Ye ole traveling Flutterbutt

While discussing this and that this afternoon, Nifty gave me an amazing idea

I am going to make a special world traveler Flutterbutt, and send him or her out to the world to have, log, and shoot wonderful Flutterbuttish adventures!

Problem is, I have no idea how to make this happen. What I need, I suppose, is a bunch of silly yet trust-worthy people who are interested in participating in this silly venture.

Would you be interested in hosting a Flutterbutt for a few days, taking it all sorts of places and documenting your adventures before shipping him/her to a new location?

Please let me know if you are.

Apart for that, Pinky is all ready for Halloween. How sweet is that?

Trick or treat!

Happy Halloween everybody!

מילון אבן-שופלן לשרונית מדוברת

Sorry for the Hebrew again guys, this is a post regarding the spoken Hebrew language.

לאחרונה יש לי הרבה קוראים חדשים, שלאו דוקא נתקלו בי באותו מקום ערטילאי המתקרא "החיים האמיתיים". עבורם, ובפרט בשביל אלה שעוקבים אחריי בטוויטר, חשבתי שכדאי לפרסם מונחון קצר לשרונית מדוברת. אם מי מחבריי נזכר במשהו ששכחתי, נא יוסיף בתגובות ואני אעדכן. מדי פעם אני אעדכן את המילון, לנוחיות המשתמשים בי.

• שניק-שניק\שנאק-שנאק - שניק היא מילה המבטאת מהירות ביצוע גבוהה וכנגזרת של כך, גם עליצות. ב-TCP\IP מתבצעת לחיצת יד משולשת בין שרתים בה שרת מודיע שהוא קיים, מקבל אישור משרת אחר שגם הוא מודיע שהוא קיים, ואז מאשר את קבלת המידע. מאחר ויהודים אנו, תרגמתי את לחיצת היד המשולשת לעברית כ-שניק, שניק\שנאק, שנאק.
• לפת -כל מה שתפל, משעמם, ומעורר אפטיה. בעולמם של התענשים (ראה ערך) נקרא המושג "וניל".
  
• תענוש - התרגום השרוני ל-BDSM.
  
• הלאות - עייפות פיזית ונפשית קשה. נגזרת ממשקל "הרעות".
• יושנת - בשרונית לא אומרים ישנה. אומרים יושנת.
• פינקי (שמות נרדפים - פושקין, פנש, פישקנדודעל, פושקינדס החכם בספוגן, פני, פינקלשטיין) -בובייל הבית, ויש שיאמרו הבוס של הבית. הוא כוראוגרף בלהקת הבלט הספוגני הישראלי, מפרנס את עצמו בכבוד רב, יש לו ג'ורה מהתחש (ראה ערך) ולב של זהב.
• חמועל - נעל בית בצורת חיה או כל דמות צמרורית בלתי סבירה אחרת.
• כפכמועל - חמועל שפתוח מאחורה.
• מעיין - מקום מטאפורי בו אתה שקוע עד צוואר בתופעה או תכונה מסוימת. לדוגמה - מעיינות הניצנוצאז'.
  
• חובזית -מוצר תזונתי דמיוני. לרב תוזכר החובזית בשילוב עם רוטב מסוים. לרב יהיה אותו רוטב עשוי מטחינה.
  
• שככה יהיה לי.. - ניב המבטא פליאה, לרב חיובית. דוגמאות - שככה תהיה לי חובזית ברוטב טחינה עם שמן זית טוב טוב, או שככה יהיה לי ישבן משובץ אבנים טובות.
• משמין לי - כינוי גנאי לרשת חנויות הבגדים במידה גדולה השנואה עליי, ובהשאלה - כינוי לבגד מבחיל במידות גדולות. לדוגמה "אם הייתי רוצה חולצה שחורה עם הדפס של תחש הייתי הולכת למשמין לי".
  
• בנצור - מישהו שמנסה להשתלב לפני בתנועה, ואני נותנת לו.
• מיטל\יעל - כינויי גנאי לנהגות שעדיף שלא יעלו על הכביש. שתיהן נוהגות מאד לאט, יושבות קרוב מאד להגה, ולא יודעות מהחיים שלהן. ההבדל הוא שמיטל סתם מעצבנת בעוד שיעל עלולה להרוג אותך (היא זאת שנוסעת באור אדום או גולשת מהנתיב שלה באיילון בהילוך איטי).
• ממישה - אמא שלי (זכרונה לברכה).
• פפישו - אבא שלי (זכרונו לברכה).
• פומסקי - האחיינית שלי.
• חביבו - האחיין שלי.
• שופלין - דבר טוב. לרב מגולגל וממולא במלית טעימה.
  
• למען השם! - קריאה השגורה בפי פינקי, לרב כמתכונת העברית של Like, Duh. עשויה להעיד גם על זעזוע עמוק ממעשיו או דעותיו של הוא זה. לדוגמה - חמוטל שואלת אם אני אגיע לברית של בנה הבכור מחר בערב, אני עונה "למען השם!".
  
• שמנוניות - או כל מילה אחרת על משקל "קדמוניות" של יוספוס פלאביוס גורמת לי להרגיש שמחה וצופנת סוד.
• תחש - יונק נהרות שחור לבן שאוהב לאכול כריכים. משמש כיופמיזם למגוון רחב של מילים שהשתיקה יפה להן. לדוגמה - קיביניתחש.
  
• למה לא למה לא - קריאת אישור והסכמה.
• בטח בטח למה לא - קריאת בוז.
• ללבב - to heart a shop/item באטסי 
• יוגמה - רגש או תחושה קשה של יאוש. מקור המילה משילוב המילים יגון ועוגמה.
• יופחה - תוצר של יוגמה מתמשכת. מצב בו אתה בוכה ובוכה כתוצאה מרחמים עצמיים וראויים במיוחד. 
• יותמה - יוגמה הנובעת מאובדן שני ההורים.
• סביח - מילת אישור, המורכבת מחצי סבבה חצי אחלה והרבה טחינה. 
• משקפמש - משקפי שמש. 
• מנקש - מטלית לניקוי משקפיים.

בעלת הבית לועסת חובזית

עדכון - מילון אבן שופלן המעודכן מופיע מעתה פה.

?קוראים עברית

הנה ראיון חמוד איתי בבלוג המלבב של נעלולה.

An existential debate

A real conversation I recorded in my diary a while back, between me and Pinky.

Pinky - I think there for I am.
Me - Wow that's deep! Where did this come from?
Pinky - I've been thinking about it for a while now
Me - That means you have existed for a while now
Pinky - I didn't think of that..
Me - Which means you do not exist
Pinky - For crying out loud!

We have a very special relationship, my Pinky and I

What do you do with a Flutterbutt?

My Flutterbutts or Puppet Mobiles (though many of them have escaped their mobile cords throughout the years, and are roaming the lands free of attachment) tend to fall short of hitting a specific market. Some are cute and silly, some are pretty and decorative, they look like a children item but they are not (I almost never design with kids in mind, plus I don't have CPSIA (the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) testing capabilities.

So who are they for? What do they do? Why must you get one for yourself (and trust me, you do)? And how do you choose the right Flutterbutt for you?

Decorate your home or your child's room

My Puppet Mobiles are Flutterbutts hanging on a transparent wire decorated with assorted beads - Czech glass beads, Swarovski crystals, plastic beads, glass beads, handmade beads, and more and more. The type of beads is one of the element that determines the price of the mobile.

Some of my Flutterbutts are simple, clean, and colorful (and usually cheaper too) and will fit perfectly in your kid's bedroom or playing area. Others are much more expressive, delicately embellished and fit a grownup taste and surrounding.

HRH Elizabeth I Fluttrebutt

Accessorize your bag or keys

Some Flutterbutts have a lobster key chain attahced, so you can use them to decorate your bag or old your keys for ya!

Hang them in your office

Want to liven up your dreary cubicle? Do like some of my customers do, and hang a friend to keep you company throughout the day (don't try this with friends who are not made of foam!!). Not only will it brighten your working space, but you can also share your onions of your boss with it, it is sure to take your side.

This little guy is hanging in a high-tech company cubicle in the US

Play with your Flutterbutt

Are you a silly grown up who likes to play with dolls? What you need is a stand alone Flutterbutt (i.e. a not in mobile form). These soft foam creatures will get softer as you use them, and can stand on their own (thanks to their long skirt of shoes). You can use them to tell stories, annoy your friends, or make yourself and everybody around you laugh. the fun never ends with a good Flutterbutt around, like my beloved Pinky whom you can see right below.

Communicate

Puppets are a wonderful means of communicating and channeling. I use puppets for my spiritual work, to help relieve the sometimes loaded mind of my mom (who is sick with lung cancer). We laugh together with Pinky, watch TV with him (he loves to dance to the opening theme of CSI Vegas). When my dad was dying of cancer a few years back, he loved playing with me via my puppet Nick. Those are some of my best memories of his last year - me, him, and a silly puppet doing merry singalongs while he's lying in bed. You would not believe the things people are willing to tell a silly looking puppet. And don't get me started even on the work I am doing with my Mini Me Flutterbutt..

Custom made portrait Flutterbutts

Looking for a one of a kind birthday gift for your loved one?
Need a unique wedding topper or decoration shaped like the bride and groom?
Want a little look alike of your favorite movie or music star?
In search of a mini me for your spiritual work or life coaching process?

Order your very own portrait Flutterbutt (with or without a mobile cord) today!

My mini me enjoying a nice dinner in front of the TV

And these are only a few of the reasons you need a Flutterbutt. You can see all of my currently available Flutterbutts by clicking here.

An unlikely emotional post

Once upon a time, I had another blog where I wrote about my feelings. After keeping it going for four years I reached a point where I felt it is too whiny, gloomy, and extremely unproductive and killed it, opening this blog instead to discuss happy colorful crafty issues. Only tonight, for some reason or another, I have such a huge block of tears in my throat, I thought I better write it out.

It all started with watching Edith Piaf's biography "La vie en rose" last night. I think it struck me in a most unexpected way, or rather grabbed my by the throat. Then, this evening, I was looking for original videos of Piaf on Google, where I found this song, whose mere thought of brings me in tears.

Edith Piaf L'Hymne à L'Amour English subtitles
Uploaded by lightning49. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

I feel so burdened with doubt and worries these past few days, I guess I should be thankful that such songs exist, to allow people like me, who have 9 meter high lead walls built around their heart let it out every now and again, and cry my eyes out, as I do.

Shabby kitsch and a little gardener

Yesterday I found myself dwelling in a shabby-kitsch kinda mood. I bought all sorts of lovely butterflies in the craft shop and ended up making two headbands full of ribbon, flowers, and butterflyish loveliness.

The first one is lilac and sky blue with a touch of baby pink.

The second is all sorts of wonderful pinks with butterflies, ribbon, and roses.

I will be adding the headbands to the shop very shortly. I hope I did not overdo it with the sweetness, I just love this type of hair accessories!

Last but not least, is my recent addition to the shop - a wonderful little hand puppet called Sarah!

Sarah loves flowers and gardening. She also likes soccer, hot cocoa, and Emily Bronte and is very friendly and huggable. She is waiting for you in my shop, all ready to spread joy and cheer throughout your home. Operating her is as easy as pie!

October blog giveaway winner

Which printer should I buy?

Ever since Juju told me she uses Epson R2880 I've been obsessing about inkjet printers.

My Canon stopped working over a year ago, and somehow I managed with using the office color HP laser printer, whose color prints are undoubtedly too bad to sell. Now I want to make a printed items for my shop (calendars and such) which demand I finally replace my dead printer (the scanner still works though).

So I am looking for a printer. The amazing Epson R2880 is way too expensive not to mention an overkill for my needs. So I am currently considering HP Officejet Pro 8500 but am not yet sure.

What I need is a:

• Printer-scanner
• Costing less than 1500NIS (i.e 400$)
• Good value for money
• Good for printing sellable illustrations

Any advice?
Thought?
Which printer do you use?

Shop update

Lately, I have been wondering whether it is wise to keep unsold hearted items in my shop. I used to keep the number of items in my shop under 60, preferably at the surrounding of 45 and lately I found myself at 70 something items. The debate which rose clearly stated people who sell a lot have about 100 items in their shops, which also allows for a greater number of items to be found by search engines. I am still not sure which comes first - many items or many sales, but decided I am willing to give it a try for a short while and see if anything moves.

In the meanwhile, I spent some time last week working on a custom order watercolor drawing of two life long friends. Considering I didn't draw anything of the kind for a year if not more, I am quite pleased with the result.

On top of this, and in direct connection to what I wrote above, I decided I need to make a few new series of limited edition cheap Flutterbutts. And so, I spent Saturday making these three colorful feathery tutu fellas. As you can see, they are ready for cooler evenings with a nice scarf and pompom hat. Buy your favorite before he goes away!

Red

Sky blue

Yellow

Headbands for the happily challenged

It's been such a tiring weekend.. I spent most of Friday cleaning, then babysat today and worked on several Flutterbutts. There isn't a single muscle in my body that isn't cramped, even my lower arms hurt. In short - I am cranky. But I promised I will share my recent accessory findings, and so I shall - for no matter how bad things get, fashion has to go on!

First off, is Emilio Poochi (I am so very pleased with that name), my new bag. It is supposed to be a limited edition from relatively new local brand Twentyfourseven. I know I know, I am 33 after all, but I thought I can get away with it (him) if I wear an all black serious looking outfit. Anyway, Emilio is already feeling comfortable in his new home.

Emilio Poochi

I also got two headbands. Once is amazingly amazing, and I will need to grow steal balls to wear it, but I promise I shall. I got it in Castro, out of all places.

My mom said I should wear it to her funeral.
Go explain fashion to old folks, geesh.

I spent a few evenings lately looking for winter-autumn shoes or boots, and found nada con nada. On my way back from Shani Bar (everything looks beautiful, but it hard as a rock and just as comfortable) I stopped at Iluchka to find absolutely nothing my size (I asked her if she can make me a skirt and she said she cannot cause she only produces in small quantities. Got it? She only makes everything by hand and therefore cannot make a custom skirt. Anyway..) apart for nice jewlery and bags by Galit Weitzman. I was so annoyed by the lack of things to spend money on, I bought this cute yet way too pricy headband which I can easily make myself.

It is very cute isn't it?

And now, it's time for a bubble bath and then trying to find something half decent to watch on TV. Seriously, looking for a nice show to watch on TV on Saturdays is as useless and annoying as looking for a nice colorful short pencil skirt size 46-48 in Israeli boutiques. Oh to blah with it all!

Miracle Hamster Pincushions and a Blog Giveaway

I thought I will take the time to introduce you to miracle hamster pincushions.

Everybody with a thread and needle can make a pincushion, but it takes a special kinda artist to see into the heart of a hamster and absorb this gentle creature's love for textile arts - and I am indeed that kind of special person.

First of all, know that when using a miracle hamster pincushion you will no longer have to deal alone with problems arising during the creative process. Can't find the right color thread? Having trouble hooking your sewing machine? Your hamster is there to help and offer valuable advice.

Benson the miracle hamster pincushion

You don't HAVE to use them as a pincushion. If you cannot stand the thought of that, just play with them or use them for decoration. Though I have to tell you - acupuncture is good for your health, and hamsters are no different in that aspect.

Ezra the miracle hamster pincushion and a friend

And now - for October's blog giveaway!!! Since not everybody sew, I am giving away a chubby pink hamster magnet (as well as a nice promo goody bag).

How to win your very own hamster magnet:

1. Comment on this thread along with your email address, so I can contact you if you win.
2. Follow this blog, if you don't already (there is a Follow button lower on the left).
   
3. For an extra entry - Follow me on Twitter too. DM me so I know to count you twice on the giveaway.

That's it. On October 15th I'll have a raffle and let you know who won, so stay tuned.