Mmm. Mmm. Menorah Greener than Wine!

Okay, if you are a regular follower of JudaicaJournal (which I know has been less regular than it had been initially), you know that I love artists whose art is inspired by reuse or upcycling. I happened upon Stil Novo Design, a California based family business today while perusing another blog. I actually was admiring a chair they created before I happened upon their Chanukiot. Each of these one of a kind Chanukah Menorahs are created from recycled wine caskets and barrels. What a lovely way to reuse something which we often reap the rewards of and then is discarded.

On the Sixth Day of Chanukah

My bubbe gave to me

Six cards a'greeting...

(Finally, back to the Chanukah Gift Guide).

Israel's TamarHammer starts us out with this colorful pair of Chanukah cards.

From CardsbyJenna is this layered Menorah Card... Quite nice.

Do you have a loved one who moved from the cold white north and whose Chanukah no longer is "blessed" with snow. What a great card from StudioLolo2 to send that poor warm soul!





Do you have a friend who takes life too seriously... don't you think they need this Chanukah Cod?

I found this lovely (and rather masculine) card on a scrapbooking website. It was designed by Debby, a Fin who moved to Israel in 1984. Sadly, it is not for sale (I certainly would treasure it).

And finally this lovely flickr find from Shayla Anthony.

On the Second Night of Chanukah

My bubbe gave to me TWO CANDLESTICKS!!!!From the mosaic art of Ariel Hirshfeld an artist living in the Golan Heights. Take a minute to read his bio.



(Okay, it is really four candlesticks, but it is two pair). This pair is from Vanessa Grubbs, who apparently lives a stone's throw from me. Her ceramics are so colorful you cannot help but smile and feel that your day (or Shabbat) will be brightened.

On the first day of Chanukah

My bubbe gave to me

SOME MATCHES IN A PRETTY BOX

From the folding fingers of mother and Origami artist "Shut up and Fold" (glad she has a hobby).

10-26-08 Addendum: I heard from Maggie the artist:

Toby
Thank you so much! I love it!
Bubbe would "What you do that for..."
Even though I'm Chinese, we grew up in a Jewish neighborhood. The old (childless) couple next door took care of us while Mom worked. We grew up eating matzo, touching the Mezuzah, lighting candles on the Menorah and drinking Mogan David.
-Maggie

Chanukah Gift Guide and fun from JJ

Beginning today... and for the following seven work days, I will be presenting

The Eight Days of Chanukah

Be sure to click on the picks to see where you can purchase one of these special items.

And if you are an artist who thinks I forgot you or neglected you, please know it is not true... I could only pick a limited number of pieces.

S.O.S. Support our School

My two boys attend a local public charter school. It is a wonderful school with a very enthusiastic staff and an active Parent Teacher Association. Our students come from many walks of life. Some children come from very affluent homes. Others are the children of migrant workers who have just settled in Atlanta.

Annually we do a fundraiser- we sell Sally Foster Gift Wrap and Gifts. The fundraiser brings an expansive arts program to our school, exposing our kids to Literature, Photography, Visual Arts, Film/Video Production, Musical Composition
and Dance/Choreography.


Our school earns 50% of every sale. So stock up on some gift wrap for every day (I must tell you that it is the best paper I have ever bought) and don't for get the Chanukah Wrap.

Go to Sally Foster.com


When you are ready to check out it will ask for SELLER... please put it in the number 275195 so our school, Dunwoody Springs Charter, gets the credit. So after Shabbat this weekend, do some Tzedakah and buy some paper (or a some chocolate). It will come to your home directly!

P.S. I will be peddling peanuts for the Cubscouts soon so don't put your credit card away yet!

WOOD you say "CHANUKAH?"

Harvey Buchalter is an Alberquerque, New Mexico sculptor. His wooden menorah spells out chanukah... He is another artist whose presence on the internet leaves something to be desired. His work however, speaks for itself.

Have you ever considered making your own Menorah? If you do, why not send me pictures of it... I would love to feature it/you on Judaica Journal. Any medium will do... let your creativity soar! But please remember to make it fire safe!

Chanukah ends even in June

Dina Bilch is another ceramacist. She created this Rachel chanukiah which will utilize oil, rather than candles. Dina is a graduate of the department of Ceramic Design at the Bezalel Academy of Art (which seems to put out so many talented artists, have you noticed?)

Chanukah in June...

I have Chanukah on the Brain, I mean Blog this week.

I love the feeling of summer that this Chanukiah evokes... Can't you imagine sitting under a lush palm tree at your personal oasis, eating warm latkes with fresh applesauce...? This ceramic Chanukiah was created by Sygalle G.L.

Sygalle is an artist who lives and works in Israel and has been working with ceramics since 1991.

She was born in Jerusalem, and was raised in Eilat near the Red Sea. After studying in Bezalel Academy of Arts in Jerusalem, Sygalle moved to Zichron Ya'akov, where she opened her own studio and gallery.

Sygalle is influenced by Israel's strong light and vivid colors, it's landscapes and views, archeological finds in the area and from Jewish history.

Sygalle's intimate relationship with white clay has led her to experiment and develop a new ceramic Batik-like technique.
Using her own multi-layer glazing technique, she has influenced the colors, giving them new hues and depths, while creating textures which are similar to Batik.

Sygalle has participated in both local and international exhibitions and exhibits her work in her private gallery.

12 tribes, 9 candles, 8 days, 1 artist

I am well aware that we are no where near Channukah, but this Channukiah made by Lynn Rae Lowe which represents the 12 Tribes is perfect for this week's parsha which divided the land between the tribes. Ms. Lowe says "The artist Kandinsky wrote a wonderful book called Concerning the Spiritual in Art. In it, he basically says that the artist is a very blessed soul, and that each one has a responsibility to return his or her gift to society. Like all of these artists, I'm returning the gift that I have in the best way that I can." What a wonderful way to approach life and work!