“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”

I have been accused of loving 'my' knitting, scrapbooking, crafting
more than anything in the whole world.
The truth is
I love being busy.
I love color.
I love using my hands.
(used to play the piano)
I love creating somehing uniquely mine.
I love baking too.
But that doesn't last for eternity.
(Except on my hips.)
I love the idea that I might make something that could become an hierloom.
Imagine my great great great granchild wondering who I was.
Or possibly identifying with her namesake...
(now I'm getting carried away!)
The truth is I love to create.
Period.
I'm working on a sweater for myself.
It will be fun to see how it comes out
being that I'm not using a pattern.
The colors are totally me.
Hope I finish it before it gets cold here.

“Every day is an opportunity to be creative – the canvas is your mind, the brushes and colours are your thoughts and feelings, the panorama is your story, the complete picture is a work of art called, ‘my life’. Be careful what you put on the canvas of your mind today – it matters.” — Innerspace

I got this in the mail the other day.
I love that the school took the time out to send a picture of the artist and art to Bubbies all across the world.
It hangs on my fridg.
(painted black with chalk paint.
for another post.)

....and I'm also working on these two projects...

This will be an afghan I am commissioned to do for a client!

This will be an afghan I am doing for myself.

So there you have it.
Keeping busy.
How do you keep yourself occupied?
remember...

Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use.
Earl Nightingale

Great News!

A few months ago I got a call from my DD.
"Ma open your email".
I ran to the computor while I kept her on the phone.
She was laughing and crying at the same time as I whooped in happiness.
THIS is what scrapbooking is for.
Isn't this the most wonderful way to break such awesome news!!!

So here we are months later with the most precious gift Hashem in his goodness bestowed upon us.
I immediately started knitting a beautiful little package to wrap this wonderful present in.
White is the perfect color for any newborn.
I found this luxurious pattern on RAVELRY and got to work.
I used the most delicious soft silky yarn.
With every stitch I knit I thanked Hashem for his infinite goodness in my life....

 

(Don't you all want to learn how to knit now?)

My beautiful little grandaughter is named after my grandmother.

 

 

I was very close to my grandmother.

I was fortunate to spend 7 wonderful years with her here in Miami Beach.

Her 'joi de vivre' was contageous.

She taught me alot about what it means to be happy.

Amazingly at 72 she began to paint.

Her "golden hands",

her eye for colour and composition

united with her irrepressible exuberance 

produced scenes of Jewish life which touched the viewer

with the simplicity and authenticity of her perception.

She composed poetry in Yiddish

which was published in Jewish newspapers.

Eventually my grandmother self published a little book of all her poems.

What is most impressive to me is no matter how involved she was in her creativity

(and she burnt many a pot as she painted the hours away...)

to her a day without an act of charity was impossible.

She loved people and used her upbeat personality to raise funds.

She carefully collected and saved enough money to put a down payment for a Yeshiva in Montreal.

She found joy in everything she did.

I remember one time we were going out to a gathering.

She asked me to put a little blush and lipstick on her.

She said "I know noone is looking at me, but still..."

She oftentimes told me she feels so young but her body is betraying her!

 

 

 

 

My grandmother would have appreciated the many talents of my children.

I wish....

Never mind.

It is when I scrapook these precious pictures of the past

that I come to appreciate what my Grandparents meant to me.

I am so grateful for this meaningful hobby.

My life is enriched by it.

 

 

 

 



“Don’t think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It’s self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can’t try to do things. You simply must do things” – Ray Bradbury

I've been missing these kids alot!
So much that I've actually been inspired to scrapbook a layout.
You know I love doing this.
ALOT!
But I have no special place to unload all my stuff and....
Wait - I've already whined about this.
So moving on
I made this layout in anticipation of seeing my girls...
very soon I"H!
I must admit that part of the reason I become so inhibited about my scrapping
is because of all you fantastic, creative, off the charts artistic ladies on the web.
It's a double edged sword for me.
I feel inspired by my favorite scrappers
and then I feel totally intimidated.
I still love what I do.
But it does get to you when you see women who are so beyond talented.
Each page is a work of art.
Truly good enough to hang in a gallery.
And that's when I stop and remind myself it's only about the memories.
That's why I started doing it.
And that's why I continue.
So I am not the fanciest and most knowledgeable girl on all the ways you wonderful ladies get the work done in a way I never could...
But I can do it my way.

I've also been knitting in anticipation of something exciting.
I'll show you what that is very soon...

And most importantly
this week is CHANUKAH.
We started this wonderful tradition in my family when the kids became independent enough to spend their own money.
Each one of us gets a name in the family that remains a secret until Chanukah.
We give that person a gift.
Part of the condition is that as we open our surprise gift we take a short video and send it out for all of us to see.
Being that we are all not in the same city.
It's really a great way to experience Yom tov 'together' without necessarily being together.
Of course the little ones get gifts from each one of us.
This year I got a gift I will cherish forever and always.
My oldest DD ordered my blog in a book.
I am so touched by her thoughtfulness.
She knows me too well.
And she loves me so good!
I'll show it to you guys when I get it.

And here's a moment of my weekend that was so nice...

 

 

It's only when I see the picture that I process what I feet at the time...

 

Love you Shlam

  

Vincent Van Gogh

 

“The most thoroughly wasted of all days is that on which one has not laughed.”

I love comic strips.
I used to get the paper every morning and that's the first place I would go to.
To be a comic artist you have to be
super talented
smart,
funny,
knowledgable,
and lucky enough to get published.
The other day I picked a book off my shelf and looked at it again with newfound respect.
The first time I read it was many years ago.
Too young to appreciate most of the advice give by the incomparable RABBI TWERSKY.
But now that I have more life experience
I can appreciate and understand the message of his wisdom.
What's so great about this book for me is the marriage of comic strip genius
CHARLES M.SHULZ
and
ABRAHAM J. TWERSKY, M.D.
It doesn't get more brilliant than this.
That's when I realized why I love comic strips so much.
I used to feel embarrased to admit it.
Sounded kind of juvenile.
But when I found this book I knew I was on to something...

I even used a funny little comic to describe my Sarale's addiction at age 12!
It was a cute way to document her 'favorites' .

Nothing fancy.
Yet I'm glad I did this.
Now it's 8 years later...
(BTW my friend Esther told me I could read as many comic strips as I like right here!
So now I have more reason to waste time at the computor.
and loving every minute of it!)

 I especially love MAXINE
 She cracks me up every time.

So there you have it!
Go look for a cute comic strip that you relate to and LOL.
Not a text LOL.
A real laugh out loud belly laugh.

If I knit fast enough, does it count as aerobic exercise?

“Sometimes, people come up to me when I am knitting and they say things like, "Oh, I wish I could knit, but I'm just not the kind of person who can sit and waste time like that." How can knitting be wasting time? First, I never just knit; I knit and think, knit and listen, knit and watch. Second, you aren't wasting time if you get a useful or beautiful object at the end of it.

I will remember that not everyone understands. I will resist the urge to ask others what they do when they watch TV.”
― Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much

I too am accused of telling myself I am 'wasting time' when I knit.
But as any committed (as in crazy obsessed) knitter knows
it's an addiction with no side effects.
So lately I've been doing alot of sittin...
which I balance by taking looooong walks (as in an hour and a half).
There are times I work on projects that never end
as in this one here

or this one

And then there are those projects that I want to see done quickly.
More like 'instant gartification'
Which is an oxymoron in the knitting world.
I've been doing just that lately.

This beret came about as a result of leftover yarn from the project below
that did take a loooong time to make
but so well worth it....
my favorite CHEVRON stitch for a favorite girl's birthday.

 

 

Warm and sparkly

like the daughter I made it for...

 

 

Love this one below.

quick, easy and fasionable!

 

 

on to my next project...

At the end of the day

“Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either.”
― Elizabeth Zimmermann

All you did was listen???

What I love about this girl is that she has managed to be humble and larger than life at the same time.
Just the name of her blog http://allididwaslisten.blogspot.com/ reflects who she is.
ALL I DID WAS LISTEN?
Simply said and difficult to do.
Try it.
Are you listening?
Tell the truth
Is your mind floating as your friend talks and talks and talks...
(it may not be that long but it seems that way to you)
Because listening is really hard to do.
And most of the time it's all we want.
To be listened to.
If only the world at large would understand that
How much bloodshed would be avoided...
I say we make RACHEL AWES president.
Maybe we would have a chance.

Rachel and I bought the same throw.
I saw it in a picture she posted.
How funny is that?!?

If you want a small piece of Rachel's listening
buy her book.
I did.
I will be practicing listening today.
so if anyone wants to talk
I'm here to listen!

Something to think about!

Been a while but here I am.
I've been doing some knitting.
So I haven't been wasting time exactly.
I'm actually on a scrapbooking 'strike' if anyone noticed.
Y'kow how people go on a starvation diet to bring attention to their cause?
Well I'm kinda doing the same thing.
Except it's for MY cause.
I NEED A SCRAPBOOKING/CRAFT ROOM.
I've come to the end of the road.
It's time.
It's time for me to be indulged.
Who's in?
Any ideas how I can pull this one off?
I'm thinking an entire wall in the 'sheitel room'
covered in peg board
like a store
(oh, my little heart skips a beat).
Let me end this with a line that I always say
(at the risk of Marrisa killing me)
i don't know...

But what I do know for sure to be true is that I love to read.
I love books.
Going to the library/bookstore still brings me the same thrill I felt when I was young.
Every Friday before Shabbos I remember walking to the Maple Street library.
(usually in fear of my life)
But nothing stopped me.
The excitement of discovering a new book kept me going  back.
Still does.
My favorite books are those that teach me something.
If there is one line that speaks to me, it was worth reading.
I envy those that use words to paint a picture more vibrant than what the eye can see.
Imagine being able to express your deepest thoughts
in a language so clear
that someone else actually understands...internalizes...relates to your experience.
Even if they don't feel the way you do.
ESPECIALLY if they don't feel the way you do.
Powerful.
I would like to share with you, from time to time, powerful words that I happen to come by
that resonate with me for one reason or another.
I will call these posts...

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

(Mishpach familyfirst Octo. 31 2012 p. 23)
"......Often we focus on the particular offending charecteristic as the problem. Rabbi Scwartz calls this seeing the issue from the middle, rather than from the source. The metophor he uses is that of a person setting out on a long excursion on a hot day. He leaves his home without taking water, and several hours into the trek is so thirsty that he feels faint. He thinks to himself, What shoud I do now? I don't have any water! He has a very real problem, but the true problem is that he didn't perceive the need for water before he left..."  -Debbie Greenblatt
To me this is a great lesson.
If you stand too close to the moment you are in
you fail to see the bigger picture.
Back it up.
That's when you see the real beauty.
Every step forward that you take today
should be planned way ahead of time.
That's what grown ups do.

 



I will get back to scrapbooking soon enough
but meanwhile I hope you enjoy what else I have to share with you.
and...
I  finally finished this pullover.

love it!

It's a new day it's a new dawn...

This time of year is all about a fresh start.
"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning,
but anyone can start today and make a new ending."
We are only hours away from Yom Kippur.
We are given the day of atonement as a gift.
To be introspective.
To contemplate.
Meditate.
And most importantly, to ask for forgiveness.
Because G-d knows that we are all good in our essence.
But we are humans.
And we will make mistakes.
That's ok.
If we learn from them they are not mistakes.
They are life lessons.
Cleansing our soul spiritually gives our body the energy to move forward.
When I want to start something new,
I need to close up the old.
So before I start any projects with renewed energy
I  force myself to dig it out
(when it's under something you can pretend it doesn't exist, or you 'forgot')
and get it done.
So here it is.
I'm finishing this one here...

(Layla get ready. This one's for you)

I also did this little number.
Just some mindless knitting.
If you want the pattern e-mail me.
It's really easy.
If you can knit with big bulky needles!

And then I finally finished both of these just in time for fall.
Dassa and Yaffa, here they come!

I loved making these sweaters.
At least 60 hours on each one.
Well worth it though.

I hope this year will bring us all pretty gifts
tied up in big fancy bows
with glitter and glitz!
Shiny
fresh 
colorful
heartwarming
full
undiluted
side splitting laughter
togetherness
Nachas
and most important
HEALTH!
To life to life,
L'chaim!
And to quote my Chanale the songwriter...

Blessed...

Have you ever felt uncertain

By the twists and turns of life

And it seems that there’s a curtain

Across the heaven’s skies

Don’t you know there is always One

Looking out for you

You’re an only child before His eyes

And He knows what you’re going through

Chorus:

May you be blessed

May you see His Grace in everything you need

May Hashem fulfill your every heart’s desire

Yimalai Hashem Mishailos Libcha Letovah

Have you stood at the bedside

Of a young and ailing child

And you wonder when the day will come

Will you ever see that smile

Have you found the one whose soul you share

Built a family of your own

As you stand under the canopy

You pray for peace in your new home

Chorus

Does the promise of redemption

Ever seem remote and far

Your faith is strong but it’s been too long

You can't take it anymore...........

It's been a year since I began this blog.

It's a new day it's a new dawn....

And I'm ready for what's to come...

Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can.

Take seemingly ordinary everyday life moments like this...

And create a story.

I am not a 'fancy' scrapbooker.
By any means.
I do complex layouts once in a while.
When I'm inspired to be artsy.
But mostly I like to 'get the job done'.
Because I am the memory keeper here in my space.
I am not around to see many of these clips in the days in of grandchildren's lives.
But I feel them as much as I able.
I study each picture sent to me over and over again.
I 'hear' the message they tell me
and then I put it down on pretty paper.

My kitchen table today:

and that is why I need a craft room!

I want to make my little girls bows for the upcoming holidays.

Making a few is never an option.

It's gotta be dozens!

Can't wait to send them to my 'Big' girl.

She loves when I make stuff for her kids.

And I love to be appreciated.

Thanx!

My coffee table in the kitchen covered with another project yet to be revealed.

Busy week coming our way.

There will be lots of cooking and baking going on here.

I am so looking forward to eating yummy food.

Having some of my children here at home...

It's gonna be great.

“Live your life fom your heart. Share from your heart. And your story will touch and heal people's souls.”

Melody Beattie

Favorite Blog Monday

My Favorite Blog today is KIM WATSON.
Her post today shows you how to show appreciation to a teacher you love.
Don't get me wrong here,
I am not a  fan of most schools and most teachers.
(Gasp) did I just say that?!?
I think the system of schools in general is a good idea.
Learning on a schedule,
social setting
competitions
and a few more things.
When a school runs well there is nothing more valuable to a child's growth.
HOWEVER
The problem arises when a school is not willing to admit their weak spots
and consequently
YOUR child is the sacrifice.
I would say this is as serious as  incompetent doctors.
Who get sued all the time for malpractice.
I say we institute the same insurance to protect ourselves against some teachers.
We're talking lives here.
So when you do come across a teacher that is working hard to help your precious child
be the best they could be,
show appreciation.
(and I don't mean buying them a picture frame!)
If you go to My Favorite Blog 
you will see what I mean.
This girl is a fantastic scrapbooker.
You will get lots of great ideas from her.
Start with this one.
While we're on the subject of school
I found these two layouts done 6 years ago.
They are simple in design.
I would like to see a little more creativity in my work.
But I am thrilled to have recorded this.
For the memory.

My mind floods with little slingshots of memories.
So even if the layout is simple,
my reaction to  it
is anything but.

I love school pictures.

They represent time in a way that nothing else does.

Keep all the pictures even if your child doesn't like them.

(ooh, i look so dumb)

Put them away.

For later.

You'll be glad you did.

I am.

First day of school.

I hope you will learn the difference between right and wrong. 

I hope you will learn to be strong enough to tell your friends "no" when you need to. 

You won't always make the right choices but that's part of life and growing up. 

I know you will learn right from wrong 

and will eventually become a leader in your class. 

Influencing others to do positive things instead of negative.

You are so smart, sweet little girl. 

It amazes me to no end to see and hear 

(from far away) 

how you have grown. 

I am so proud of you and can't wait to see how you continue to grow.

I love you more than you will ever know!

Favorite Blog Monday

Today is a great day for you 'wanna b' scrappers.
Today you can actually become a keeper of memories.
Today I will show you that anyone can do it.
No talent needed.
You can actually start right now.
How?
By clicking on MY FAVORITE BLOG!
This brilliant woman has figured out a way for anyone and everyone
to easily and beautifully start saving up precious moments never to be seen and felt again.
She has accomplished something no one else in her field has done.
By bringing scrapbooking to the 'little people'!
Take some  time and read all about it.
You will want the product immediately.
It can really change how you see the world.
You will begin to notice little things that add up to what we call LIFE... 
So here we are...Project Life.
For those of you who appreciate this wonderful find
drop me a line to thank me!

On another note
School starts this week.
My little granchild came out of bed a few nights ago and said
"mommy, can you call my teacher and ask her if school could start a few days early"!
First school photo.
There's nothing cuter than school photos.
It's a growth chart for you
to watch the changes later
like a fast forward video.

You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.
Clay P. Bedford

Moments of wonder. See them and remember...

'They' tell me summer is over.
I see lights flashing in school zones
so I'm pretty sure it's true.
How would I know what to anticipate
when the weather never  barely changes here in sunny Florida!
Which is fine by me.
The sunny part, I mean.
The HOT part, I could do with less of.
I am a big 'shvitzer'.
I turn the AC down, my husband turns it up.
Which brings me to my topic in scrap booking today.
I looked at these pictures of my grandchildren in NY and thought
this is what sums up childhood.
The freedom to run through sprinklers.
And that is what I miss about being a child.
Running through sprinklers in a bathing suit!

I have these card stock doilies that were perfect for twine wrapping.
I love twine and this gave me an opportunity to use it.
Here is another layout from a couple of years ago.
How much fun is it to stand under a water fountain!

I used clear embossing powder on the layout's elements to mimic water.

“Summer will end soon enough, and childhood as well.”
― George R.R. Martin,

Favorite Blog Monday

Today I will introduce to you
a blog that will increase your scrapbooking talents.
This lady does fantastic work.
Her design is always balanced.
Her choice of colors, fresh and clean.
The best part for me:
she posts little tutorials along the way that improve your craft skills.
Her layouts are doable and interesting at the same time.
She is also a skilled photographer,
which makes her layouts even more wonderful.
Hopefully you will take some time to read her posts.
You will find little treasures along the way.
Techniques that look deceivingly complicated.
Explained in a clear pictorial.
So here you are....
MAGGIE HOLMES design
Enjoy!

This week I did a little more Sharpie magic.
It might not be wearable, unless you're 12.
But I think it's fun nonetheless!

Here is another layout using a Sharpie.
Script a word in pencil first on white card stock.
Practice on regular paper first.
Here I filled the word with beads
mimicking the heart which I took off a card.
I added a border and Voila!
(White background card stock always works best)

This is how I feel today...

Have a nice day!