Our New Waldorf Dolls

 A Waldorf doll (also called Steiner doll) is a form of doll used in Waldorf education. Made of wool and cotton, using techniques drawing on traditional European doll making, its appearance is intentionally simple in order to allow the child playing with it to improve or strengthen imagination and creativity. For instance, it has no facial expression. Its legs and arms are flexible, allowing natural postures.
  Traditional Waldorf dolls are made from cotton interlock knit fabric and wool stuffing. They are often entirely natural. Typically the trademark long hair of a Waldorf doll is made of mohair or boucle. Some doll makers use alternative hair material such as wool, rayon, and cotton. The facial features of a Waldorf doll vary with the maker. Most Waldorf dolls have small suggestions of noses, their eye and mouth colors are generally varied with each doll.

 Wikipedia

 I found about this philosophy about 2 years ago on the wool felting class. One of the girls there told that she is making such a doll to her daughter. At that time I read a lot about this view and liked it very much. For more than a year I wanted to buy one, but was not prepared to pay the high price. Most of the toys are handmade and therefore are not cheap. Now I see two reasons why I couldn't afford for myself to buy a doll. Firstly, I didn't have a daughter yet and more importantly, I didn't see something I would have really loved.
 When I found LaFiabaRussa store for the first time I understood that I have to adopt one of her dolls. I waited patiently for the right moment - the first birthday of my daughter. I decided to order two dolls from Okasana, so I can bring a gift to my best friend's daughter too.

 Yesterday they finally arrived. I can't stop playing :)) I am fascinated. The dolls breath love and warmness. They have an amazing smell and adorably soft hair. It is a real pleasure to hug them. I ordered girls without cloths, so now I am doing nothing but planning and sewing new stuff for my new toys. The second doll is staying with us too :)

 Please meet them: Maya and Oksana.

Snowy Jerusalem

  Israel is a tiny country, however you can find there up to 18 climate zones. The weather can change dramatically within 30 minutes car ride. One thing is common though - it is not snowing often here.
 Today was one of the fairy days when almost everything stops in the Holy City.


 Snow in Israel is a rear commodity - people admire it but they are not used to the consequences.












  Almost all traffic stops when first snowflakes reach the ground. People stay at home and try to make as much photos as possible to impress their unlucky neighbors who live 30 minutes away and clearly don't have this happiness to see the snow.

They may try to drive to the place, but as I said - we don't drive in the snow, so they probably won't reach it :)

The snow won't last long - 2 days at most, and it is suitable for sculpturing only for the first few hours, so the enthusiasts in need of making a snowman must hurry!

Man's Best Friend

 When the Man waked up he said, 'What is Wild Dog doing here?' And the Woman said, 'His name is not Wild Dog any more, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always.

Rudyard Kipling "THE CAT THAT WALKED BY HIMSELF"

  I always had pets when I was a child: cats, birds, aquarium fishes, hamsters, turtles and even frogs. But I never had a dog. My parents always wanted to adopt one, but they thought that we, as a family, were not ready for the responsibility. 

 When I got married the first thing we did as a new family was adopting a dog :) At that moment I realized how much effort and dedication it requires to raise a dog. I also understood that I will never see such a blind love from any other creature ever.

 This year I decided to start a tradition in my blog which will be called "Wednesday Dog'. Each Wednesday I will be telling you a short story about some dog, each time a new one. I have already collected a number of stories but I am welcoming you to join me. Please, send me stories about your dogs and I will publish them, so at the end of the year we will be able to create a whole photo board of Man's Best Friends :)