bronze mezuzah

I have exciting news.  I now have a mezuzah available in bronze!  One of my handcrafted solid silver designs has been caste in a more affordable rich warm bronze.  The original silver mezuzah I created has been made into a mold and then caste in bronze.  Not only is it less expensive, but it also is a gorgeous color and it will not tarnish, so it can be used outdoors.
 I am premiering this design at the Moriah Congregation art fair this weekend in Deerfield, Illinois (see previous post for details).  It will retail for $120.

questions answered

I've been doing some local St. Louis craft show and I get a lot of comments and questions from people.

What are you doing here?  This is a craft fair.
Well That's true, my things are more artwork then craft and the prices are a reflection of that, but most of the local fairs I participate in are in Temples and Synagogue.  That a good place to meet Jewish people who are more likely to purchase my mezuzahs, yads and Jewish star necklaces.  Even though they may not be interested in buying anything today, they will take my card and remember me when they want to get a special gift or piece for themselves.

Is everything you make Jewish?
No it is not.  I make a lot of jewelry.  My fine silver jewelry is a reflection of my personal style and aesthetic.  I like jewelry that is causal.  I am a former sportswear designer so I keep current with the trends and try to incorporate styles that are up to date but still stand the test of time.
There are a lot of wonderful Jewelry Artists out there who work in PMC.  One reason that I started to concentrate on making Judaica is to keep myself unique and find a niche in the market.  Of course, through that process, I found I was able to express myself even more creatively and making the Judaica became my focus.

Your stuff is so beautiful, why are you not showing at Laumeier or the St. Louis Art Fair in Clayton?

Well, first of all thank you.  I really appreciate that you like my work.  I would love to be a part of those shows, but there is a short answer on why I am not.  I do not have a booth.  A proper tent (booth) with lights and display costs $2000-$4000.  In order to be considered for these shows you must have a picture of your booth in your application.  These shows are juried and the competition is fierce, especially in the Jewelry category.  So you must have a professional display and booth to be considered, and no you can't just rent one.  Buy my work and I will invest in the booth, I promise.

busy in the studio....

Ive been very busy working in my basement studio making all sorts of pieces for my upcoming shows, especially the URJ show in December in Maryland.  It has been incredibly fulfilling to be creating all day.  I just hope everyone likes the pieces as much as I do.
I haven't added anything to my etsy shop yet because I have too many local shows coming up, but I thought I'd just post a few pictures to show you what I have been up to.  I also have been experimenting on some new ways to photograph the mezuzot, I like to show them hanging instead of lying flat.

mezuzah with amythest

This ancient building necklace opens up

If you are in the St. Louis area I will be at the Bnai Amoona Chanukah Bazaar, this Sunday October 30th, 9-1.  Come by and see me!

my mezuzuah is part of a museum collection

I am honored to have my brownstone mezuzah selected by the Mizel Museum in Denver to be a part of their permanent collection.  The mezuzah is fine silver and is inspired by brownstone homes that I used to walk by in Boston and New York. It features a bay window and a street lamp.  I am honored to be a part of this wonderful Jewish Museum.  The mezuzah will be displayed as it was meant to, on a doorway. 

To read more about please check out the museum's newsletter, The Mizel Tov, and click on the link for the museum newsletter (It is the Spring 2011 edition).

mezuzuah project-november

I'm a little late again, but I think it's worth the wait.  My latest mezuzah is inspired by brown stone buildings in the cities I've lived like Boston and New York.  Hope you like it.

This time I'm getting the mezuzah professionaly photographed so it won't be in my Etsy shop for a bit.  If your interested email me and let me know.

mezuzah project-october

I'm just in time to post the October mezuzah.  I actually finished this mezuzah in the beginning of the month but didn't get around posting it until now.  This mezuzah was inspired by the floral lentil pendents that I have been making.  They are very popular (I actually only have one left to sell!)  I think it would be quite happy on a cottage style home, by a garden....oh it would really look good on my front door!

Well I have sad news, the quick fire bronze clay that I have been so excited about is not all that it seems.  I was happy to begin a new project in the bronze clay today and I went back to my test piece take a second look.   I decided to test it's strength, and I gentle tried to see if I could bend the metal and it snapped in half with very little effort.  I spend so much time constructing the mezuzahs.  If the bronze is not fully sinstered and therefore strong it ruins the integrity of the piece.  I don't have these problems with silver clay.  I know that the material is so much more expensive, but for the time, effort and skill needed to make the piece I think the price is worth it.  I am once again abandoning the bronze option.  I just wish that the companies that make these products not use the artists as testers before they release them. 

the mezuzah project

I've decided to start a new design challenge this year.  I am calling it the mezuzuah project.  I am going to design and make a new fine silver mezuzah case each month and feature it on my blog and in my Etsy store. 

This month I am creating the castle tower mezuzuah.  It's in the kiln right now, stay tuned....

Visit the Nishma Marketplace this weekend

I will be selling my handcrafted solid silver pieces at the Nishma Passover Journey this weekend. If you are planning to attend please came by my table at the vendor's market place and check out the mezuzot, star of David necklaces and tower necklaces. I also just made some earring featuring solid silver medallions and gemstones. The earring are only $35! Please come by and take a look and say Hi!

wavey mezuzah

I love the way this one turned out. I textured the slab of clay and then let in dry on the dowel I made from a rolled up magazine with saran wrap wrapped around it. I just estimated the thickness because the PMC will shrink when fired. It really came out great!

another attempt

I worked all day today trying to make a mezzuzah out of bronze clay. I have come up with this, which, in it's present state looks pretty good, but I have to say I am not confident. It's not that the bronze clay is difficult (OK it is, the shrinking and the cracks), but I think that the face that a mezzuzah is long and narrow to fit a scroll, makes it difficult to build in this medium.

I will let it dry and fire it tomorrow. I show you what happens, but even with the advice from many books and Kate McKinnon, I just don't know. I do love the bronze, the color and the weight. But I also wish I could make a couple of mezzuzot in silver, which I know works well. It's just that without knowing for sure I can sell them, I can't justify spending all that money. Do you know anyone who will buy a mezzuzah from an unknown artist for $200?

happy new year

In honor of the upcoming Rosh Hashana holiday I am posting my "rocking" Jewish star necklace, which I created from PMC (silver). I've been wearing it alot recently and have gotten a lot of positive comments on it. Initially, I wasn't that happy with the design, but it's definitely growing on me. I think I will continue to develop this motif. I am also working on my next PMC project with will be a mezzuzah cover inspired by the Little Tower necklace.