Growing Up Creative

Bialik's house

Hayyim Nahman Bialik  ((1873-1934) is the national poet of the state of Israel, did you know that? now you do…his poems are threaded in every Israeli childhood memories for many many generations. In commemorating his birth day, the girls, my sister, her children, and my self went to visit his house located on 22 Bialik Street in the city of Tel Aviv. Yes, I wanted to see his house, but truthfully, I thought this was a great excuse to visit the city which is one of my favorites besides LA, New York, and Paris (of course).



^{That's not his house, thats the house across the street from his. I just really liked it.}
His house in Tel Aviv was a real treat, just like a colorful box of chocolates, every room we visited, every story we have heard on the tour (must take the tour) was like eating another bonbon from the box. When we left his house, I had lingering flavor of chocolate in my mouth with a strong taste for more.

I loved hearing all the inside stories of his life. I could easily imagine him sitting in his office writing, and reading. I could see him looking through the window seeing his little neighbor Chamotal, that inspired him to write a poem (which I love) titled: ”Chamotal” (obviously); Visiting his house, seeing where he worked made me feel more personal with his work.
^{that's his office window on the second floor, right across from Chamotal's.}

Children’s literature especially poems are a great way to improve a language and get a better understanding of a culture. And if you tie-in a creative activity, the poems become a live.

In the next couple of posts I will be suggesting some activities for some of Bialik’s poems. So please stay tuned. And I hope you try your best to read them in Hebrew (I will try my best to translate, I may ask my friend Anat to do that, she is an expert…)

In the mean time, If you want to read more about Bialik, wikipedia is one way

some of his translated children’s literature:
Knight of Onions and Knight of Garlic
English: New York, Hebrew Publishing Co., 1934, 1939

Far Over the Sea - Poems and Jingles for Children
English: New York, Union of American Hebrew Congreg. Press, 1939

And It Came To Pass
English: New York, Hebrew Publishing Co., 1938

This is if you can read in Hebrew:
Rutz ben susi

And some pictures from his house: via tchochkes
(I couldn’t take any photos my self)

till next time, have a great week

tali

A reminder: don't forget your sketch book

We have concluded our - lazy, cozy, indoor - Chanukah break with a great bang. after staying home for 2 days (I wasn’t joking when I said - lazy), we finally changed our pj’s, packed a delicious picnic basket, got all the kids in their sits, didn’t forget sketch books and some drawing tools, and off we went - once again - to visit the caves of Beit Govrin in the Judea desert (how symbolic for Chanukah). We had the most beautiful day.
While spending some time in the bell cave waiting for a fire act to start, Erel (my niece) pulled out her sketch book and started drawing the carved rosettes on the walls of the cave. She was soon to be followed by Zoe, Ori, Yonatan, Daniel, Shira, and another Erel, sharing tools, drawing what they see.



It was nice to see the kids follow each other into doing something creative. Kids love to draw, they are not afraid to make marks on a paper. a little different from most of us - the adults, who watch our kids from the side afraid to try and show our lacking skills.
So make sure your kids turn out different. Make sure they have confident with making a mark.
One way of doing that is by carrying a sketch book (a drawing pad) and a pencil everywhere you go:
Place it on the restaurant table while waiting for your waiter to serve your meal. Make some doodles while you wait.
Take it with you on nature walks, encourage your child to record what he/she sees
Take it to the beach and try and draw the waves
Take it to a museum and draw the art you like.

When you draw a space, a view, a thing, you start to see and understand all the different details that make it special and unique. 
“I have learned that what I have not drawn, I have never really seen, and that when I start drawing an ordinary thing, I realize how extraordinary it is, sheer miracle.” Fredrick Franck the Zen of Seeing, 1973.

So, my reminder: when you go out, always have a sketchbook and some drawing tools with you. It is a great habit to have. kids will always be thrilled to use it.
Encourage your kids to simply draw what they see.
Make sure you draw some your self, even if you don’t think you can.



tali

Read more about keeping a sketch book.

Spaghetti bolognese – the secret ingredient

I was writing this post in my head while doing the dishes tonight. We had spaghetti bolognaise for dinner, no big deal, but for the first time ever I think I know I did a good job with it.  I called my friend Dana this morning to find out her secrete ingredient in making the sauce. Very quickly I realized the secret is not really in the products but in her passion and the love she is putting while making it. The way she described the process of adding the fine grated carrot, the breaking of the meat, the red wine that she adds right before the crushed tomatoes, and most importantly the slow cooking, was inspiring. I didn’t really wrote it down, nor did I follow her instructions step by step, but I did put much love and joy into the making of the most ordinary spaghetti bolognese, and it worked. Passion and love is key in creativity and success. Even in the most ordinary everyday tasks.
I think It is the secret ingredient in doing everything good, even spaghetti bolognese.
What do you think?


Dana writes a wonderful blog about classic art and life, that’s her other true passion, if you can read Hebrew you, should be reading her blog. 

tali

Update

Last week we had “bring your kids and pets to work” day at my work. So I brought my girls and Pepsi to my temporary office space.



 
We got there early - 8:15, to avoid the traffic, amazed by the amount of people who decided to do just what we did. It was a beautiful morning after a rainy night. Virgin send with raindrop marks, some freshly squeezed orange juice, excellent café late, but mostly enjoying the fresh ocean breeze and the warm sun.

I wanted to take this opportunity and invite you to visit my other blog - matzo ball soup, or stop by at my temporary office, and see some of the work we have been doing.

See you soon

tali

Our dreidel factory

Yes, we have opened a dreidel factory. We have been using Martha Stewart’s tutorial to make those SUPER FAST spinners.

This is how:
Ori was cutting ¼” wide strips of colorful construction paper. I happen to have a paper cutter I have borrowed from Phil and “forgot” to give it back. You may also cut them with a utility knife or a pair of scissors, or buy some ready made strips at the craft store they are called quilling paper. 

I was gluing the edge of the paper to the toothpicks a little bit above the tapered edge, and realized that we must wait patiently for the paper and toothpick to dry before starting the next step (probably the most difficult part of the process).
Zoe was putting color patterns together and doing a great job at wounding the paper. Oren was assisting Zoe with attaching more paper strips Once we had an approximately 1” disc on the toothpick, we glued the end and gave it a little push with our thumbs inwards, creating a tiny bowl shape. (Reminds me of the movie ticket bowls)




I was providing with nibbles and general assistance When you create the bowl shape, Try different silhouettes, see which spins better.
 
Those spinners look like candies and they are so much fun too make and spin (of course).

Have fun
tali

The dreidel/ hovering craft experiment

For some odd reason I hoped this CD + balloon hovering experiment would lead us to a new and revolutionary dreidel…It didn’t turn out so, but (there is always a but) we had a great time doing it, and still going.



You will need:



a CD, one that you don’t need any more
a balloon
a sports plastic bottle cap
glue gun
stickers
sharpies (permanent markers)
good lungs or balloon pump

How to:


Start by decorating the CD. We have used colorful dot stickers creating our own pattern.
 

Worm up the glue gun {(keep away from children) (I am half polish, therefore, I cannot hold back this comment, sorry)}
Apply glue around the edge of the cap (the end that screws to the bottle)
Immediately place cap centered onto the CD, make sure it is attached to the decorated side.


Close the cap



Blow air into the balloon
Slip the balloon onto the cap (make sure it is closed)
Place on a smooth flat surface and release the cap (just like you would before drinking)
 

Talk to your kids before letting the air out:
can they predict what is about to happen?

Variations:
try different surfaces
Different balloon sizes
Try and release the cap just a little bit
Try and release the cap all the way, letting as much air out.


Note:
If your float device/ dreidel has a hard time moving, give it a little push, (some times we need it).

Thank you my dear sister for this great activity.
Have lots of fun
tali

Our little pot of clay

Our little pot of clay is finally set aside to dry.
It was part of my 8 nights of Chanukah 8 crafty ideas post from last year; we never got to do it then, no good reason, maybe it was too many donuts that made us too   l  a  z  y.

but let me tell you, this is one relaxing project you may want to try. if you are over 21, you may just want to pour that glass of red wine for yourself and join in with your kids. Zoe got a little carried a way, after finishing her little pot of clay, she started ‘fabricating’ some menorahs for Ori and herself, her plan is to paint them after they are dry (kind of like "color me mine", only much cheaper and more fun).




I like working with this ancient material that feels so good and so right for this holiday. Please follow this link for the TUTORIAL.

tali