Why I am loving the recession

1. It has forced me to stop and think! In the last few years my business has gained a momentum of its own, with a flow of orders coming in without too much effort. Now, with this new quiet period, I have time to decide what direction I want my business to go in right now.
2. I’ve had time to have one on one sessions with a business consultant, (which has been like therapy for the business part of my brain.) I live in my work, and through my work, so having someone help me untangle my thoughts has been very calming and even enlightening.
3. The recession made me rethink my online presence, and I spent the good part of my studio time remaking my website, and setting up social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.
4. I have started designing in a more practical fashion. Instead of coming up with an image or a concept and then finding the methods or technology to translate it into a piece of contemporary designer Judaica, I am starting from the materials up. My research has lead me to glass tubes, magnets, pre-polished stainless steel and photographs from my travel abroad.

5. I’ve conquered my fear of designing on the computer by taking lessons in design programs Photoshop and Indesign, and I love it so much sometimes actually laugh out loud in the lessons. Not very cool, but fantastic to get such pleasure from my work.
6. I am getting close to the final stage of 2 collections – a range of colourful mezuzahs using photography and graphic design elements and a set of modern Hanukkah menorahs that you can pull apart and put together in various different ways – something for the kid in you.