“I was born in a factory and nursed on machine oil”
These were the words used by designer Efrat Fridenzon at a lecture she gave about her “Precision-decision” collection. Efrat “grew up” at an industrial factory that is commonly used for production of mechanical assemblies and
Aimé pendent
The notion of love is physically represented in a target pendent engraved with the word Aimé (Similar to aim, “beloved” in french). The target is you and you wish that cupid hits his arrow to your heart, you wish to love and be loved.
The “Hidden Direction”
A series of capsule like pendants which open to reveal a compass and a level. In the real world, the compass points to a direction while the level finds balance. Here the interpretation shifts from the physical world and finds a more spiritual definition: A guide for internal balance.
I love this collection since it is simple, meaningful and unisex. My favorite item is the “Hidden Direction capsule” I think it’s a lovely talisman and could work as a great gift for graduation, new beginnings or for someone who is traveling.
Efrat’s jewelry can be found at stores around the world
I can’t believe it’s almost mothers day again.
This will be my second mother’s day as a mother, which is really inconceivable. This past year has been full of fear and frustration combined with infinite joy and love. But most of all, this year was full of wonderful gifts such as, first words (Mommy included), baby steps and loads of hugs and kisses. Today something really special happened and I want to share it with you. Eli who is 1.2 years old, went to my desk, reached out for my sketch book and a pen. He was trying to draw, but nothing came out since the pen still had the lid on (Surly he knows that mother’s day is coming up). I instinctively took out some crayons from the drawer and gave them to him. He made his first artwork and I was there to record the moment on film (I was so amazed by this beautiful moment that I forgot that I left the water in the tub running). I thought that it was such a shame that his father wasn’t there to see it and made up my mind to give him the drawing later today. After I bathed, dressed, fed and put Eli to bed, I took an envelope and used a “Winnie the pooh and piglet” puncher to make it pretty. If you look at the picture below you will see why I thought that this image is suitable.
Now I’m waiting till he comes home so I can give it to him.
What about Mother’s day you ask? Well, if you would scroll down a little you will find an article I wrote a few weeks ago about Giving time.
If you are looking for the perfect mother’s day gift, you will find it there.
For me, this beautiful moment with my son was better than any gift in the world… and what better way to celebrate such a gift, than to share it?
I was telling a new friend about my blog and he immediately sent me a link to Child’s own studio. Here’s the deal, Wendy made a doll for her 4 year old son, based on a sketch he made. Her son was so excited about the softies and Wendy realized that this was her calling, making dolls out of children doodles. If you’ve been reading this blog since I started it, you will surly remember the post about my avatar doll. Unfortunatly I just learned that the game I love is shutting down. Thanks for my friend i’ll have my pet stay with me, long after the game is gone.
This gift is similar, but even more moving since it uses the child’s own imagination in creating a doll that is truly unique.
What a great way to celebrate creativity!
Some gifts stay with you forever.
I finally got to finish setting up Eli’s Nursery the way I wanted it, when I found an old gift that warmed my heart. First a little introduction to the history of this gift. When I was 14 years old, I decided that I have to grow up and be a better person. I turned to the greatest role model I could find back then, Winnie the Pooh. I would read the books thoroughly, embracing Pooh’s casual outlook on life and learning how to handle myself more gracefully in this world. By the time I was 16, my love to pooh was shared with my close friends. One of these friends (A very dear one until this day indeed), made a beautiful gift for my sweet 16. She drew the map of a 100 acres forest (This was 1996, and colored printers were not very common), and framed it. I remember how surprised I was to receive this gift. My friend obviously dedicated time and thought in making this gift for me, and it has been very dear to me for me ever since. Another nice touch was that she wrote the birthday wishes on the back (Which means I can still read them to this day).
This photo was hung in my room and in every apartment I lived in ever since, and today it is proudly displayed in Eli’s nursery.
Some gifts, just stay with you forever…
Hello my dears!
Don’t you love spring? I love the feeling of blossom in the air and I have wonderful news to share! I opened my own interior design studio. Since I live in Israel, that’s where I’ll be working, however, you are all welcome to visit my very new website www.karenb.co.il
This is such a wonderful, though nerve breaking, time in my life. I would appreciate your thoughts and comments now more than ever!
Wishing you all a wonderful spring! May you flourish all year long!
This blog is all about gifts. Gifts of all sorts: Some are cheap, some are expensive, some are hand made, some are functional or beautiful. But the best gifts regardless of their price, are meaningful.When I had my baby a year ago I received many gifts. Blankets, toys, cloths and Oh too many Teddy-bears. Today, the gifts keep coming and I must admit that I prefer a bag of diapers over a new toy.
Last month when I was planing Eli’s first birthday party I knew I wanted to have a “Hungry Caterpillar” theme. I also knew that there is no way that I would have time to make the decorations. I was smart enough to Have a professional make the cake and to ask for help from a friend who loves to make party decorations. It meant so much to me that I even offered to pay for her trouble, however, she refused saying that it was her gift to Eli. This got me thinking about service gifts. When I had Eli, My mother cleaned the house, my mother in law cooked healthy meals and my dear cousin washed the dishes. They were contributing their time and I received some peace and quite.
Christine the owner of IOU, offers you a hint to what new mothers and probably all women, want most; A fraction of your time, to help with the endless chores. Here lies the power of the written word. Most women, when offered help, would say that there is really no need. However, if your offer comes in a thoughtful card, with a set date and time, it will be harder to refuse. This is a great example for a low cost gift that may mean the world to someone else.
Share with us, how did you give of your time to a special someone?
It’s been such a hectic month!!! I really neglected my blogging duties, but I have a great excuse. Two months ago, I started my own business as an interior designer. I’s been a wild ride so far, I guess I won’t be able to blog as much as I used to for a little while. But stick around, I promise, I will keep writing about great gift idea’s that will really inspire you. Speaking of inspiration; The previous post I wrote inspired me to write about gifts for princesses. I can’t believe I never thought of this before.
Here are my favorite gifts fit for a princess:
1. Your precious little girl will love to make-believe with these printable Princess masks by BessiePooh.
2. A true princess remains a princess from the minute she wakes up in the morning until… Well, until forever. Just because the sun is down doesn’t mean that the crown should come off. I absolutely adore these Princess Bedding by Snurk.
3. Make your little princess feel like one from the moment she starts her day. With Disney’s princess waffle maker , every breakfast is fit for a princess.
4. This gift is fit for a real princess, and a real princess received it. Baby Ivy Blue is the princess of RNB. For her first birthday she received a gorgeous diamond embedded Barbie doll.
5. Being a princess isn’t as easy as it seems. Matilda can tell you all about it, since she comes from the palace where she serves the queen. She writes all the secrets about the palace in her diary. A great gift for a new princess who wants to know all about life in the palace.
6. A princess, whether real or make-believe, needs a palace where she can play and read. I especially love this Princess tent that would serve a young princess for many years of fun and games.
Between you and me, if you feel like a princess, you are a princess. Just remember to wear your invisible crown.
I truly believe in positive thinking. I think it is a great way to achieve the goals in your life, big or small. In the gifting world, wishlists are a great way to turn your dreams into reality. How does it work? All you have to do is make your wishlist known to the world.
My friend was thinking positively. She posted several times on her Facebook wall, that she would love to get a Cinderella Dress for her upcoming birthday. Seeing an opportunity to make a wish come true, I arranged a few friends and we got the gift together. It wasn’t simple since the dress that we saw in the store wasn’t the deluxe version presented online. I didn’t want to settle for second best, therefore, I found the dress on Amazon. Unfortunately, shipping to Israel wan’t available. I wasn’t ready to give up and I kept thinking that I can find the exact dress my friend wanted. Luckily, my dad was visiting my grandmother in the states. I shipped the dress there, and he was able to bring it back with him just in time for the birthday party.
Photograph: Eitan Ben-Haim
This is an excellent example for how positive thinking works. I could have said: “It won’t work”, “It’s too hard”, “I’m never gonna get it”, etc…. But I kept thinking positively and so was my friend. Together, we managed to make this dream of hers come true, Simply by the power of positive thinking.
Look how beautiful she looks in it, a real princess indeed!
Valentines day is a wonderful days for all you single lovers out there. But when you are parents it’s really hard to get around grand gestures of love. Here is a neat little DIY project I managed to create between work and diaper changing.
You’ll need:
1. a cross stitching hoop
2. piece of fabric
3. cross stitch pattern (I used this one)
4. pen
5. needle
6. Embroidery thread
Place your fabric securely inside the wooden hoop.
Place over the cross stitch pattern and trace the stitches with a pen (be sure to use a light color that won’t show on the other side).
Stitch along the pattern of the heart.
Remove the excess fabric with scissors.
Give to your Valentine.
Happy Valentines Day!
Whenever a friend of mine needed a little vote of confidence, (you know, before an interview, audition, test, etc)…I would say:
“You can do anything!All you have to do is try,try and then you’ll make it”.
After they would get the Job, gig, etc… I would say:
“I told you so and now you owe me a Shnekel (The two New Israeli Shekel coin equivalent to 50 cents)”.
For some reason this almost always worked and so, any friend who was facing a new beginning, came to me for a sort of “Shnekel blessing”.
One of the first gifts I posted about in this blog was a travel booklet that I gave to my friend who decided to follow her dream and needed to travel in order to pursue it. Traditionally, I told her that she will find what she needs in order to pursue her dream and that when she does she will owe me a Shnekel. I finally got to see this friend whom I haven’t seen in a very long time. We were catching up and I was telling her that I’m opening my own interior design studio and that I’m totally freaking out about it… When all of a sudden she said:
” I have to give you something”.
She started by apologizing since she had this gift made long ago and didn’t get the chance to give it to me. Since the trip really put her on track with her dream, she “owed me a Shnekel”.
I was so moved to get this, she most thoughtfully framed a Shnekel with the Shel Silverstein’s poem, “Listen to the mustn’t, child”.
You can immediately tell that she put a lot of thought into this gift. The gift tag, the wrapping and finally the gift itself, were all well thought and beautiful.
The funny thing was that she felt so bad for not giving me the gift before, she didn’t realize that she gave it to me when I needed it most.
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