creative jewish mom

Summer Is For Making Candles!

I'm reposting this candlemaking craft, because today is the last day of school for many, here in Israel, and well, it is time to get crafting!

Remember making candles at summer camp? I sure do, especially the ones we made at the beach in milk cartons! Candle making can be on the messy side, but is a perfect craft to do especially when you have a few hours on a lazy summer afternoon, and a bunch of kids (or kids at heart) in need of some creative fun! The candles you see here were actually made by some of my students in a candle making workshop for which I was the substitute teacher. Unfortunately I did not have the time to take photos of all the projects as my students stayed for two hours rather than one, and then needed to hurry off to their bus, so be it! Now I'm hoping to find some time to make some striped candles myself. I'm thinking that a remake of my remember Jerusalem sand jars would be perfect with striped candles, just in time for the Three Weeks.

Ah yes, and best of all, making candles has never been simpler, so lets get started!

The Gravesite of Ovadia HaNavi In Bar Am, Northern Israel

On our local outings during the holiday of Passover we visited the ancient gravesite of Ovadia HaNavi in Baram, Northern Israel. I'm just now getting around to sharing my photos with you, because, well, life is busy, and I'll admit that I've been favoring my @sara.rivka.dahan instagram account, meaning I have not been creating content for my precious blog, but rather art and illustration, though yes, I need to post more of that here. Lest I digress, lets visit this wonderful site! Please note: While Wayz will bring you to the approximate location, so you have to be a little bit adventurous to find it! There isn't really a sign on the street, but it is just beyond the Baram cemetary entrance, so look for the blue dome.

How To Choose The Best Online Furniture Stores

 

If you are moving into a new home or even opening a new shop or office, you will likely need to furnish it, or at least pick up a few new pieces to make it look as good as possible given your budget. If the new place comes with furniture you may be looking for a little visual pick me up, or maybe at long last it is time for a new couch? Regardless of your situation, budget is a major concern for most people, as is quality. Good furniture can be pricey, so when you do decide to invest, you will want to make sure you are getting the best value.

As you know, furniture can be purchased from online stores or physical stores. While buying furniture from a physical store has its benefits, sometimes you can find a better deal online, or a better selection, especially if you don't live in a large metropolitan area, or have you eye on a specific piece. When shopping for furniture online you need to be very careful because some stores are not as legitimate as they seem. When searching for the best furniture online, always consider shops like Monster Furniture who has an amazing line of furniture for both your home and office. In this article, we will give you some tips to follow when choosing the right online furniture store. Okay, lets get started!

Scandinavian Style Kids Room Perfection With Customizable Star Map Posters

When it comes to decorating a child's room, my go-to style is without a doubt Scandinavian! Why you may ask? Scandinavian style means focusing on key pieces (like something too adorable for words....) and a soothing or maybe dramatic color palette, while allowing the empty space to provide room to breathe, and letting each piece in the room speak for itself. Scandinavian style has a certain carefree vibe that is both comforting and inspiring. And best of all, you can really mix and match. One of the benefits of pursuing a minimal style, is that for example, when you simply change the sheets to a new pattern or color, wow, it can really create a whole new look without changing anything else in the room.

Since I am talking about "Scandinavian style" lets delve just a bit deeper and talk about Scandinavian design, which is a design movement characterized by simplicity, minimalism and functionality that emerged in the early 20th century, and flourished in the 1950s throughout the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland. Scandinavian design is marked by a focus on clean, simple lines, minimalism, and functionality, without sacrificing beauty. Scandinavian interior design today blends textures and soft hues to make sleek, modern décor feel warm and inviting. There is an emphasis on clean lines, utility, and furnishings that are simple yet functional, beautiful, and cozy!  Small bursts of color, layered bedding, warm wood, muted colors and a mix of textures, together with modern furniture create a look that is perfect in so many ways and certainly lends itself to kids rooms! Lets take a look at how to add just the right touches to a child's room to achieve that Scandinavian style.

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! With summer in full swing, for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, now is a great time to get creative, whether indoors or out, with family, friends, or as a break for yourself? Try something new that you can take along on a trip like embroidery or a sketchbook practice and encourage others to do the same! And as I always say, summer is the perfect time to make succah decorations, or holiday gifts! Okay, lets take a look at the features from last week's party!

Great Gift Ideas For New Parents

Mazal Tov, its a new baby! Every birth is a miracle and such a joyful time for everyone, though of course bringing a tiny new baby home, and then caring for that baby, can be a very great challenge, especially with the first born, when the whole process is brand new. Family and friends will run to buy gifts for the baby, or even ask what they can contribute, so in most cases the needs of the baby are covered. I propose focusing your attention on the new parents and anything that they might need to help them transition into the joy of parenting a new addition to the family. There are so many things the new parents could use, from actual help, to gifts or gift certificates you can send from afar. If you have a close and trusting relationship with the new parents, ask them if they need any help regarding financial advice, filing taxes or government forms, or moves they might want to make to financially protect their child meaning even considering life insurance. (Do wait until the parents are not totally sleep deprived to have this kind of discussion!) Okay, there really are so many ways to help new parents, lets take a closer look!

How To Plan a Family-Friendly Vacation in San Diego

The sunny California coast is truly an amazing destination for a family vacation. With a gorgeous climate, beautiful beaches, exciting, kid-friendly attractions, and a laid-back and relaxed vibe, California really has it all. Whlle I was born and raised in Northern Calfiornia, so I'm admittedly partial to that part of the state, if I had to venture south, San Diego would be one of my top choices.

And of course, for those seeking attractions that are family-friendly, San Diego delivers. The practically perfect weather all year round, combined with tourist experiences, summer events and festivals galore that cater directly to little ones, make it a great choice for a family-friendly vacation.

So if you are planning a cruise from California and want to pack in a few great kid-friendly experiences first, or if you are looking for a destination for your summer vacation with the family, here are some of the best family-friendly options that San Diego has to offer. 

A Visit To Kerem Ben Zimra, Northern Israel

Last shabbat my husband and I had the chance to go away, just the two of us, and at long last we spent Shabbat in Kerem Ben Zimra, just a 20 or so minute drive from our home, but a special place indeed, with gorgeous sweeping views of the surrounding hills and mountains, and the real feeling of peace and quiet! My priority of course was to rent a place that had a great view for me to sketch, together with a quiet spot to enjoy the view outdoors, and I found it! All the photos I'm sharing here are from the yard of the vacation rental, and it was such a pleasure to just gaze at the gorgeous orchards, and watch the fabulous sunset. My heart longs for more, so we will certainly visit again!

Artists Who Painted The View From Their Window

If you are an art history buff, or have followed museum exhibitions and/or careers of famous painters, you may or may not be aware, that many of them were inspired to paint the view from their studio window, or maybe the view from their lodging window. To most of us, this of course makes total sense, but I don't think that artists before say 1850, or so, would have dreamed of painting something so "mundane" gasp! And if they did, it certainly would not have included the not so attractive roof scene that Van Gogh dared to capture, for example! Van Gogh did it, Cezanne did it, Matisse did it, Pissarro did it, Diebenkorn did it, just for starters, so I think that is more than enough proof that those of us interested in developing our art should also do it!

Why am I writing about this now? Because friends, I have started a challenge on Instagram called #sketchfrommywindow which got me thinking about all the artists who did just that! Of course, I'm sharing here paintings, not loose sketches, but I'm hoping, at least in my case, that the sketches I'm working hard to create at least several days a week (and that are not all that loose at the moment) will indeed lead to paintings! So lets take a look at just a few of famous artists whose work is truly a great inspiration, shall we? And if you are not on instagram, but would like to join the challenge, just write to me ([email protected]) and I could start posting contributions right here on the blog!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! I'm writing this on Friday morning and rushing to finish a pile of dishes in the sink and all the fridge parts that I disassembled to really clean, because, husband and I are going away for shabbat! This happens infrequently due to kids and guests, but yes, that nearby agricultural village is calling us. I hope to take lots of photos to share the gorgeous hilly location right near the border of Lebanon, but mostly I'm packing my sketchbook and supplies to sketch the view! Enjoy the features from last week's party!