Flowers and plants for a flower shop project

Hello dear readers

The beginning of the new year founds me creating flowers, my favorite pass time, for the future flower shop project.  I'm not in a hurry because I absolutely don't know where there will be space to display it. Even more important, how shall I be able to protect it from dust.

First, I made egg carton pots decorated with seashells, using most of my seashells stock before I collect fresh ones. 

I found this tutorial for making wine bottles out of hot glue rods.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvpIQCau3xY&app=desktop
This is the result of my first experiment.

I used a t-light for melting the rod and painted the bottles with a cheap nail varnish.  There will probably be better results with experience, but it is sure worth a try.

Here are photos of our building, before and after. The colors before were brick red and grey with lots of ugly patches.  Now the colors are an elegant deep and light grey.

You can see the bus station next to our fence.

We said goodbye to the laborers and I must confess, at the end they were helpful., cleaning up the indoor mess and even helping me change light bulbs. However, there's no chance that I'll miss them.
The renovation took almost 6 months from start to finish.  The garden will take another 6 months to revive.

I wish you all a nice and peaceful Sunday with blessings.

Another Christmas gifts parcel from Germany

Hello dear friends,

I just received surprise, belated Christmas gifts from Nina in Germany.  Nina writes very sweet stories about everyday life in a Sylvanian families community.  Nina asked me for my address so she could send me a Christmas card.  Immagine my surprise when the card came packed inside a large shoe box, accompanied by these great gifts.

A tiny, matchbox size spooky scene.

A tiny winter scene

A  book full of Christmas stickers.

Half a pound of delicious mixed chocolates.

A lovely by hand Christmas card.  I admire Nina's beautiful handwriting. 

A lovely postcard from the City of Furth.

Baalatova developed a nasty habit of popping up each time I open a parcel, picking up the best choice, saying "If it's spooky it's mine."   "You can have the chocolates!"

Thank you dear Nina for your generous gifts and most of all for your friendship!

Christmas 2017 gifts from Germany

Hello dear friends,

Isn't it nice to be able to post about gifts again? No matter how late they arrive (c/o our slow post services) they bring joy and cheer up our spirits.  These wonderful goodies came all the way from  Birgit, in Germany. Birgit is our dear friend, whose witty comments on our posts, put smiles on our faces. Also, Birgit who tries to make her friends happy by sending specially made for them gifts.

A cute and beautiful Christmas card,  Christmas tree lights (To be used next year), Christmas tree
silver ornaments, a tiny bear and a gorgeous winged dragon.

A 2018 calendar, specially made, photoed and designed by Birgit for her friends, with gorgeous photos starring Flutterby and Rosey.  Marzipans, fresh delicious.......

In addition, 3 beautiful greeting cards, difficult to see them.

Baalatova, immediately as I opened the parcel, confiscated the tiny dragon with the excuse, that when he grows up to his final size, this winged dragon will become her transportation means instead of the unreliable brooms.  She promised to feed and take care of the little fellow until then.  Here you can see her with her favorite pets both made/painted by Birgit.  She looks smug.

Good news.  The entrance to our apartment is finished.  The final touches are scheduled for next week and then we'll be free of the laborers and I'll be able to post a photo of the new looking building.

Before

After

I wish you all a warm and pleasant end of the week with blessings.

Christmas gifts from Ukraine

As always, my dear friend Tatiana's gifts are little treasures to cherish . Tatiana is not only one of the top talented miniatures artist, she is also kind and generous. I am going to show you one by one the treasures she created for me.

A winter scene so different from the one we have here.

A Christmas wreath.  Visit Tatiana's blog to see her wonderful tutorial for a Christmas tree.

Half a nutshell cradle.

For an adorable baby, with moving hands and legs.

Pumpkins, already confiscated by Balatovah with witch.

Tiny golden charms.  My fingers itch to make some jewelry from them.                                             

Various plastic beads.  (I see three Easter eggs among them.)

Shall have to make the baby a blue stroller. I haven't changed his diaper yet but he looks like a boy.

Dear Tatiana THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I wish you all wonderful holidays and blessings.

 

Christmas Eve in an IKEA frame

Hello dear readers,

Before I go on, I want to thank all the kind and very generous bloggers who contributed, and are still contributing, fantastic Advent tutorials. This is why I am happy, grateful and proud to be in your company.


With this little scene, created by me long ago as a gift, I wish all my readers and followers


                                     MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

(Santa just arrived through the chimney with a bag full of gifts.)

Blessings!

First candle of Hanukkah

Dear Readers,

Tonight, the first candle of Hanukkah will be lit in thousands of homes here in Israel.  It is a very
special holiday for our children who receive gifts and pocket money which indeed they need to spend on entry tickets to one or two of the many Hanukkah shows and festivities.  It also is a 8 days school vacation.  Great for children and teachers not so pleasing for working parents.  This is the time when grandparents come handy.

Both Hanukkah and Christmas happen on the month December.  I made this scene in a small Ikea frame some years ago for a gift.  Most of the items inside are created by me, including the Menorah on the shelve which is part of an old earring.  Another Ikea frame was used for a Chrismas scene which I'll show on Chrismas.

Happy Hanukkah and blessings!

Hello dear readers,

No, we haven't said goodbye yet to the renovation workers, in fact today, one of them worked inside our apartment today, fixing up the damages caused from the outside, such as making the sliding windows and shutters move smoothly just as they were before.  At least the lobby floor tiles  are nicely laid and I can go out wearing regular shoes.

I cannot work on a new project before the apartment is thoroughly cleaned with the help of my daughters and a cleaning lady who comes in once every 3 weeks for a few hours to help me with the house work.  I've promised myself to make at least one miniature a day.  Most of the items created are gifts for people I love.  I never sell, and am very glad I don't need to, because I know there is no price to cover the work one puts in creating a miniature.  It's enough that I know people are happy to receive them and a  pleasure to see them in one of my followers scene settings.  I'm always ready for swaps but not on busy times like Hanukkah and Christmas.

This is what kept me busy on my free time.


More seashell boxes. Some have already left.

They look better with a dark paint under.

Egg carton pots decorated with seashells.  A few still empty.

This one with very tiny flowers.

Flower vases made from a metal bead and metal bead cap, painted with nail varnish.

A warm welcome to my new followers.  I wish you all a warm, lovely weekend with my blessings.