creative jewish mom

DIY Home Maintenance Projects To Try This Fall

As we transition from summer to fall, in some places more quickly than others, of course we might be thinking about  back-to-school gifts for teachers or even stocking up on seasonal foods to replenish the pantry, or even about when to take out the cool weather clothing. And then your thoughts might naturally lead you to thinking about winter and holiday celebrations that might just mean hosting family and friends, and at the least spending many more hours at home! While many folks do have standard home maintenance tasks that go with the end of every season, such as putting away summer furniture, possibly draining a pool, thinking about which plants to move indoors, etc. fall also happens to be the perfect time to tackle some DIY home maintemance projects. Fall is much cooler, so work done outdoors at the end of a workday or on the weekends will be so much more comfortable, and of course before setting the clocks back we still have more daylight in the evening which is also helpful. Lets take a look at some important DIY projects that you can tackle right now, and then when your thoughts drift to the holidays, you know your home will be in top shape and looking great!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! Wishing everyone a chodesh tov, a good new month as today is the first day of the month of Elul, the last month on the Jewish calendar. Which means so many things, but here it means time to get crafting for Rosh HaShana and Succot! It also means that summer vacation is over, with school starting tomorrow for my kids. Of course it also means that more holidays are coming in just a month, so this is a month that is about working hard to end the year on the right foot. I'd say fill this month with creativity and start the year with lots of great crafty displays in your home and in your succah! Lets take a look at the features from last week's party for a bit of inspiration, enjoy!

Wood Scrap Doodle Craft Is Perfect For The End Of Summer!

We are now in the last week of our summer vacation, so for me that means the pressure is on to do as much sketching on location as possible, but in previous years I certainly would have enjoyed getting out the paint pens and dooling on a scrap of wood, a piece of bark, or anything found on a nature walk! I found this example at an airbnb rental in Hararit, Israel, so I can't take credit for it, but thought it was the perfect thing to share right about now! If you are at the beach, so collect some driftwood to decorate with paint pen or sharpie doodles, or if you are in the forest, how about some large dried leaves? If you are at home, so find some recycled cardboard and doodle on some fun shapes! These items can then be used to make mobiles or even Jewish holiday decor so enjoy!

6 Tips to Prepare Your Home for the Winter

It is true, we are still in the heat of summer, but now is a good time to plan ahead for the coming seasons. Those who live in very cold climates such as Sweden, use the summer to cut and stack their fire wood, grow vegetables, and make repairs to their homes. While this may not apply to us, there are certainly at least a few important things to take care of now. Of course this might include getting out your winter coat, your boots, and putting away the summer gear until next year, but in addition to preparing your wardrobe for the winter, you should also prepare your home (as well as your mindset,) to make sure that the season is joyful, not filled with inconveniences that could have been avoided. I've compiled 6 tips to help you prepare your home for winter, so take a look!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, and thanks so much for joining me here! With just one more week of official summer vacation left, I am looking forward to another week of sketching and relaxing, this time 3 nights in a yurt with a view, with just the husband, and hopefully some cool enough weather to enjoy the cliffs and trails! But if not, I'll sketch from a perch indoors for my #sketchfrommywindow Instagram challenge, which has me well, sketching views from windows using the materials of my choice, come join me! If not, then pick up that crochet hook and get busy, or delve into something new, which is always exciting. Lets take a look at the features from last week's party, shall we?

A Visit To The Historic Monk's Mill In The Tzippori Valley

Wow, wow, wow, what a sweet location we visitied this last week during our vaction on Kibbutz Harduf in the lower Galil, Israel. Any combo of water and history iand gorgeous nature is certainly at the top of my list of amazing places to visit, and this one gets top billing also because it is accessible, has lots of soft grass and is perfect for families. I will say, I had never heard of this location, but came across it when doing research for things to do near Kibbut Harduf, and then, lo and behold, we could see the Monk's Mill in the distance from our rental, so exciting for me! Getting there was another story because we do not have a 4 wheel drive vehicle and had to go all the way around, but it was well worth it. If you are even in the Haifa area, near Rechasim, do visit this special spot!

Stunning Variegated Bougainvillea Bushes Grow In The Galil, Israel

Wow, when I saw this bougainvillea bush with variegated leaves during our recent stay on Kibbutz Harduf, I just could not believe my eyes. I thought I new just about everything about bougainvillea, but apparently not! It is widely available online, but I have not yet been able to find any info about it, and we are now heading out for more adventures! I can say that just as soon as the shemittah year is over (at rosh HaShana) and I can once again garden this is a plant on my list to purchase as it is truly stunning! The leaves remind me of my bower vine and the blooms are classic bougainvillea, just lovely! Keep on reading for some more photos!

Simple Broken Tile Mosaic Mandala Craft For Summer!

Looking for the perfect summer craft to end vacation with some family creativity? My answer, (other than succah decorations) is yes, mosaics! Mosaics can be quite messy, and are thus best done outdoors, making them the perfect summer craft! Plus, intricate or larger mosaics will need to be created over a period of time, another great reason to start one to do with the family over the next two weeks or so. I saw this collection of simple yet lovely wall mosaics on the exterior walls of a health center on the Harduf Kibbutz, and just had to share them with you! I have done many mosaic crafts over the years, so if this has sparked your interest, do check out all the mosaic crafts in my archives, right here. And do take a look at the other wall mosaics in this collection, so much fun!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, hope you are having an amazing August. This is the first time in quite a while that I have not "gone fishing" with the party, as this year, unlike most years we are staying put in Israel, and only traveling during the week, meaning I am home and able to present the features. It does feel very strange, but once we get on the road to explore some places we've never visited it will feel like vacation, hopefully! Two weeks ago there were some fabulous projects, something truly for everyone, so make this month a creative one, and enjoy the features!

When Do I Need A Building Permit?

If you are a homeowner you are likely familiar with the idea of building permit, but if you have never done major renovations or any renovations, you may not be aware that building permits are necessary in many cases for a wide range of jobs that need approval from your local governing body. Depending on where you live and how the local government handles building permits, you may opt to get help from a professional who can file the permits in a professional way, as well as possibly expedite permits that may be difficult or frustrating to obtain. Building permit law varies greatly from state to state as well as country to country, and if you live in Australia, for example, you can get help with council building permits from CIVAC.

If you'd first like to learn a bit more yourself, keep on reading for a general overview regarding building permits, which will help you ask the right questions once you contact your local offices.