creative jewish mom

Our Forced Narcissus (Paper Whites) Bulbs Are Blooming!

Anyone remember when I told you about forcing Narcissus, Amaryllis and Hyacinth bulbs, about five weeks ago? Well, guess what? My Narcissus bulbs that I put in water just three weeks ago shot up and are now blooming! Very exciting, and gorgeous too. When I stand next to them I feel transported to one of those fabulously well decorated gift shops, or restaurants......I think I just need a little gurgling fountain! I almost can't believe that I have something this beautiful in my own living room —not to mention the fragrance, ahhhh. And it's so easy! Now, if you're convinced, and you haven't tried this yet, you still may be able to, especially if you live in a cold climate. (I just can't guarantee complete success, but it's worth a try. Ask the folks in the store where you purchase the bulbs, if you can find them.)

On another note, the hyacinth bulbs that I put in water at the time of the original bulb forcing post, more than four weeks ago, are just showing a tiny green tip. So for those readers who are trying Hyacinth, just be patient. I'll of course be sure to show you how beautiful they will hopefully be in another few weeks. And if I were you I'd make a note to yourself to buy some bulbs for forcing next November—this is one of those wonderful things that takes very little effort and has fabulous results.

A Simple Crocheted Granny Square Vest!

The truth is, I didn't just whip up this crocheted granny square vest, I actually made it two years ago! I guess it was on the big side, because my 8 year old daughter is wearing it now as a dressy winter outfit, with black velvet and rhinestones, and it looks great! And guess what, this is very simple to make, especially if you go with chunky yarn, and then it's quick too! If you'd like to make matching vests for say, three little girls in various sizes, I'd say it's do-able. If you're not great at finishing things quickly, so use cotton and you'll have them for spring! One could make something like this for boys and girls alike, but somehow even in these masculine colors this looks too girlish for my boys to wear.

I'm just going to give you rough directions, so that you can use any yarn or hook size that you'd like to.
I used solid black and a flecked grey/white chunky yarn, a combo that's interesting and can be elegant.

How To Crochet A Granny Square Vest:

1. You'll need two large granny squares, one for the front and one for the back. My squares are made of 10 rounds. Measure an existing garment to decide how big to make the squares. Older girls might like a slighly short version, since a little cropped is in style at the moment, at least around here.
2. You can find directions for how to make a granny square in a million places.
3. Then all you need to do is to make straps as follows:
4. Row 1: Attach yarn from front, at top right corner space of one square, ch 3 & 2 dc in same space, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch1 space, ch 1, 3 dc in next chain 1 space, and turn.
5. Row 2: ch 4, 3dc in next ch 1 space, ch 1, 3dc in next ch 2 space, ch 1, 1dc in last stitch of previous row.
6. For Rows 3 to 7, repeat rows 1 and 2 alternately.
7. Make second strap in same manner, just attach yarn to second ch2 space from the left.
8. Join straps to top of second granny square, from the back side, with slip stitches or needle and thread
9. Sew or attach with slip stitches, side seams, with garment inside out, leaving spaces for armholes.
10. To finish, crochet two rows of single crochet around the bottom and around neck, and crochet one row of single crochet around the armholes.
11. Make some more, since this was so simple and fun, and will bring great joy to the lucky recipient!

Note: This pattern is really just a suggestion, and the number of rows you need for staps and for the squares will vary depending on the yarn weight you choose. You can change the strap width (thinner), or make different style straps completely. How about fabric straps with a scalloped crocheted edge? Or maybe ribbon straps would look lovely for a baby? Let me know what you come up with!

Classic Cherry Blossom Kid's Craft: Anticipating Spring!

Here's a great Spring/Tu B'Shevat cherry blossom craft project, even for those of you who can't quite imagine that Spring awaits! There's nothing like some pink blossoms to cheer things up a bit! In Israel, we call these almond blossoms, as they are also pink and are the first to bloom, right around the time of Tu B'Shevat! Always very exciting!

I have fond memories of doing these blossom pictures in kindergarten. Okay, my pictures didn't exactly look like these, but the techniques were the same. And I still find it amazing that blowing ink through a straw can produce works of art that not only look like Japanese brush paintings but really mimic a tree with branches.  This is a great project for all ages, and a bunch of them hung together  would certainly look wonderful. And you can leave them in their pure form as I did on the left, or add some tissue paper details for the ground and sky. In any case, have fun!

You'll Need:

• Black india ink
• white card-stock weight paper (if paper is too thin the ink will bleed through) or any slick surface, even a piece of plastic or glass might work really well
• pink tissue paper
• straws
• glue, white glue, and optionally, Elmer's school gel (blue), it squeezes out of the bottle so nicely!

How To:

1. Protect work surfaces and children, you don't want this ink to get on anything!
2. Dip straw in ink, cover top with finger and carefully move ink filled straw to paper. Remove finger, releasing ink onto paper. Using the same straw, or a different one if little ones are doing this, gently blow the ink such that it grows on the page in an upwards direction. Move straw to areas where ink pools, and blow some more! In my pictures, each trunk represents one application of ink.
3. Set aside to dry.
4. Tear tissue paper into little pieces and roll to make tiny balls.
5. Apply dots of glue alongside branches, and place balls in glue.
6. For tissue paper sky and ground, mix white glue with about 1/4 water, apply glue to paper with a brush, place torn tissue paper pieces in glue, and go over them again with the brush.
7. Ta Da! Gorgeous works of art worthy of framing!

 

Parsha Parenting: The Importance of Teaching Our Children To Say Thank You.

In this week's Torah portion, Parshas Vayeirah, we learn through Moshe Rabbeinu about "recognizing the good" in everything, and the importance of gratitude and giving thanks. I highly recommend taking a few minutes to read this week's poignant lesson. It will give you that extra push you need to really take the time to teach your children the importance of saying "thank you." And if you're not a parent, or your children are grown, there are certainly invaluable lessons to be learned which apply to everyone in their relationships with others and in their everyday existence. Don't miss this one.

To read this week's Parsha Parenting, Parshas Vayeirah, written by Eydl Reznik, click here.

Great News For Eretz Yisrael Crafters! (A Yarn Sale & A Give-Away....)

First of all, I just got an email from livyahyarn.com stating that all of their inventory of Lion Brand yarn is now 40% off. Now you can buy that cotton I raved about, or just about anything your little heart desires, since at this price, well it's about the same as you'd get in the US. Go for it. I'll be doing the same! (I'm not making any comission on this, just letting you know since it's a great deal and a chance to help some nice people make a living in the Holy Land!)

And second of all, thanks to a sweet reader Jennifer, from Chicago, and her generous offer to bring me something from the US, I'm now offering a freezer paper giveaway to about 1o lucky readers with Israeli mailing addresses! Jennifer brought me 2 big rolls, which I'm going to divide up, since one roll is much more than most crafters would ever need. Leave a comment here or email me at crafts@creativejewishmom.com until Jan 5th to be eligible for the drawing.

 

Beautiful Party Decor On A Budget! (For Tu B'Shevat?)

Got something to celebrate this winter? Throwing a party? Wondering just how to decorate? How about an "anticipating spring" party? You know, pink and white and creme.....evocative of a cherry blossom tree full of delicate blooms. These colors make perfect winter decor and look great with candle light and even a little silver glitter here and there. And if budget is a concern, as it usually is with the numerous  parties we throw here in Israel, so you can still do something creative and festive with disposable table cloth material!

Wrap large glass vases with cherry blossom garlands, and for some variety, make garlands from leaves too, and drape them over tables, or hang them from chandeliers, or even draped curtain style framing a doorway!

And most importantly of all, give your tables a visual focus with shaped runners. When this idea came to me a few years ago I was needless to say ecstatic, as it raises the whole disposable table cloth look into something different entirely. I made this cherry blossom/snowflake by simple folding a large square of disposable table cloth material as one would to cut a snowflake or medallion and cut accordingly. These go very quickly and one can make enough for 20 tables quite easily. And believe me, the extra effort is worth it!

Lie material flat on a table, fold the lower left corner up to to the top edge, to form a triangle, and cut vertically. No measuring required, and if your cuts aren't quite straight, well don't worry too much, you won't see it after you've cut out your design.

And, yes, it does pain me to throw out all this material, so we try to save any pieces that aren't soiled to use for the next gathering. (And I know a few mothers who use this stuff to make great Purim costumes, but not to worry, that's month's away.)

Tu B'Shevat is Coming! A Roundup From The Archives......

Yes, Tu B'Shevat is coming, which means Tu B'Shevat crafts are coming, and of course Tu B'Shevat crafts for kids too, hopefully lots of them, since we're getting a nice and early start! We have almost an entire month to enjoy preparing and creating for this wonderful holiday which celebrates the New Year for the Trees. Crafting that has anything to do with leaves, trees, pine cones, fruit, flowering fruit trees, and spices made from trees is fair game. So how about some full blast creativity? Winter is certainly a great time to get your family interested in crafts!

Below I've posted a few photos from my favorite projects from last year, and a link to the category for more. Stay tuned for lots of new projects over the next few weeks, and start collecting those sticks and pine cones if you can! Oh, and some bark would be lovely too! And eucalyptus pods.....

Last year I made these gorgeous pomanders with cloves and oranges, full instructions here. Can't wait to make some more this year! Though these won't last a month, so wait until just before the holiday for this project, or make them a few times? Little fingers can do this too!

And I also played around with some cinnamon bark and star anise— great smelling and great looking, here.

I used a sewing machine and disposable table cloth material to make these etherial garlands, here. 

 

I made a sweet flowering cherry blossom tree, fun anytime, here.

 

 I made some cherry blossum inspired tissue paper art on canvas, here.

And I crocheted some little blossums which I strung on fish line, and enjoyed through Purim, here.
And for more Tu B'Shevat craft and project ideas that I posted last year, well, you can see them here.

Slice Of Life: A House In Baka, Jerusalem

My husband and I were in Jerusalem this week, and I thought I'd share with you a few details from this old 100 year old home (now a  tzimmer—a bed and breakfast without the breakfast.....) in Baka, a historic neighborhood in South Jerusalem. As it turns out, I'm not the only one who loves old homes, and you can buy one for yourself in Baka for around $2.5million, yes, dollars. For that price it may or may not be renovated, but you can be sure it has super high ceilings, arched windows, small rooms, a large central hallway, and hopefully the original flooring and wooden doors. I doubt you'll find many that have a crocheted granny blanket being used as a curtain to block an unsightly storage area.

Oh my, just look at this original tiled floor. And the high ceilings, perfect for hanging simple block printed Indian textiles over the headboard!

If you'd like to warm the place up a bit, so cover the entrance hall with a long hand woven Bedouin rug, just don't ever put it out in the sun to air it out, these colors fade quickly....I learned that lesson myself.

And when you're out on the front porch enjoying your morning coffee, don't forget to enjoy the lovely tile floor there too. Interestingly enough, I have seen similar flooring in photos of old homes in Spain! I really don't know much about them, or even what they're made of exactly (concrete + clay maybe?) or how the design is applied. I do know that they're still intact after 100 years of wear and tear, which is pretty amazing!

 

DIY Luminaries from Recycled Cans: Wrap Them With Yarn!

Make some simple DIY luminairies to light up your darkest corners! Look at that gorgeous glow, and it's just a recycled can wrapped in yarn! Can't get much simpler than that. Right, my friends?

Use your yarn scraps, a little glue here and there and wrap. If you want some variety in texture, crochet a simple chain and wrap that, or if you don't know how to crochet, make a braid and wrap that! Make sure your cans are metallic on the inside, not white, and when you're done with the party, use them for desk organizers! A great project for all ages, and good containers for giving small gifts of home baked goodness too! And if you still have a few blooms hanging around in the garden, well, these make lovely vases too!

Wishing you all the very best! I really think that some bright color this winter is exactly right. Think neon 70's and you'll be right on target. And if you have no idea what I'm talking about, so just ignore my ramblings, they're just an effort to end this post with a few words!

I am linking this project to the linking party over at Tea Rose Home.

Crochet A Chain Link Garland — A Fun Decoration Anytime!

Isn't this fun? I saw a chain link baby toy, here, and thought it would be great as an actual chain to hang as a party decoration, or over the head of a bed, or draped from a chandelier for a bit of tongue in cheek winter decorating? (Or super cute in a baby's room!) In any case, I just couldn't resist, and that neon colored yarn that Dena gave me when she moved, suddenly looks right. Funny thing is, that at the time I was thinking, "what am going to do with these horrible colors..." (sorry Dena) and now they seem so retro-70's perfect!

The chain goes pretty quickly, and if you have some chunky yarn sitting around, it would go very quickly!

I crocheted chain links in two sizes— one with a foundation of 35 chains, and one with a foundation of 50 chains. I then worked the links in the one big, one little, one big etc. But you can certainly do all the links the same size or play around with the size ratio, just don't go too much bigger than 50 chains for your foundation row unless you want to stiffen your links afterwards with something, which is certainly a possibility!

If you'd like to do this project as an on-the-road sort of thing, so you can crochet for example all the large links separately, and then join them when you crochet all the small links. Otherwise, you add each link as you go by simply looping the foundation chain around the previous link before you join it with a slip stitch.

Instructions For Crocheted Chain Link Garland:

ch 35 (or 50) and join with a slip stitch. After crocheting first chain link, for subsequent links, slip foundation row through previous link before closing with slip stitch, to join the two links.

Rows 1-3: sc around, ending each row with a slip stitch to the first stitch of the previous row. (not worked as  a spiral.)

Row 4: sc around but working through the back loop only.

Rows 5-7: sc around, ending each row with a slip stitch to the first stitch of the previous row. Note: if you want skinnier links, you can omit round 7.

Row 8: Fold tube in half and join two edges by crocheting around with a slip stitch.  Tie off yarn and weave in end.

Enjoy!