Do you believe in synchronicity?Or "meaningful coincidences," as Jung calls it...
Just before I left for Paris I was rushing to finish a menu illustration full of bears...
The apartment I rented in the Marais was on rue aux Ours (BEAR street), pronounced, ru Oh-Zores... I still can't pronounce it! 
My first day in Paris I met Jette from Denmark in the street...
And don't you know she's writing and illustrating a book about Polar bears! So naturally I kept seeing more BEARS EVERYWHERE!
This poster in the Metro was unavoidable.
And a 5-minute walk from my apartment was this wonderful specialty boutique, L'Ours du Marais on 18, rue Pavee, 75004. They sell ONLY BEARS of course.
They have tons of these Russian carved wooden bears from the town of Bogorodskoye.
Plus all manner of silly out-fitted teddy bears or nounours....
Bear stamps, bear tins, bear T-shirts...it goes on and on.
Plenty of bear china too. I was looking for a GREEN bear for my cousin Louise, but that was the ONE bear they didn't have...
Today I found among my photos these marshmallow bears or les nounours a la guimauve from La Mere du Famille.
Just before I left for Paris I was rushing to finish a menu illustration full of bears...
The apartment I rented in the Marais was on rue aux Ours (BEAR street), pronounced, ru Oh-Zores... I still can't pronounce it! 
My first day in Paris I met Jette from Denmark in the street... And don't you know she's writing and illustrating a book about Polar bears! So naturally I kept seeing more BEARS EVERYWHERE! This poster in the Metro was unavoidable. And a 5-minute walk from my apartment was this wonderful specialty boutique, L'Ours du Marais on 18, rue Pavee, 75004. They sell ONLY BEARS of course. They have tons of these Russian carved wooden bears from the town of Bogorodskoye. Plus all manner of silly out-fitted teddy bears or nounours....Bear stamps, bear tins, bear T-shirts...it goes on and on.Plenty of bear china too. I was looking for a GREEN bear for my cousin Louise, but that was the ONE bear they didn't have...Today I found among my photos these marshmallow bears or les nounours a la guimauve from La Mere du Famille. Isn't that synchronicity?
Hi Jette!
How are your bears doing? :)
Beautiful! You have a way with bears! Loving them as I sip my tea this morning....:)))And who could say Rue Aux Ours five times fast anyway? Timing is perfect!;) All best, Jan
ReplyDeleteHave you seen the polar bear at the Musee d'Orsay? My favourite bear. I always visit him when I'm in Paris.
ReplyDeleteWhat? That's all almost too crazy to be true!
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty incredible series! I really love your watercolor of the bears and the macarons!
ReplyDeleteI can not resist sending you this video of my daughter's very unusual bear....
ReplyDeleteThis is such a facinating breakfast...and I learned a new word! Synchronicity.....hmmm. It explains a lot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay80OB3shWw
hugs,
Barbara
What a wonderful smile Jette has. Love her hat on her. Yes, I do believe in synchronicity. It also strikes me as serendipity, too! The watercolor of the bears is delightful!
ReplyDeleteCarol, Your painting with the Bears is absolutly WONDERFUL. You captured them so perfectly.
ReplyDeleteOh and on the Bear theme. I grew up in Big BEAR Lake California.
LOVE the post this morning.
Don't go out in the woods!
ReplyDeleteGreat polar bears!
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Carol!
I love the way the paint really can leave just a film of luminous shadow--
This is so beautiful and precious. Adorable!
ReplyDeleteI love your polar bears. Have you ever illustrated a childrens' book? If not, you should! And you're killing me with the chocolate-covered nounours, whatever their shape I am dying for some!
ReplyDeleteSarah
Love it !
ReplyDeleteLove it All.
Thank you again.
made my day.
These glimpses make me smile.
Deborah
Carol -- so so so cute!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThese Polar bears would make a perfect holiday card for one of your bakeries!
I like synchronicity too:
ReplyDeleteHere is a photo from the Zoo de St-FĂ©licien where polar bears receive a snow cake with surprise inclusions of fish and fruit for their birthday...
There's more to this bear-thing than meets the eye and I am puzzled by how it effects ME all this bear-stuff in Paris at this point in my life.
ReplyDeleteI would love to know more about the polar bear at the Musee D'orsay VANILLA.SKY
ReplyDelete? ? ?
THANK YOU Barbara for the adorable teddy video!
I almost bought a polar bear tree ornament last night...hmmmm
Oh my! and did you know that Ulla means 'little bear' in Danish? (guess what I looked like when I was born - LOL) What a wonderful wonderful post! And your watercolor with mother and baby is delightful!
ReplyDeleteOurs Blanc (Polar Bear) by Francois Pompon:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/
collections/works-in-focus/search/
commentaire/commentaire_id/
polar-bear-2186.html
?S=0&cHash=cc270b9c1f
I can bearly stand to look at those chocolate guilaume bears! Unfortunately, I also have to refrain from eating the cookies I just made for my son's visit tomorrow. I'll just grin and bear it. :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is so awesome! I love how you totally put your finger on that strange phenomenon of suddenly seeing something EVERYWHERE. I just came across this blog...your illustrations are so lovely!
ReplyDeleteDear Paris - you really have " the eye" your blog is such a joy to read - I feel like I'm IN Paris everytime I pop in!
ReplyDeleteNow that is freaky and somewhat beautiful at the same time!
ReplyDeleteCute bears!
ReplyDeleteall these bears :
ReplyDeletetrès bonne idée pour le nom de la rue !
I love the macaron-bear family Very nice painting !
well, after all, what's not to love about macarons?
ReplyDeleteAnd about this bear painting!
How beary special indeed.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
All these bears are so wonderful...I love all of them and your drawing is fabulous
ReplyDeleteoh the painting of the bears is so adorable! I will have to visit la rue aux ours next time I am in paris :)
ReplyDelete