Another art Show

Aceo: Shalom

I have another opportunity. I am in an ART SHOW with Chabad. I don't know if I am going to sell anything. This time I don't think that it really matters I have everything I need just about from the last show! I take that back it does matter, I would love to sell my art, however the difference is that this is a show with artists that don't sell their work and artists that do. Miriam wants to show the Jewish women with talent in the Tacoma area. 

Aceo: The Shema

I have a lot of respect for the Rabbi and his wife Miriam. Yes I am doing more about my Judaism, yet going back to be Orthodox again is not something that I see ever happening. Not because I don't believe in Judaism, I do. However I am not in line with Orthodox. They seem to understand and yet invite my family over for dinner. They were absolutely wonderful hosts for Friday night. I had procrastinated accepting their invitation for years. Just because I am Gluten Free and I didn't want them to have to do so much work just to have me over. They were gracious and refused to admit that it was more work for them. They even knew what to do. Miriam even has on hand the special Kosher Soya sauce that is GF. The food was wonderful.


My family had a wonderful time. My two younger children went. They even got to sing their favorite song in Judaism. something that brought us back years. After all they are 15 and 18! The song is Adon Olam. As usual Lilac (18) manages to sing it the fastest. The other guests were very nice and it was a pleasure and an honor to meet them.

A Juried Show

I was so pleased to be in a juried show in Oregon. I invested a lot of time and effort. My expectations were that it would be of course a high level. The other artists were just that. Their work was stunning. The creativity, the attention to detail, I could go on and on. Even the help I got was wonderful. My family was very supportive. But what happened? The idea was that this is an artists show not a crafts sale. How great is that! I was accepted to a high level art show and sale. Gallery level.

Hanukah 2010

Well  it seems as though the people that came expected an arts and crafts sale. I have done better at arts and crafts sales. That is when both are there together. This was so disappointing. Marketing was the only thing that wasn't up to standards. There wasn't a lot of sales for anybody. Yet the next day, they said that it was a big success. I guess that we had different goals. If I go next year I will go by myself and I will have a good time but I will not expect to make any money.

Doing the right thing

Sh'vuot has come and gone. It is time to think about next year. I know that we have a few days of fast and Tish'a B'Av before we get to the month of Elul. (When we begin to prepare ourselves spiritually for the High Holy Days.) But acting in an ethical manner is always a Mitzvah.
What does that mean? Well for one in business practices. Doing the right thing obviously means not to steal  or/and cheat. But what if it isn't always so obvious? I know that the financial melt down has caused a lot of anger. "Wall Street" and all the criticism, there is no end to how much we can go on about their immoral behavior and how they made a huge profit on throwing the world into a recession. Causing a financial melt down for several families that still do not see a way out yet. I agree with all that has been said about them and I do not wish to repeat it here. 
I believe that what will immensely help is MUSSAR. Our values. Nobody can change the behavior of somebody else. The most we can do is try to influence them. If it works it is not in our hands. But everybody with a conscious can and should be more ethical. Everybody can shop in a more ethical way. Spending an hour with a knowledgeable salesperson than buying it at a warehouse or online for a better price means that you are not supporting working people. If you can hire somebody then HIRE them. If you are fortunate to be in a position that you can employ somebody do it and do it quickly. Don't take advantage of the person and offer a ridiculous salary BE FAIR. Buy handmade, as much as possible. Here are just a few links: artfire.com etsy.com My own stores for hand made Judaica are: RuthFiberJudaica.artfire.com and RuthFiberJudaica.etsy.com
This is just the beginning. Often, we will have to think about what we our doing. This will not be painful. It requires looking around us, prioritizing and being grateful that you have this opportunity to make a difference.

אני יהודי

I am missing Israel a lot today. I found this and I love it.

Adon Olam - Tsahal

I really loved this video.  Adon Olam still moves me, even after countless beautiful songs are released I still love this traditional song. This time its the Israeli army singing.

I sold something on Artfire and I am so nervous

I finally sold something on "Artfire" I am so pleased. If only things can pick up my husband can work without downtime then I can make some serious investments and work FULL TIME as an artist. Imagine not having to be underemployed.

All The World is a bridge

Rabbi Nachman of Breslav (April 4, 1772 – October 16, 1810). 

teaches that the whole world is a narrow bridge, and the main thing is to not to fear. 

Kol ha’olam kulo

Gesher tzar me’od

Veha’ikar lo lifached k’lal

These are the words to a beautiful song of hope. Rabbi Nachman was a Tzaddik from the Hassidic sect of Judaism. In modern times these words are said and song in Israel at happy and sad occasions calling to go forth and not give up.

It can be a bridge or a very narrow path that is in front of us, but we shouldn’t fear  continuing on with our lives. Everyone is a world to himself/herself.

The piece is hand dyed 100% cotton fabric. It is 8.25” by 10.75”.

I have an art quilt using this song. 

I hope to have the time to make more pieces. It really fits my mood right now. I am so nervous about the economy and how it is impacting my life. I just must keep on going with hope and not to fear.

Maybe I can Teach from my Home

It looks like after all these years I might get to teach from my home again. Yes I have had individuals yet not any groups. I hope this works out. I am going to teach conversational Hebrew. I have a book picked out that I have used to teach one on one. This will be an asset. The materials are from Israel I just know how to use them better.

This beets being underemployed, though will of course keep my job. 

A Gift for Jan

My sister Jan is getting an award this Shabbat. It is from the Torah fund. I am very proud of her yet I cannot be there. If I phone her I will be tempted to spill the beans about the gift I have made for her.

I hope that she likes it.

It is a fabric that I have had on my design wall. There were two sections though I left it whole. I had decided that I only could make one cut in it if at all. In the process of design I allowed one cut. I also had drawn open Torah Scrolls a while ago. I sometimes draw something without looking at the paper, making it abstract. The birds I drew several years ago. I used Angelina and silk. I also quilted on my own twisted threads. The birds are slightly stuffed and covered with a small amount of Angelina

I also hope that they remember to give it to her! It would be better if I could go. I have a Bar Mitzvah to attend. Not always are we fortunate enough to have two special occasions on one weekend. May that always be of our biggest problems.
My sister and I are very different yet Judaism has always been central to both of our lives. I am so happy for her. 

On her way to Utah

My daughter is not stuck in NY any more! She is on her way to Utah. Yes Salt Lake City. The later flight she is booked on to come home to Seattle. The earlier flight depends on how quick she can get through from her first flight to the next. Right now her flight is running early. Who would think. The earlier flight is running a little late, YEAH. Hopefully she won't need the later flight and she won't be 9 hours waiting for her flight to come home. If everything falls apart Delta will pay for her accommodations on Salt Lake City. But I hope it won't come to that. Evidently the airlines can cancel a flight without notice at anytime.
This picture of her is as she is leaving last summer for her Israel adventure.

My daughter is stuck in NY

As an early Graduation gift for my daughter Lilac we decided to send her to NY. The plan was to send her to meet up with her friends that she made on her trip to Israel last summer. She had a great time, but now she is stuck in NY. Delta has cancelled her flight and they won't have a new flight for her until Tuesday evening. An extra 3 days for a 17 year. She will miss school and be at her friends house while her friend goes to her school. She will also be flying red-eye, so she most likely will not be going to school on Wednesday either. Hopefully we can fix this.
 The picture is of Lilac on our trip to London. We sure love to see the world