Diary of a Ketubah artist: entry #1

Dear Diary:
My etsy shop has been open since August. And the best part of having my own shop is meeting each and every couple I have the pleasure of working with. Each couple that chooses my work for their special day is unique. In the few weeks that we send our convos and emails back and fourth to each other, a relationship develops that is really special. Sometimes it is the groom who initiates contact, sometimes the bride. By the end of the process I really feel like I have made new friends. I am always so excited on the day of their wedding, thinking about my artwork being a part of such a special day for them. Even more exciting is when I get a quick email from one of them thanking me for the ketubah and the experience.

“I received the ketubah yesterday, and it's beautiful!! Thank you so much for such a wonderful online shopping experience. I am very pleased with everything.”
 
“Thanks for this update and all your patience!!! Your work is really beautiful and I'd be very happy to recommend you to anyone.”

“Our ketubah came today! It is gorgeous - we love it!
Thank you so much for all your help. It was a pleasure to work with you.”

With each project comes it's own challenges, like this week—I had to figure out how to piece together the Conservative text with Lieberman clause correctly. Rabbi David and his listserv came to my rescue with lots of advice and texts to review. And then I have Ellen and Anat in Jerusalem to translate and proof my work. As they say it takes a village ... And what a village I have!

Two weeks ago a bride in Sydney Australia came to me with a request for turnaround time that was not going to be possible through conventional methods. I couldn't take any chances that the package would be stopped at customs or delayed in any way.  I decided that the best solution was to find a giclee printer in Sydney who could print the final ketubah for me. Thanks to Tom at Vision Image Lab in Sydney, all went smoothly and another crisis was averted. 

Every week brings new and exciting interactions and challenges. What I have found so far is that there is never a challenge big enough to discourage me, and most importantly, that anyone I have approached for help or encouragement has been extremely generous.

Spoonflower sampler arrived!

I bit the bullet and ordered samples of a handful of my fabric designs. They arrived today in a very cute packet wrapped in tissue with a spoonflower label. I couldn't help but photograph my precious bundle! Now that I have tested them (and they really are cute!) they are available for sale.

So if you are in the mood for a super cute shower curtain or are wanting to sew up some adorable sun dresses for your winter holiday, or new curtains for your bedroom, or a table cloth for your dining room or pillows for your couch, check out my new fabrics for sale at spoonflower!

Embracing DIY

My etsy shop is on holiday mode while I take a short holiday and also prepare for Chanukah, Christmas and the Ketubah busy season after the winter holidays. Lots of great stuff going on in the backgorund while I come up with fresh creations.

DIY is really high on my list. In fact, I have a new folder on my computer dedicated to just that!

My first project will be a 2011 calendar you can print yourself. Each 8.5 x 11 page you print out will have two months on it.

Each page will have a  5" x 7" pattern painting on the left side, so that when the two months are over, you will have a pattern painting to frame in your favourite off the shelf 5" x 7" frame.

Here are a couple of the images in the works... I hope to have two or three different calendars available in 2011. 

Etsy shop officially open for business!

It seems like forever since I made up my mind to open an etsy shop. Life always seems to get in the way. Well, I opened the shop yesterday with four fresh ketubah designs and added five pattern paintings today. I still have some work to do on the fresh notes front and I also hope to spend some more time on spoonflower so that I can offer my fresh fabric as well. One baby step at a time!

My mini etsy gadget is now on my blog (look to your right) so you will be able to link to my shop easily if you see something you just have to have!

Moroccan inspiration

It has been several years since our trip to Morocco and almost 10 since our African camping adventure—yet the images and colours remain vivid in my mind. I have been playing with patterns from our trip for a while now, creating textures and new patterns—not sure what they would be used for. Tonight they came together in this new piece. Tea anyone?

Painting with patterns

This week I have begun looking my patterns in a new light. Moving back and forth from paper to fabric, I have accumulated a large palette of textures. I have begun to think of each of my patterns as paint and I am beginning to work with them as raw materials. It is kind of exciting. This week I created three new compositions. Instead of working to card sizes, these fresh creations, are frameable art. The originals are 8 x 10 for easy framing.

I hope to have my etsy site up and running soon. In the mean time, if you love one of these, and can't wait for etsy, email and we will work something out.

enjoy!   PS: check out my updated library at spoonflower.