Baby Teething Toys - New Collection at Casa De Gato on Etsy

I am happy to announce that  new spring collection of baby teething toys is now available at Casa De Gato store on Etsy.

These new flower's teething toys are perfect for keeping your baby occupied.

*  The flower rustles when crumpled
*  Beads to slide through loops and rings at both sides
*  Bright colors, different textures and forms to develop scenes and fine motor skills
*  It can be hung (on a mobile, baby stroller, baby carrier, when breastfeeding/bottle feeding)
    by  sliding the big bead into the thread loop.
*  Made of 100% natural materials, safe for teething baby

2 wooden rings are used.
The big ring is made of ash tree and measures about 6 cm (2.2 inch) and perfect for baby's hand.
Perfect for teething baby. Great baby shower gift

Made from 100 % cotton fabric and cotton thread, ash wood rings and Juniper wood beads.
Washable. Hand wash with mild soap.


The nursing toy can be made in any fabric I have available, if you see any particular sample that you like in my shop, please, contact me and I'll make special one for you.

Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoa) in Israel

This time I allow myself to copy the post of my FB friend.

Tomorrow is the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoa) in Israel. For us Israelis the memory of the holocaust is still fresh, alive, strongly involved in our lives, tattooed in our grandparents' skins, persistently participating in our art, our literature. We can escape it. We can't forget.

But the world forgets. Some have this forgetness on their agenda. Some just don't care. But most of the world, merely doesn't know. Doesn't know a simple, amazingly simple - yet the most complicated sentence of them all: 70 years ago the Nazis decided that Jews are a problem and "solved the problem" by murdering 6 million Jews.

Dear friends overseas - we need you to join us in saying: NEVER AGAIN! We will not forget. We will not ignore. We will make sure it never happens again. NEVER AGAIN!
...
Please share. Please tell. Please mention. Please enforce Godwin's law. Remember and have others remember the holocaust. NEVER AGAIN we say. Please say it with us.

Best Wood for Teething

 Most of the babies like to teeth and chew different things. It is essential to find a right toy for this purpose. It has to be safe for the little one: no choking hazard, soft enough  not to harm the young teeth but also durable enough to withstand the process.
 We usually think that teethers have to be made from a hard rubber like material but here is may be a better and more natural option. A nursing toy that is made from  wood may be a perfect teething toy.
 The next question is what kind of wood will be best for such a purpose?
 The wood needs to hold up well in water and be hard enough to endure sharp baby teeth and be non toxic and free from toxic additives. 
 For example, ash, maple and birch have the necessary qualities for a teething ring or a nursing toy. These types of wood are hard enough according to the hardness scale. The new collection of nursing necklaces with teething rings of Casa De Gato has rings that are made from unprocessed natural ash tree.
  As an opposite, pine and oak are not good. Pine is too soft and could be chewed apart too easily and oak may splinter and injure the infant's mouth.
  Another important question is whether the wood should be finished. The possible options could be natural oil and bees wax. Nut oils might be a problem, since some people are allergic. However, if the toy is sanded up really well, there is no need for a finish. It will get chewed off anyway.
 
 Next time  I will look into cleaning of wooden baby toys.

 Subscribe to the blog posts to stay tuned.

Spring in The Desert

 Spring is a beautiful time when everything is bright, clear and new. I always liked this time of the year and wanted to see how it feels in different parts of the globe.

Flowers in the Desert

 Today I want to show you spring in one of the most arid places - Timna valley,
that is located on the western edge of the southern Arava desert, about 30 km (some 17 miles) north of Eilat, Israel. 

The desert has some green color now

 The climate in the southern Arava is extreme desert, characterized by very high temperatures in the summer, minimal precipitation (annual average of 20 mm.), intense radiation and relatively low humidity. The rain comes in short powerful bursts, leading to frequent flooding in spring and fall.

 Timna’s animal and plant life are typical to arid zones. The most common tree is the acacia, an important food source for animals.

Tiny Flowers of Acacia

I will be happy to see your photos of spring and get familiar with new places :)

Purim 2013 or Warning: Flying Spaghetti Monster is coming!

 Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from destruction in the wake of a plot by Haman.
According to the Book of Esther, in the Hebrew Bible, Haman, royal vizier to King Ahasuerus, planned to kill all the Jews in the empire, but his plans were foiled by Mordecai and his adopted daughter Queen Esther. The day of deliverance became a day of feasting and rejoicing.
 Purim is celebrated by giving reciprocal gifts of food and drink, giving charity to the poor, a celebratory meal, and public recitation of the Scroll of Esther, additions to the prayers and the grace after meals. Other customs include drinking wine, wearing of masks and costumes, and public celebration.
 Wearing masks and costumes is main and most extincting part for the kids.  

Tracking baby toy

 It is super important to have a toy when you are on a long track. It could be very boring to your child just to sit on your front or back when you are enjoying sightseeing, not to mention that you still need to feed the baby while tracking. In this case you might want to have something for him/her to play with. The toy should be easy to carry, washable, simple and not expensive and most important it should fit you tracking clothes and be attractive for the little one - in other words ideal for outdoor trips.
 You can find such nursing toys in Casa De Gato.

Spring Fashion: Headbands and Sun Hats

 The fresh breeze of spring is almost here. It is a very bright and happy season which is always giving me new ideas and good mood. My new colorful headbands are great accessory that will allow you to take a small piece of spring with you or put it on your baby's head. All my sun hats and headbands have a wide scale of sizes, so you may choose one for any age.

As always the new colors are coming, subscribe to the blog to be updated.

Hot Pink Rose Headband - Gir... CasaDeGato $14.00	Crochet Rose Headband - Girl... CasaDeGato $14.00	Orange Rose Headband - Girls... CasaDeGato $14.00
Grey Flower Pink Crochet Bab... CasaDeGato $30.00	Crochet Headband-Girls Photo... CasaDeGato $15.00	Crochet Baby Sun Hat /Orange... CasaDeGato $30.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

2013 Nursing Necklaces Collection

 A few months ago I got a generous present from my friend - a collection of small fabric pieces. The beautiful colors gave me an inspiration and here is the result - a brand new 2013 nursing necklaces collection. I created a lot of new flowers based on the best seller of the previous year - orange flower necklace.

 The new necklaces are an elegant combination of crocheted beads with fabric flower. The necklaces are made of Juniper wood beads, cotton fabric and thread which makes them natural and safe for baby teething. They are also perfect to complete mom's or any woman's or girl's outfit.

  The collection is not fully published yet, so subscribe to my blog and stay tuned for updates :)

Colorful Nursing Necklace / ... CasaDeGato $24.00	Crochet Nursing Necklace / T... CasaDeGato $24.00	Crochet Nursing Necklace / T... CasaDeGato $24.00
Crochet Nursing Necklace / T... CasaDeGato $24.00	Pink Crochet Nursing Necklac... CasaDeGato $24.00	Nursing Necklace / Teething ... CasaDeGato $24.00
Nursing Necklace / Teething ... CasaDeGato $24.00	Mom Nursing Necklace / Teeth... CasaDeGato $24.00	OOAK Teal Nursing Necklace /... CasaDeGato $26.00
Lime Lavender Nursing Neckla... CasaDeGato $24.00	Flower Nursing Necklace / Te... CasaDeGato $24.00	Elegant Black White Nursing ... CasaDeGato $24.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

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 :)

THANKSGIVING DAY giveaway!

 My fellow Etsy artist from Etsy Russian Team is having THANKSGIVING DAY giveaway. I am very serious about this one, since I like her patterns and I have a lot of plans how I can use them!
 Enter to win by clicking on the picture:

 

5 Facts Worth Knowing About Coffee

 Coffee is an amazing product. Coffee cultivation first took place in southern Arabia; the earliest credible evidence of coffee drinking appears in the middle of the 15th century in the Sufi shrines of Yemen. Coffee bean is a seed of a cherry fruit that grows on a tree or a bush. Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world second only to oil. There are over 50 species of coffee worldwide. However, I like tea much more :).

Wildlife Woodland Christmas Giveaway - Worldwide

  Christmas is when magic happens, when Santa appears and when you find a lot of gifts under the Christmas tree.
When I was a little girl I believed in Santa and always waited for this wonderful morning to come. I waited to get something special and for many years Santa was bringing me lots of joy and fun.
I grew up and unfortunately understood that my mom was the one to put gifts under the tree and no need to wait to midnight - Santa will not appear. But the fairy Christmas mood was left with me and I want to pass it to all other people and especially to all the children.

  I decide to give this set of hear pins to the lucky one who will be chosen randomly at the 1st official day of the winter. Hopefully the post will work perfectly and the gift will be delivered before the holiday :)

  So three amazing hair bobby pins crocheted by me from pure cotton are waiting to be won. The prize will be sent to worldwide.

Enter to win!

Top 10 places your dog must visit in Israel

 It is so important to plan your trip carefully, so you can enjoy the new country. Experienced tourists advice is always appreciated. This is 'top 10 must to go' places from one of the Israeli experts in dogs attractions - Jarna, the Great Pyrenees.

 Historical and cultural sites:

1.  Knesset of Israel: A very important political site, pool and jogging tracks are open to the visitors at all seasons of the year.

 

    2. Mishkenot Shaananim neighborhood: This is quite a boring place, however it is good if you need to walk your family out.

 

Kids Bedroom Rennovation Design

 Design of the kids' room is challenging, when the room is small, it is challenging even more. My kids are growing up and they will move to their own room soon, so I decided to go through the new kid's furniture trends to get an inspiration.

 I browsed lots of examples, but decided to show only the best matching to my goal: decoration of a very small room for two toddler kids.

 According to Feng Shui nothing should be stored under beds and bunk beds aren't the best choice. It is also not recommended to hang things above the head. This is exactly what I always felt intuitively. Surprisingly, I found a lot of bunk beds and under bed storage spaces in the contemporary bed rooms' designs. Well, it is space - justified, but we are looking for the comfy feeling, aren't we? As always, let's try to find a compromise.

 The first one that I really like is a modern and quite a minimalistic design from http://designvarious.com collection of interiors:

This is a very clean and light furniture complex. No massive storage units under the bed and the bunk bed is modified, so only part of the body will be under the second level. And it is quite compact.

Christmas Gifts - Be prepared

 You know how it always happens - you start thinking about next Christmas presents right after it passes but you do nothing. When winter begins you are in a rush to get the gifts to everybody and sometimes you buy things just to fill the gap in the list, in the short amount of time you have left and not because you really like them.

 I decided to gather a few gift and decoration ideas more than a month ahead when I got an unexpected gift from Tonya from CityCrochet. She just sent it to me without any reason. It is a completely magical feeling when you get such a sudden present - just feels like Santa brought it to you. We've received these beautiful acorns

and a rose brooch.

Since we've got such a cool decoration element for the coming holidays, I want to find more original ideas for the rest of my family. And I am going to share my findings with you!

 Amazing christmas decoration stained glass candle holder. This will warm the atmosphere in the house especially when it is freezing outside.

 Next on the list are stunning felted toys created by my friend from Israel. She prepared a whole collection for Christmas, but I especially like this one (Vlada's shop):

One more shop, that I like, produces knitted accessories for women and men (and this is very important, at least I am struggling to find ideas for men's gifts).

 Everyone has many acquaintance (colleagues, friends that are not close enough), so I was also looking for small gifts ideas - something that doesn't cost much but is cute and positive. And I found these ornaments.

I also came with a new collection of necklaces which are a perfect gift for any nursing mom, but also for any woman that likes country style accessories.

 These are just a few ideas, but I hope they'll help to find an inspiration for gift shopping.

Discover Israel: Beauty of Kineret

Few last weeks were full of holidays and we had a lot of days for traveling. Though we used only half or even less of them, we really enjoyed the places we did visit. One of such sites was Lake Tiberius. We spent two days camping there. Lake Tiberius is a very popular tourist attraction, so I will not tell about it (I simply don't have anything intriguing to add to the well known facts about Sea of Galilee), but I want to show photos that I took at night and very early morning.

Night fishing and stunning view of city of Tiberius:

 This is the same view just early in the morning:

P.S. Children slept much better in the tent than they usually sleep at home :))

More places to visit, find here. 

Discover Israel: Salt Desert

There are a lot of places in our tiny country that are worth visiting though they don't appear in a tourist guide. I met my husband in one of those places, and we visited together many other stunning sites. We used to climb mountains and descend into caves which became almost impossible for us after our first child was born. It is quite a hot place even at winter, and at summer I can travel there only during the night hours, which makes it even more difficult for visiting with small children. Our dog Jarna also never had been at Judaean Desert.


This is why we were very happy when our friends organized a small BBQ between the salt rocks and invited us to join. It was late and we wisely decided to take only Liya with us :)
Jarna was mad about everything and galloped from one hill to another,  but only in the morning I could really understand how high she had managed to climb. This view is zoomed in, since she was really far and I wanted to see her on the picture :)

Liya slept well in the tent (she is 2 month old here :)) Can you see her there?:)

 In the early morning we walked towards the mountains while it was not too hot.

We spent the hot hours in a deep gorge with just enough shadow and even a small pond, where some of us could even swim :), others slept or climbed. Unfortunately not me this time :(

More places to visit, find here.