"Bee-utiful" Project Bag

I'm still on an embroidery kick, and I was participating in a Project Bag Swap group on Ravelry.  Basically, you make and send a knitting project bag, and recieve on in return (not necessarily from the same person).  This time my recipient indicated that she collected bees..... Hmmm?  What to do?

I delved into the depths of my computer, and pulled out some bee clipart I had drawn last year... and it hit me that it would make a darling embroidery design for the front of her bag! 
Step 1:  I traced it onto a piece of muslin with a sharp pencil:

 Step 2:  Back the muslin with fusible fleece (helps hide yarn tails, and adds padding to the bag), and stitch your design.  I used pearl cotton, and stem stitched my design details.  If you are unsure about what a stem stitch is, here is a good link.

Step 3:  After stitching my design, I squared up the panel with my rotary cutter/mat, and then bordered it with some flower strips to turn the embroidery into the front of my knitting project bag. 

The rest of the pouch was constructed similar to this tutorial at Skip To My Lou, except I decided to squre the bottom edges of the bag so that it would stand up on its own.  I also included an inner pocket to organize all of those knitting notions, and a cardboard base that I covered in fabric to give the bag bottom a touch more reinforcement.  Here is my finished knitting project bag!

  Here is the rest of the swap package I sent out (including my Itty Bitty Bee) and a coordinating wallet and triangle bag ... I hope she enjoys it!