How do you switch off from bear-making?

[Jenny]

I am driving myself crazy at the moment..trying to finish bears..and do awards entries..take photographs....my house looks like a whirlwind hit it and it's depressing me a bit since I see every minute doing something else as a wasted minute at the moment.

I can't seem to switch off as whatever I do I am thinking about bears if not actually sewing them.....

I joined the gym...hopefully that's going to help...but what do you do to switch off from bear-making?

[Judi Russell]

I can uderstand how you are feeling Jenny, it gets like that sometimes. All of the things calling on your time are important and somehow they all need priority NOW :6045: To switch off I get on the horse and ride on the beach at a flat out gallop, it is impossible to concentrate on anything other than staying on board and boy do I feel alive after. To get my head in gear, I go to the gym and take a body balance class, or Pilates, does wonders for the mind not to mention the added benifit of getting rid of a few unwelcome inches. If all else fails, I simply turn off and go to sleep, power napping is my all time hobby :6023: Now you have joined the gym, use it and make some time for yourself, you are important too :6087:

[Laurie]

If I stay indoors I will read a magazine or book-oops they are usually bear related.Or I go on the computer-oops again thats usually bear related too.I tend to switch off if I leave the house like walking the dogs or mucking out my horses.Or the other great thing to do is go into town and spend some money-that usually takes my mind off bears:6013:

[yvonne]

Jenny......I don't think its possible to totally switch off...well I can't... if I try its always on the back burner....and I feel so guilty if I'm not doing something bear related!!...not much help am I....So if anyone has the answer let me know!! I think Laurie's idea of going into town shopping may work....but whats the betting I come back with some new wool or thread.....!!!! :6086: :6086:

[Jenny]

Yvonne....we must have been separated at birth...that's what I do....no matter what I am doing I find something relating to bears.

Thanks for your input girls!!!!

Usually I thrive on it..at the moment it's bugging me..and I need a break from it but can't because I have things I need to do.

I am just a bit fed up with it all and want to chuck all my bear stuff on the fire.....I just feel like bears have taken over my life...and I am not liking it!!!
Well...let me clarify..it's not the bears per se...it's the pressure of having to do things...rather than pleasing myself...no time for anything that's the problem!!

[shelly]

"and want to chuck all my bear stuff on the fire"

Stop Jenny don't do it ! Go and have a massage or something !

LOL

[All Bear]

No answers here. :(

[shebob bears]

I was almost beginning to hate the bears because they were puting me under too much pressure - or to be more precise, I was allowing them to dictate to me. Anyway, last week I solved the problem. We are decorating the bathroom at the moment, and as I love painting I volunteered to colour wash a twelve foot wall. With the first stroke of the brush my head was as usual buzzing with bears again! Somehow I turned this to my advantage and thought if the bears won't go away then why not think up a whole new design. So, the bathroom is almost finished, and the new bear is ready to cut out and sew. Just one problem remains. When I look at the beautifully painted wall I see the newly designed bear nagging at me!! Oh well, that's life.
Have fun everyone,
Sheila:6013:

[Laurie]

Jenny......I don't think its possible to totally switch off...well I can't... if I try its always on the back burner....and I feel so guilty if I'm not doing something bear related!!...not much help am I....So if anyone has the answer let me know!! I think Laurie's idea of going into town shopping may work....but whats the betting I come back with some new wool or thread.....!!!! :6086: :6086:
Funny you should say that Yvonne-when I did come back from town the other day I did come back with a ball of wool from John Lewis.They are a bit pricey but loads of choice.My bears don't sell as fast as yours Jenny which would be nice in some ways but then I would hate to feel how you are at the minute all pressurised and all that.When I had my last baby nearly two years ago I gave up my afternoon job with Royal Mail doing a collection.I used to love doing it but something had to give as I just felt like I was on a merry go round all day long going from one thing to another and never having time for me.The job has come up again and I could walk straight into it again but I still don't feel like I want to get back on that merry go round.Just try and find some time for yourself and then hopefully you will feel better.

[yvonne]

Hey..Jenny I would love to be your twin...then I could inherit all your bearmaking skills!!!!! :) but seriously do you think its the time of year, and all the pressure of Christmas etc...thats adding to your stress? I remember when I was hairdressing, and just the demand in that area of your life must be full on at the moment! So the combination with the bears.....and all the present buying etc...must be taking its toll.

Your worrying me.....you must find a way to chill out.......reflexology, massage, aromatherapy........wine...or just stop, and find time for you!!!
We can't have Three O' Clock burn out.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :6013:

[Jenny]

Hey guess what I found my answer...cleaning!!! I just had a massive clean...the whole living room, hallway and now the kitchen..and boy do I feel good.

That was what was getting me down..the clutter of beary stuff every where!! So now it looks like a show home for one afternoon only...

But I feel goooooood!!

[Ruth]

I am sure it is a FACT that from 1st December until Christmas, each hour only lasts 25 MINUTES , and that's why I can't get done all the things (beary/family/crimble-y/cleaning/organising/good intentions etc )which I mean to do :6021: :6044: :6019:
Good Grief I think it's some sort of EU meddling or something !!!! :6086: :D
Ruth (starting to get headless-chicken-y!)

[yvonne]

I think you've cracked it Ruth.......thats it....25mins to every hour! :6086:

Whew..Jenny!...thank goodness....enjoy that adrenaline high!!! Glad your feeling better!! :6034:

[Judi Russell]

Hey Jenny, now that you have finished your cleaning, do you think you could come and help me. The builders have just left after NINE MONTHS:6013: the last five weeks they have been in the kitchen and Chris and I have been relying on family and friends to feed us. Now I am trying to find places for things in cupboards, the pantry, the fridge, the freezer and even the dog. How do we manage to collect so much junk:6044: I am whizzing stuff in the black bags and not looking twice at them, it is very theraputic. Once everything is done, I am going to chill for a week before I tackle Christmas. Oh no! I have just realised with these 25 minute hours, there wont be any time left:6022: Ah well, perhaps a glass of wine will help.

[All Bear]

I'm a cleaner when stressed too ... there's something very therapeutic about taking back control over your home!

As for Christmas, I was worrying about what to do in terms of organising a tree for the house as my house is up for sale and a tree (my kids always insist on a large natural tree) will make the lounge shrink and look like a grotto .. but someone up there must be looking out for me, because at long last I received what looks like a secure and acceptable offer on my house yesterday!! So now we can have our tree and I can stop cleaning my house to within an inch of its life! Heaven!! :p

[Lorna Evett]

I am lucky because making my bears is the switch off from a job I hate but cannot afford to leave as I have an old man with a gammy leg who cannot work.

I even took a bear to prepare for machining to Spain with me last week and get quite irritable if I cannot sit and sew for a bit. However, I can quite see that deadlines for bears would be a nightmare and could turn you off.

I also get pleasure when bear making because I love crystals and their powers and they are in the conservatory where I work, and I listen to very soothing music when I make them so that gives a good ambience to work in. My friend a reiki master also comes and gives my bears a gift of love and happiness and I think that creates a lovely atmosphere to work in. Rereading this makes me sound like an old hippy (well I am old)

Peace and Light:6086:

Lorna
Nibz Bearz

[davistedds]

Ooooh Lorna, how lucky to work in your conservatory, I would love all that natural light to work in. :)

I never switch off either, I'm utterly obsessed. Even when I'm out and about shopping, I'm looking at things and thinking 'Now that's nice, I feel a bear coming on......'

Oh dear!! :rolleyes:

[Lorna Evett]

Had a good sewing day today, light was good, had remembered to put some heating on in the conservatory and machined two bears. Reduced a pattern in size for a friend who wanted a smaller version of a vear i made. Also went to a wholesalers and bought a little wicker pram, too many frills (they are coming off), but have an idea for some small bears and wanted a bit of a back drop. The pram may not be used, but it is a base. I had not gone to buy the pram but happened to see a woman with two and asked her where they came from, good price, may come in handy.:6034:

Lorna