creative jewish mom

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! Winter is here in Northern Israel, with lots of wonderful rain for which we are always grateful, especially after a period of draught, that was concerning, but now, let it rain! The wonderful 8 night holiday of Chanukah starts on December 10, which means it is in less than two weeks, so time to get crafting! Funny enough a family friend just gifted me a whole trunk full of antique brass items he'd picked up over the years, and some of them are Turkish coffee pots, very decorative and interesting, and at the same time perfect for Chanukah. One of the symbols of Chanukah is the jug of oil, so just about any pitcher/jug works for me, so this year our Chanukah decorations are middle eastern Chanukah with lots of brass and gold meets winter wonderland! So while I had thought I'd be taking out some of the decorations from last year, that no longer works with my new theme, so new decorations it will be, but not too much left to do, except for some garlands of gold splattered dreidels and stars, and likely more stars in a range of metalics, to give that starry night Chanukah look that I love! Okay, I hope everyone is well, lets get crafting, but first pick up a little inspiration from the features from last week's party:

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! Winter has arrived here in Northern Israel, with torrential downpours and colder weather, which means more time indoors and more time for crafting? I have yet to crochet anything, and need to check my stash to use up anything I have on hand, as well as a bunch of dark blue yarn that someone gave me.....the problem is that dark blue alone just doesn't sound all that exciting, but if I mix it with aqua or pink, ah yes! And come to think of it, that dark blue yarn could be useful for crafting rather than making clothing, like maybe some stars for chanukah?

Chanukah is approaching, and so now is a great time to get started with all things related to this wonderful 8 day holiday, which for our family also includes a few birthdays. This year as my sketchbook practice and painting continue, my efforts will be more artful, as that just makes sense. I have already crocheted the traditional gift bags that I use to give chocolate coins and tiny gifts, so while there are always many last minute things to do for my all out holiday decorating, I'm actually quite ahead of schedule. Okay, that is all for know, wishing everyone good health, and lets take a look at the features from last week's party, shall we?

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! With more rain and cooler temps here in Northern Israel, things are finally starting to feel like Fall, phew! The rain means blankets of green shoots covering the fields, which is so lovely, and this week I was really surprised to see some new growth in the meadow where I try to take walks a few plus times a week. Chanukah is on the horizon and this year is all about artful gift wrap, recycling crafts and lots of stars to bring light and joy. I am continuing my personal journey with paint and brush and sketchbook, and it feels so good! I look back at some of my simple crafts and wonder why I didn't think to add a little sketch here or there! Such is the creative journey and looking back and realizing that your aesthetics have changed a bit is a great thing, as progress or at least a shift means the creative gears aren't just turning to churn out more of the same, but rather bringing on something new altogether! Speaking of something new, why not challenge yourself with something you've never done, like crocheting or sewing or knitting to bring some warmth into the approaching winter! Lets get inspired by the features from last week's party, shall we?

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to craft schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! This week we had our first rain of the year in Israel, and a big rain it was, with water rushing everywhere in my neighborhood and folks suddenly scrambling to find umbrellas, coats, sweaters and all things winter! Chanukah is "early" this year, beginning on the night of Thursday Dec. 10th, which means there is 5 1/2 weeks to fill our homes with festive Chanukah crafts, so lets do it! I'll admit, with two family birthdays in the family during chanukah, I have that extra push to take it over the top, so stay tuned for what is in store. For starters the living room is filled with plastic bag pom poms that were taken down from the Succah and hung in the living room, you know, because being ready early is so much fun, and of course then it means you can do a last minute rush to accomplish that extra something special? We will just have to wait and see, and in the mean time I honestly just want to spend time painting and drawing in my sketchbook, so an artful approach to all things holiday is what is going on around here this year. Everything is hand painted and patterned, from gift boxes to all kinds of birthday and Chanukah decor and things are already looking fun and festive, so maybe just maybe I'll be able to swing painting something for the husband's birthday, you know like a real large painting on canvas? We will just have to see if that is a reality that I can make happen, this year is all about taking life in stride and avoiding stress, as we all certainly have more than enough of it. Okay, speaking of stress, crafting and creativity are both productive and great ways to unwind, so get inspired by last week's features and get crafting!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! My lastest realization is that the only way to get through these crazy times is with creativity, lots of it! I have been delving a bit more into painting and trying to keep up my sketchbook practice in the middle of an otherwise busy schedule. And I can certainly say that without those creative activities I would be downright miserable. With Chanukah still in the distance I am crafting for the holiday, but in a relaxed way, and hoping that one day soon I'll get out some yarn and get around to crocheting something, maybe a crocheted cloud or two or a new scarf, or a whale for an upcoming birthday present. Then again, there are many other things calling my name, so no promises.....last January I spent time crocheting all my gift pouches for Chanukah, so I have a box filled to the brim and ready to go, very unlike me, but so refreshing! So my second conclusion about how to get through these crazy times is by planning ahead and relieving stress that comes with last minute plans......don't I know! Okay, I must run, so enjoy the features from last week's party and looking forward to seeing what you've been up to. And if you decide to knit, or sew, or crochet, well, the features will not disappoint!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! Fall is in full gear, whether or not the weather indicates that here in Northern Israel, but we are changing our clocks tonight, so the shorter days will certainly make it feel more like fall, which means more crafts, gearing up for Chanukah and gift giving season and maybe even a little crocheting, or possibly some sewing? But first, note to self, now is our time to really enjoy nature before the hopefully rainy season arrives, and I would really like to get outdoors with my sketchbook, something also not so comfortable in the summer! So wish me luck on that as I continue all my other crafty and painterly endeavors, and I do hope you are taking time to include creativity in your every day. Need a bit of inspiration? Look no further, the features from last week's party are full of great ideas to get you started, lets take a look!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thank so much for joining me here! We are now in the Jewish month of Cheshvan, the only month on the Jewish calendar with no holiday, and it is thus considered a "dark" month. So I say, now is time to fire up the creative ovens and get cracking on crafts and decorations for Chanukah which is a mere two months away, and surely deserves some extra attention, especially this year. My archives are busting at the seams with all kinds of crafts for chanukah, and of course I'll be adding some new ones to the roster though I think at the moment I'd rather delve into crocheting something! The features as always, are full of great crochet projects and craft and DIY projects that can keep everyone busy and fulfilled, so enjoy!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! I type this on Thursday night as the lovely Jewish holiday of Succot comes to an end on Friday sundown (in Israel, elsewhere there is another full day) though there is no time to be sad, as tomorrow right before the end of the day, Friday, we need to bring our dining room table out of the succah and back into the dining room, as not only is it shabbat, it is also another holiday called Simchat Torah, which is generally very festive with long hours spent dancing with the sefer Torahs in the synagogue among many other customs. Of course this year is different in many ways, and the holiday falls on shabbat here in Israel, so rather than ponder it all, I just try to fit it all in, including photographing the succah before it all gets taken down on Sunday, phew! While we have had a few hot days, the week has generally been on the cool side, which is perfect for Succah dwelling, and means that Fall is indeed on its way. No pumpkins around here to mark the season, but the trees are full of pomegranites and soon the golden hills will be green again! Fall is a lovely season for crafting, whether it be something related to your nature walks, or gifts for the gift giving season, so lets get those creative gears turning! Ah yes, the perfect place to do that is right here, with a look at the features from last week's party, enjoy!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday Succot edition! Thanks so much for joining me here. Right now we are the beginning of the holiday of Succot. Since the first day of the holiday occurred on shabbat this year, we now have a whole week of what is called chol Hamoed, intermediary holiday days. Generally we are thrilled about this as it means more time for trips and visiting family, but with our country wide shut down we are mostly staying home. If I lived outside of Israel, I'd have to postpone the party once again, as everywhere in the world, except Israel, is still celebrating the Succos holiday unplugged until Sunday night.. In Israel there are quite a few holidays where we celebrate one day and those outside of Israel celebrate two days, by the way, but lest I digress, the period of Succot called Chol Hamoed, which means it is a "weekday" type of day, but nonetheless still a holiday, and folks generally do not work, the prayer services in the synagogue are longer, especially in the morning, festive meals are eaten in the succah, nicer clothing is worn, and it is a time for rejoicing. We generally do not stray too far from our succah, as it is truly special, but this year since we can't stray too far I'll have to think of some acitivities to keep my teens happy, hmm, no crafting allowed, but we can turn up the music certainly! (Which funny enough my neighbors just did this moment!)

Okay, the features from last week's party certainly have me thinking about crocheting and all things cozy, so lets enjoy the change of seasons and the additional excuses to get crafting.

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! I am sneaking this party in just before the very important Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, which starts on Sunday night. The holiday is also a major fast, meaning a fast of 25 hours, and mandatory for all those over the age of 12/13 and healthy. In Israel it is the day of the year with the least traffic, as even those who may not observe Shabbat, do observe Yom Kippur! In our community the prayer service is literally all day, so you'll find me, sitting with my daughter in the synagogue from around 7am until around 7:30pm. A long day, yes! Of course on this day of atonement, there isn't anywhere else I'd want to be, except with all my neighbors and the members of our community storming the heavens with our prayers!

Immediately after the holiday is over, the hammering of all the succah construction starts, to welcome the week long (8 days outside of Israel) holiday which starts on Friday night. This year many have gotten a huge head start, as have we.......which means for the first time ever I don't think I'll be up until 3 am the night before the holiday decorating! I have a good three days to make some new decorations, maybe even a painting or two and generally come up with a newish plan as our succah this year is more jewel tones as opposed to the brights of last year. I did have the desire to crochet some clouds for the succah, but that may be overly ambitious, and not the best use of my time, when I really need to keep up the sketchbook practice, and maybe I should crochet a scarf, cool weather is coming!  Speaking of crochet, there are many projects in the features from last weeks party, so enjoy, and wishing all those who are fasting an easy and meaningful fast!