|
Artist Profile
Sonya : a diverse creature….
Sonya was creative as a young child and very much a tom boy, preferring a stuffed, knitted crocodile to her many dolls. She was always drawing, mainly animals; horses and dogs were a favourite. She learnt to sew from her mother and Grandmother. Her Grandmother was particularly talented at sewing bridal wear and the family was also involved in the floristry business. Sonya was very artistic and creative at high school. She left to take up a position with an antique auctioneer where a passion for all things old developed, especially old toys. Drawn to the ragged old toy rather than the beautifully kept old toy, she wishes she had been in a more financial position to be able to collect more at the time.
Sonya married Alan and moved to Australia from New Zealand. She kept sewing on and off over the years and perused many different aspects of crafts including beading, quilting and doll making, which finally led full circle back to bears.
For a number or years, bears totally took over her life, these days she finds she is more creative with a balance of other activities she enjoys and can draw inspiration from. She not only teaches bear making at the occasional workshop, but she also teaches horse riding and belongs to several riding clubs. Alongside horse training, Sonya breeds Australian Bulldogs, a great study for the noses she puts on her bears. The diverse interest she has allows her to draw inspiration from the many interesting people and places she connects with. Having had a hard few years with the sudden loss of a close family member, she now feels a new enthusiasm to forge ahead with some fresh ideas that she can add to her well established passion for Heartfelt Bears.
‘In the quiet moments, hearts mend, love grows'
|
