creative jewish mom

Recycling Crafts For Feeding The Birds On Shabbat Shira

This Shabbat is "Shabbat Shira" in which we celebrate the birds! While for many, this special shabbat is only acknowledged when reading the weekly Torah portion on Shabbat morning, most young school kids certainly do something in school tp bring home for shabbat, which reminds the parents! With no young school kids in the house, well, you'll forgive me for almost omitting to post about this special day, right? Crafts, or no crafts, we of course always remember to put out food for the birds before shabbat.

The Shabbat that falls before or on Tu B'shevat (a minor Jewish festival celebrating fruit baring trees) is called Shabbat Shira, because the week’s parashah [weekly Torah reading], B’shalach, includes Shirat HaYam, the song the Israelites sang after they crossed the Red Sea. Now, the birds sang as the Jewish people crossed the Red Sea, so we thank them this shabbos! (That is the simple explanation, there are of course several others.)

Of course, my archives are busting at the seams with crafts for all jewish holidays, and I do have a category called Holiday: Shabbat Shira, so you can certainly check that out. Since you are here, keep on reading for my little roundup of great bird feeder recycling crafts, mine and a few from around the web.

Pine Cone Fruit Orchard Craft Is PERFECT For Tu B'Shevat!

This pine cone fruit tree orchard craft (hanging out in my archives with so many other great projects) is just as cute as can be and perfect for Tu B'shebat, coming up on Feb. 9th, so enjoy!

Collecting pine cones on a nature walk is always a fun activity to do with the little ones, but what to use them for afterwards? Here's a good one for you: make a pine cone orange orchard! This idea is so simple yet with great results and fun for a variety of ages. And maybe they'll even take the time to make a popsicle stick shed for their orchard, and some little crates to fill up with oranges. That would be a good start to encourage creative activities rather than anything with batteries or that plugs into a wall, right? And of course if you want to get particularly crafty, how about making a plan to build an entire farm, or little town with all the usual amenities, just from simple supplies like these?

Orange And Cloves Pomanders For Tu B'Shevat

It has been TEN! eight years (gasp) since I actually made these great looking orange and cloves pomanders, but they are still looking good, so I figured I'd dust off this project and share it with you once again. I have come to realize that bringing things out of the archives to see the light of day isn't such a bad idea, especially since most people don't go fishing around in there!

You may not have time to actually make some of these pomanders before ushering the Jewish holiday of Tu B'shebat, Sunday night, but they would be a great craft activity to do on the holiday itself. I have come up with a great way to make these so that even those who aren't so crafty can succeed.....and of course the fragrance that goes with this activity is just lovely, so go for it!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, and thanks so much for joining me here! The Jewish holiday of Tu B'Shevat, the new year for the fruit bearing trees, is coming up next Sunday night, February 9th, so it is time for all tree and fruit related crafts! I'll admit, the Chanukah decorations are still up, so time to get to work! I'm going to leave all the garlands of white pom poms (snowballs) and even the glittery snowflakes made from berry baskets, and simply add some pink blossoms, some giant origami apples and some toilet paper tube trees with mini pom pom flowers. And I need to do all this by Wednesday as my home is being used as a venue for a high school student "get to know Israel" program and certainly they'll wonder about my sanity if the house says Chanukah! Last week's party was filled with great inspiration, and for me the one thing that made my heart sing the most was the mosaic birds.......so sweet and prompt to use up all those boxes of broken ceramics I've been saving for something like this! Okay, lets get this party started!

Crochet T-Shirt Yarn Pears Are Perfect For Tu B'Shevat!

What better time than Tu B'shevat to indulge in a little fun crocheting some large pear? This is really not a difficult project and will surely bring smiles to whomever gets to enjoy them. So gather up that industrial scraps t-shirt yarn and get to it! Yes, I am reposting this from last year as a nasty respiratory bug has seriously interferred with my creativity. Of course I do have to decorate the house for Tu B'shebat, so hopefully I'll be able to share that with you sooner rather than later. 

I have been wanting to crochet a pear for ages, partly to go with my daughter's pirum parum poster, and partly because who can resist a crocheted pear? And who can resist a crocheted pear that is big enough to be a pillow or couch prop, certainly not me, and I am truly in love with the results of taking a regular crocheted pear pattern and using t-shirt yarn to make it something different altogether, yippee! So, as you can see, once you start crocheting pears from t-shirt yarn you really have to crochet at least three, as they look just so amazing together, right? I was crocheting that black pear on a car trip with my husband and he had no idea what I was up to, and only saw the results when I gave it to him as a chanukah present......of course he didn't appreciate my efforts, but that is okay, I didn't really crochet it for him, but rather as some fun decor for our bedroom or any little spot in the house in need of some giant fruit! Okay friends, lets get crocheting......

Puffy Crocheted Flower Wall Hanging Is Perfect For Early Spring

If this looks familiar, it is! I am reposting this from the archives as it really is such a sweet project and perfect right about now. So get out those odds and ends of yarn and make a wall hanging!

Now you too can make a gorgeous crocheted flower wall hanging that is a breeze to whip up and is truly unique. I love the pastel colors for early spring, or baby's room, or you can go with brights or neutrals to make something that looks amazing in your special spot. Come to think of it this could also be great inspiration for a DIY wedding backdrop, right? Of course you'll need a bit of time to crochet all those flowers, but it would be amazing!

A full year ago I shared some fun crocheted flower pillows, that would be nice partners for this wall hanging, but first lets get started!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Thanks so much for joining me here on Craft Schooling Sunday, the party is picking up speed after the December break, and I hope you crochet, as the crochet projects stole the show this week, as you can see from the collage above. If you don't crochet, give it a try, and with some time and patience you can do it, it is much easier than knitting! Winter has hit Northern Israel, with more rain than ever, meaning the level of Lake Tiberius is approaching normal, (after many year of being dangerously low) at last! I even took some of my succulents inside (especially my beloved Oribe Gorge, a species from South Africa) as temperatures are approaching freezing!

Truthfully I feel like painting, as it has been a year since I put down my paint brush.....the paintings continue to be on display in the kitchen, and now I must get back to it. Ah yes, but I said I was doing a book this year, and that has not progressed at all, sigh. Hoping I can find time to paint and work on the book and keep this blog going in addition to all the other things going on. (You know like graphic design work, a creative workshop here and there, hosting truckfuls of guests each shabbat, taking care of my family, and dare I mention my container garden and all the plants inside......ah yes and the centerpieces and the birthdays and the Jewish holidays, and hopefully some exercise in there and I really want to start making my own sprouts! How is that for a rambling sentence that ended with sprouts, hmmm guess that is what I need to do! Okay, lots of deep breaths and a little bit of patience! And now, for the features from last week's party, enjoy!

DIY Hacks for Kids Crafts With A Cricut (And Should You Invest In One?)

If you are a crafter, which if you are reading this you likely are, then of course you are familiar with cutting machines like the Cricut. I personally live outside the United States, where craft cutting machines and the supplies to use with them are either not available, would have to be shipped to me, or are costly. So a cutting machine is not in the cards at the moment for my family, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't consider one, because I have to say, one can do so many amazing things with them!

One reason you might consider investing in a Cricut machine is to give your kids more options for crafting projects, and the ability to plan projects ahead of time that they can do on their own, which in itself is a great thing. In this article, you'll find a list of ideas for the busy parent who wants to quickly supply their child with the necessary elements for a successful project. These ideas are great to have up your sleeve when weather or circumstances require a child to be inside and when screen time is just not the most beneficial activity.  And if you are a night owl like me, you can put together a great project in the wee hours of the morning, when of course no craft supply stores are open!

The Cricut machine has so many options for nurturing creativity, so if you have the time, the space and the desire for making a wide range of custom projects, maybe a Cricut is for you! Okay, lets learn about some of the fun possibilities......

Crocheted Flowers Garland For Spring

Somehow I wrote this post last year on Tu B'shevat but in the end did not post is, possibly because I was not happy with the photos? A year later, yes, the photos do not do justice to the project, which looks so much better in person, but as I'm too busy right now to photograph the crafts I have been making, crocheted t-shirt yarn flowers it is. Hmmm, wonder where those flower are now, they would look great hanging with all the white pom poms now hanging from that light! So here is the post I wrote last year:

It is still the Jewish holiday of Tu B'Shevat in many parts of the world, so wishing you all a very joyful Tu B'Shevat holiday! A few weeks ago I shared my crocheted t-shirt yarn flowers, and guess what, I actually put them to use as birthday party decor that phased nicely into Tu B'Shevat decorations! So for the past few weeks pink crocheted garlands have been hanging over our dining room table, and some of the numerous guests have commented how lovely it looks, not realizing that it was actually a seasonal decoration. Truthfully most of the numerous guests did compliment me on the delicious food but somehow didn't notice these pink flowers floating overhead, or maybe just the idea is so foreign they didn't quite get it? Or maybe because most of the numerous guests happen to be young men, and wellllllll, not to generalize but they tend to notice less about interior decor. They do tend to notice the cow skin on the floor, but not too much else. In any case, once you crochet the flowers, assembling this spring blossom garland is oh so simple, and I just realized this would also be a perfect baby mobile.......another item that is somewhat "seasonal" as how long will that baby that baby stay a baby? And infact these crocheted glower garlands could make a nice wedding photo backdrop, look lovely hanging from a tree or really just about anywhere. Get a huge bunch of friends together, get lots of skeins of t-shirt yarn, and you can have yourself a great party backdrop that can then be repurposed into baby mobiles for the whole world, or floral lampshades, or one could even sew these flowers onto a blanket. Okay, enough babbling, lets whip up some crocheted flower garlands!

Try Skillshare, It Is Truly Amazing, Promise!

I am re-posting this lovely leaves tutorial for 2 reasons, the Jewish holiday of Tu B'shebat is coming, and my favorite site, Skillshare is hosting a 2 months free deal that truly you should not pass up. I learned how to paint these leaves on Skillshare, I have learned photography tips on squishier, and while my time is limited I'm about to delve into digital illustration with Procreate, and my daughter and I are learning that on Skillshare as well. Truly truly is is the bargain of the century given the very wide range of classes available and some of them are truly amazing. Not to mention all kinds of classes on business and graphic design, interior design and more. So really, give yourself the gift of Skillshare here, and you won't regret it, promise.

Okay, now about these watercolor leaves!

Tu B'Shevat, the Jewish holiday that celebrates the New Year for the trees starts in about 2 weeks, and if you have 30 minutes or so you can whip up some gorgeous watercolor leaf paintings and learn about practicing your brush strokes a win win crafting experience! While I have yet to actually put in the time I'd like, I'm in the process of honing/learning some illustration skills, starting with watercolor painting. It turns out that the first step is learning brush control, using a round brush, and leaves like the ones used in my fern illustrations are created with just one stroke. Pretty great I must admit, and so relaxing to paint. A friend was over the other day and she thought I had stamped all these little leaves! Of course there are so many designs one can make once you master the one stroke leaf, so give it a try and enjoy!