whether it be adopting a beastie or following their stories on social media, thank you. Thank you for beeing YOU.