“This is a monumental year for me. I will be cycling 3,000 miles across the United States, celebrating my 65th birthday in July and my 45th wedding anniversary in September.  We will be cycling the northern route crossing Washington, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, ending in Niagra Falls, Canada.

This is also the tenth year that I have cycled for leukemia and lymphoma and the first year that I will be cycling for Parkinson’s.  My brother Michael was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease a few years ago and I have seen this disease manifest itself. It is scary to know that Michael and another close relative has the same disease.  It is entirely possible that I or any of my children could also be afflicted.  For this reason, I need to support both organizations to raise funds to eradicate these diseases, if not in my lifetime, than in the lifetime of my grandchildren.”

We are blown away by Susan’s efforts and by her beautiful designs! To support Susan’s worthwhile cause, Jewish Gift Place will donate $5.00 from every purchase of Susan Fullenbaum’s Judaica collection to sponsor her ride across the country for Parkinson’s Disease, Leukemia and Lymphoma through August 31, 2010. It’s a win-win purchase! Follow Susan’s courageous journey across the United States in her travel blog at http://bikersusan.blogspot.com/

Check out these and other beautiful pieces of Susan Fullenbaum’s artwork at Jewish Gift Place!

This new collection includes Jewish mugs, as well as mugs that can be personalized with a name or phrase! The Jewish mugs are engraved with really fun phrases like “Chai Maintenance,” “Oy Vey,” and “Bubbie” – perfect as gift for a Jewish mother or Jewish grandmother who loves her morning coffee!  The 20 oz. handmade pottery mugs are made in Northeastern Pennsylvania by artist JoAnne Stratakos. These substantial and gorgeous pottery mugs are great for gift giving.  Decorative, and extremely functional, these pottery coffee mugs are dishwasher safe and microwaveable.

If you have an occasion coming up for a guy or gal and just have no clue what to get them, these mugs make the perfect gift.

I am giving/have given these mugs for the following occasions:

• Mother’s Day
• Father’s Day
• Birthdays
• Teacher’s end-of-year gift

The mugs come with a choice of flowers for $25,  or you can get a personalized mug for $30.  I know, from giving out a bunch of these this past weekend for Mother’s Day, people LOVE this gift!  You can also give the pottery mugs as gifts for Administrative Professional Day (which just passed), Hanukkah, or a housewarming gift.

Although I love all crafty things, I have a special place in my heart for pottery.  For years I did pottery.  I took classes and then just did studio time creating pieces that I use every day in my house.  I made a set of dinner plates, salad plates, small bowls, and soup bowls.  I made several big bowls for pasta and an even bigger bowl for fruit.

I think one of the most challenging pieces I’ve made are mugs, which is why I do NOT have a set of mugs in the house.  Unlike all the other pieces, there are 2 parts to the mug – the mug and the handle, which has to be joined very well into the main mug.  I don’t remember exactly why I gave up on mugs, but I just didn’t get good at it.  Maybe I’ll take a picture and show you a really ugly (but clever!) mug that I created.  I cut off about 1/2″ from the top rim of the mug, but left a piece attached, then swirled it over the edge and created a handle out of it. (Update – I found the mugs  I made and took photos – see below.)

Making any kind of pottery by hand is a big job, and although I’m sure JoAnn can throw (that’s the term used in pottery for making things) mugs pretty quickly, these are the steps that I used to make a piece:

• kneed the clay to get all the air bubbles out
• center the clay on the wheel and throw the mug
• hand-build the handle and join it to the mug
• let the piece air dry
• finish the piece on the bottom and smooth it all out
• fire the piece once
• glaze the piece
• fire the piece again

I love these pottery mugs and I’m sure you will too!

Here are photos of the mugs that I made 13 years ago and detailed photos of that mug I was talking about above – the wacky (but clever!) one never seen before!

Risa's Handmade Pottery Mugs

THE UGLY MUG

About 1/2" of the rim was cut almost off and flipped around to create the handle

I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing some of my own creations.  Maybe another time  I’ll show off my pottery bowls, plates, cookie jars, and pencil holders.

We asked the question, “What does Emily Rosenfeld like to do for fun?”

And she answered, “For fun, Emily likes to take walks and bike rides with her son and read to him. She also loves to cook, spend time in her garden and see friends.”

Well, everyone who entered the contest got the answer correct.  We put all the names in a hat and picked Sara.

She won this beautiful Emily Rosenfeld Hebrew/English Love  Bracelet.

Don’t miss the Interview with Emily Rosenfeld and the interviews with our other artists at Interview with the Artist.

Happy Mother’s Day!  I hope it is nice and sunny by you on Sunday.

Where do you get your inspiration?

From everything and anything. From day to day life: A random composition of food on a plate, a film I saw the other night, stuff scattered around the room, and so on. The list can be endless… But of course, above all, matter and material from which creativity becomes possible. Read the entire Ayala Bar interview.

Do I sound like a fan?  Well, I am and you will be, too, once you take a look at this amazing collection.  What I really love about Ayala Bar’s necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, is that they can be worn day or night, with just about anything.  The designs in the Ayala Bar collection can be worn to dress up jeans and a t-shirt for an incredible pop of color and flair, or with a simple cocktail dress to infuse your own personal style.  I can 100% guarantee the compliments you receive on your jewelry will be plentiful!

Whether your style is classic or hip, Ayala Bar’s Spring Collection has something that will appeal to everyone.  Many of the pieces coordinate, but surely no one can fault you if you want to mix and match.  It’s important to note that Ayala Bar limits her collection run to six months, so start choosing your favorites from this collection now.  Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth, full of color and life.  Celebrate spring, celebrate life!

High Gas Prices

With rising gas prices and all of the unusual weather we’ve been experiencing, it’s hard not to think about our impact on the natural world and about being more environmentally conscious.

‘Green’ Celebrities

For many celebrities, being “green” is the trendy thing to do and with stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz driving it home to us in their hybrid vehicles, it’s hard not to take note! But celebrities like to be both stylish and politically correct! That is why the Eduardo Milieris line of modern copper watches can be seen worn by actors on TV shows such as Sex and the City and Third Watch.

“Ethically satisfying and Fashionably Fun!”

With Eduardo Milieris’ watch designs it’s easy to be both fashion forward and environmentally conscious! This month, the fashion editor of the environmental consciousness fashion site, EcoSalon.com, remarked on Milieris’ collection of eco-friendly accessories. At EcoSalon, they believe that “style and sustainability belong in the same sentence” and that an “eco-friendly lifestyle can be both ethically satisfying and fashionably fun!”

Eduardo Milieris Watches are Eco-chic!

Green With Envy

At Jewish Gift Place, we know you want to be ‘green’ but not ‘green with envy’! So make sure you check out our new collection of beautiful, handmade copper watches from Eduardo Milieris. If you are looking for a Jewish gift or simply something to make a fashion statement, you won’t be disappointed!

Emily’s line is crafted in western Massachusetts but her journey in perfecting her craft has taken her from San Francisco to New York. Emily began her career in the jewelry industry, working for production jewelers, Lewis and Hubener. Recognizing her eye for making beautiful pieces and her love of the craft, she decided to try her hand at her own business. She started small, running her business out of a Murphy bed closet! It was not long before her talents were recognized by the artistic community. Today, her home in the countryside of Florence, Massachusetts inspires her love of nature and this is a common theme that runs throughout her work. Emily says, “I feel continually inspired to develop new designs and play with new materials and techniques.”

Emily’s work is lovingly designed with the vision of an artist. Each design starts off as a drawing which is worked without editing until Emily achieves a form she wants to bring to life. A model is then crafted and finally cast in pewter. Emily’s preference towards using pewter is an expression of her desire that her work be valued not for the materials used, but for the joy and strength that she pours into each piece. Jewish Gift Place has recently added Emily Rosenfeld’s Judaica collection and we have received great attention from our customers! Her pieces have been extremely popular after only a short time on our site. We carry the full line of Emily’s judaica, which includes many unique mezuzot, jewelry including earrings, necklaces and bracelets, kiddish cups, tzedakah boxes and dreidel. Emily puts heart and thought into each piece and each is unique and inspirational. Each design incorporates the letter Shin which is part of God’s name. These whimsical items both continue and reinterpret the tradition, making a lovely gift to pass on for a wedding or bar mitzvah. Emily’s love for her work is palpable in the striking pewter pieces she creates and that is transferred to anyone who owns a piece. Emily shares, “Making my work makes me very happy; I hope owning it brings a measure of joy as well.”

I visited with the artists whose work I already carry, and bought incredible items from at least 6 more artists.

Below are some photos that I took at the show.

Ann Rosenthal (Gary’s Mom), Risa Borsykowsky, & Gary Rosenthal

Cynthia Gale and Risa Borsykowsky

Risa Borsykowsky and Steven Bronstein of Blackthorne Forge

Jacob Javits Convention Center

I am very very excited to be adding the following artists to the collection of handmade Judaica at Jewish Gift Place (coming soon):

• Edward Cohen – Ed makes the most beautiful wooden mezuzahs with the grain from the trees made in Massachusetts
• Ester Shahaf – Enamel and crystal Star of David necklaces and hamsa necklaces made in Israel
• Tel Megiddo Jewelry – Star of David and Chai necklaces made in Israel
• Yossi Steinberg – Bright enamel necklaces and mezuzahs made in Israel
• Emily Rosenfeld – Pewter mezuzahs and silver jewelry handmade in Massachusetts
• Neta Fine Art Jewelry – Incredible jewelry handmade in Israel
• Shamay & Benlulu Jewelry – Star and David pendants and jewelry handmade in Israel

AND, I’ve ordered more incredible items from the original Jewish Gift Place artists:

• Gary Rosenthal – look for an amazing wedding glass Seder plate and more new Passover 2008 items
• Michael Bromberg – look for a Jewish charm necklace and a few mezuzah necklaces
• Michal Golan – look for more hamsas, Star of David necklaces, and the rest of her collection
• Seeka - look for more of their mezuzahs, necklaces, tzedekah boxes, dreidels, and menorahs
• Steve Bronstein of Blackthorne Forge – he makes the most incredible iron Seder plates!
• Cynthia Gale – The pieces she has designed for the Jewish Museum are really incredible and has the nicest men’s Star of David necklaces I’ve seen.

Thank you to all of the customers who have visited since I’ve launched Jewish Gift Place in May 2007. The website is growing quickly with all of the new Judaica that I am representing.