Story

Hey everyone! It's been a little while, hasn't it? Everyone has been cranking on some really fun content, and we can't wait to share it with you!

In the meantime, I wanted to take the time to show a special personal strap design, especially one to set the mood for the fall season.

As we have all tried to navigate a tumultuous year, no doubt we have all tried to find our means of coping or distracting ourselves from the barrages of stress and negativity. Some of us have found safe havens in books, video games, or streaming services, diving into fictional realms to escape the troubles of the real world even if for a little while. (If you must know, I myself have found myself engrossed in the long-running anime heist series, Lupin the Third.)

Others have taken up new hobbies, or started new businesses from home - sometimes the former interest dovetailing right into the latter. Has anyone else noticed how many more people are selling uniquely crafted face masks nowadays?

And then, of course, there is the refuge many have found by getting lost in nature. Who wouldn't want to go out and explore after being stuck inside their house for so many months?

I have touched into each of these interests throughout this pandemic, but going outside, taking walks, going on hikes, and observing nature have been profoundly healing for me. As we enter autumn with the crisp cool air, the crunching of fallen leaves, the songs of migratory birds, and the aroma of pine preparing us for the winter, I wanted to devote a design to what has become my favorite season of the year. A time to "paws" and reflect, but not yet a time of conclusion. A time to simply take a breath, appreciate the weather, envelop yourself in the beauty of nature, and find a sense of tranquility.

And yes, I'm about to follow up on that bear pun.

Enter my strap design: "Grin And Bear It."

One animal that particularly embodies fall to me is the bear. I don't get to see too many in Southern California, but on the special occasion I see a black bear moseying about, I am absolutely enamored. Bears are renowned as symbols of strength, majesty, and love. Yet at the same time we see bears as cute, cuddly, and probably amazing huggers.

However, something I always recognize in bears is their particular ability to find pleasure in the simplest moments, in the times they aren't guarding their young or fending off predators.

That's when the image of a bear rolling around in freshly fallen leaves came to my mind. Imagine being a bear, relishing in the sensations, in the smells, living purely in the moment. Nothing else matters but you and the leaves... and maybe those berries you spotted before you flopped into the leaf pile.

Kind of a zen thought, isn't it?

Making this strap certainly helped me slow down and appreciate the peace in the moment. I hope that this strap and this post helped you to take a moment as well to breathe and clear your mind.

Now that you're feeling more rejuvenated, it's time to get back out there with new energy. Time to grin - and yes, "bear" it!

Til next time!
- Lauren

Artist

Lauren Kisich