Catherine Daniel Ceramics

Hello and welcome to my blog where I share some of the thought processes and textile/quilting inspirations behind my ceramic art, and occasionally other random topics!
For more details and pictures of my ceramic creations, please see my website -

catherinedanielceramics.com



Friday 10 May 2013

Bear Tracks

So, getting back to quilt-bowls, I have decided to do some of them with a more conventional round edge, rather than the random/raggedy edge, and also add the name of the block.  I think it works ok.  I will do both from now on.  I like this version of 'Bear Tracks' because the tracks point inwards AND outwards, rather than all going outwards.


About ten years ago we went on a family road trip from New York up through New England and eventually to Boston.  We passed near stretches of the Appalachian Trail and fully expected to see real Bears hopping out of the woods onto the road in front of us ..... but, alas, no.  There were road signs telling us to watch out for them, and also for Moose .... but they didn't show either!


So the nearest I think I shall get to a bear is this disintegrating well-loved little chap.  He is as old as his owner, 22 years, (and looks every minute of it!).  I can no longer sew him up as there's nothing left to sew on to, as you can see.  His ears have disappeared.  His arms are dropping off.  His stuffing is coming out and his nose is flat.


Is he a real bear?  Well, yes of course.  He is the 'Velveteen Rabbit' of the Bear world. 

In Margery Williams' words:  "Real isn't how you are made, ...  It's a thing that happens to you.  When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real".

Still - if we ever go back to Vermont ... I want Bears!!

Have a lovely weekend.

x Cathy



13 comments:

  1. Hope you have a lovely weekend too. You're work continues to shine! x

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  2. Love this new bowl Cathy and I like the idea of adding the name of the block too. Also LOVE the teddy: obviously very much loved - those bears are the best! You have a lovely weekend too - what a contrast to last weekend - cold and rain and wind - ugh, more like November than May - oh well, we live in hope!

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  3. Yes, the new style does work rather well, and I have to say that if bears are in the neighbourhood I would prefer they were going away (with the honourable exception, of course, of the sort of Beloved Bear in your last photo!)

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  4. WE got really excited when we saw the 'bears' signs when we were in Massachusetts.Strained our eyes trying to spot bears , but if we really had seen one, I think we would have been rather more scared than excited. Fingers crossed for some less Wintry weather over the weekend!

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  5. Yup, I like the new edges, Cathy, and love the way you've combined the bear tracks with the Bear's Paw quilt block. What I was hoping for as well was a few piccies of your new painted kitchen!! And I'm really sorry, as you've only just managed to get round to reading the last one (a crime I am very guilty of myself at the moment) but there is another post! Hah, I am all behind these days. (In many ways ...........) Lx

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  6. We have a similarly flat bear here ... and yes it's definitely been loved to real ;)

    Liking the plates :)

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  7. What a lovely bear. I've recently refound my old childhood bear. I wonder what our baby will think of it?

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  8. Nice to hear from you again. I like the idea of naming the quilt block plates. I had a lovely red and white teddy with a bell in one ear, as a child. My stepfather threw Jingle away and I never forgave him.

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  9. Gorgeous bowl Cathy...and lovely bear story, so precious x we have 13 and 17 year old rabbits who look very battered. hopefully you will get bears on your next bear hunt x

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  10. ooh bear tracks! lovely! I never saw a bear in all the time we lived in New England.........

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  11. Aw what a lovely loved bear. I am not sure I share your need to see a real bear though. Maybe from a distance - a significant distance.

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  12. Great post! I really like how you've incorporated the quilt pattern, name and actual bear tracks all together. So creative! How neat to have such a well loved bear. I used to love taking my kids to the Winnie the Pooh movies, so corny I know, but I just loved the gentle story lines.
    Enjoy your week,
    Judy

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  13. Beautiful and original as always! Some day I'll get to New England and I hope I see a bear ... not too close though!

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