Ever since I started my new leap into the world of teaching, I have been receiving e-mails and messages from concerned people asking me if I am giving up bear making. Many commented that my bears were already so hard to find.
I really did not think that this would cause such concern, simply because the thought of giving up my bear artist's life did not cross my mind at that time....It did cross my mind several times a few months ago. I really thought I had had enough of making bears, I was so tired and when you are tired the mind plays tricks on you. It tells you that you should be amongst other people, that you were not meant to be an artist or even that you really never were much of an artist to begin with. That is the sort of thing my mind gets up to when it is in a foul mood. I had every intention to get into photography and give up making bears, but when I took a break from making bears, cancelled all orders, I all of a sudden became flooded with ideas....The Teddy Tutor was one of them, but it is now a way of helping me focus on making bears, which is an unexpected bonus.
So, please don't worry....I am not throwing in the towel, I am not giving the bears the push, I am however not making many bears per year. I never have actually. Most bears just take long hours to make and the animals that I make, take hours and hours (even weeks actually) of careful thinking about how to go about making them. This year I have been making very few bears. The cause is known and I really don't want to dwell on that. It is the way it is and at least I am getting better. I have been directed to a pain clinic now, where they will apparently help me cope with the pain better and I seem to be goint to attend yoga classes....My friend called me last night and said something like ''I am on my way out....Are you available at June 15th?....We are going to yoga classes, will be good for you.....byeeeeee'' That was the entire conversation....it left me speechless, which hardly ever happens.
Anyway, we are working on the health thing and I can concentrate on making bears again :) I have to....the fair in Stratford is only uhm....6 days away....oh my....
I really did not think that this would cause such concern, simply because the thought of giving up my bear artist's life did not cross my mind at that time....It did cross my mind several times a few months ago. I really thought I had had enough of making bears, I was so tired and when you are tired the mind plays tricks on you. It tells you that you should be amongst other people, that you were not meant to be an artist or even that you really never were much of an artist to begin with. That is the sort of thing my mind gets up to when it is in a foul mood. I had every intention to get into photography and give up making bears, but when I took a break from making bears, cancelled all orders, I all of a sudden became flooded with ideas....The Teddy Tutor was one of them, but it is now a way of helping me focus on making bears, which is an unexpected bonus.
So, please don't worry....I am not throwing in the towel, I am not giving the bears the push, I am however not making many bears per year. I never have actually. Most bears just take long hours to make and the animals that I make, take hours and hours (even weeks actually) of careful thinking about how to go about making them. This year I have been making very few bears. The cause is known and I really don't want to dwell on that. It is the way it is and at least I am getting better. I have been directed to a pain clinic now, where they will apparently help me cope with the pain better and I seem to be goint to attend yoga classes....My friend called me last night and said something like ''I am on my way out....Are you available at June 15th?....We are going to yoga classes, will be good for you.....byeeeeee'' That was the entire conversation....it left me speechless, which hardly ever happens.
Anyway, we are working on the health thing and I can concentrate on making bears again :) I have to....the fair in Stratford is only uhm....6 days away....oh my....
2008 Golden Teddy Award Nomination for Aviva
2007 TITA Award for Salo
