creative jewish mom

A Visit To Lake Agmon And A View Of Mount Hermon!

Spring is here, and while a bit chilly, no complaints as the days have been perfect for Passover outings with the family! Wow, I am so grateful to live in such an amazing location, here in Northern Israel, with an abundance of stunning and meaningful places to visit! This year we have so far visited two new places, though on the first day we decided to go to one of our favorites, Lake Agmon in the Hula valley. It was packed as it always is during the holidays of Passover and Succot, but the new visitor's center made it seem otherwise and we had a lovely few hours enjoying the lake, the bicycling (for some) and the golf carting (for others.) Most notably was the view of the snow capped Mt.Hermon, which was just stunning! And I bought myself a little present of pocket guides to all the wild animals and plants in Israel, so that now I can name them when I paint them......

Keep on reading for some more lovliness, and take a look at my previous posts about the Hula valley, here to learn about the crane migration, and here to learn about the bird watching area.

Counting The Omer With Art

Last year, during the week of Passover,when we do not do art, I had the idea of making an art journal for counting the omer. Once Passover ended I quickly prepared pages, 49 plus, one for each day of the Omer, and then began making art on each of the pages. This turned out to be too large a project for that time period, so this year I'm going to finish that journal, and hopefully start another, as I just can't resist! There is just something about counting the Omer with daily creating that is so perfect! So do give the idea of marrying an art practice with spirituality for this special time period leading up to Shavuos!

There are so many ways to make your own journal, though you could also opt to buy a sketchbook and commit to an entry for each of the remaining 41/42 days once Passover has ended. Simply splashing some color on watercolor paper sheets and making those into a journal is simple and wonderful, and you could make them tiny or large enough for collage or sketching. While adding a sticker to a piece of wall art to count the days is wonderful, and great for children, I think that those of use who love art should make an effort to harness the energy of this period to bring more art into the world, even if it is just for you!

So friends, lets do this! And for day to day updates of what I'll be up to, next week and until Shavuot, please follow me on instagram!

An Art Journal For Sefirat HaOmer

We are now in the middle of the seven day Passover holiday, which also means we have started a period on the Jewish calendar called sefirat haomer, which means the counting of the omer. This is a 49 day period between the 2nd night of Pesach, and the holiday of Shavuot, when we receive the Torah. There are many deep aspects of the counting of the days during this period, but lets just say that it is a time for character refinement, and for those who wish to delve deeper it is a time to really learn about how the sefirot of kabbalah influence our everyday.

For those of us for whom creativity is an important part of life, what better time than to create an art journal for the counting of the omer? It could be a simple journal for writing and sketches or something more layered and artful. Or maybe it is something that can be used over the period of a few years to act as a daily journal? The only problem is that we really can not create anything during the holiday of Passover, so last year when this idea occurred to me, I was already a week behind before I even started the journal! This year I will finish the one I started last year and maybe start another to finish next year? Never mind the time limits, get those creative juices flowing and you will be more than ready to receive the Torah! Give it some thought, and whether you choose to start a daily sketching of journaling practice as soon as Passover ends, or create a homemade handstitched journal as I have the main thing is to just do it!

3 Moves To Help You Plan For The Financial Future Of Your Family

With a rising number of parents becoming stay-at-home parents, and more focus on family in general, many families will be thinking about financial security. While financial security as a family, today, tomorrow and in the future is the greatest concern, and many parents explore income streams at home to improve their family’s financial situation, parents should also be planning for their children’s future after they're gone. While it is difficult to imagine and plan for a time when you will not be there for your children, being proactive now and taking steps to ensure they are protected when the time comes can drastically reduce the transition for them, and any other family members affected. Whether you are making plans for your estate’s future or your child’s educational future, here are three smart moves every parent can make to invest in the future of their family.

Craft Schooling Sunday Is Taking A Passover Break, Resumes Next Week

Thanks so much for stopping by, today is the first day of Passover, and I am unplugged as we celebrate with the Passover seder (only 1 in Israel, 2 elsewhere) so it just wouldn't seem appropriate to be holding a party, even a virtual one! So please come back next week, when we in Israel will have completed the holiday, and crossed the Red Sea, as we do each and every year! All the best!

Next Year In Jerusalem!

Next Year In Jerusalem! I painted this little Jerusalem cityscape a few months ago, and it is the perfect piece of mixed media art to share with you right now as we push ourselves over the finish line of Passover preparations, phew! Wishing everyone an amazing, restful and meaningful week of Passover. May we all merit to escape the slavery in our minds, and in our hearts and in the world at large. See you after we cross the Red Sea, and wishing you all the very best!

Origami Jumping Frogs For The Passover Seder

With the Jewish holiday of Passover arriving on Saturday night, ready or not, now might be the time to spend just a few minutes making a cute craft to grace your Passover seder table? I'll admit, despite high hopes of totally cleaning out my studio, I am exhausted right now and will settle for almost organized, not including cabinets! And of course there are other areas in the house that need attention, not to mention the container garden, though I don't think I'll get to that before the holiday, we have been having huge rain and dust storms for two days! As far as that studio of mine, it will never organize itself, so I'd better finish this post! Passover is the holiday is which we not only remember our deliverance from slavery historically, but also work on not being slaves to things in our lives today, in my case all the stuff!

This origami frog craft is a perfect last minute craft, which I posted last year around this time as well, but you can never have anough frogs at the Passover seder! Enough babble, enjoy this origami frog craft that I did 8 years ago! You can find the complete instructions here.

And wishing you lots of energy to finish up all the preparations, and then enjoy!

Basic Sewing Techniques Every Beginner Should Know

 

Right about now, as Passover approaches, you might be thinking you wish you knew how to quickly whip up an afikomen bag, check out mine here, or pillow covers for the seder, or maybe some new curtains, or a special tablecloth? While there is likely not time to delve into learning to sew items for this year's Passover celebration, why not make it a goal to learn about sewing during the coming year, so that next year you truly will be able to whip up all the items of your dreams?

Sewing is not only a fun and fantastic hobby but a great way to save money and make your own home decor items and simple clothing.  When you know how to sew, you are also able to repair and improve the longevity and functionality of your existing clothes, and you are even able to make your own out of sustainable materials, if that is important to you. Sewing, does take time and patience to master, while basic items like hems and duvet covers are really quite simple.

Before you get started on your sewing journey, it pays to learn some basic terms and techniques, so keep on reading and good luck.....just think of this time next year...ahh, gorgeous pillow covers, new curtains, a creative new tablecloth, wow!

Passover Pyramid Craft From A Cereal Box!

 
With Passover arriving this coming Saturday night, now is the time to fit in some last minute crafting in anticipation of this wonderful holiday, and possibly keep the kids busy with a crafting station so you can finish, or continue all the holiday preparations! The essence of the holiday is to tell the story of the Jews deliverance from Egypt to the children, so getting kids involved with decorations and hand made items to celebrate and absorb this game changing history of the Jewish people is really really important!

I have been wanting to make cardboard pyramids for a few years, and while I didn't quite realize my dreams this year, I did at least make one artful cereal box pyramid, which by the way depicts the plague of hail, which was both fire and ice, so hail can certainly be pink! I love the results (though it was questionable at first) and I wish I had time to make more. Next year I'll have to make them in January! Nothing says Egypt and slavery like the pyramids, so be sure to include them in your holiday decor. A line of pyramids running down the table would be stunning! Okay, time is of the essence, lets learn how to make some of these, pronto!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! With just one week until Passover, the heat is on, the studio/office needs serious cleaning and reorganizing, and I may just have to invite my whole family in to help me in order to get it done in one day, as that is all I have realistically, and if not now, when? So friends, create to your heart's content, collect recyclables, make tons of art.....but try to organize once a week, or you may just end up with the mess I'm now facing. Not to worry I will not be sharing any photos, either before or after, just trust me on this one! Okay, then again never let the fear of mess, either yours or your kids, keep you from crafting and creating, life is messy folks! Okay, I must run, so lets take a look at the wonderful features form last week's party!