DIY Gold Centerpiece

Somehow, I found myself with a lot of plastic pears (long story, don't ask). Simple, plain, boring, and cheap.
You already know what I do to simple boring objects.

 

That's right, cover them in gold leaf.

This Year in One Post

I have so much to do and I feel so tired and overwhelmed, I just want to sleep.

Or go to Ikea.

But this is a special time of year In Israel. Here we celebrate the New Year in September, what we refer to as Rosh Hashan. September always feels like the end of something, and the beginning of something new.

So I thought if I have sum up this last year it'll make it much easier to leave the past in the past and energize for this new year we are welcoming.
This past year has been very meaningful for me and my business. So much has happened, let's take a look, shall we?
For starters, my former partner had to leave the studio when she moved up north, this is the last post we wrote together.

 

A wonderful DIY by Tamar for apple flowers

My designs were featured in many places! Blogs that I love, amazing web sites, and a lot of thought happened after I took part in ICFF in New York, more about that here. 

 

Lots of new designs in my collection, I wrote a little bit about the design process here.

foldable felt bin, from my webshop

I made a lot of new friends through this blog, and these virtual friendships became real ones. We cooperated on some projects, and we already have a couple of new ideas for the upcoming year.

 

A piece we did for Zuriel Dairy Company that was featured on the no 1 Israeli news site

One of the biggest things that happened to me is this blog. What started out as a side project for my Homeware studio, became really central in my growth as a designer. I've never had this many ideas in my head, and I'm so happy I get to share that with my lovely readers, weather here in the comments, Facbook, or email. 

Working from home in my teeny Caravan, far away from the city, well, it hasn't been that amazing for my social life. I'm so happy we get to meet up every week and chat:)

These were the three most popular posts of the year: Big Bubble DIY, Fastest Clean Up in the World, and Clay Gift Tags.

 

So, what's in the work for next year? Some new designs I'm working on, getting the word out about this blog, and all kinds of little dreams I have that I'm not ready to spill the beans on yet - I don't want to jinx anything:)

So I'm taking some time off now for the High Holidays, and I will be back real soon!

As we say here - Shana Tova Umetuka - have a happy sweet new year!

Elisheva

Easy Braided Bread - Challah

The Jewish New Year - Rosh Hashana - is nearing, and I thought I'd share one of may favorite holiday traditions growing up.
It has to do with the bread we eat, Challah, on the first night of the holiday. This braided bread is eaten every Friday night and Saturday afternoon throughout the year, but unlike every other week, on the High Holidays it is baked into a round loaf, symbolizing renewal.

 

Growing up, we used to sneak the Rosh Hashana (New Year)  greeting cards we made under the bread cover (they lay covered until after everyone is seated and the wine has been blessed). When my father would uncover them, he'd always be "surprised" to find all of our handmade cards.

We make Challah bread almost every week, and it's surprisingly easy, especially if you have a Kitchenaid. Our guests are always impressed, and because we make a couple loafs we also give them as gifts no neighbors and friends.

So today I want to show you a few simple way to make any gift (especially the edible kind) look amazing - with only a few things you probably have lying around at home. With these tricks even a store bought granola bar could look amazing, here's the how to.

 

Wrap a piece of parchment paper (I use simple baking sheets cut into strips ) and tie a brown string around it.

The combination of parchment paper + brown string gives a rustic vibe to anything, making perfect for home baked (or store bought, I won't tell) goods.

 

Or, you can cut tags out of patterned paper and tie them with a piece of ribbon to your loaf. To get the nice neat bow above, wrap the ribbon around the loaf, string both ends into the whole on your tags, then tie the bow.

You can also make rolls out of the Challah dough. Just roll out the dough into a snake about the length of your hand, and tie into a knot. You can then put the rolls into this chic bread basket, which is actually a linen napkin folded and pressed is an idea I first saw on Martha Stewart blog. I used linen napkins from my collection, pressing with an iron as I folded.

This is how it's done:

 

Fold both edges towards the center (you can leave a bit so they don't meet each other %100), then fold the open edges back, Voila.

And the recipe for this Challah? We use a revised version of this recipe, this is what it looks like after our revision: 

1 kilo flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 tbsp dry yeast

2 eggs

1/2 cup Canola oil

1.5 cups water - add more if necessary. 

1 tbsp. sea salt

Mix all of the dry ingredients except the salt. Add the oil, eggs and water and knead into dough. You may need to add water - just until the dough is formed. It's ok if the dough is a little sticky, just make sure it's manageable. Sprinkle the salt in and knead for about 5 minutes.

Cover the dough with a plastic bag (not the bowl, the actual dough) - this will keep it moist as it rises. Let it rise for about an hour. Divide the dough into 6  and spread them on a baking sheet.Let them rise again, covered, for another 15 minutes. Braid each 3 pieces into braids, beat and brush an egg over the loaves and sprinkle with sesame and sea salt. Bake in a preheated oven (180 degrees cell) until the loaves brown - about half an hour.

How about you, dear readers? Any special holiday traditions you love? Are they always about food, like they are for me?

Let me know in the comments,

Until next time - 

Elisheva

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Geometric Necklace DIY

This blog is mostly about entertaining.
Mostly.
But sometimes, I like to do something a bit different. In Israel we are nearing the High Holidays. Basically, the entire month of September is filled with Holidays - which for me means a lot family, great food - and fancy clothes. So for the entire month of August I will be posting once a week on ideas for Rosh Hashana , the Jewish New Year - but obviously even if you don't celebrate, you can use the ideas I will share for any Holiday or fancy dinner.

 

One of my favorite Holiday traditions have to do with Jewelery. My mother always gives all of the girls (three sisters and one sister in law) a pretty necklace as a gift. Then my Dad and all of us siblings give my mother a gift. You guessed it - a Necklace. Sometimes someone gets creative and gives a bracelet. I think my best pieces are from these pre-holiday gifts. I've already written about my Mothers amazing taste, and this is no exception.
So today in honor of that tradition, I'm sharing a fun DIY for a cool geometric statement necklace. If Hook n' Loop design had a Jewelery line this is what it would look like for sure - clean and modern with a little twist.

 

To make the necklace in the photo, this is what you'll need:

1. Leather (I used feux) in two colors - black and the trendy gold.

2. Pencil/Pen

3. Scissors/X-acto knife

4. Fabric Glue

5. Ruler

6. Plyers

7. Gold necklace chain and clasps

 

Here's what you do, from the top left corner clockwise.

1. Measure and cut strips from the leather. The width should be the same on both colors, the black ones should be a bit longer then the gold in order for the black strips to show.

2. Cut the strips into triangular shape at the tip, again making sure the black strips are longer then the gold.

3. Put glue on a bit less then half of the black strip, fold in half and press until it sticks. Make sure there is a loop with no glue at the center - this is where the gold chain will go through.

4. Put glue on the entire gold strip, fold over the black strip and press.

That's it, you now have on piece of the necklace.

 

String the chain through the leather piece. You can now make some more, or if one is enough for you, attach the clasps to the chain and Voila!

Now have fun with it! You can make different shapes and sizes, like the triangle piece below.

 

I can imagine this idea in different color schemes, like a dark grey base with a touch of fuchsia, or even the same color with different textures. And even though it was hard finding the time to sit down and craft between Lego games and going to the park (this summer vacation is tiring!, I had so much fun making it, and I hope you will too.

Until next week,

Elisheva

P.S. During next week I will have special Holiday sales on my entire collection, be sure to keep updated on the blog or on Facebook.

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8 Crazy Nights

The Holiday season is over, but I still have some sweet memories... Those of you who are following my Facebook Page  may have seen how every day of Chanukah (8 days in total) I showed an easy DIY to make any simple mug into a clever and pretty one. The project started out with 8 simple (OK, boring) mugs, and finished up with8 beautiful inspiring projects that would make the Queen Mother (Martha, I mean you!) proud.

Mugs were an easy choice - I love my coffee! And you can never really have anough mugs around the house. And with winter in full swing, cuddling up with your favorite book, (or TV show - no judgment from me!) some cookies (mmm....) and a hot drink sounds like the perfect evening.

So this post is a small party, to let anyone who missed out on all of the Facebook fun to see all of the different projects (which you can do with all sorts of different items - not just mugs)

* Mug no. 1 - Mug Sweater

I felt so bad for the poor little mug, all alone in the dark cupboard, and knit him a small sweater (the internet is crawling with tutorials). Now it has a small cozy, feel free to match your toppings to the cozies color. Because that wouldn't be weird at all:)

* Mug no 2. - A chocolate Heart

To make this pretty Hot Cocoa, melt some white chocolate in your mug (microwave is fine, just make sure you mix it every couple of seconds). Once the chocolate melts, smooth it out with a spoon. Take a heart shaped piece of chocolate and press it into the white chocolate mush. Add warm milk - and Voila!

*Mug no. 3 - Freckles

The idea behind this mugs makeover is fairly simple - polka dots truly are the best.

You can freestyle this one, or make a small stencil, just be sure to use Ceramic Markers (you can get some at most craft stores)

*Mug no. 4 - Vines

This idea is great if you have mismatched dishware in the same color. Using similar graphics give it a "collection" feel. We used a nature inspired theme:

*Mug no. 5 - Chalkboard

It's back to school mug time (wouldn't this make the cutest gift for teachers?)!  For this project you can use Chalkboard Paint, or you can make it (it's easy, I promise!) Mix 1 cup acrylic paint with 1 tbsp grout (the stuff you use in between tiles). This works, really! Paint some on your surface , and chalk away. This idea comes with a warning - you shouldn't drink chalk.

 

*Mug no. 6  - Saturday Flowers 

I love flowers on the weekends, it makes the house look so put together. I treated this mug as a planter, and judging by the likes you gave it on Facebook - this one was your favorite. Simply put the soil in the mug, and add your plant. Because there are no drainage holes on the bottom, make sure you don't overwater it. This would make a really cute centerpiece (think 5 or 6 of these across a table).

 

*Mug no 7 - Color Stain

While stains on your favorite shirts can be the worst, a color stained mug looks pretty amazing. Simply dip the mug into a paint filled bowl, and hang on a hook to dry.

 

*Mug no 8 - A Sweet Gift

Parting is such a sweet sorrow, so to make it even sweeter - I took some cookies and put them into a small bag that we tied with a wide bow (trust me, wide ribbons look nicer on a small gift) and put it into the mug.

Now the difficult part - who do you want to treat?

 

Who doesn't love a good before and after?

Thanks to all of you flowing on Facebook! This project was so much fun to share:)

Stay tune for next week....

XOXO

Elisheva

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Nostalgia, Beutiful Views, and Recipes

Maybe it's that wintery smell, or the rain that won't stop - something is making me nostalgic. With the holidays coming soon, I'm especially nostalgic for Holiday customs. And you know when I say customs - I mean food:)
So this post will bring you a family recipe with a shot of the view from my house, along with a recipe by my amazing and talented friend Tamar who just moved up North, and the views from her house.
In my house, lighting Hanukkah candles is always done with a burnt aroma lingering in the background. The smell is not from the candles, but from the Potatoe Latkes my Mother makes.

I've tasted many a Latke - and I always feel so bad for those poor souls still eating plump fluffy wet Latkes. If there is one thing I learned from my mother, it's that you can never really burn a potato. My Mothers Latkes are juicy on the inside, and crispy on the outside. Our favorite part of her Latkes are  those little crispy fringes surrounding them. Poor other peoples fringless Latkes, they do not know what they're missing.
For this recipe, you'll need about 8 large peeled potatoes, a medium-small sized onion. Grade them finely together in your food processor, then comes the most important part. Take a clean bowl, pick up a handful of potato-onion mush and squeeze out all of the water over the food processor. Then transfer the waterless mush into the clean bowl. Repeat for all of the mixture, so you're left with a bowl full of the dry-ish potato-onion. This part is what makes the Latkes crispy on the outside.
Add two heaped tablespoons of flour, two eggs, some salt and pepper. Mix it all up - I admit I use my hands. And it's squishy.
Heat some oil (Olive or Canola is fine) in a frying pan. It should not completely cover the Latke, but rather reach halfway. Take small handful off the mixture, squeeze it again to get rid of liquids and make it flat. You can pull out a couple of potato strings, for the crispy fringe part. Put the Latke in the oil, flip when one side is brown, the take it out as soon as the other side is brown - and transfer to a plate. (I put some paper towels under the Latkes for the oil to drip out)
You can now enjoy them!

 

Until next time,

Elisheva

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An Early Holiday Gift From Me

So, Hanukkah is in the air - and you can definitely feel it all over Israel. When I was growing up in the US the holidays were really hard for me. I was so jealous of kids who got to celebrate Christmas! The lights! The decorations! Santa! If you have ever felt this way about Jewish Holidays, you would definitely appreciate this piece by John Stuart.
Celebrating Hanukkah is very different in Israel, b/c there really is no one to be jealous of. I guess it makes it easier, but I still miss those lights on our Street in Maryland...
Hanukkah is loooong - a whole eight days to celebrate our miracle. Every night we light another candle in the Hanukia - also called a Menorah. It's customary to invite friends and light candles together. This way you find yourself at a different friend each evening, and with all of your brothers and sisters on the last night - probably at your house. There are lots of gifts to give, and Sufganiot (I think Jelly Doughnut is doing a disservice as a translation) to serve.

So here are a couple of Printables to dress up that ordinary wine bottle you thought you'd bring, and  add a little something to add to that mound of Sufganiot on your table to really make you stand out as the most stylish host and guest:)

 

So what can you find on this file? Wine tags (just print on card stock and fold on the dotted line), little signs for those Sufganiot and Potato Latkes everyone loves so much (they say "guilt free" b/c they aint fat free, for those of you who aren't yet fluent Hebrew speakers) and pretty cards for gifts you might be giving.  

For the little signs - cut out the circles and glue them back to back with a toothpick in the center.

If you want to get fancy with the gift cards (and you know you do) you can make two slits in the gift card and insert two colors of ribbon through them, like in the picture (cause you know I love getting fancy!)

You can get the tags here.

Happy Hanukkah!

Elisheva

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