Bee Babes

Bee Babes from 44 Gallon drums by Hawke's Bay duo Amy Lynch and Katie Baptiste of Metal METcALfe

These mischievous Bee Babes are made from repurposed 44-gallon New Zealand honey drums....we will let them do the talking!

"Hello! We're ready for a new hive!

We come flat packed with 2 pins each to fix us to a wall. Bend us gently and slowly (wearing gloves please!) We have two holes in our feet for the pins enclosed.

Scratches, dents and marks are all part of our previous life sailing the high seas and being carried by forklift trucks around warehouses. Now we can retire and enjoy sitting on your wall or perched on your desk…..wherever you decide. We prefer indoors, but can be put outside: refer to METcALfe website for outdoor care instructions.

Have you seen our Queen? She’s the bossy one! She keeps us in check, because we can get upto mischief. Oh, and just a reminder we’re not toys. Now, go and buy us and take us home!

Love, The Babes x x x"

Each Bee Babe is unique. Most will be plain yellow, some will be yellow with some black branding. All come flat packed in a bamboo envelope. There are three in an envelope.

Set of 3 Bee Babes

(all measurements are approximate)

Due to the nature of creating from repurposed drums variations occur and the actual product varies from the picture

Caring for your Artwork

If your artwork is to be displayed in a dry, indoor location then an occasional dust is required. (Using a yellow duster means that the yellow fluff sticks to the edges….we suggest either a feather duster or a can of compressed air)

 

If you are wanting to display your artworks outdoors then we currently have a couple of options:

 

Given the artworks are made from metal, they will, if left in damp/wet conditions start to rust on any exposed metal. The speed and intensity of the patina depends on the location of the artworks. e.g a seaside location (water + salt) will speed up the process. If you like the natural patina of the artworks, then do nothing and enjoy! If you’d prefer to retain the gallery condition then you can do either of the following…

 

Option 1 - apply two or three layers of clear coat lacquer to back and front (we’d suggest a matte finish). Refer to the manufacturers instructions regarding drying time, application and health & safety procedures.

 

Option 2 - apply warmed beeswax to the artworks using a soft, clean and lint-free cloth. We suggest doing the lighter/brighter colours first, or using a seperate cloth for them.

 

Depending on the location of the artworks this may need doing on a semi-regular basis.

 

Consideration of wall hung artworks outside on wall or fencing.

You may decide to hang your artworks outside. In order to prevent potential rust on your wall or fencing, we therefore strongly recommend at least a couple of coats clear lacquer on the back of the artwork. Again, refer to the manufacturers instructions for application, health & safety and drying times.