TheTrees New Year

Hello dear readers, Today, in Israel, we are celebrating TU-BESHVAT, A new year for the trees. Our Jewish calendar has 4 new years. Well, even I am not quite familiar with all four of them, but this one, is well remembered because since childhood I went out with my class-mates and our teache to plant trees. We got to eat plenty of delicious fruits and nuts as well. I'm not sure the children will be able to go out planting trees now because of the epidemic. The Hebrew lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year and uses the 19-year Metonic cycle to bring it into line with the solar year, with the addition of an intercalary month every two or three years, for a total of seven times per 19 years. Even with this intercalation, the average Hebrew calendar year is longer by about 6 minutes and 40 seconds than the current mean tropical year, so that every 216 years the Hebrew calendar will fall a day behind the current mean tropical year. For this occasion, I gaveaway two flowers and plants stand to the Day Care Center. The stands will be permanently displayed under glass cover.

I used recycled wooden chopsticks, popsiclesticks, egg-carton, colored paper, beads, to make the stands. I wish you a lovely creative week with blessings!!

Calendario de Adviento 2021 - Bandeja de toquador - Vanity tray tutorial

Hola queridos lectores

Una vez más estoy aquí con ustedes, participando en el 2021 Calendario de Adviento organizado por Matxalen.  Muchas gracias Matxalen por invitarme.

Este es mi paso a paso tutorial para hacer una bandeja de toquador para una muñeca elegante                                    

En la bandeja de la foto de abajo hay elementos que se pueden preparar fácilmente con materiales fáciles de encontrar.  Usé pegamento pegajoso para todo en este tutorial.

Para una muñeca elegante

Hello dear readers

Once again I'm here with you, participating in the 2021 Spanish Advent Calendar organized by Matxalen. Thank you Matxalen for inviting me.

This is my step-by-step tutorial for making a vanity tray for an elegant doll.

On the tray in the photo below are items that can be easily prepared from easy-to-find materials. I used tacky glue for everything in this tutorial.

1.  EL FLORERO:

El florero largo es un recorte de un protector de aguja de inyección. Las flores son de papel  perforado, pero cualquier pequeña flor de plástico puede reemplazarlas. Pegué un anillo de puente en la parte superior para adornar el "jarrón". Pegue un pedacito de acetato transparente en la parte inferior y recórtelo con unas tijeras.

1.  THE VASE:

The long vase is cut out from an injection needle protector.  The flowers are from punched-out colored paper but any small plastic flower can replace them. I glued a jumper ring to its top to embellish the "vase". Glue a little piece of transparent acetate to the bottom, trimming it with scissors.

2.  EL COLLAR:

Usé piezas de joyería rotas para hacer el collar. Las fotos a continuación explican mejor que las palabras.

Una buena fuente de cadenas y piezas de metal son los pendientes baratos. Los cinco collares a continuación están hechos de estos dos pendientes. Las piedras azules que adornan los collares son de una cuenta de turquesa genuina rota que aplasté con un martillo. Las otras piedras son adornos de uñas.

2.  THE NECKLACE:

I used broken pieces of jewelry to make the necklace.  The photos below explain better than words.

A good source for chains is metal parts of cheap earrings. All five necklaces below are made from these two earrings. The blue stones adorning the necklaces are from a broken genuine turquoise bead which I crushed with a hammer.  The other stones are nail embellishments.

3.   EL SOPORTE DE COLLAR:

El soporte está hecho de una cartulina sobre la que se pega un papel de terciopelo negro. Para que quede vertical, pegue una tira de cartulina detrás y dóblela hacia atrás. (vea las fotos a continuación).Simplemente puede pintar la tarjeta de negro, que también será un buen fondo para el collar.

3.  THE NECKLACE STAND:

The stand is made from cardstock covered with stick-on black velvet paper.  To make it stand-up glue a strip of card behind it and bend it backward. (see photos below.) You can just paint the card black, which will also be a nice background for the necklace.

4.  EL LAPIZ LABIAL:

4.  THE LIPSTICK:

Un simple cierre de collar de cuentas es necesario para hacer este lápiz labial. atorníllelo y píntelo casi todo de negro, dejando el medio sin pintar. En la parte central abierta sin pintar, empuje el extremo de un palillo de dientes pintado de rojo o un poco de arcilla polimérica roja.

A simple beads necklace clasp is necessary for making this lipstick. screw it apart and paint it almost all over black, leaving the middle unpainted. Into the open unpainted middle part push either the end of a red painted toothpick or a bit of red polymer clay.

5.  EL FRASCO DE PERFUME:

5.  THE PERFUME BOTTLE

Necesitará una cuenta de su elección; la parte de atrás de un pendiente; un alfiler (cortado en una longitud adecuada; una etiqueta pequeña (la mía es de un periódico).

You will need a bead of your choice; a back of an earring; a pin (cut into a suitable length; a tine label (mine is from a newspaper).

El frasco de perfume de abajo eran obsequios de Jennifer

The perfume bottles below are gifts from Jennifer.

Translation resultsNecesitará una cuenta de su elección; la parte de atrás de un pendiente; un alfiler (cortado en una longitud adecuada; una etiqueta pequeña (la mía es de un perTTThe perfume bottle below were gifts from Jennifer

Translation resultTodos los frascos de perfume en la foto de abajo son regalos de JennifeAll the perfume bottles in the photo below are gifts from JennifeThe bottles below are all gifts6.  EL JOYERO

6.  THE JEWELRY BOX

Para realizar este tipo de joyeros pequeños es necesario utilizar anillos metálicos redondos, fornituras de joyería en forma de corazón o flor, etc. todos igualmente del mismo tamaño.

Esta caja está hecha de 5 fornituras de metal en forma de corazón. En dos de ellos se colocó una bola plana de arcilla blanca Fimo para que se horneara en el horno según lo recomendado por Fimo u otros fabricantes de arcilla polimérica. Use uno para la capa inferior y el otro para la cubierta. Los otros tres se pegarán, uno encima del otro. y luego a la pieza inferior de Fimo. Corta un trozo de espuma artesanal fina (eva) en forma de corazón y pégala debajo de la tapa para mantener la caja firmemente cubierta. (vea la tercera foto a continuación).

Decora la parte superior de la caja con un adorno de uñas.

To make these types of small jewelry boxes it is necessary to use round metal rings, heart-shaped or flower-shaped jewelry findings, etc. all equally the same size.                                                  

This box is made from 5 metal heart-shaped jewelry findings. Into two of them pushed a flattened ball of white Fimo clay to be baked in the oven as advised by the Fimo or other polymer clay manufacturers. Use one for the bottom layer and the other for the cover. The three others are to be glued, one on top of the other. and then to the bottom Fimo inlaid piece.  Cut a piece of heart shape thin craft foam and glue it under the cover to keep the box firmly covered.  (see the third photo hereunder.) 

Decorate the top of the box with a nail embellishment.

7.  EL COMPACTO DE MAQUILLAJE:

7.  THE MAKEUP COMPACT:

Materiales;

Lentejuelas doradas de 7 mm; Fimo beige o otra arcilla polimérica; tarjeta plateada para "espejo"; pegamento pegajoso.

Con un punzón de oficina ordinario, perfore un círculo de la tarjeta "espejo". Haga una pequeña bola de arcilla, aplánela para que se ajuste al interior de una lentejuela. Hornee y luego péguelo a la lentejuela. En el interior de la segunda lentejuela pegue el espejo diminuto. El agujero de la lentejuela de espejo se puede cubrir con un pequeño adorno de uñas.

Materials;

7 mm gold sequins; beige Fimo or other polymer clay; silver card for "mirror" tacky glue.

With an ordinary office punch, perforate a circle from the "mirror"-card.  Make a tiny ball of clay, flatten it to make it fit the inside of one sequin. Bake and then glue it to the sequin.  Into the inside of the second sequin glue the tiny mirror.  The hole in the mirror sequin can be covered with a tiny nail embellishment.

Estimados lectores, no olviden marcar los números del Calendario de Adviento 2021 en el lado izquierdo de la barra de mi blog. Cada uno de los 24 días contará con un tutorial de diferentes blogueros talentosos y experimentados.

Aprovecho esta oportunidad para felicitar a Matxalen. Diez Calendarios de Adviento exitosos no son un logro menor, deseo que continúes, Matxalen, esta tradición por muchos años más.

¡Feliz Adviento, Feliz Navidad y Feliz 2022!

Dear readers, please do not forget to poke the numbers on the 2021 Advent Calendar on the left side of the bar of my blog. Each of the 24 days will carry a tutorial by different talented and experienced fellow bloggers.

I am using this opportunity to congratulate Matxalen.  Ten successful Advent Calendars are no small achievement, Matxalen, I wish you to continue this tradition for many more years.

Happy Advent Days, Merry Christmas, and a Happy 2022!

Gifts from Spain

 Hello dear friends,

It's amazing how time flies away so fast. It's almost the end of November and this is probably going to be my one and only post this month. It's not because I've been lazy, on the contrary, I'm kept fully occupied at the Day Center three days a week now and find it worth my while. 

Last week a parcel received from a most generous person in Blogland, Ricardo, arrived just in time for our Hannukka holidays which start the day after tomorrow, on Sunday, 28 November.  Surprisingly among the wonderful contents are Hannukka items made especially for me. I'm overwhelmed with emotion imagining how thoughtful and considerate Ricardo was in taking the time to investigate our traditions and make something out of the way just for me.

Dear Ricardo. it was a very sad day for me when I heard that Montserrat Caballe passed away.  I loved listening to her amazing voice.  She was one of the greatest opera singers in the world and I'm pleased to see that Montserrat is commemorated with stamps in her memory.

When it comes to shrinking books and packages Ricardo is the specialist.  

Hannukkah items, especially made for me.  The original box must have held 44 candles to last all eight nights of this holiday.

Thank you, dear Ricardo, for your wonderful gifts and, above all for including me as your friend.

The ladies at the Day Center prefer knitting instead of creating miniatures.  I now fully realize how blessed I am to have a good sight and steady hands which enable me to continue crafting at my age.  It's something that I took for granted before.  The two days I volunteered for turned out to be three but believe me I am very happy to be there.  The new favorite neck warmers we made are all sold out.  

My youngest, 3 years old, adorable great-grandchild is happy with the new bunny neckwarmer that I made for her.

We still have one hour for miniature every Tuesday.  I showed how to make planters from egg-carton.  The planters turned out fairly good for beginners.  Next Tuesday I'll show them how to make the plants.

I wish you all a lovely weekend to enjoy and blessings. 

Baalatova's new corner table.

Hello dear readers,

It's Halloween and time for the witchy spirit.

Baalatova finally managed, with a lot of effort and magic, to precede and shorten the long waiting queue for the entrance to the Ghost Academy for Skeletones.  Since the Skellies left for their training, she has not heard anything from them.  She misses them and is sad and moody.

Solly the little angel bear with the kindest of hearts, tried to console her by suggesting that a new piece of furniture for her potions concoctions may brighten her mood.  Which led up to Baalatova demanding that I quickly create a corner table for her potions. She can do it herself by a clap of her hands and some magic words, but prefers to give the task to me.

In order not to disappoint the kind hearted little Solly, I used what I had at hand to create the table:

Two pizza separating triangle tables; a crochet chain about 17 cm long; a piece of cardboard; acrylic paint; 3 metal skeleton heads; and tacky glue.

 

Before I glued the two tables' surfaces together I drew a line around one surface on the cardboard.  

I cut two cardboard templates and glued them together.  Later on, after gluing the crochet chain around

it, it was glued on the top legs of the structure.  (See photo below.)

After I glued a skeleton head on each leg, I painted overall with acrylic light brown.

Baalatova came to inspect and seems rather pleased.

Here she is. Inspecting the table from another angle.  Solly also looks satisfied that his plan came together.

My friend Birgit, who created Solly, sent me, a long time ago, all the potion bottles which are on the table.  They are all made by Birgit herself. Thank you again dear Birgit. This post is a tribute to Birgit, which we all hope to see back soon in Blogsphere.

I wish you, my dear readers, a lovely weekend with blessings.

 

Third Zen garden vignette completed

 Hello dear readers

The third and last of the trio Zen vignettes is ready to be displayed.  It is very hard to catch a serenity air in the very small space given.  I learned that to do so, the fewer items in the garden are best.  

For a clearer picture, photos are without the plexiglass.

These three photos from the internet were my inspiration.

Dear readers,  one can never know what surprises the future holds for him.  Suddenly, at the age of 90 I became a knitting instructor, For at least 30 years I didn't hold a knitting needle and now I am teaching the folks at the daycare center to knit special neck warmers.  To do so, I surfed the internet saw samples, translated the instructions into Hebrew, and knitted the first samples myself.  The first ones are already being knitted by very enthusiastic ladies. The center provides the wool, the ladies knit the items. If they want to keep an item they only pay the cost of the wool.  Items that are not bought by the knitters are sold on a Bazaar at higher prices to cover the cost of the other craft materials.

This is the one I knitted myself for my 12 years old great-granddaughter.

I am now knitting the sample from the photo below.   Next, I'll teach knitting beanie hats to go with the neckwarmers.

  

I hope this post didn't bore you too much and wish you wonderful cool autumn days with blessings.

My second miniature ZEN garden vignette

 Hello dear readers,

This is the second of my three Zen miniature gardens vignettes.  It was fun making it.  The little Buddha is one of four Buddhas sculptures all of them gifted to me by my generous friend, Birgit.

Zen gardens, if they are cluttered up with too many items lose their air of serenity.  

I made this Moon-Gate from saved stems of bunches of grapes.  The bushes on the sides of the gate are from stems of dry baby breath flowers, with teeny-tiny rose-colored paper flowers glued on.  The "grass" ground is a thin piece of green painted foam.  To soften the old stems (twigs) I boiled them in water for a few minutes, when cooled down but still moist, wrapped them around a small glass pill container. These are good for small door wreaths as well.

 

"Stone" figures:  Buddha, a gift from  Birgit.  Angels candle holder, a gift from Rosa Maria. The small rock, made from styrofoam.

Plastic chess pieces make great mini pedestals.  They are easily cut and painted.

I wonder if Rosa Maria's angels look better as a fire-pit on the ground than on the pedestal. I'd love to know what you think about it. They can always go back on the pedestal. I made the box so that it can come in and out of the frame.  Here it is without the "glass" so that the inside is clear to the view.

The third Zen vignette is on its way now.  I have to start crafting Christmas and Hanukka gifts if I want them to arrive in time for my friends overseas.  Our post service is completely unpredictable, sometimes it takes a parcel to arrive at its destination longer than two months while another, posted at the same time takes only three weeks. 

The days are shorter but still hot here, the nights are cooler and it's a big relief.  I hope you enjoy cooler autumn days overseas.

I wish all my readers a pleasant and enjoyable weekend with blessings.