It Gets Better

I have a confession: I am straight. Utterly and completely straight.

And yet, when I came about the It Gets Better project, I teared up while watching some of the wonderful videos on their website. 

The goal of this project is to show gay, lesbian and transgendered youth, especially suicidal ones, that a good future does wait for them - one filled with love, success, friends, fun, joy and all other things grown ups know there is to life, which is sometimes invisible to young people.

But I also relate to the message - I was bullied for many years as a child. I was too different, too sensitive, too desperate for love, too loud, too silly, too smart and on top of all - too fat. One of the great wonders of my life (to me) is how I managed to grow up to be a loving compassionate woman and not a bitter, spiteful, miserable person. Somehow, I always find the power to continue - despite adversities and no matter how lonely I feel.

So I relate to the wonderful message of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and would like to add to it - No matter how "strange" you are, persevere, educate yourself about being fabulous and reach out to people you can relate to and don't lose hope, because no matter what injures your soul - It does get better.

My puppet Erez and his partner Motti.

I am indeed a proud mother!

You don't say!

Each year I have the same trouble, trying to come up with a birthday gift for my brother. This year he will be 39, and I needed something special (after all, if he is 39 God only knows how old I am getting). Much to my surprise, it ended up being incredibly easy this year.

Well, every Israeli around my age knows this opening theme:

According to Wiki, Kishkashta is a "talking cactus" (the cactus is the iconic nickname for the native Israeli, prickly on the outside and sweet within). There isn't an Israeli child, who grew up in the 70's, who didn't suckle from his thorny breasts, so to speak. That is why, when I saw this article, I just knew I have to order one for my brother's birthday. Today, after about a week of waiting, I went to pick them up from the lovely and smiley Hadar, who is the artist behind this ingenious item.

What a (prickly) pair!

I tried (and will continue) to convince Hadar to open an Etsy shop for her amazing crochet. I am not sure if there is a huge ready made international market for Kishkashtas, but I am positive that once they see his cute face they will want to have one. Plus, she makes other wonderful designs, like this commercial she made for the Israeli telecommunications provider Bezeq

I hope she will come around eventually, and open a shop. In the meanwhile, you can contact her via her Facebook.

Thank God I planned ahead and ordered one for myself as well
or else Eran would not be getting a gift this year

H&M Fitting Room

How cool is this gadget?? Enter your measurements and style your fit and face, et viola! There you are, all ready to try on different H&M outfits. They have no glasses, or necklaces, or earrings but still - I had fun making this little me. She is even dressed more or like my true self. Still, my first and only love is my mini me, or Pitzke as I like to call her. Cute little thing, and kinda smart as well!

My favorite blogs revealed

Today I thought I would share some of my favorite blogs with you.

I just love checking what my favorites' favorites are. I think that is the best way to find websites I will love - based on where people with similar taste to mine, or taste I admire, find inspiration. On Etsy, I check my favorite shops' favorites every once in a while, as a method of finding wonderful new shops. And on my favorite blogs, I look for the blogs they follow. Many times I find treasures that way. So I thought maybe I can return a favor and pass on some of my findings.

Fashion Blogs

• The street walker - Yael Sloma's Israeli street fashion is as good (if not better) than similar internationally acclaimed websites.

Inspirational Blogs

• WooWork - Howie Coquitlam is the most ingenious, funny, and bright crochet artist you will ever meet. And his item photography skills are outstanding.
• Doll stories - Neta Amir is not only a wonderful textile designer, but also a great blogger. Her words bring her creations to life.
• Illustratively - Heidi Burton is a wonderful, warm, and bright illustrator. I wish I were her (or, alternatively, owned everything she makes)!
• The Small Object Steno Pad - Okay, everybody knows Sarah Neuburger's creations, but do you know her blog? Not only does she share her creative process, but also shows us her lifestyle (cooking and design), which leaves me day dreaming about my next apartment quite often.

Online Sales Gurus

• Timothy Adam's blog - one of the most popular Etsy sales gurus is happily sharing his sales tips and methods.
• Life, craftiness and everything else - Anna's (aka - The House of Mouse) blog is both cute and informative. She shares tons of excellent tips for increasing your Etsy sales.

Hebrew Blogs

• Handmade by Mekoopelet - everything I wouldn't expect to find at an Israeli crafts blog - fun, bright, and colorful.
• Moran Yossef's blog - Moran is an accessories designer who owns a lovely blog about fashion and more.
• טכנומיסטיקה - Ido's blog combines technology, mysticism, cloture, and media in a very appealing and interesting fashion.
• Be the change - A spiritual blog which calms me down and makes me smile from within.

And just for fun

• History Buff - a history news blog hosted by historian and author Michelle Moran (who wrote Nefertiti).

Ah, my poor dead laptop. Bless its troubled soul.