Edible Pandas, nuts and more plants.

Hello dear readers,

These little pandas are sweets, literally.  Actually, they are candies in disguise, probably made in China, a gift from my grandson.

For weeks I've been on the look-out for walnut shells. I was given to understand that fresh nuts are expected to be imported at the end of the year. It was a frustrating situation because the ones I meant to giveaway are still unavailable.  They are still at the exposition waiting to be photographed by a professional photographer and after an interview with me, to be published in their magazine. I'll write more when and if it will be published.

Yesterday,  Galia, my dear daughter surprised me by giving me 20 walnuts she found in another town market.  It was a delightful gift.  Then I received a call from my son-in-law, Nilly's husband who
told me he bought one kilo (Over two pounds) walnuts for me.  I received them this morning.  They came too late for Christmas scenes.  I already posted my gifts overseas for friends who will get winter scenes only.  I believed the nuts were fresh, recently imported, but they are stale, on the way to the bin.  Luckily it is an advantage.  A tip to anyone who wants to craft walnut shells.  Buy old ones, they split open easily. Only a few need to be soaked in water overnight.

Hanukka falls on 23 Dec, leaves me enough time to prepare walnut shells gifts to my grandchildren and other members of our family.  When the holidays are over I'll try to decorate one or two nutshells each week and have ready gifts for any occasion.

I didn't have much time for miniatures at the beginning of this week.  Still, I made a few new pots of
flowers and am working on a new step by step tutorial.

Have a wonderful weekend with blessings.

Surprise giveaway

Hello dear readers,

First of all, I'm happy to welcome Terry Candee. Terry is follower number 700 of this blog! This occasion calls for a giveaway, which will be a surprise one, The only hint I can give you is that it'll have nothing to do with Christmas or Hanukka or flowers. A photo showing the giveaway will be posted here a day before the draw.

The draw will be on the 4th of December, 2019.
all you have to do if you want to participate is be a follower of this blog and make a comment on this post.

A lot has passed since I last made flowers.  I forgot how time-consuming it is.  Next week I have to post all my Christmas gifts abroad if I want them to arrive on time. I spent every single spare minute this week to make a few flower boxes and pots. No matter how early I start working on gifts I always short of time.

All the containers are made from egg-cartons. The last photo gives an indication of how the boxes are made.  All are filled with brown Plastelina.  It stays soft and easy to plant the flowers inside.  Also, you can pull out the plants and transfer them to any other container.

Have fun making wonderful minis with blessings!

Small miniatures from stash

Hello dear readers,

I intended to make flowers and plants for my egg-carton pots, but while looking for my box of punches I saw another box filled with "someday material" which led to new and old ideas.


Purchased this plastic bracelet with earrings, a few years ago at a one shekel store. Thought it's time to turn some minis out of it.

The first thing I did was to take it apart.

Here are a few of the minis it already yielded.  I'll try to shape the little metal strips with two holes in their ends into handles.  Not bad for the price of one IL shekel.  And there is still enough left for making more candlesticks. 

At my husband's nursing home center,  some of the patients are diabetic. I noticed the nurses throwing away the injection needle's protective plastic cover and asked if they could save some for me.
These "Best out of Waste" pieces were created today. Hope you like them.

Had a pack of google-eyes and a pack of these gold plated metal thingies from the Shekel Store. I used my hand saw to cut into several pieces the needle protector, you see in the photo below.  Next time I'll try using a hot knife which will maybe leave cleaner edges.

Spice containers filled with real spices.

The tall plates are made from the bottom of the needle protector and the cover of the google-eye.
"Glasses" for drinks.

Hello dear readers

The green glazed ceramics came out of the kiln.   It's not the color I was expecting. I wanted vintage green and got blue-grey-green with white blots.  I am very disappointed with this color.  I intended to make these as part of my Christmas/Hanukka gifts and now There's no time left to make new ones.

Before

After: The cookies are craft foam., the fruit, (except the watermelon which was purchased online),  are  Fimo,
two cakes from ceramic clay all made by me.  The beautifully frosted cake is a gift received some years ago and I am really ashamed for not remembering who sent it. This is one cake I'm keeping for myself.

Today I  made more egg-carton flower pots and decorated them with clay leaves.
This weekend will be spent on making plants to show you next week.

Have a great weekend with blessings.

A trip to the beach

Hello dear readers,

I realize that not all of you, especially new readers who have recently become followers of this blog, know the story of Baalatova the ancient witch and her friends.  This story, in parts, is being told on or before Halloween every year almost since this blog exists.

Skella and Skelly (A gift from my granddaughter Tali)a couple of skeletons after centuries of being stiff,  long with all their might to become flexible, floating ghosts but the Ghost Academy has a long waiting list for applicants.  The Skellies,  unable to wait for more centuries, know that they need magic help.

Baalatova the witch (A precious gift from my very talented and generous friend  Sarit who created her) had a terrible accident on her way back home from a witch and sorcerers convention. Her flying broom collided with the top of a tree, she fell down, broke a leg and, worst of all, lost her magic wand.  Without the wand, Baalatova is completely helpless. She slowly limps on her way home.

The Skellies send out their cats to find the wand, hoping to befriend Baalatova. The cats, after a long search, find the wand.  Baalatova gets a new home and is very friendly with the Skellies. Once a year, on Halloween, she uses her magic wand and special efforts to turn them, for a few hours only, into ghosts letting them have a taste of how it feels to haunt.

Solly the magical flying bear, (Another precious gift from my generous and very talented friend Birgit who created him) is immediately upon his arrival adopted by the greedy Baalatova to become her beloved pet.

Kitty the cat girl, (my latest precious gift from my generous and very talented friend Tatiana who created her) was also, immediately upon her arrival, adopted by Baalatova who now is surrounded by beloved pets.

A trip to the beach

Solly and Kitty for the first time in their life, are going with Baalatova to the beach.
Baalatova is deciding what to take along with them.

Water, hat, and sunglasses for Solly, basket for carrying the water bottles and bring back collected seashells when empty, a camera, the magic wand, and flying broom.

Solly (shouting excitedly):  Look! A human male! Didn't know they existed.

Baalatova:  Of course you didn't.  Until today your relations with humans were with females only, Birgit, me, Drora, and Kitty.  Kitty is a catgirl but dressed as a human girl. A female and a male human make a couple. They produce cubs which they call children and oddly enough, keep calling them children even when they the children become adults.



Baalatova:  Look, over there is a good place to sit and chat, watch the sea and take photos to send
to Birgit and Tatiana.

Baalatova:  Just stay there while I use my magic wand to bring another seat for me.

Baalatova:  Now we are all comfortable, breathing sea air and looking around.

Solly (shouting excitedly):  Look! A human male! Didn't know they existed.

Baalatova:  Of course you didn't.  Until today your only relations with humans have been with females, Birgit, me and Drora.  Kitty, although she's dressed as a human girl, is a female kitten. Male and female humans are a couple that makes a family.  Oddly enough they produce cubs and call them children. and keep calling them so even when the children become adults.

Kitty and Solly (together):  Oh, bliss! We can lay here and stay looking at the sea forever.

Baalatova:  Sorry, we have to be back soon. The Skellies are eagerly waiting for me to transform them for a few hours tonight into ghosts and I seriously need to have some fun too.  We plan to go haunting while the cats keep you company. No, you cannot join us, you're too young.  Wait till you grow up.

Solly:  Can I photo the beach to send to my friends overseas.  There are a few swimmers in the sea and some seated in the cafes spread along the promenade. Such a lovely sunny day at the end of October.

Baalatova:  Of course dear, that's why we brought the camera with us.

Photos were taken this morning, on the Rishon-Lezion beach strip.

Evening, Solly and kitty had a great day. They are happy and content to stay home.  For the "temporary" ghosts, fun time just started.

Happy Halloween. all! Have fun!

Baalatova and friends.

Hello dear readers,

Baalatova accusing looks reminded me that Halloween is next week and who knows what's going to happen to me if I don't report news about her. It's been a long while since I last mentioned her.

Here she is queening it over her beloved Solly and Kitty and her friends the Skeletons.,
making fun plans.

Baalatova -  Solly, you have been a well behaved little angel bear and deserve a visit to the beach.  I promise you a trip very soon.

Solly -  But how shall I get there? Can I have a ride with you on your broom?

Baalatova  - Silly bearie! Don't you have wings?
Solly  -  Oh sorry, haven't used them yet.  But won't it be too warm for me there?

Baalatova - The weather is getting cooler now.  We'll postpone our trip if it's raining or too warm
                    for you.

Baalatova  -  Kitty, you can come along,  riding on the broom with me.

Skelly   -   Dear Baalatova, excuse us if we don't go. It's dangerous to be on the beach in daylight.

Baalatova   - Yes, I know.  You and Skella may well stay out. By the way, I managed, with the help of friends in high positions at the Haunting  Academy, to move you up on the enlistment waiting list.  You now have only one century to wait for your entry.

Skella and Skelly  (happily jumping up and down)  - WOW!!!

Skelly  -  Please Baalatova, will you still go haunting with us on Halloween eve?  It was less fun without you last year.

Baalatova   -  I'll be happy to, but please send over Leona and the other cats to babysit Kitty and Solly.

Kitty and Solly (together) -  But we too want to go haunting with you.

Baalatova -  Impossible! You are too young.  You'll have fun with the nice cats and we'll bring you back sweet treats.

What's left to see, dear readers is if Baalatova keeps her promise of a trip to the beach.  Solly and Kitty are already impatient with expectation.

Happy Halloween!

Have a fun creative week with blessings

Mutshell winter scenes and a working candle tutorial

Hello dear readers,

I'm out of walnuts shells.  From the last ones at hand, I made some nativity and winter scenes.
I'll continue with the fairy-tales scenes when I get the new, fresh nuts.



All three have a snowman on one half and a little house with snow-covered trees on 
another half.

The pine trees are cut and trimmed green shades pipe-cleaners.

Made the easiest, most simple, working miniature candles today. Used a leftover birthday candle. Dipped a cutter in hot water in order not to crumble the delicate candle and cut it into 6 or more pieces. By rolling when cutting the wicker is left undamaged. Used a red nail polish to paint one piece and got me a Christmas candle.

I always admire the incredible miniature crochet works on the blogs and cherish all the mini crochet treasures I received as gifts.  It's wonderful to see what can be achieved by using threads, a hook and talented fingers.

You will probably be as awed as I am by Stephanie Pokorny's works. She is a crochet artist who made nine Halloween costumes for her kids. If you want to see more Here WOW!

I wish you all happy crafting with blessings.