To celebrate Mardi Gras/ Fat Tuesday/ (Almost) Valentine’s Day for Catholics, I am bringing back Artist Spotlight (formerly called Spotlight Saturday.) In this series, I feature someone and their creativity – whether it is a crafty mama selling her creations on etsy, or a Catholic artist bringing beauty into the world or a blogger spreading the light of Christ through her (or his) words. I think it will be a great way to support the people who are making the word a little brighter with their God given talents.

Today’s featured artists are Cora and Julie from Welcome Bee.

I’ve been a fan of the Welcome Bee Shop for a couple years now. They sell prints (digital and hard copies), cards, journals and more. I always keep an eye on their Instagram feed because they’ll sometimes have limited item products available for purchase.

I still love this Fruit of the Spirit canvas I bought two years ago.

Their products are lovely and the packages arrive in the mailbox with extra touches that brighten your day. 🙂

Happy Mail indeed!

I wanted to learn more about these lovely ladies so I was excited when they agreed to do an interview for the blog. Without further ado…

Cora and her mom Julie. // Photo credit: Welcome Bee Shop

Tell us a little about yourselves. How did you start your company?

My mom and I started our company after mass one day in January of 2015. My son was about 5 months old and I had been longing to spread my creative wings and grow stronger in my Catholic faith. My mom had been homeschooling through the Divine Mercy homeschool and had longed to find a creative outlet where she could include her Catholic faith. I had been living in Florida and she lived in California. I happened to be visiting and we went to daily mass, where we heard a beautiful homily about being beacon of Christ light to all around. We left mass, looked at each other and said yes! But how? After talking about different ideas we thought about how our family had started making family Christmas cards after my sister Faith passed away. It was a way to bring Christ’s light to our friends and family during the season of Advent. We knew in our hearts we wanted to bring light to others through greeting cards. It soon grew to prints, wood pieces, crosses and canvas.

Photo credit: Welcome Bee Shop

What is the inspiration behind the name “Welcome Bee?”

Welcome Bee comes from welcoming all to see, feel and know Christ! Bee comes from my maiden name and my mom’s married name “busby” (pronounced buzz bee). After my mom got married her family started giving her “Bee” trinkets and her collection soon grew. We then found that the Bee is a symbol of Our Blessed Mother and just knew we wanted to combine the two! Our logo is also done in blue for the Blessed Mother.

Photo credit: Welcome Bee Shop

Cora, being a busy mom, making art and running a business, how do you juggle it all?

It has not been easy to juggle the vocation of marriage, motherhood and artist but I know I can’t do one with out the other. I have my husband and family there with me to help me juggle it all! It is also a HUGE help and blessing to be able to do this with my mom. We balance each other out, we’re best friends and we help each other out when one is working on a project and needs a little extra help around the house.

Photo credit: Welcome Bee Shop

Julie, how has this experience been to work with your daughter in something that you both love?

It’s been a dream come true, really. To share this passion with my daughter is a true blessing! She gives me confidence and she can just “read” me. She knows when to push me and when to bring one of my grand sons in for a snuggle to pick me up when I’m struggling. I had no idea that God has this plan in mind for me and it’s just so exciting!

Photo credit: Welcome Bee Shop

What is your favorite (or one of your favorite) pieces of artwork you’ve created?

(Cora) One of my favorite pieces of art is actually apart of my new collection that will be launched by the end of February. It combines the beautiful history of our Catholic faith with the growth that I’ve had as an artist.

(Julie) One of my favorite pieces of art is an angel that I drew to represent my daughter, Faith, who is an angel herself in heaven. It was my very first drawing on our first batch of stationery.

Photo credit: Welcome Bee Shop

Any advice for someone who feels the desire to be more creative but is not quite sure where to start?

(Julie) I would say, “Follow your heart, the Holy Spirit, that little voice inside that’s telling you to start…Pray about it (lots) and then…just start! God will guide you in your creative endeavors! Give Him the glory all along the way!

Photo credit: Welcome Bee Shop

What projects are you working on right now?

(Cora) I am currently working on a very special project that God has been calling me too for the last few months. It is a beautiful combination of our blessed Catholic faith and the hard work and growth of my art. I will start to release the finished project in the next few weeks! My mom is working on expanding her gorgeous greeting card line! She comes up with the sweet sayings on the outside and inside of each card and pairs it with the most beautiful little illustration!

Photo credit: Welcome Bee Shop

Any last words?

Thank you so much for inviting us to do this giveaway! It brings such encouragement to have such a beautiful and creative Catholic women’s community. God bless!

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A big thank you to Cora and Julie for participating! To share the love we have an awesome treat for a lucky winner courtesy of the Welcome Bee Shop! You can win not one but two 11 x 14 prints. You can keep them both or share one with a friend.

Prize 1 (Frame not included.)

Prize 2 (Other pictured items not included.)

To enter, use Rafflecopter below.  The contest will end Saturday, February 24. I’ll announce the winner on the 25th. Have fun and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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