Still confined alone at home

Hello dear readers,

I hope everyone is taking care, following the COVID-19  rules and stays healthy.

If you are bored with what you're doing and want some change, here is a lovely modern "Chihuly-glass" art item you can make like the one I did by following this link
https://blukatkraft.blogspot.com/2012/09/diy-dollhouse-miniatures-modern-glass.html?fbclid=IwAR1sNaFzpsOSXXyA_Kg_CRQG7mUrgmTW0IBKDpJKLfnFGZNUG92qYjB5-yU

The nutshells are coming along just fine.  I already opened and scrapped clean about 20 halves. But working on them only drives me nuts.

The steps are also made of styrofoam.

The hardest part is scrapping the insides clean.

In order not to fall asleep from the boredom on the job with the nuts I made a little leaves tutorial  I'll need this tutorial when the COVID-19 curfew is over.

The stems are glue stiffened thick embroidery yarn.

Paper punches for making these leaves and flowers. Any other 1/8" flower of simple round punch can replace this one.

Next post, I'll show you another leave tutorial with leaves being a by-product of a tiny star punch.

Happy Fool's Day tomorrow and blessings with we all need.





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Confined at home.

Hello dear readers,

We don't know how long we'll be confined but one thing I do know is that it will be over and I'll have to create many thank-you gifts to the medical staff giving their selfless attention and care to my husband and other patients hospitalized in their ward. We cannot visit our beloved but we get fresh, daily videos and photos to see how they are.

I'm continuing to make flowers, about one vase full a day, but in between, I'm making the walnut shells scenes for gifts. The ones from the exhibitions have returned and I can use some. The nutshells were the most popular item in the exhibition, everybody liked them, so it's safe to say they will be good gifts.

What I'm doing now is preparing stands to glue the nutshells on.  I'm not completely satisfied with them, you be the judges.  I used recycled styrofoam from food plates for the stands.

Is this too much?  I want it to have a fresh spring air but I'm not sure it has it.  Also, there is to be a connection between the nut and the stand. I am thinking about adding steps.

Do you think that the one without a garden around it looks better?

These are stands in various stage of decorations.  If I won't use them for the nutshells, I can always make other scenes with them.

With the addition of accessories, this can make a nice garden corner.

I forgot to take pictures of the flowers this morning when there was sunshine for a few hours.
The photos which I took this evening are not good.  I used a lot of yellow. I miss the sunshine.

I hope everyone is safe and taking care of his love ones.

I wish you a calm and blessed weekend.

Flower making is a calming occupation

Hello dear readers,

Since the end of last week, no outsider is allowed to visit anyone at all the nursing wards in our country.  I am isolated in my own home, away from my husband who is hospitalized in his nursing home. I have more than enough to keep me busy but have no mood nor motivation to craft anything but flowers.  Making flowers is what calms and keeps me cheerful.  I also have books and watch my favorite series on TV and thanks to youtube, music from classical to jazz and pop, according to my mood.

Today, after many days of solitude, I went shopping, to the neighborhood supermarket very near my home.  It was nice to see the cashiers all wearing masks and gloves.  Very few shoppers.  I bought food supplies for the next week and returned to work, making flowers. On my last birthday, I received some beautiful flower vases. It's time to fill a few.

This vase is made by Nilly, my daughter.

These vases are gifts from my friends.

I was accepted as a member of two f/b groups which I like. This month I joined one more and this one suits me perfectly. https://www.facebook.com/groups/trash2treasurefounditems/
Turning trash into treasure is what I do mostly. I love recycling. Members of all the three groups are nice crafters like us, generous with sharing and showing their inspiring work, their tips, advice and links.

This video clip is very cute and funny.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM5k3VtD9Gg

I hope you all take good care and are safe in your homes.  Let's hope things get back to normal soon.
Meanwhile, happy crafting with blessings.

The Coronavirus is here

Hello dear readers,

All public festivities for our one and only religious fun holiday, Purim, have been canceled on account of the coronavirus.  It is an especially sad situation for the kids who wanted to show their masquerades outdoors. 
I am the only close relative allowed to visit my husband at the nursing home for fear of this virus, and as my daughters cannot replace me it means even less time for minis.
Today, there was a special Purim party at my husband's ward but no outside visitor or close relative was allowed to come, only the medical staff and help.
Not certain about tomorrow.  Other institutes like this one totally forbid outside visitors.

For the time being, we are officially isolated.  Anyone entering Israel will be quarantined for 14 days no matter which country he comes from.

I am very slow with the Jeweler's Facade project although the main structure is completed.
The shelves are finished and installed.  The ceiling is finished and later on,  I'll add shingles.


Inside of the box with dividers glued and fixed in place.

3 large bamboo skewers cut to size cover the open side of the 1/4 part of the backgammon wooden box.

Temporary cover template to be replaced with a fixed cardboard one.

There have been other miniatures to make in-between.  More nutshell and flower bouquets gifts for Purim. I couldn't take photos.  My I-phone4 battery, after seven years of excellent service, went dead on me. I preferred to buy a new phone which I just received, a very expensive I-phone11, much smarter than I am,  and slowly getting acquainted with it. Here are photos of a few gifts, meant to be given away today.

 here is a great tutorial for a modern kitchen faucet and sink.

I wish you a healthy rest of the week free of viruses and blessings only.