creative jewish mom

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! Wow, we are now entering the very last year of the Jewish year, and as I write this we are about to celebrate the very last shabbat of the year. The pressure is now on to do our very best in every area of our lives and relationships in this week, especially as we can in essence make up for for things we didn't quite handle as we should have in the past year. So try to be extra kind and forgiving this week, to yourself and others, do an accounting of areas that could use some attention, and make sure to remember that there is a master plan and many things are just beyond our control, and our job is to figure out to make the best of things in any situation. That said, I must run as being ready early for shabbat is a goal that I want to accomplish, at least this week when there are no excuses as there are no huge group of guest arriving! Enjoy the last week of the year, and of course, don't forget to include some creativity, crafting for Rosh HaShana and Succot are valuable ways to spend time. And now, enjoy the features from last week's party......

8 Tips For Safely Using A Chainsaw On A DIY Project

We are in the middle of an extreme heat wave here in Israel, so it doesn't really feel like Fall, but with Rosh HaShana in less than two weeks, and the Jewish holiday season to follow, that means it is basically Fall, cool weather or not! So that said let's start thinking about bringing some nature indoors this coming Fall and Winter season with wood slice crafts! Wow, there are really so so many DIY crafts that make amazing use of wood slices, whether it be thick sticks or huge trunks, you name it, there's a DIY to go with it! (Think anything from fridge magnets to coffee tables.) For those who live near forest areas or have property with trees that need thinning now and again, DIY wood slice crafts are certainly an amazing way to use some of that wood. The rest of us can buy already-cut wood slices to our heart's content and maybe dream about someday having a yard full of fallen tree parts, that with the help of a chainsaw could become great DIY material. While this article is really about how to safely use a chainsaw, I thought I'd combine it with inspiration for DIY wood slice projects that can be relevant to us all! So, chainsaw, or not, enjoy this inspiration and happy Fall crafting!

Embroidered Geometric Stars On A Recycled Styrofoam Tray, Festive And Fun Anytime!

After sharing the cross stitch apple styrofoam tray embroidery craft, I just couldn't resist dusting off this project to share with you, as it still looks great four years after I first shared it. The wonderful thing about these string stars is that they have a universal festive look so they would truly be great any time. If you don't have any styrofoam trays hanging around waiting to be upcycled, try this on cardboard, the results will also be great! Okay, here is that post:

I have been saving these little square styrofoam trays as I had a feeling that would be great for a fun recycled craft project! And the a few days ago the idea came to me, embroider them! For starters I gave my geometric string stars a try, and I just love the results, don't you? You can use these little works of art as is hung on the wall (or in the succah!) or make some shapes to hang form the bottom of the piece, dream catcher style! So gather soem styrofoam trays, or even a piece or cardboard or foam core, and lets get started.

Cross Stitch Apple Embroidery On A Foam Tray!

I have dusted off this project from my archives, as it is truly one of my all time favorites! And this apple is just the beginning, collect styrofoam trays (from non-meat items) and have fun thinking of all the possibilities!I have a box with a bunch of trays in the basement, so if and when I get around to dreaming up some more cross stitch projects you'll be the first to know! I just got a big batch of embroidery thread that is calling my name, so you never know! Here's the old post that was written a week before Rosh HaShana, this time around we have more like a week and a half. Ah yes, and I've finally begun to realize that apples are a great symbol for the succah as well, so this craft can be enjoyed as decor indoors and then hung in the succah!

Here's a fun apple cross stitch craft that is fun for all ages, and is a recycling craft to boot! And with Rosh HaShana in less than a week, well a few of these cross stitch apples, that can be whipped up quite quickly would be a great way to welcome the new year! Not to mention of course that apple themed crafts are always perfect for teacher appreciation gifts and Fall. So gather your supplies, and if you don't have a recycled styrofoam tray on hand you could even use a piece of cardstock, a piece of foam core, or even a paper plate! Time is of the essence, so lets get crafting!

Plastic Bottle Apples To Make For Rosh HaShana Gift Giving And Succah Decorating!

Plastic bottle apples, namely apples made from recycled plastic bottles are something I've been making for quite a few years. They make great little gift boxes or treat boxes, are quite simple to whip up, and everyone loves them. Not to mention that you help create awareness of recycling and minimizing waste, and, this project is at its best when no spray paint (big yuk, bad for health and environment!) is used, rather the bottle is filled with something red. While an apple is generally thought of as a symbol for Rosh HaShana, many have the custom of hanging apples in the succah, as it is a fall harvest fruit, and Succot does certainly include the fall harvest!

At Rosh HaShana we always liked to give little gifts of appreciation to the teacher, and my kids very often prepared a small treat with a New Year's card for all the kids in their class. I like to give little gifts to neighbors, and this plastic bottle apple is perfect for tucking in a small treat (in a red wrapped) and a note, because I'd rather spend time crafting than baking! I have seen this idea or something similar made with a zipper, though I have not succeeded with that as great looking as it is. Simply punching a few holes and tying the top and bottom together with a ribbon makes this craft one that can truly be made in quantities, assuming you have been saving plastic bottles! Okay, now is the time to get crafting, let's make some plastic bottle apples!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! We have been experiencing an extreme heat wave, with temps expected to be as high as 107 F, which is not at all a regular occurence for us here in Northern Israel on our coolish mountaintop location. Very grateful for air conditioning right about now, as I get ready for Shabbat ( I usually write this on Friday afternoon) with the challah baking now back in my court as my teen daughter has flown the coop for school and arrived home on the bus sometime around 4 am, sooooooo, challah it will be. I am about to look up the recipe here on the blog, just to make sure I remember correctly, as it has literally been years! Speaking of years, I haven't picked up a crochet hook since January and feeling the need to crochet something, especially with all the great features, or maybe it is time to knit baby booties? Enjoy the features, and think about delving in to the projects for Rosh HaShana, which is in just two weeks!

Sketch Flowers Over The Abstract Watercolor Landscape To Improve It!

In the last 5 or so months as I've upped my sketchbook game considerably, I've also been slowly mastering the art of fixing mistakes, as pages in a sketchbook should depict a journey, but in my case not the stumbles, I prefer to forget about those! So, while my other fixes have been via paper collage or acrylic paint, fixing a watercolor landscape that isn't pleasing is actually a fun creative endeavor, as once you realize that the not so great watercolor sketch becomes a background for something else, ahhhh, the fun can begin. On a whim I decided to sketch a few large flowers not in proportion to the scale of the little brightly colored landscape watercolors, and I just love the accidental success of it! Now, covering a spread in my watercolor sketchbook is not four little landscapes as planned, but something more akin to a wall mural, so take a look and keep this in mind if you ever find yourself in a similar situation (which I hope you do!)

Abstract Watercolor Landscape Sketches With Pen

Last week I shared with you some very simple abstract watercolor sketches, check it out here, which are really lovely, and now I'm want to show you what to do when those sketches are not so successful! It is true you could just leave them alone, or paint over them entirely, but first, try defining some of the spaces with pen or colored pencil. I used a black waterproof pen and and white gel pen, but do experiment, as that is what a sketchbook is all about. After all my fears of messing up in my sketchbook, this week I entered a mind space where at long last I feel freer to experiment in my sketchbook, as first of all it is small and therefore makes more sense timewise, and ahhhhh, no one needs to know about it! Well of course no one except for you all, my dear readers. So, I really really do recommend trying to start a sketchbook practice, I am finding it to be so very rewarding and interesting, especially since this week I've moved into my landscape orientation watercolor paper sketchbook! Okay, have a look at the rest of the group, that were painted across two pages......

Take A Walk In An Olive Grove In Northen Israel!

We are in the middle of an extreme heat wave which means it is even too hot at 6pm for my usual walk which takes me through a lovely old olive grove, so I thought I'd share with you some photos I took a few weeks ago on one of those end of the day walks! Come along, it will be lovely!

Olive trees are native to the Mediterranean region (as well as parts of Africa and Asia) and both olive oil and olives play a great role in the Mediterranean diet. Not to mention that olive oil was the oil lit in the menorah in the Beit HaMikdash, and is now used by many when lighting the Chanukah menorah. Olive trees are seen dotting the hills all over Israel, and some of them have huge trunks, meaning they are hundreds of years old. There is an olive tree in town that is said to be 800 years old, and its trunk is practically a little house! Olive trees are also evergreens, so they basically look the same year round, except when bearing olives (which is really only noticable when you are close up) or flowering with tiny flowers in the Spring. While some trees have a uniform shape, olive trees come in many shapes and sizes, as you will see on our little walk through the olive grove!

Red Canna In Bloom

If you get excited when something blooms in your container garden, as we do, then make sure to always have plants in your life, as they bring you joy! The plant nursery is always like a "candy store" for me, and sometimes there are plants that I just can't resist. Of course if I happen to be with my husband on any trip to the nursery I have to keep things under control, but I have a girl's only trip planned with a friend within the next few weeks, and I may just have to treat myself a bit......and I'd say it is certainly better than buying shoes or an expensive purse, as so many others get to enjoy my plants as well, especially if they are in my container garden, which is mostly on a public access path.

Speaking of my container garden, I just love Canna, whether it be yellow canna or red canna or a combination of the two, and I currently have two large pots of yellow canna and one tiny pot of red canna. The canna is a tropical perrennial that dies back almost completely in the winter, (in my area) but comes back in the spring. The canna plant's roots are runners, which means when not in a container it can take over your garden, so do be aware of that. As far as growing them in containers it means that the plant will fill a large container in one season possibly and keep on pleasing for years to come. In areas with extreme winters, like in Canada, canna is enjoyed in summer containers everywhere, in fact I wanted to call the country Canna-da on account of the huge quantities of canna I saw there three years ago! Canna is amazing because of its very large and attractive leaves and its flowers, and the fact that it serves as a great vertical element in a container that is a mix of plants, though it also works well in beds.