Polymeri Online 19.11.13 | Sabine visiting Israel, Textures textures, Copper wire bordering, Polymer and alcohol inks, Discovering a new polymer galaxy, Miniature acetate eye glasses

It's already tuesday. Time is running when we are busy...
As you already know from Facebook (or maybe not yet), Switzerland polymer clay artist Sabine Backer is my guest in Israel the past week. We had a great week, traveling around the country, leaving enough for the next trip, weather is perfect, sunny and warm.
Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv, Haifa; getting familiar with new cuisines (Falafel, tahini, hummus) and!.... getting a new tattoo for Sabine! Surprising moments noted here!

Texture, anyone?

Googling around the net looking for new ideas and inspiration, I found a pin by Jill Palumbo, pinned by Tibby Craythorne, who decided to make her own textures using plastic doilies, lace and textured scrap book paper. I used lace and doilies but plastic ones? didn't think of these.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/388365167836175725/

You can also use Anna Jour technique for making your own texture using transparent film and liner for stained glass/ceramics. Anna is using this method in her Mokume Gane beads.
And, Laura Tabakman carving sheet technique for creating your own textures -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lauratabakman/499650970/

Pam's copper wire beads

Pam Sanders says about herself she is a very eclectic mixed media artist, obsessed with making things. She loves bizarre art.
She uses copper wire in her art as a decorative border around her beads, as if it is a thread sewn into polymer.

Wire can do wonders in a polymer piece, who ever master it's techniques has a gift in his hands.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/polypam/4993673506/

Polymer & Marker inks

The polymer clay Russian community is always a gem of inspiration and ideas.
Masha Koekak creates these inked rings and beads. Their size range from 3 to 7.5 cm, The technique include creating a clay sheet, painted on all sides with alcohol based markers. The markers create a thin layer of paint, each is sealing the tone of the previous color. Interesting effects come out as a result. The final piece is sealed with a thin layer of FIMO gel and it is bright and colorful especially on day light!
http://polymerclayfimo.livejournal.com/4835373.html
http://masha-koekak.livejournal.com

Polymer Galaxy

Another link from the cold country girls is presenting a new polymer clay galaxy discovered recently. Cosmobo created a solar system made entirely of polymer clay - Sun, venus, mercury, earth and all others are a beautiful collection of pins or pendants. Cosmobo is using cernit in some of her projects and I can see more materials and goodies hidden inside her designs.
http://polymerclayfimo.livejournal.com/4871313.html
http://cosmobo.livejournal.com

miniature eyeglasses from wire and acetate

Rose Favero posted a cool tutorial for making super miniature eyeglasses from wire and acetate. Naturally this is not polymer but can be a great addition to your polymer clay faces!
All you need is scissors, pliers, tweezers, office hole punch, acetate and wire.
http://aventuraeminiatura.blogspot.co.il/2012/04/tutorial-dos-oculos-por-rose-favero.html

Next week I am back to my regular routine. Having a short pause from all duties this week,  and spending quality time touring the country with Sabine was enjoying and fun.
Have a great rest of the week!

"Live Audience" Workshop - Brocade Collection

Not always I get the chance to take one of my online tutorials and try it live.

Most of the time, the ideas are invented in my mind, carried out on my studio and from there packed into PDF files, videos and a CD sent to you guys.

In the last couple of weeks I had the opportunity to take the theory to action in front of a "live audience" :)

20 women from the Israeli polymer clay guild gathered together to create 20 colorful pouches, good food was on the menu and cheerful mood too.

The workshops took several hours, time flew so fast that we couldn't believe it, I had no idea how long it would take, it's different when you are creating a project yourself or doing the same thing with 20 women on board.

We started the class with choosing the colors for our pouches, prepared the base hemispheres and textured the clay with the brocade design using "good old" eye shadows (Yes! don't throw them away! they are great on polymer).

After several bakings, sewing and gluing, the little round pouches turned up, looking like small colorful balls (more like a pill shape but still so cute!)

I was delighted to hear the girl's feedback, they loved the fresh innovative design, mentioned that it was different than what they have done lately - planning their next pouch as a hanger on their bag, for small change, emergency pill or band aid, keys or even candy.

If you're curious to read more about it, you can click on the link below leading to the Israeli guild webpage (this means it's in hebrew, but if you're using a browser that can

translate it, you can try read it)

http://www.tapuz.co.il/Forums2008/ViewMsg.aspx?ForumId=1484&MessageId=155773653

Right: Bags by Daniella

and the wonderful beetle bag (and others) by Liat Ripp

I had so much fun! Have to do it again :)

Looks like a new addiction! :)

Polymeri Online 16.6.11

My dear Israeli friend Liat Ripp has the most wonderful fish tank I ever saw - and it's all polymer! Her whimsical colorful design of fish pins/magnets/anything you can think of, has it's own unique style and brings a smile :) Her tutorial is offered for a special reduced price for the next few days!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/liatripp/sets/721576268

06083833/

http://www.etsy.com/listing/66481048/fish-magnet-pdf-tutorial-in-english

Shirali from India is an artist, a trained fashion designer and ceramist. She has worked with many different mediums in past like mixed media, terracotta, paper, fabric, resin, but she is relatively new to polymer clay, and plan on developing new products! Her USB designs are so cute!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/s_smallidea/sets/72157626641795485/

Kate Tracton is a jewelry designer with an eye for tiny details. Currently she is enjoying beadweaving and polymer clay, though not at the same time according to her :)

Her art is available in her online Etsy store. Kate also has a blog where she discusses her artistic process and sometimes features other artists.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/katetracton/

Here is one of her posts - drawing the process of a design - http://shiborigirl.blogspot.com/2011/02/fancy-schmancy.html

SteamTimeJewelry's Shop by Anne Berry has some cool stylish and edgy necklaces and rings handmade from vintage watch parts and polymer clay. All of the glamor of an alternate reality filled with gears and metal, filigree and finery.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SteamTimeJewelry

Interested in her special parts for your own designs? You can find her steampunk supplies store too!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/steamtimesupplies

Have a great weekend :)

thinking of the things I wanted to save

The past week was impossible to bear; Monday morning started with a relatively small fire near my home, the smoke could be seen from my front porch, the smell was very strong and I started thinking about what's going to happen when I’ll be ordered to leave my home.

I was walking around my house, restless, I couldn't do anything useful besides thinking of the things I want to save.

The emergency authorities said there is nothing to worry about at the moment, planes were flying around us. It took a full day for that fire to be put out and that night we went to sleep calmly.

Little did I know, that it won’t last for long. Last Thursday I was terrified. Just before noon I was listening to the radio and I heard that a huge fire has started, only a 15 minute drive from my home.

What does that mean? Do I have to pack? Do I have to think about leaving the house? Again?! What do i take first? The firefighting service declared it as the biggest fire in Israel's history, I decided to pack : My kids, a few albums, my laptop & camera. DH found the perfect timing to be in Los Angeles on a business trip; We all drove to my mother's house, I felt like I have a huge rock on my chest, and all I wanted was to make this disaster go away.

The following days were so awful: roughly 17,000 people were evacuated from their homes. The 82-hour fire claimed the lives of 42 people, burnt dozens of homes, destroyed thousands of acres of land, and raised many difficult questions.

These days left me thinking about the power of nature. I am sure some of you have heard or experienced similar wild fires in your country.... If it wasn't for the great international help we got from so many countries, I am not sure I would be writing this post from my home. I wish I could thank every single nation that helped in this effort. I am sure that when the time comes Israel will be there to help others. Fortunately, nobody thinks about politics when human lives are involved.

So, thank you for being here, reading my post, I really needed to share this, I couldn't ignore everything around me and go on 'business as usual'.

Just before the fire started, I was about to publish a post about a big giveaway I’m having for my 1st anniversary of polypediaonline, but it felt wrong without saying a few words about my personal feelings.

In a few days when life will return to normal, I’ll go live with my planned giveaway, See you soon.

Polymeri Online 2.9.10

I don't know if you noticed, but facebook became a new source of beautiful art and useful links, i find myself wandering in galleries with lot's of beautiful items - what a joy!

1st from facebook is my dear friend Mira Krispil, she has posted some of her beautiful "Pinkaso" art, Mira (also known by the name "pinki") was my companion at my last trip to US and is also the manager of the Israeli guild. She has this wonderful ability to use colors and millefiori as if they were canvas and paint (picasso!) her gallery is full of wonderful pieces and the joy and optimism is seen every design.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/photo.php?pid=529353&fbid=155813317768062&id=100000181844495&ref=nf

flickr gallery, if you haven't yet read about her touching story, take a look at her flickr profile -http://www.flickr.com/photos/mirakris

Another artist i found in facebook is Carie Schoen, she is making custom pieces sculpting tools for miniature work

http://www.kelbycarie.com/

http://www.facebook.com/kelbycarie?ref=sgm#!/kelbycarie?v=wall&ref=sgm

daniela duva from Italy, is combining polymer clay with wire and her elegant pieces were featured in PCD exactly a year ago.

http://www.facebook.com/danieladuva#!/album.php?aid=25792&id=1626258548

http://www.alkhymeia.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alkhymeia/

Olimpia Corvino is also an italian artist i have found in facebook, she is designing jewelry, beads, working with polymer clay (cernit), wire and her rich, chic designs play a wonderful game of color and shape.

I guess i will be touring inside facebook further more and certain to find lot of treasures :)

On TV!

I was featured on a Design oriented TV program called " IZUVIM" which means "Designs" in Hebrew, this show is inviting designers to talk and show their art.

it was finally on air few days ago on the Israeli TV Channel.

For all of you that haven't seen it here it is -One little detail -I'm afraid its in Hebrew......:) It will sound funny but i am sure you will see the photos and see what i demonstrated...

It was a great experience!

http://reshet.ynet.co.il/Shows/Meatzvim_video/videomarklist,170066

Polymeri Online 5.11.09

Look at Israeli Doris Reuveni mosaic bowls! looks like pieces of ceramics with a black filling! color mixing is perfect, beautiful.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14059772@N03/1432415138/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14059772@N03/

raspberrypink is usually a figurines artist, but i found this lovely barrette in her flickr made with retro/bullzeye canes - lovely!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/raspberrypink/3771277959/

Carina made a very interesting polymer clay necklace, at first i thought these were suede strings, but then i saw it's all extruded polymer clay, so original.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fimorina/3987842398/

Crea tu mundo / Maria from Madrid makes such cute sculpturings that tells a story, she is doing it with so much talent and humor :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/creatumundo/

Polymeri Online 25.7.09 - Emi Sfard

My 3rd & last artist in this sequence is Emi Sfard from Israel, ever since she remembers herself she has been painting, illustrating, sculpting and disassembling devices to see how they work. she was five year old when started attending the Youth Wing of the Israeli Museum of Art, which soon became her second home. There, she was exposed to a world of materials and to the history of art, and learned jewelry, sculpturing, painting, and more.
Later, she studied carpentry for a couple of years. In parallel, took private lessons in drawing and painting with the artist Marek Yanai.

Her first degree in Industrial Design is from Bezalel Academy of Art. she worked as an industrial designer for five years, whereas three of them were spent in Frog Design, Milan Italy. At the end of this period she realized that her passion was still, as it has always been, illustration, painting and sculpting.

Today, she is living in Tel-Aviv and dedicate herself to illustration and painting.

The photo i've included in this post is one of photos made for a 3D Passover Hagada, The illustration work was done by sculpting scenes that were then photographed using special equipment and method to create a 3D image.

http://www.emisfard.com/

Polymeri Online 11.6.09

Soooooo, after having a little rest (not really) from Polymer Play Days (and completing
all my duties as a neglecting mother :) (joking of course), here is another thursday coming with some goodies from my polymer clay links bag -

Beadingdaily is a great site, don't remember how i became subscribed on it (probably did it and forgot about it) but i found some very good links in that site, here are some of
the polymer clay and other links i found interesting -
6 expert tips for creating marbled polymer clay beads
http://www.beadingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2009/05/11/6-expert-tips-for-creating-marbled-polymer-clay-beads.aspx

and another article about polymer clay beads
http://www.beadingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2009/04/08/make-beautiful-polymer-clay-beads.aspx

a general article very useful - making your own jump rings -

http://www.beadingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2009/05/06/how-to-make-your-own-jump-rings.aspx

more links - Israeli art this time!
Irit Shainzinger - is an israeli making Clay illustration, "katanchik" in hebrew means small!
http://katanchik.carbonmade.com/

Cielo Design / Miriam is another Israeli making AMAZING work with seed beads and polymer clay - i just admire people with such a talent and patience, she says that she is a bead artist exploring fun and exciting new ways to make jewelry and wearable art.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cielodesign/

have a great weekend!

play-doh and flower canes

2 of my fellow friends in Israel- Idit Fischer and Yonat Dascalu hade a remarkable idea about making flower canes and "getting rid" of their background easily. They made a flower cane, petals and center, then wrapped the petal with thin orange play-doh clay sheet, (which is a water base clay), the sheet was #5 in the pasta machine, and continued with wrapping the background of the flower. The play-doh will not dry when it's wrapped in the clay, Idit mentioned that she has a cane 2 weeks old and it is not dry yet.
after letting the new cane rest a bit to cool, she started to peel slowly the background and reveal the orange play-doh wrapping. this takes a while since you need to do it gently so you won't distort the flower shape. after finished all the pealing they put the backgroundless cane in the water so that the orange leftovers will be dissolved or you can put it in a strainer and wash with water.

that's it! you have a flower with out a background! worth a try!

here's a link to our hebrew forum
http://www.tapuz.co.il/tapuzForum/main/Viewmsg.asp?forum=1484&msgid=129971942
just clicked the underlined letters and you'll see the photos :)

tell us how it went!

After-Dan

speachless, that's what i am :)

yes, Dan Cormier's workshop in my home was yesterday, many hours of joy, it was so amazing, i have no words to express my feelings, it's been a magical class, and i wish i could see more and more :)

Thank you dan for the opportunity to meet and learn from you and i hope we'll see you again soon in Israel...

now i can relax and absorb all this

beauty :)

a Big project

Are you sitting down?

I think you'd want to sit down before you'll see this huge project by Naama Zamir, my fellow artist from Israel, she was asked by a friend to help make a unique mosaic table, made from tiny tiles of polymer clay, colored, canes... it was a non stop work for about a week, 50 packs of PC and the result is stunning!

Making such a project from colored clay, marbled, scraps, canes is an amazing use for all those tiles.

i wouldn't mind sitting near this table myself, not to mention getting one as a gift ;) lol

http://naamazamir.blogspot.com/2008/10/my-biggest-project-or-what-was-i.html

Milliefiori and organza cloth pendant

My dear friend Marcia from Israel, is a very talented lady. In addition to making extra-ordinary millefiori canes, she is inventing new ideas for combining materials with millefiori work. According to her, Because of the transparency of the organza cloth she found it very interesting and there are lots of possibilities to create beautiful embellishments.

She kindly shared her unique techniqe with the israeli community and you might want to take a look at her tutorial (in english this time :)

http://www.mars-design.co.il/HTMLs/article.aspx?C2004=12099&BSP=11992

The pendant is for sale too!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14134982

Hamsa cookie cutters are back in stock!

High standard quality Hamsa cookie cutters are back in stock!- perfect for polymer clay, cookies and sugerpaste!

The Hamsa/Chamsa hand (Arabic) or hamesh hand (Hebrew) is an old and popular potropaic amulet for magical protection from the envious or evil eye. The words hamsa and hamesh mean "five" and refer to the digits on the hand. An alternative Jewish name for it is the Hand of Miriam, in reference to the sister of Moses and Aaron.

The 2 sizes are shown in the photo attached, they can be sold in sets or individually.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/92896804/hamsa-hand-cookie-cutter-set-2-stainless?ref=shop_home_active

Large hamsa (11 cm)- 12$

Small hamsa - (4 cm) 10$

Shipping fee - 6$ (The shipping charge includes a tracking number and insurance)

You can take a look at my flickr Hamsa gallery for more Ideas -http://www.flickr.com/photos/irismishly/sets/72157594494143674/

Contact me at imishly@gmail.com for more details, thank you :)

what can we do with a clay gun?

How about some extruded collection of projects?
or, what can we do with a clay gun?

Here are some great projects for a start, feel free to add more in your comments!

Extrudinary tutorials
Polymer clay extruder projects

My PolyPediaOnline "Extrudinary" tutorials! 15 projects to sparkle your imagination, 14 videos in 3 super informative tutorials -
http://www.polypediaonline.com/extrudinary_polymer_clay_tutorial_extruder.html 

A football cane by Miriam Cohen from Israel - in hebrew but you can follow the pictures -

http://img2.tapuz.co.il/forums/1_117937392.doc

More ideas on Extruded Clay by polymerclayexpress.com
http://www.polymerclayexpress.com/mar2001.html

Make your rubber stamp with polymer clay using extruded snakes #1 by
http://artfortheheart.blogspot.com/2007/10/rubberstamps-polymer-clay.html

Make your rubber stamp with polymer clay using extruded snakes #2 by craftygoat - Stamp Your Own Message in Polymer Clay

http://blog.craftygoat.com/2008/03/stamp_your_own_message_in_poly.html

A special way to use clay and making a ooak cracked effect -
http://paroledepate.canalblog.com/archives/2006/11/14/3163137.html

Modeling and Sculpting Tools for Miniaturists By Lesley Shepherd, About.com

http://miniatures.about.com/od/toolsforminiatures/tp/Modeling-Tools-for-Miniatures.htm

Cynthia Tinnaple is demonstrating a great bullseye cane pattern -
http://www.polymerclaydaily.com/dreammachine.html

More from craftygoat - Video: Extruder Basics PLUS Making Coiled Extruder Beads
http://blog.craftygoat.com/2008/06/video_extruder_basics_plus_mak.html

Getting to Know Your Extruder's Discs
http://blog.craftygoat.com/2008/06/extruder_discs_get_to_know.html

Lazy Woman’s Mokume Gane (LWMG) by Barbara Forbes-Lyons

http://penguintrax.com/chatter/?p=113

Braided Clay Bracelet by Nan Roche

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_clay_jewelry/article/0,,HGTV_3238_1378538,00.html

Clay-Gun Quilt Cane Pt. 1 by hedgeapplecraft

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW3xU4Ouppg

Fold Over Beads Polymer Clay Filigree Bead Project by Skygrazer

http://www.skygrazer.com/polymerclay/reference/foldoverbeads.htm

Polymeri Online 13.4.08

Israela Angel, is an Israeli artist. she works with polymer clay, fabric prints and vagetables :)

She developed a unique way of working with polymer clay. All the art work that you see can be used as a box or decor. These are all part of series she made that talks about women, about the fact that "a woman in her nature a person that holds inside her and being held".

Her work was chosen together with other 65 artists (3 of them israeli) to be presented in a "International Experimental Engraving Biennial" in Romania.

Her artwork are pretty small, they are approximately 12 centimeters high and 6 centimeters wide, all of her shapes are organic and she uses organic vegetables to get her unique shape -radish , turnip and potatos are just several of them.

Her process is as followed -
1. She takes for example a potato and cover it with basic polymer clay.
2. print her photo on cotton fabric.
3. hold down the fabric to the covered potato with a polymer clay decoration gel.
4. cover the print with a clear and liquid polymer clay.
5. Decorate the covered potato
6. makes a hole in the clay so she can take to potato out after baking.

Here is a hebrew tutorial written by Israela -

http://www.art1.co.il/instructionsteps.aspx?wid=6b76cce3-dfc7-4770-a1ad-a37b0bad002a

Beautiful - isn't it?

Nir Etz Hadar from Israel

I got an email from a tallented man name Nir Etz Hadar , He is 35 yo from Israel, He studied theatrical set design at Tel-Aviv university but never actually worked in the field.

He always liked to sculpt portraits eversince adolescence. His speciality is famous people but he does "ordinary" people as well :-).

He prefer working with Sculpey premo or super sculpy, They are the best materials he know of.

http://usera.imagecave.com/chamaides/
You judge for yourself, AMAZING work!
He can be contacted at - niretzhadar{at}gmail.com

Polymeri Online 24.1.08

Hello Australian polyclayers! while touring the internet i visited the Aussiepolyclayers Forum Index and seeking for some talented artists :) here are 2 of them

Melanie Dilday - Since she discovered polymer clay about 8 years ago, her life has taken a 180 degree turnaround for the better. she lives, loves, breathes, teaches and dreams about clay. Melanie holds private clay retreats in her studio near Byron Bay Australia and exhibit and sell in various bead shops and galleries in Australia. http://members.westnet.com.au/melandcurt/polyclay/
http://clayhappenings.blogspot.com/
etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5063669

Debra Sutton - Debra is a a mixed media artist. She is working on jewellery design, in particular polymer clay, she also work with glass beads and metal findings and enjoy creating unique pieces of wearable art for everyone to enjoy.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bambam_studios/sets/

Check the Aussiepolyclayers Forum Index - some great stuff there!http://aussiepolyclay.21.forumer.com/index.php

And to another side of the globe - beadscraftz is a graphic designer currently focused on jewellery created from Polymer Clay. She is from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
http://www.flickr.com/people/beadscraftz/

Bill Nelson's site is amazing, i couldn't stop staring at his amazing sculptures, such a talented artist! Bill uses SUPER SCULPEY for his static figures and paper clay for his one-off ventriloquist figures.
http://www.billnelsonstudios.com/
http://www.billnelsonstudios.com/pages/ventfigsdolls.html

You can find his online lessons at http://www.thatcreativeplace.com/html/bill_nelson.html
more artists at that site too!

Israeli Maya Lukash - wwwlady makes amazing detailed jewelry
http://www.happy-bead.com/index.php
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5426194

meritaporlared / María Sáiz is a polymer clayer in her free time, she is from Sevilla, Spain
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7201667@N03/sets/72157594573263157/
www.japaya.blogspot.com/

Happy New Year & "Shana Tova"

On the Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah, after the holiday prayer service, we say kiddush over wine and eat a festive meal. Special Rosh Hashanah food customs have developed over the centuries. We dip a round challah into honey, and say the blessing over the bread. Next we dip a piece of apple into honey and ask for a good and sweet year.

Here are some of the sweet polymer clay creations by some of my friends clayers -

Shana Tova Magnet by Michal Gubi
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michal_gubi/265098697/

Shay Aaron Apple magnets -
We eat sweet foods on Rosh Hashanah as a symbol of our wish for a sweet year. In biblical times, honey was the sweetener. Honey also represented good living and wealth. The Land of Israel is often called the land of milk and honey in the Bible.Apple and honey are symbols
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shay-aaron/1149058031/

Sharon Amir Apple Mobile for "Rosh Hashana" -http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharon_amir/245712617/

How to sculpt bear with honey? here is Nir Shani instructions -http://www.tapuz.co.il/blog/userBlog.asp?FolderName=nirsh

Rosh v literally means "head of the year." Just as our head (brain) directs us, Rosh HaShana directs the ensuing year. On this day, we stock up on sustenance for the year to come. In addition, it is our hope to be the head (leader) of other nations through our righteous acts. For these reasons, it has become a tradition to eat the head of a fish during the holiday meal. Fish is also eaten on this holiday because it is symbolic of fertility and abundance. http://www.flickr.com/photos/irismishly/1170699900/

Symbolic Meaning of Traditional Rosh Hashanah Food like Round Challah Bread - The round shape symbolizes a perfect year to come. Sometimes raisins or honey are added to make it extra sweet. Here is Anat Shmueli's baguette (close to a Challah ;)http://www.flickr.com/photos/anat_shmueli/414719808/

On the second night of Rosh Hashanah, we eat a new fruit which we have not yet eaten this season. When we eat this new fruit, we say the shehechiyanu blessing which thanks God for keeping us alive and bringing us to this season. This ritual reminds us to appreciate the fruits of the earth and being alive to enjoy them. A pomegranate is often used as this new fruit. In the Bible, the Land of Israel is praised for its pomegranates. It is also said that this fruit contains 613 seeds just as there are 613 mitzvot. Another reason given for blessing and eating this fruit on Rosh HaShana is that we wish that our good deeds in the ensuing year will be as plentiful as the seeds of the pomegranate.
Sigal Ben Haim pomegranates -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sigal_ben-haim/1241546452/

and Sitar's pomegranate magnets -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sitar2007/1350996826/

and last - nice looking napkin rings for the rosh hashana dinner by Naama Zamir
http://www.flickr.com/photos/naamaza/1294821113/

So i wish you all a Happy New Year from us in Israel - "Shana Tova"!

Polymeri Online 10.8.06

Orit Mendelson is an Israeli Dragon polymer clay artist, her site is called "Unique worlds" - she does dragons sculpturing, drawing and... take a look at her gallery.

http://www.unique-worlds.com/