our christmastree

... is a small olive-tree that is usually in our garden.
(you can click on the picture to enlarge it... I coudn't figure out how to make it bigger...)

for my sister

My sister wanted a cushion-cover for a cushion she already has. I made her this one. It was the first times I made something like this. I used left over fabric and fabric from old tableclothes and shirts. I hope she likes it- maybe she is unwrapping it at this very moment...?

I made more things- but I will have to wait with posting until my parents are here next week and unwrap their presents.

for the girls

These are the presents I made for the girls. They will get beanbags and each a new duvet cover from cute fabric I found in Tel Aviv.

first green

While a big part of the world is preparing for Christmas Eve we went to play outside and admire the first green plants that are getting out of the dirt.

I am always getting excited about this- but it's still weird to me that this happens at Christmas and not in spring...

My christmas-presents are finished and I will show some pictures tomorrow.
The tree is decorated- also some pictures tomorrow.

I wish you all a very happy Christmas with lots of family-time, joy and good food.

Thanks to all of you who stepped by to read my blog in the last months!

tuesday's handmade

Okay- I know it's already Wednesday- but I forgot to post yesterday. Here some more beautiful handmade things. Once again some yarn from Magnolia Handspun. Just can't get enough of it- it looks so beautiful and I really should start to knit...

These beautiful armwarmers you can find here. Okay- again- I should start to knit... I have some armwarmers (shorter) my mother knitted and I just love them- perfect for the winter months.

And last but not least- this wonderful tealight from wapa. A friend of a friend of mine is making similar lamps- such beautiful work, but unfortunately he's not selling.

Have a wonderful day!

christmas is getting close

Christmas is getting close. I managed to bake a few Christmas-cookies. In Switzerland there are a lot of traditional Christmas-cookies but I made only two kinds.

On Saturday we will celebrate with the other families here that are like us half Jewish and half Christian. We made a small revolution and it will be the first time without a "Santa". Most of us are from Countries where Santa is not comming on Christmas and I am happy about this decission.

The kindergarten-teacher of Neomi asked me, if they could come with the kids to our home one morning and if I could tell the kids a story from my childhood and how it was to celebrate Christmas. I will gladly do so.

On Saturday we went down to the Wadi. Finally the first green plants are starting to grow and the small stream has water. We made small paper-boats and let them float. How I love weekends!

digging in the archive

Two dolls I made some 3 years ago- a bear for the first birthday of my niece and a cat for Neomi.

Today we celebrated Helen's birthday in the "baby-house" (her day-care). I made some tiny apple-cinamon muffins with small flags on top. I made them yesterday evening and fresh from the oven they tasted so good. In the morning there was still the smell of them in all the house.

Helen was so excited! She did not stop laughing and smiling and clapping hands. Is there something better than see your childen happy?

tuesday's handmade

Today two things from etsy. By the way- I just love the main page of etsy with the always changing, beautifully matched collection.
I am not wearing hats- only in summer as protection from the sun. But actually I would love to. Isn't this cloche above beautiful? (Or maybe it's the model...) Look at it here.

And those earrings are just so wonderful! I would love to owe them. Made

from real sea urchins. Take a look here.

doll

The doll for Helen is finished. I am quite happy with the result. Next time I just have to add a bit of a throat- I somehow didn't think about it.
Now I just hope she will play with it. I made some dolls for Neomi in the past (a cat and a bunny)- but she's not really playing with them (this is a bit frustrating, but nothing I can change- she has her own mind...).

last candle

Yesterday we lit the last candle of Hannukah. We lit all the candles, Helen went to bed (she is not feeling too well in the last days) and Neomi and I drunk hot cacao and played "memory".

My husband is in the army and he will come back today so we can celebrate Helens first birthday. I still need to bake a cake and finish her present.

Towards the evening a huge storm is expected and I need to tye down everything outside. Crazy- one week dry and hot and a huge fire and the next storm and rain and even snow in the higher places...

happy birthday

A year ago Helen was born. My second time giving birth and it was so much easier than the first time. And there she was- tiny and fragile. A year passed and I sometimes wonder when exactly she got so big. She crawled early and stood up early... she's taking her time with walking alone. She likes to laugh and "dance", she loves cats and dogs and she likes to play with the onions, potatoes and garlic in our kitchen. She loves to look at books and hunt our cat and I simply adore her.

Happy Birthday, my little one!

new baby

Made a card for a newborn baby with the same name as mine. Now I just need to come up with something to write and send it. I am not so happy with the photo and scan did not work well either- so this is the best I could do to show you the card...
I am at home taking care of Helen- she is sick again since three days.

dry...

Thursday we suddenly saw a huge smoke cloud raising from the Carmel-mountain. It looked like a volcano errupted. In the night we saw the orange-red glow of the fire. Today is the fourth day of fire- eating away the pine forest, the oaks and bushes. It is sad. We don't have much green here- let alone forest and after these hot and dry months everything is just going up in smoke. It's sad to see all the burnt nature, sad to see homes burnt down and most of all so sad that human lifes were lost.

We had a nice day yesterday anyway- starting the day with pancakes (which I don't do often), taking a bike ride to the stables and watch the horses and enjoy the beautiful colours of the leaves and bougainvillea. Spending the afternoon painting with Neomi and making piles of leaves in the garden.

I finished some presents for Christmas -but can't show them here... I am not sure who reads this blog...

Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday while I am already back at work.

digging in the archive

Digging in my archive I found this painting I made for someone to hang in their daughters room.

I think I made it almost 3 years ago.

(if you click on the picture you can view them a bit bigger)

simple toys

A huge pile of blankets and sheets- what more do you need to play? I keep a big bag full of sheets and thin blankes and my girls love to play with them. Most of the time the older one builds tents and huts with them and then she drags all the cushions she can find into them and also her doll and her younger sister (the last one does not always volunteer for this....).
But sometimes she also uses them for dressing up- making turbans and skirts...
Helen- the younger one just likes to lie on the whole pile or to hide underneath one of the sheets until we are looking for her and then she comes out with a huge smile.
If you have a big blanket one kid can lie onto it and the others will hold the corners and make waves- small kids love this!
Or you place  a ball in the center, the kids hold the corners and try to throw the ball into the air and catch it again....
So many possibilities- maybe you know some more?