28.7.09 PentArum Flower inspired from "mpetit" Arum

The back side:

I composed this flower with 5 "Arum" units and a small peyote bell in its center.
Thanks to Varda for addressing my attention to this interesting scheme that I would have completely skipped otherwise, thanks to Ronit for bringing the links and thank you Monique/mpetit for your kind sharing of your design for this interesting Arum in HDPS forum.

Each Arum takes about 15 mn to complete.

25.7.09 A WE with Tamar & Sarah in Jerusalem

Tamar and Sarah were so happy to be with their grandma. When I first saw them, they were jangling in the small swimming pool on the flowering balcony, inviting me to join.
I preferred not too, its not exactly my size... Anyway, after this refreshing afternoon they looked so cute for Shabat, that I decided I must take some pictures of them. So... I want to show off :-)

Sarah and her adopted "dubonet" (female teddy bear):

Sarah and Tamar posing to the camera:

Tamar found the camera a very attractive toy. To be honest, I was surprised of the very good pictures she took (look below at one of them). That was so fun seeing her so enthusiastic, trying to catch in her scoop all the street flowers. She even mentioned later a flower she recognized as the same as a pair of flower earrings I made to mom, but to be honest, I am not sure what this cute girl calling me the "Queen of beads" was talking about :-[

23.7.09 Flower Focal designed by Julia Gerlach

Originally, this flower was supposed to be designed as a columbine flower. However, Julia Gerlach came out with another beautiful design based on the flat RAW (pp.74-76 in Bead and Button special issue: Beading Basics: Right-Angle Weave). I really like this design and shape, but I didn't keep on with the spurs and prefered to leave it this way. If you are experienced with RAW, each petal takes about 10-15 mn.
Now that I looked at it, it reminds of the filigree flower I did a year ago, but I think this one is much more impressing and beautiful in its shape, proportion and design .

22.7.09 BluemenToggle designed by Holle Randy

I encountered this design of Holle Randy in her blog post and shop and had to try it. I like very much the shape and colors. However, during the work I felt that beadweaving it required a lot of tension - or maybe I used a different way which made it like this...
I like the idea it can become a toggle/earring/pendant, but I haven't decided yet what to do with it.

21.7.09 Nasturtium Flower designed by Sandra D. Halpenny

You will find the instructions for this nice and small flower at this link.
I realized that the way I have tried this Nasturtium flower a few months ago, is far from the elegant way Sandra D. Halpenny designed it. I really like the way Sandra designs her creations and would say they present for me an intellectual challenge. Additionally I admire the way she always find the shortest and heuristic pathway with the thread. I feel as if there is a lot of mathematics behind it and a good knowledge of the beading techniques.
The flower looks simple but it takes a while (around an hr, but it also depends on the type of beads you are using, in respect of their hole size).
How did Svetlana have the patience to do so many of them?????

20.7.09 Beaded Flower designed by Sandra D. Halpenny

Together with my friend, I made this small variant of Sandras' cool and flowing Beaded Flower.

18-20.7.09 Papilio machaon syriacus פרפר זנב סנונית נאה

18.7.09

We were in Bat Shlomo, when Omer noticed these beautiful pupa and caterpillars on the same bush. When we came back home, we read that it was a Papilio machaon syriacus.

Look at this belt!19.7.09The caterpillar is preparing the "belt" and checking well that it can bear him for the time he will become a pupa:
20.7.09: Now he is waiting and wondering... soon he will become a pupa.

There it is! Unfortunately I missed this step, it happened very quickly while I was beading with my friend.
and this is the leftovers of his caterpillar period:

Here are some more pictures from Omer's parent garden:

Ciao!