Recycled Box for Peace

Well here it is! This is the 2nd box that I have recycled in the last 2 months. I began this one when my sewing machine went into repair. Little did I know how sick I was going to get. I am back and so is my machine. Yet I thought that it would be a good thing to finish this first.

This piece I already blogged a bit about. It is a reused box. It originally came with cosmetics inside. The flap has magnets to keep it shut.
I decided to allow myself to buy only one item all the rest must only be things that I have or made out of  things for embellishments  from my stash.

The one item that I bought is navy blue velvet for the bottom inside. I have enough to use on another recycled project. The bottom is quite soft. I used very stiff pellon, and wrapped it polyester batting. Then I covered it with the velvet. I can store partially done projects and stick the needles into the bottom

The bottom of the box I painted wooden buttons and glued them on. I also painted the bottom and threw on a smattering of seed beads. (Hard to see in the picture)

I don't not know where this is going to take me. I have in the past sold my recycled box art. I haven't sold any on-line yet. Right now I am trying to experiment with this concept. I would love to eventually create a line. My vision as of right now is recycled office supplies. For now I am experimenting and enjoying the fruits of my labor.

Celiac has attacked my mouth, this time

How and why this happened is hard to know exactly, but I do have an idea. I was already suffering from a canker sore and I must of had some gluten. Oral sores and an autoimmune disease means trouble. My mouth and tongue are covered and I am in pain. Luckily nothing has gone south to my Larynx Box this time, so I won't need to be hospitalized. I am getting a special mouthwash and I am as whenever celiac kicks in losing weight fast. Fortunately I had gained 5 pounds so 10 pounds to lose will be OK even good LOL.  The picture is somewhere in Arava Southern Israel. I thought that I would put it in here. I know it has nothing to do with this post, yet since I am in pain I thought any distraction is great.
One more thing. the receptionist's daughter has the same problem and they know it is an autoimmune disease but they didn't know about Celiac! Maybe that is the real reason this happened last weekend, she now knows about Celiac and about entrolab.com If she gets tested positive this could really help her!

My new banner! It is so much work getting this to be exactly 760 x 100 pixels. I have spent the day rearranging my studio. I haven't had the large studio that I had in Israel for more than 6 years and I just cannot seem to get adjusted. This time I think I did it. I arranged everything differently. I must keep better Seder in the room. I also have a design board for ironing on a hard surface. I bought it thinking that it was a lot of money for something that I wouldn't hardly use and now I can't imagine working without it. If I cannot get to it because so many things are piled up then I am not working in a way that promotes productivity. I thought as long as I am organizing my studio I might as well do it on line, hence the new banner.

Now there are so many things to be thankfull for in my life! Just being able to say that I must be very lucky. My family is what I am the most fortunate for. After having such a bad childhood, I was lucky to marry a wonderful man and to bring to this world 3 beautiful children. I am thankful that the USA let us have a new start here. I am thankful for the overwhelming beauty of the Northwest of America. I am thankful for my friends that invited me over to eat on Thanksgiving. With all my food allergies they are really putting themselves out! (Plus they are Koshering their home for us imagine)
Happy Thanksgiving to all

I am busy thinking about Peace

Right now I am making a Peace Treasure Box. It is made out of a recycled box. The box is from some cosmetics that I have bought before. I always recycle these boxes, they are just perfect for making into something else. This box has two doves of peace, since it really takes two sides to meet in the middle.
I hope to be finishing this project soon. Because I use a lot of different medium, and it has to dry it takes a while. Just like negotiations it needs to cure. Maybe it is a silly analogy but things take time, so we should get started already. The reports about what happened in the outbreaks of violence are important. However what is so important is to begin to avoid the violence altogether.
Bring Gilad Shalit home and stopping further settlements, this is what is so important. And getting back to face to face talks, lets get going!
Shalom Peace Salaam

Trying to start over without an attitude

Having to leave Israel broke my heart. But not ever finding a job in America outside of retail is so frustrating. My goal is to do the best I can. I just want to feel good about it also.
I don't know if I will ever get back to Israel. My dream is that my whole family will be there once again. Perhaps I will be able to finally have a career as an artist.

More crimes in the name of religion?

Melting Faces/ Burning Tallit

I created this in the midst of the terrible terrorist attacks in Israel. Many families found it hard to believe that there loved ones were not only murdered but the needed to be wrapped in a Tallit then put in a coffin. (Usually we bury them in just a Tallit.) This was due to the terrible condition of their remains. There were other victims that weren't Jewish, there families were just as much victims and I felt that in spirit our families are connected. The faces are many colors and they are all wrapped up together in one Tallit. I worked on this very slowly after every attack. This latest attack in America is a crime full of hate. I am already hearing the Muslim community condemning the actions of this murderer. This is an act of extremism and of hate. The Fort Hood gunman represented himself. He didn't check who he was killing he just shot.

My thoughts and prayers go the soldiers and their families. I wish them all a speedy recovery. I encourage the Muslim community to continue to speak out and let your voices be heard. Many of us are listening.

Winter is here and it is raining in Israel

Hanukah is coming.

I just love this holiday. The winter is here and the Kinneret is rising. That is a good start for Israel

I have to admit I love Trader Joe's. But I have a problem with their over packaging. The next problem is I live in a small house and I am trying to keep it from turning into an office and studio not a home. I went looking for nice boxes to store things like letters and craft stuff. Everything was so expensive and looked like it was for an office, which made sense since it is for an office.

THE SOLUTION I am using the boxes from TJ's to make things for my home. A little bit of Mod Podge (glue), beads, fabric, paint and least I forget Gesso and walla I have something recycled and I have solved both problems

Making these boxes have been an experiment in not buying anything. I have used only things in my craft and quilting stashes.

This particular box is for putting in the mail in. Birds and mail seem to go together, at least it works for me.

Taking a jewelry making class

I decided to take a jewelry making class. But first I will start to how I got there.

I have been an artist and a craftsman using fiber most of my life. Sometimes I make quilts as a craft for the sake of beauty, and often I express myself using fiber or quilting as an art. I also have done a bit of jewelry. However, I have had an allergic reaction to the metals, so I had to stop. SOO, I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and began to eat gluten free about 1.5 years ago. Well as a bonus some of my allergies disappeared, yes they are gone!

Now, I pulled some books out of the library and went to The Bead Factory in Tacoma. When I was there I decided to take a class called All Wired Up with Mark Lareau. It included his book: All Wired Up A BeadWork How to Book. The class was wonderful and the book is so easy to follow and learn from. Also the gallery is just a wonderful inspiration. Now all the books are going back and I am busy perfecting my workmanship. I was so busy I didn't have any time to take any pictures. Sorry.

For anybody living in the Northwest this is a class I recommend if you are interested in making jewelry. One of the students in the class was even an experienced jewelry maker and she was so glad that she took the class. Mark is not only a talented craftsman but also a great teacher and author.

FREE GILAD

Wow it is finally after the holidays. I started work in Best Buy, underemployed once again. Fortunately I work with a decent group of people. I discovered that I am not the oldest person working in the store. I get to help people buy computers and stuff for them. Nobody seems to think that I have an accent. Where did it go?

Anyways, I have been quiet about the events in the Middle East. No I have not been ignoring it I just have been processing what has been going on. Hamas is turning the Gaza Strip to a fundamentalist regime. Meanwhile the modern country of Israel seems to flounder at what to do. How do you stop the direction and build for peace when the other side attacks and them uses their own people as human shields. Then they use the pictures as propaganda? I am sure that attacking Gaza is not a war crime, that Israel has the right to defend itself. However it is immoral, because war is immoral. It can only be used for defense. However there is no defense when the other side has no scruples and they use modern technology and death of their own to achieve their goals.

No, I do not have any answers but we must start looking for them. If we attack we will not achieve anything. Goldstone's report doesn't take into consideration 8 years of rockets being fired on Israel.

We shouldn't be manipulated by Hamas in their thirst for blood

The search for hand made Judaica continues

I love Judaica. I also think that it should be hand made. I want to encourage Jews all over the world to appreciate artwork expressing who we are. Hand made art in general not only Judaica is also important. Human creativity is something that should be appreciated in all forms, I just happen to love art, and I am Jewish.

Over the last few years I have found the need to express my Jewish self in my art. I have today looked for other artists and lovers of art. I found the most interesting blog. Somebody that has a blog for Judaica. She call herself DrMom. Her blog is called JudaicaJournal and I am hooked!

This art quilt says Jerusalem of Gold. Another name for our cherished city Jerusalem You can find it on Artfire

So today I begin my day at Best Buy as an employee. I am so sorry that I am by profession a teacher. I am so sorry to my children that I picked a profession with so little opportunity, that I must work retail. I cannot give them the things I would like to.

Thank you to Best Buy for giving me this job. I have no plans of right now how to get back to Israel though I know that is what I want to do.

This is another piece with Mirrium. On the back is the same quote from Exodus.

And Mirrium the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. Exodus Beshelach 20

This one stands up so it doesn't have to be framed. It is sold! I hope the family is enjoying it as much as I enjoyed making it.

I have this picture of Mirrium going forward dancing. I have done several pieces with this quote and a silhouette of a women dancing with her hands up. This really means a lot to me. I hope tomorrow I can go to work with a positive attitude, after all I do love to use technology.

I also sooo miss Israel. I had no idea that I would still be here 6 years later!

And Mirrium the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

Exodus Beshelach 20

So I try again to start a blog. I do not know yet where I am going with this. Right now this is just a summary of where I am in my life.

I finally will start to work at Best Buy. After several unfortunate delays. Once again I join the ranks of the under-employed. I am trying to feel happy anyways. At least I am working.

The big question how in the world did I find myself in America! Why in the world am I broke and not in Israel. Can I finally sell my art, since teaching, or working in my profession is not going to happen. I will try to explore these issues here. If not to others at least to myself.