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For many years I worked really really hard to create content ahead of time to fill this blog for up to five weeks, while I was traveling and visiting family. This year I just didn't have the time, so if you are looking for inspiration do have a peek in the archives, which are busting with tons of projects! I will be back here on the blog on Sept. 1, looking forward to reconnecting and sharing our adventures with you then.
Have a happy, productive and creative summer!
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Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, the last party of the summer, whoo hoo! I don't know about you, but I'm really ready for a month plus of zero blogging! Of course I do hope to get the creative gears running on full speed, or maybe on lazy summer speed, but either way my summer vacation plans always include lots of crafting, at least in my head! Vacations are not taken alone, so one does have to go with the flow a bit, and if that means kayaking and beach combing, all the better! Last week's party was full of great projects to keep you inspired, so enjoy, and I'll be back the first Sunday in September, see ya then!
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Isn't this view wonderful? I just loved Kiev and since we were only there on an introductory visit I can't wait to go back and explore! Fortunately as we walked up Andrew's Descent in Podil I remembered something about some stairs, so when I saw them I knew we just had to make the climb, and boy was it worth it. The view from Zamkova Hora, Castle Hill is not to be missed! Come, lets take a look!
Continue reading "Top Kiev Spot: Zamkova Hora, Castle Hill With An Amazing View" »
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If you ever decide to visit Kiev, and I hope to go again in the not too distant future, do spend some time exploring the Podil neighborhood, as it is truly delightful! I just love the colorful stucco buildings, the street cars, the street art and a feeling that didn't remind me of anywhere else in the world! Kiev has some truly amazing sights and you can do it really inexpensively, a studio apartment vacation rental in the Podil neighborhood can be rented for around $20 a night, really truly! In the mean time, come with me for a little walk around the neighborhood, won't you?
Continue reading "Top Kiev Spot: The Colorful Architecture Of Podil" »
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Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! We are now in the period on the Jewish calendar called "The Nine Days", during which many activities are prohibited, such as swimming , and joyful activities such as listening to music and throwing parties of any kind. Fortunately one can certainly craft, so lets keep busy while not forgetting the essence of this important period, shall we? Last week's features were fantastic, wish I had time to do some crafting myself, though not complaining a big summer vacation is coming up, and hoping to do everything I've been dreaming of! Okay, lets get inspired!
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After spending Passover in the Ukraine, in relatively economically depressed areas, arriving in Kiev and seeing one of the top 20 most expensive shopping streets in Europe was truly a shock. Kiev's Khreshchatyk Street is said to be the Ukraine's answer to London's Oxford Street and New York's Fifth Avenue, so don't be surprised to row upon row of high end stores like Tiffany, Bulgari, Gucci, Louis Vuitton etc. And I must say, the grandeur of the architecture and the street itself is much more impressive than Fifth Avenue, so maybe do your shopping or rather window shopping here? Ah yes, and no beeping horns and traffic as the street is smartly closed to traffic on holidays and weekends. Come for a little walk with me, wont' you?
Continue reading "Kiev's Khreshchatyk Street Is The Fifth Avenue Of The Ukraine!" »
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Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! I am still up to my neck in all things related to freshening up the upstairs floor of our home and boy is it a mess! No major construction, just repainting, new light fixtures, turning a laundry counter into a kitchenette, and closing once open closets with doors. Hoping to create some DIY art for the walls, but will see what I realistically have time for in the next week. I have picked up some great woven rugs to hang on the walls in a few spots, baskets and touches of gold to try and give a summer holiday meets 60's glam aesthetic. And yes, there is a pinky wall and lots of grey, mixed with white for an overall fresh and modern backdrop for who knows what?
As far as inspiration is concerned Craft schooling sunday is always full of great projects to keep all of us inspired and busy, so lets have a look at the fabulous features from last week's party:
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These beautiful and very modern stained glass windows are located in the Podil Synagogue in Kiev, Ukraine. They are colorful and graphic and I do wish I could get a breakdown of all the elements and their meaning, as there was certaily a great deal of thought and effort put into their design. One of the overwhelming feelings I get from looking at this set of stained glass windows, located in the lobby of the Synagogue, is the idea of triumph over tragedy, which is certainly a very fitting concept now that we are in the period on the Jewish calender called "the three weeks" leading up to the very sad day of Tisha B'Av.
If you are every in Kiev, this synagogue is certainly a place to visit as it is beautifully restored, built in 1895. Until then, the images of this set of stained glass could certainly be used as inspiration for tissue paper works of art, or even collages or drawings celebrating the Jewish people and rememembering Jerusalem.
Continue reading "Jewish Stained Glass Windows Celebrate Triumph Over Tragedy" »
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One of the greatest delights on our trip to Kiev and the Ukraine this past Passover was getting to know the historic Podil Synagogue in Kiev, which is part of a small compound also containing a kosher meat restaurant, a kosher breakfast, and early dinner cafe, a kosher food store, a kosher hotel, and a boy's yeshiva. Ah yes, and there is also a matzo bakery! The synagogue has been restored to all its glory, and it was such a relief to come to a foreign city and have everything we needed at our fingertips. In the USA and Canada one can find more than enough kosher products in any major grocery store, but in the Ukraine you can't even begin to rely on such things. And simple things like having food to take with us to the airport and for the flight home would be certainly difficult without the kosher store, phew!
With a grandfather from Kiev, our 2 nights in this really interesting city had even greater meaning for me personally, just wish I knew where they had actually lived! My grandfather's family left the Ukraine around 1905, so they very likely lived in the country, but I really have no idea. My relatives may have even set foot in this very synagogue as it was built in 1895. Keep on reading for lots more photos.....
Continue reading "The Historic Podil Synagogue, Kiev, Ukraine" »
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