Central Jersey Weekend, thank you ladies!

I spent the weekend with a lovely group of ladies from ANG's Central Jersey chapter.  The weather was perfect, the location was lovely, the stitching was wonderful and we had too much fun to call it work!

Silky Safari Class

Starting on the animal spots!

Using the laminated Master Chart to mark the animal print section

Magnified work

Padded Ultrasuede Applique was Sharon's own twist!

Lovely stitchers!

Some show and tell on the table, I was so touched to see my designs...

Wonderful progress made!

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Words can not describe.

The Cantor singing at the opening of the Gala Concert in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising.

Zubin Mehta conducting the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra

Across the street from the house where my father grew up.

Inside the Museum for the History of the Jews of Poland

Outside the Museum lines were long

The memorial for the Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto

Warsaw Jewish Cemetery

Warsaw Jewish Cemetery

The memorial for Janusz Korczak who chose to walk with his students, the little children,  and comfort them  on the way to the gas chambers.

 

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I am leaving on Wednesday, an emotional journey...

On Wednesday I travel to Poland.

I've been invited to the celebration of the opening of The Museum of the History of Polish Jews, in Warsaw, Poland.  This month is the 70th year anniversary of the uprising of the Jews in the Warsaw ghetto, where my grandfather was killed.  For three days dignitaries from Israel, Europe and the United States will gather to commemorate the rich history of the Polish Jews dating back to the 16th century.  I am so honored to be able to be there.  My sister will be coming from Israel. 

You may remember that I traveled to Poland back in 2008.  I never thought I'd go back, but I have known for quite some time that you never say never.  

Tomorrow we are making our way to Brooklyn to celebrate Nomi's second birthday.  Spring is a big birthday month for our family.  We will have a car loaded with gifts, cupcakes, decorations and one happy family!  

Then, on to teaching at the end of the month.  I'd say April is quite hectic, special and exciting!

Please know that if I don't have much time to write, I still make mental notes of everything I will tell you.  So stay tuned!

xo

Orna

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Emma Broidery's Blog about me (-:

I was interviewed by the DMC blog queen, a few weeks ago.  We had a fun time chatting.  Usually there is a large lapse in time between the chat and the published interview, and I don't always remember what my answers were to certain questions and whether I sounded intelligent or more of a dimwit!  I think I did OK, you can read for yourself HERE.

Spring is here, can you feel it?!

xo

Orna

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The importance of remembering.

I just had to add one more thing to this entry.  Throughout the entire country of Israel, at 10AM in the morning, a siren sounds to signal 2 minutes of silence and attention to the 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust.  The photo below is what it looks like.  This is a very busy freeway at 10 am.  It is chilling and beautiful to witness.

This evening is the eve of Israel's memorial day for the 6 million Jews killed by the Nazis and their collaborators.  The expression, never again!, is used often; never again will we let this happen, never again will we allow the world to stand by.

And yet I saw a headline today that made me both sad and angry. Anti-Semitic Incidents Surged in 2012.  The Associated Press reports a 30% jump in anti-Semitic violence last year.  30%!  Ranging from killings at a Jewish school in France, to desecration of cemeteries, these incidents occurred in 34 countries around the world.  What is this? What stands behind this ancient, fierce hatred? Why is this a constant and why does it get worse?  I don't have answers, you probably don't either.

Tonight I will light a memorial candle for the millions who were murdered and for the children and grandchildren they never had.  I will light a candle for my father.

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Weaving a statement.

Not what I should be doing, but doing it nonetheless...  I beaded these two hoops, thinking I would make a pair of earrings for myself.  When I put on earwires and wore them, they just wouldn't sit right, probably because they are wide.  Instead I think I'm going to make a Statement Necklace out of a bunch of them, as illustrated by me below, (excuse the rough illustration!). 

Each one is about 1.5" wide

I may have added too many of them to the necklace, but I'll play around with them and see.

I'll keep you posted on my progress...
What have you been creatively up to?


xo
Orna

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and the winner is....

Debbie, you have won a copy of My Point Exactly!! You wrote: I've been following for a long time and just subscribed by email. Love your designs. Wonderful color! 

Packing the book to start it's journey to you...

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Silky Safari

Mark you calendars and if you are in the area on April 27-28th, maybe you'd like to take the class with me and the Center Jersey ANG Guild.  If so, quickly contact me and I'll send you the information!

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Another update...  a vast majority of you suggested I keep the rug I bought for my living room, and I want you to know that I did not "diss" your opinion, however I kept walking by the room and thinking I wasn't sure I was loving it.  I want it to stay with us for the next 15-20 years, so don't I need to be ecstatic about it?  I decided the right thing to do was to wait until I found a rug I was absolutely sure about, so until then, this one went back.  Thank you all for your input!

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