A GOOD DAY

Rosh HaShana,  (the Head of the Year), the Jewish New Year is coming up and it is a time of gift giving. 
A traditional present would be something sweet and fruity - honey and apples, a bottle of wine, a fruit basket - to wish a sweet year ahead. But each nice gift will be appreciated, and "handmade" is always among the favorites.

Yesterday, at Shabatt, I participated in a Rosh HaShana sale. The bazaar was held in the community center of the little village in the Galilee, where my friend Aiva lives. She had invited me to join. We had a great time, the atmosphere was friendly, a lot of people came, many knowing each other and the artists. There was laughter and music, coffee, cake, cold drinks and cookies. Crafty things were on the tables, and some serious art, like paintings, wall hangings, jewelry was presented. 

I loved the ceramics - the artist had created beautiful and useful dishes, vases, vessels, plates and cups with wonderful glazes. One woman made fantastic lamp work, and her creations from colored glass rods were absolutely stunning. Bags from leather and fabric, scarves, small mosaic items, quilts, jewelry fashioned from beads and buttons (my friends genre), papier mache bowls, necklaces with polymer clay beads, coasters made in enamel technique with lovely motives, wood art, very pretty silver jewelry, (rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings), and even pretty artful cookies in flower shapes, wrapped beautifully in transparent paper, with a bow for adornment - you name it, all was there! At one stand home made liqueur in several tastes was sold, chocolate, mango, kumquats and limoncello. I can testify that it was high quality and very good, because we bought a bottle and enjoyed some in the evening. :-)

This was my table with my beloved helper! I had brought mostly gifts for children, a box full of small fabric hearts, some colorful pouches, lavender hearts, and lavender pillows too.

The wide range and variety of homemade goods was astonishing. Most sellers live in this village or its surroundings. The ceramist for example is my friends next door neighbor. Outside at the yard a nice sitting area was put up, and felafel and waffles with chocolate syrup and powdered sgar were prepared and sold, and one could even have a fresh cold draft beer, from a local small brewery.

But the best thing were those cute girls, who brought all kind of plant material, leaves, blossoms, rosemary needles, small pine cones, twigs and tiny pebbles, squatted on the floor and earnestly created little artful arrangements, which sold for 1 Shekel each! :-) Yes, the artists and/or businesswomen of the future :-)

It was a good day!