Pinky the Conqueror?

This Saturday, Pinky got a chance to fulfill his long life dream of conquering Jerusalem, though it didn't go as well as he initially planned..

As soon as I heard that the almond trees are in bloom (a beautiful sight second, in my mind, only to the magical cherry tree bloom) I decided to go visit my friend B. in Jerusalem, the road to which is scattered with almond trees blooming in pink and white, and Pinky decided to come with me (actually B. said that I can only come if he comes. Really). After the beautiful trip we arrived at her place, drank some terrible chocolate espresso (my reaction to which was crying "shit!") we took our coats and drove to the Israel Museum, where I was looking forward to see the belongings of Babta Bat Shimon, a wealthy woman who during the second Judean-Roman war of 132-135 AC escaped with some of her belongings (key to her house, papers and certificates of her estate, some perfume and a mirror) to a cave in the desert, where she starved to death along with several other refugees. But enough about me.

Pinky enjoyed visiting the model of ancient Jeruslaem and the second temple, where he felt like a king.

He didn't enjoy the rest of the museum as much, I'm afraid, so B. was kind enough to let him rest in her bag for a while.

After a few hours in the museum, the three of us had enough, and went to our favorite local restaurant for some fine alcohol and food. Later than evening, B. Pinky and myself were immensely pleased with ourselves and the good company we enjoyed, exchanged kisses and hugs and said our farewells to each other and the city.

I asked Pinky if he would rather stay with B. and make another attempt at taking the city in the morning, but he was tired from the long day and missed Barbie, so I was very happy to drive both of us home, while he curled up and fell asleep on the sit next to me. Honestly, I would rather have him home than managing the politics of a city like Jerusalem. That is far too much a task for a such a small body, although if someone has the spirit and valor to resolve the Israeli-Arab conflict, that would undoubtedly be Pinky.

Designers fair at the historic Station complex

Last week I was invited to a tour of the new designers fair at the historic Station complex in Tel Aviv. 

The Station (or Hatachana, in Hebrew) is located between the Neveh Zedek neighborhood and the Mediterranean Sea and was the first train station built in old Jaffa in the 19th century. It was recently reopened to the public as a beautifully restored culture and shopping center.

On top of the beautiful luxurious Israeli designer (home and fashion) shops, the designers fair is home to several up and coming young designers and is open every Thursday night during the summer. On my tour, I met talented jewelry, textile, and bag designers as well as soap makers and other craftspeople who will make your living space a more colorful soulful place. I definitely fell in love with some of these people and their work.

If you live in Israel and haven't been to the Station yet, I urge you to go (you will find some of my favorite shops there), and if not - I hope these photos inspired you to think of Israel differently than the news channels portray us.

I wish you all a beautiful, colorful and wonderfully scented week!

Sparkle galore

This Friday I participated in a blogger event at Michal Negrin's visitors center in Bat Yam. The place is target of visits from all over the world, where people can enter the world of this super sparkly designer and witness her creation process as well as the inside of her factory - manufacturing jewelry, fashion, and home wear that is sold around the world. 

We started by having a nice breakfast, then headed to a tour of the factory and finally had a wonderful workshop where each of us got to create her very own She Shy doll. That part was simply heaven for me, and ended up in me bagging Michal to let me live in the puppeteer's studio filled with every embellishment I ever dreamed of working with. It was such a fun day!

I took about a gazillion photo to share with you, hope you will enjoy them.

Doll house on the visitor's center hall

Breakfast awaits!

Even the water cooler is fully Negrined!

Tour of the factory

I met this little guy on my way to the ladies room

Inside the puppeteer's studio

A lovely weekend in pictures

Last weekend was so lovely! I took many photographs to remember and share, and here are my favorites.

I started the weekend holding a used clothes sale on my rooftop with my friend and fellow fashion blogger Tamar. We sold cloths we no longer need as well as my puppets and handmade jewelery. It was tons of fun and we're holding another one tomorrow.

Saturday, my friends and I drove to the country for a Collage Sale with many wonderful handmade artists and small businesses who sell shabby chic items.

I also took many photographs around the village, since everything was in bloom and so beautiful. I wonder if I can live in a place like that without going out of my mind with boredom..

Later on that afternoon, I came back home and decided to work on the garden and plant the flowers and greens I bought the day before, after spending a miserable afternoon visiting my dad's grave. Nothing cheers me up like flowers do. They are my favorite thing in the world.

That's about it! Here's to a wonderful weekend for all of us. Passover starts in about 10 days, which means very long weekend and holidays for yours truly, yay!