Basking in the sun

Last Wednesday was my first real day off in a very long time. I wasn't on the work schedule, I did not have any albums waiting to be designed, there was no photo-shoots booked for that day, and I had no friends or family obligations. I was completely free to do as I please! Lucky for me, my someone had the day completely off as well. Lucky for us both, it was a beautiful blue sky, sunny and bright day, which made it possible for us to go almost anywhere we wished to go. Of course my first instinct at the thought of us having the opportunity to get out of Tel Aviv for a bit was "lets fly away", but unfortunately we only had ONE day off which cancels the whole flying options... So we remained in the country. We packed a bag with sandwiches and snacks, a blanket and some water, packed up the camera gear, and hopped on my someone's motorbike & headed east. East as in towards Jerusalem. The plan wasn't to reach Jerusalem, rather find a secluded spot on a green mountain in the Judean Mountains area. After about an hour's ride we found just what we wanted- We were in a national park, surrounded by natures greens, and blues, and everything in between, there was no one in sight (really, we were pretty much alone!), and away from all the hustle and bustle noises of the city.
We spent a few hours at the park and then decided to keep on driving n to Jerusalem. We were already half way there and it would have been a shame not to pay the holy city a little visit. There is something in that city, I just can't explain it, but it always excites me to go to Jerusalem. It might be the fresh mountain air, it might be the feeling of importance (it is the center of both religion and politics in Israel). Perhaps it's the buildings all unanimously built with the Jerusalem stone (Municipal laws in Jerusalem require that all buildings be faced with local Jerusalem stone), or maybe it's the people who live in that city. Whatever the reason, I just love visiting Jerusalem.
We walked around a bit, took some pictures, had some sweets and some coffee, paid a visit to one of the best music shops ever- Ha'tav Ha'shmini (translated it means The Eighth Note), bought some CD's, and then we called it a day. We bundled up warm, as it turned cold when the sun went home, hopped on the bike again, and hit the road back home to Tel Aviv.
Now I can't wait for the next day we both have off...
Here's a collage of our day

We started the day posing to the camera

Had some sandwiches

Searched for pine nuts in pine cones

But all we found were dried empty cones

We photographed ourselves on our own

Took some more pics of each other and the view

And paused for a moment to appreciate nature

We found a spot to rest our feet

And laid down on the grass

Then we headed to Jerusalem...

We strolled the streets

Had some sweets

And a cup of Joe before the ride back home

Merry Christmas

It's Christmas now around most of the world. It is not a Jewish holiday, so it is not celebrated nationally here, though there are various Christian streams in Israel, and I am sure they are having a big Christmas feast at the moment ;)
I do miss this time of year in Vancouver, the snow, the festive feeling, the gift buying rush, and the joy.
To all of you who are celebrating, I wish a very merry Christmas!

Photoshoot- Naftul Clothing

I have the privilege of being good friends with a very talented clothing designer- Naftul. Naftul is the nick name of Natalie Elian, and that is also the name of her clothing line.
Naftul & I met a few years ago, back when I was living in Los Angeles. She had finished her schooling in design school in Israel, and had moved to LA to try it out and be close to her sister (who was and still is a good friend of mine). After a few years in LA, and a very successful job as a designer in a clothing company based in Downtown LA, Naftul returned home to Tel Aviv. She immediately started working on her own designs creating unique items that could fit almost any body type.Today Naftul is still in the process of growing, but her cloths are already selling at a few exclusive boutiques around town, and her line is expanding.
This past week I was honored to photograph a few of her pieces. We shot at an amazing location- a boutique-shop called "1 Bedroom" in the hip part of Jaffa (Yafo). Here's a sneak peak of what we shot.

Location: One Bedroom, Yafo, Israel
Designer: Naftul
Model: Noga Shachar
Photographer: Tali Schiffer

Shlomit Ofir

I have always had a crush on jewelry. Since I was a little girl I had my own little treasure box full of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. I can't say they were always stylish or pretty, but as I grew older my taste in jewelry has been refined. When I shop for new pieces I try to find jewelry with a vintage look. I search for delicate items that convey an innocent girly feeling. If it's got a romantic feel I'm hooked. As for the materials I love metals, especially the golds and silvers, and if there's an addition of some sort of stone even better.
Shlomit Ofir's jewelry answer all of that!
I first found Shlomit on Etsy as I was browsing for some new necklaces. I fell inlove with her designs immediately. I bought two {gorgeous} necklaces! Then a short while later Shlomit had opened an actual shop here in Tel-Aviv (Israel) and I got to meet her in person. I must say she is just as lovely as her designs!!
Shlomit just released her winter 2009 collection. Here is a little sneak peak. I suggest you hurry on over to her Etsy shop, or even better, for those who reside here in Israel, go see her and her jewelry in person at her TLV shop at 6 Gruzenberg Street, Tel Aviv

A Giveaway

I am sponsoring a giveaway at Old Sweet Song. Hop on over, read all of Amy's interesting posts (I am an addicted follower of her blog!) and leave a comment on her Giveaway post for a chance to win an 8x10 or 8x8 print of your choice
Good luck  :)

The Good Stuff

A Sinful Breakfast

Bathing in the sun

Chocolate Fondue (Shared with good friends) 

My Someone

Reunion

Last week I attended a somewhat spontaneous reunion. It wasn't a class reunion, or a school reunion, rather a reunion of friends, all of the same age, from the same home town, who have attended the same school or class at some point throughout our 12 years of school. Myself and two old elementry school friends of mine had planned the event. We simply invited everyone in our Facebook friends database, that was born in 1978 (yes, I am THAT old), and lived and studdied in our hometown. I must tell you, we weren't even sure if anyone would come apart from the three of us... But low and behold, we had a turn-up of about 30 +/- people! The evening was so much fun, filled with old memories and funny stories from the past, and more than anything, good company! Here's a few photos of how we were, and a couple from the reunion

This is how we were...

and this is now...

Bits & Pieces & Notes

Lately my life has been nothing but ordinary! My daily schedule is off the charts, sometimes my day & night get all mixed up, I eat in odd hours, I sleep in odd hours, and I get creative when everyone else has turned their lights out.
I don't know if it's my new-found singleness (My ex and I were pretty much like an old married couple when it came to our daily activity and schedule), or perhaps it's my day job that's not so much a day job with it's day & night shifts (I never told, but I work at a restaurant. I was a server & just got "promoted" to shift manager), or perhaps it's the someone that's with me that makes me want to stay up late with him. I guess it's a mix of all of the above. And don't get me wrong, I am not really complaining, I just sometimes feel like I am running after my own tail in trying to catch up and fit everything back into my life. I have been kinda' neglecting my shop on etsy, and I haven't been too active at the Etsy teams I am a member of- Inspiration Avenue, POE-Photographers Of Etsy, and Etsy Israel Team, but I do plan on trying to find a way to fit it all back into my schedule!
What I haven't given up on is blogland. How can I give that up?? There is nothing better than to find that moment in the day when I can sit down for a while with my computer and browse through the many blogs I follow, read what's new and exciting in their writers lives, get to know them just a little better, find some new suggestions for shopping, cooking, creative crafts and such. These blogs are my pick-me-up pill, my happy drug, my put-a-smile-on-my-face remedy, my source of inspiration!
I sure hope that my blog & my musings are a pick-me-up for some of you too! I hope I inspire you as well!
My friend Gabi, who's actually an old acquaintance that I had reconnected with just a week ago at a spontaneous reunion we were at (post and pictures will follow soon...), had said to me that she sat down and read my entire blog post history and that it was so inspiring to her that she decided to take the leap herself, and start her own blog! I am so humbled and proud, and I am so excited for Gabi for this new adventure she's embarked herself on! Please check out her blog  here (it's still new, so be patient...)
Here's a few more blogs that I cannot part with. I'm keeping it to my 15 best, but you know there are many many more! I might have mentioned some of these in the past, so excuse me if you've seen them before :)
City of Dionne , Laura Evans Photography ,  Habitually Chic , Ponder & stitch , Ali Loves Curtis , Layers of Meaning , Maggi's Misadventures , Oh Hello Friend , Maya Made , Knock Knocking , Daughter of Cancer ,  Color Me Katie , Jessica Rogers , Polaroid Express , Anna Allen :: Wildflowers :: Pretty

I'll leave you with this inspiring, creative, gorgeous video. The song's pretty good too ;)

Thanks-Giving

If there's one thing I really really REALLY miss about living in the States and in Canada that's Thanksgiving. There's something so magical about this holiday that only people who celebrate it know what I mean.
Every year, as Thanksgiving approaches the entire city/country/state gets ready for the holiday, decorating everything with the colors of the season (I adore Orange, Brown and Cream mixed together!), shops offering gift ideas, shopping sales, and turkey deals. All the cooking shows on TV focused on Thanksgiving, giving you new ideas for the same traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
And then on the day of you can walk around and smell the scents coming out of bustling kitchens, all sweet and warm and yummy. Not to mention the amazing flavors! I could eat a whole  yam & marshmallow casserole right now!!
Of course one of the things I love about this holiday is how everyone gets together as a family (even if it's just friends) to be thankful for all their good fortune thus far. It's amazing how this one day a year can get everyone thinking on what they have and not on what they don't, and be thankful for it. If only we could all be more thankful on a daily basis rather than complain and seek what we do not have, it'd be Thanksgiving every day!

image take from Habitually Chic

Even though we do not celebrate this holiday in Israel  I am still so very Thankful...

For my amazing mom who's always by my side

For the strength I did not know I had in me that got me through these past few months

For good friends

For my best girlfriends

For warm days (even now at the end of November!)

For having a place I call home

For my talents

For being able to laugh it out

For love

For every moment I get to spend with my grandpa

For the promotion at work

For all my good fortune

For the way my someone looks at me

For creativity

For all my blog & internet friends

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

My Head My Heart

There's a mix of so many things going on in my head, my heart, and my life, and I feel the only way possible to pass the feeling on to you is to simply throw it all out there.
Anxious because tomorrow it'll all be over. Sad because tomorrow it'll all be over. Relieved because tomorrow it'll all be over.
Confused because I don't love him any more. Glad that I don't love him any more. Am better since I don't love him any more!
Jitters. Sick in my stomach. Burning headache.
Giddy because there's someone new. Happy because there's someone new. Excited about this someone.
Waiting for tomorrow to begin. Hating that tomorrow's on it's way. Wanting to skip tomorrow day and straight to the evening.
Feeling a mix of everything. Falling. Awakening.

Tomorrow is the last day I will ever be mentioned as his wife. Tomorrow is the beginning of my new life.
And I am not alone. For that there is only one feeling- Happy!

Writer's block

I've been having somewhat of a writer's block for this past week or so, and I can't seem to snap out of it!
I want so badly to write something, and while there are some things I want to share with you, I am still not sure if t's the right time to do so, or perhaps I should wait a bit...
In the meantime, I will leave you with some photos of me and my space, taken by Shay

And this is the talented photographer :)

Some News & Weekend Suggestions

This has been a VERY long week, and I've been busy working my day job, finishing albums, AND shooting my first Israeli wedding (alongside my photographer friend Liron Breier) last night, which by the way, was amazing & fun & so utterly exhausting!!
I've also received my printed, postcard-size, 2010 Calendar, which is now available at my shop

I also found out I was featured on Etsy's front page, which is a HUGE deal. Etsy's front page has 12 images that change every 30 minutes or so, and those 12 images are the first items any visitor to Etsy sees. Being on there can create such great exposure, and hopefully generate sales ;)  Check out the archived front page I was on here

I did manage to squeeze in some quality time and watch a movie, read some of my favorite blogs, and do some "window shopping" online (not buying anything, just marking what I see and like...)

Here are a few feel good tips for the weekend

Go see "500 Days of Summer"!! click here for trailer

Read "The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters" read review here

Visit this blog for some great papercutting templates

Check out some fun photography here

Read through this online magazine

Have a great weekend!!

Cutest Animal Photos

My darling cyber friend, Miss B. of Blah Blah Blahg is running a "contest" to see who manages to find the cutest animal pictures ever. The person that wins will be a lucky winner! She'll be sending off a free copy of Glamour Dogs and I really, really, REALLY want that copy!!
So here's my share, hope that's cute enough :)

Links:  Mouse with Carrot , Baby Fennec Hare , Killer , Chihuahua , B&W , Ferrets

Busy Working

So I must apologize again for not spending much time in blogland, and the web in general, but I have a good reason :)

I've actually been busy with a few projects. First, I designed a website for my dear friend Dvora, who's a fellow photographer. She focuses mainly on wedding photography. We created her site using Wix.com (the same site I used in creating my own website). Click here to visit her site.

The front page of her site

I have also been busy working on a few wedding albums. Most of the albums I design are referred to me by  photographer Liron Breier, a wedding photographer I've been working with, designing wedding albums for the couples she shoots. The other albums I get are usually through word of mouth. The couple in the album below was referred to me by a friend. Their wedding was shot by Adi Eyal Photographers.
Check out these pages from the album.

So what's next on my busy plate?
Well, next week I have two new albums I need to get a start on, and on Thursday I'll be 2nd photographer at a wedding, shooting along side Liron Breier. This will be my first wedding shoot in Israel. I must say I have some jitters in my stomach just thinking about it!
I will update you guys after the wedding :)