Modern Handcrafted Jewish Gifts and Judaica Art

New Saturn menorah and Dreidel Set

2011-12-01T11:42:00.012+02:00

To quote an architect’s reaction about my new design;
“Dreidels and Menorahs, they go together like bagel and lox.”

I used my signature theme of Saturn’s ring and created a Saturn menorah that you can use by itself or combine it with any of my four dreidel designs. I designed a transparent base to showcase the pieces together so that the dreidel magically looks like it is floating inside the menorah. I think it gives a fresh new look to my dreidels, which are one of my favorite designs.

The magnetic candle holders can be moved so the menorah has a different look every night.

See the design on my website http://www.lauracowan.com/jewish-gifts/menorah-dreidel-set.html

Best wishes for a bright and light Hannukah,

Laura

P.S. Want to hang out with me on Facebook? Like my page www.facebook.com/ModernJewishGifts

Saturn Menorah with Turquiose Dreidel

Saturn Menorah with Smart Dreidel

Steel Dreidel

Smart Dreidel

Lazy salad

2011-11-29T16:30:00.001+02:00

Now you've got your pomegranate seeds, make my favorite lazy salad, that has very short prep time.
Just throw in bowl;
1. Bought ready washed lettuce leaves.
2. Bought ready grated carrot.
3. Chopped avocado.
4. Pomegranate seeds.
5. Pine nuts ( lightly toast them in a dry saucepan first)
6. Any slightly sweet dressing, I like balsamic vinegar and honey.

How to remove the seeds from a pomegranate

2011-11-28T10:14:00.002+02:00

How to get the seeds out of a pomegranate without staining your hands, clothes and the whole kitchen?

First cut a very thin slice off the top of the pomegranate, thin enough that you do not cut the seeds. Using a spoon, remove a little of the center core. Score 4 thin vertical lines around the pomegranate with a knife.

Place the whole fruit in a large bowl of cold water. Put your thumbs in the center and gently pull apart the sections. Peel away some of the white skin. Now continue removing the white skin and pulling part small sections until all the seeds are free. The seeds will sink to the bottom of the bowl and any white skin will float to the to of the bowl. With the sieve, remove the skin floating on top. Then pour the water and the seeds through the sieve, and there you have it.

Jewish Mom in Denial

2011-05-29T10:31:00.010+03:00

After 6 years of denial I have come to the realization that I am not just Laura Cowan, innovative contemporary designer, a determined Judaica artist who doesn't care what people think and always says what she means.

I am, in fact Laura Cowan Jewish Mom.

I'm a stressed out, over stretched, sleep deprived school run mom just like millions of others.

I have a dream that by the time my youngest is in school (I have three kids, 6, 3 and 1), I'll have more time for gallery openings and undisturbed designing and less preoccupied with how to occupy three little ones while I get the dinner on, supervise homework and make play dough monsters.

Wonder if there's any future in Judaica made from play dough monsters? Perhaps for the 10 plagues of Passover or the bad guys at Purim. Hmm....

Ashkenazi alert!

2011-04-04T10:20:00.004+03:00

Yes, the only people that would think of making a jam out of a beetroot. One spoon of this sends me right back to my childhood.
My Grandma’s jam was legendary, and she used to make jars and jars. I would have thick layers of it on matza for breakfast and eat it out of the jar when no one was looking. If you haven’t tasted it before I can imagine your hesitation, but it’s amazing. Cinnamon, lemon and ginger give it this fantastic sweet and spicy kick. The secret is to slow cook it until all the redness is gone, and it becomes brown and sweet.
Here’s the recipe, courtesy of Jewish cooking heroine Evelyn Rose. You need to start the preparations a day in advance. Yes, it’s time consuming. And it stains your hands. And your clothes. It’s a labor of love.

Eingemachts
2.25 kg (5 lb) uncooked beetroot (beets)
1.8 kg (4 lb/9 cups) granulated sugar
3 large lemons, peeled and segmented like an orange
175 g (6oz/1.5 cups) split almonds (traditional, but I leave them out)
3- 4 tbsp ground ginger (I add loads more, but I like it SPICY!)
2 tsp cinnamon

This makes 7 jars; I usually halve the amount, because unfortunately my kids just don’t understand this delicacy!

1. Boil the uncooked beetroot in water to cover for 1 hours, then cool and skin.
2. Cut the cooked beetroot into 1 cm (3/8 inch) wide and 2.5 cm (1-2 inch) long, or use the julienne cutter on a food processor)
3. Put into a large bowl with the sugar. Mix well and leave overnight.
4. Next day, put the sugar/beetroot mixture into a very large, heavy pan, together with the lemon segments
5. Bring to the boil, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved. Then leave to bubble over a low heat, stirring occasionally, for at least 3 hours, until the mixture loses the redness and the beetroot becomes translucent and starts to turn brown.
6. Finally add the almonds and the ginger. Taste and add more ginger if you like.
7. Bubble for another 15 minutes
8. Sterilize 7 jam jars. The easiest way to do this is to run them through the dishwasher on the highest setting.
9. Fill with the jam and screw on the lids

Let me know how you got on!

How is this Seder different from all other Seders?

2011-04-03T14:20:00.009+03:00

When I grew up we had a very traditional Seder night. It was the highlight of the year for my Grandpa and he read and sung every word of the Hagada with such intensity and vibrancy, that I’ve been looking for a Seder like it ever since then. Every year my Grandma used to say with a smile on her face, “David, not so loud, you’ll disturb the neighbours”. He also led a Seder night in the barracks during his service in the Second World War. I wish he could have seen my Pesach Seder Plates too.

I’m hosting this year so I asked around to find out how I can make it more interesting for my children. Roni, my creative and talented assistant told me that the highlight of their Seder is the 10 Plagues. Rather than just read them out and dip the finger in the wine, they actually recreate each one.

For example for Dam (blood) the kids squeeze ketchup on their plates, for Barad (hail) Roni throws hundreds of polystyrene balls up in the air. And, my favourite, for Hoshech (darkness) she turns all the lights off and gives all the children stick lights!

I am going to adopt those traditions this year. Not sure what my Grandpa would make of it...If you have any interesting old or new traditions I'd love it hear about them, please comment in the box below.

Wishing you a great holiday whether you celebrate in a traditional or non-traditional manner.

Laura

Laura Cowan Group Buy Coupon!

2011-03-31T10:39:00.010+02:00

Shalom,

I don't know about you but in the studio we are always checking out the group buy coupons that arrive in our inbox every morning.

So we have decided to offer our own Laura Cowan Group Buy Coupon!

Spend just $50 for $110 worth of Laura Cowan Judaica

Use it to buy my Moon Seder Plate in time for Pesach, or perhaps you have a wedding coming up this summer.

How to buy - just click on this link Laura Cowan Group Buy Coupon and follow the instructions!

Here's the small print;
1. One week to buy (ends April 7th 2011)
2. Coupon expires July 31st 2011
3. We need a minimum of 20 participants to make this offer happen - so dont forget to tell your friends!
4. Limit of 1 coupon per customer
5. Your coupon will be sent to you by email and regular mail

Let your friends know so we can get the full 20 participants to make this offer happen!

Hag Sameach,

Laura

How to clean the wax off your Chanukah Menorah

2010-12-12T09:22:00.002+02:00

One of my favourite customers sent me this email, I thought I'd share it with you.

Hi Laura
Hope you are well. I have one of your lovely Cone Hanukka Menorahs that Greg bought me for my wedding. It's the one with all the colourful cones. I was wondering how to clean all the wax off it - any tips?
Thanks
Alexis

Hi Alexis.
Lovely to hear from you. The best way is to heat the wax with a hair dryer and clean it off with a kitchen towel and use Q-tips (ear buds) if you need to get into the candle bits. Or you can put it in the sink and pour boiling water over it, the wax should just pop out of the candle holders, but it can get a bit messy.
The most important thing is not to attack it with a knife! It could scratch the finish.
Laura

Hi Laura
That's brilliant - thanks. All done and looks like new!
Shabbat Shalom
Alexis
x

Quick note - If you have one of my stainless steel magnetic menorahs, the best way to shine up the base is with regular vinegar (this also works for fridge doors, and is much more efficient and cheaper than any special steel cleaner!)

How to make Chocolate Brownies

2010-10-07T15:21:00.005+02:00

Just made really good chocolate brownies with Lia. The "secret" ingredient is raw tehina. This is a staple in the average Israeli fridge, not sure how easy it is to find elsewhere. Here's the recipe, it's really easy. Sorry for the grams and celsius dear Americans! Here's how to make chocolate brownies, with a taste of Israel.

Ingredients

100 g 60% dark chocolate
100 g butter
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
Splash of milk
1 tbsp tehina (more if you like it)
1 heaped tsp cocoa
Chocolate chips for decoration.

Method

Melt the chocolate with the butter in a bowl over a saucepan if hot water (bain marie) Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the rest of the ingredients.
Pour into a medium sized lined tin and sprinkle with chocolate chips.
Bake for 18 mins at 180 celcius

June 25% Jewish Wedding Gifts Discount!

2010-06-07T12:13:00.002+03:00

June is for weddings and I’m experiencing wedding fever in the studio this month!
I know many of you buy my designs as jewish wedding gifts, and as a show of appreciation I’d like to offer you a 25% discount for the next 2 weeks.

In order to receive your discount just write “Wedding Discount” in the comment box that pops up when you follow the Buy Now buttons on my website http://www.lauracowan.com/
To complete my wedding offer I’d like to offer complementary gift wrapping and card.

I’ll also be delighted if you use the discount for any design you have had your eye on for a while for yourself!
Look forward to hearing from you!

Laura

These elegant and original Shabbat Candlesticks make a great Jewish wedding gift for a newly married Jewish couple

Mezuzahs in Space

2010-05-02T11:28:00.009+03:00

You may remember that last year the American astronaut Greg Chamitoff took two of my rocket shaped mezuzahs, the Apollo and the Shuttle on a NASA expedition to the International Space Station. Since astronauts only get to travel with a small amount of possessions, I was flattered that 2 were my mezuzahs!

As the mezuzahs travelled to space, the story travelled round the world, appearing in newspapers from New York to Moscow, Israel to France, and of course on the web. I was interviewed on Israeli radio and a news crew from the Israeli/ Russian RTV news team even came and filmed me working in the studio.

I heard from Greg recently and he was kind enough to send me this picture of my Shuttle mezuzah (side view) floating in zero gravity!

What a view!

Here's a closer view of the two mezuzahs

Pesach Give Away - Win an Image Mezuzah

2010-03-24T11:38:00.003+02:00

Pesach Giveaway!

Take part in a lottery to win one of my latest designs - a modern Image Mezuzah.

I created this modern mezuzah range using my private collection of travel photographs and original graphic designs, including:

A stunning Bocas Del Toro seascape

An ancient Thai ceiling painting

An image of a mezuzah scroll

All you have to do is comment below telling me what is your favourite piece of Laura Cowan Judaica and send me an email to info@lauracowan.com (so that I will be able to notify you if you are the winner)

At the end of the week I'll pick all the names out of a hat and announce the winner.

Good luck everyone and Hag Sameach.

Splash Dreidels - a Hanukkah Dreidels craft project for kids

2009-12-06T21:38:00.002+02:00

Splash Dreidels - a Hanukkah craft project for kids.
Not messy, just looks it, appeals to toddlers.

(Also called Jackson Pollack drip technique dreidels for the more sophisticated budding artist)

You’ll need;

A shoe box
Scotch tape
A dreidel (the flat type that looks like a disc with a handle)
Paint – any type as long as it’s runny. The best is gouache or poster paint in a squeezy tube.
Plain Paper
A compass
Small blob of modeling clay (plasticine)
Sharp pencil
Scissors
Glitter (optional)
Lots of newspaper
Sense of humor in case it goes wrong and does get messy (don’t blame me!)

Method

1. Cut a large window in the top of the shoe box lid (about 6 inch by 6 inch - big enough to get a dreidel in and out)
2. Tape the lid on to the bottom part of the box
3. Using a compass, mark out about 10 discs the same size as the dreidel‘s diameter on some plain paper. Mark the centre point too.
4. Cut out the discs.
5. Make a central hole. The best way to do this is to place the hanukkah dreidel on a piece of modeling clay and poke a sharp pencil through it.
6. Place the paper disc over the handle of the dreidel.
7. Put the dreidel in the shoe box.
8. Spin it.
9. Dribble paint onto the hanukkah dreidel while its spinning
10. Experiment with different speeds, colors and paints.
11. If you are using glitter, sprinkle it on while the paint is still wet.
12. Remove the disc and place it (out of the way of little hands) to dry, preferably over night.
13. What to do with the discs – We used them to make a centipede collage. If you are crafty, you can use thicker card and small pencils to make new dreidels. Try using a small marker pen as a handle with the tip pointing down and spin it with the lid off – it make s a lovely pattern on the paper.

Happy Crafty Hanukkah!

How I made my Modern Magnetic Hanukkah Menorahs

2009-12-01T12:01:00.013+02:00

I’m proud and relieved that I finally got my new Magnetic Menorahs out before Hanukkah. I started designing them way back in January, but there were many stumbling blocks along the way.
Instead of my usual way of working - coming up with a visual concept and translating it into 3D materials that express a Jewish ritual function, my brief was “Design an affordable Judaica product that would succeed in this recession driven economy.”
I wanted to combine simple materials – tubes, steel and magnets.
It was one of those projects that was supposed to be really easy, or so I thought…
The first menorah I designed was a large wave of steel, with candleholders magnetized to the sides. But on testing it got boiling hot, the magnets kept jumping together and the wax melted into a big gloopy mass.
I was using super strong neodymium diametrically magnetized (side attraction) magnets which kept jumping together. So I adapted the menorah design, made two tracks of steel (also attached with magnets) with the candleholders on top, changed the magnets to axially magnetized (vertical attraction) and created the Modern Slide Menorah. The advantage it has over my original hanukkah menorah design, apart from all the practical concerns, is that the magnets glide really beautifully along the tracks.

The next channukah menorah design in the range was to be simple and compact, perfect for travelling. For the Modern Travel Menorah I wanted a steel base with magnetic candleholders. But the supposedly pre-polished bases had to be professionally polished to prevent sharp edges, and then at the request of several of the Judaica gift stores that I work with, I had to source protective stickers to put on the bases to prevent the bases from getting scratched. It should have also been easy, but when test driven, the first 5 samples didn’t stick, they slid around or left sticky snail trails on the menorah base. Roni (my silversmith and production assistant) and I took it in turns to rip out our hair.
Eventually I had a consultation with 2 manufacturing experts and one business advisor (as well as my other trusty advisers – husband and brother), found 3 specialist sticker manufacturers, tested 7 different types of stickers and finally found the right ones for my new menorahs.

I was almost ready to release the two new modern menorah designs, when I looked at my desk and realized that my sample pieces were holding my Post-its, paper clips, pens, stamps and business cards - in fact anything and everything that was on my desk. I thought it would be a perfect gift idea for a Chanukiah that could be in use all year round and so the Modern Transformer Menorah was created.

The whole process (which I had to fit in with running the rest of my Jewish gifts business as usual) took almost a year, and I was worried I wouldn’t get the pieces out in time for Hannukah 2009. But by what must have been my own personal miracle of Hannukah, all the technical problems were resolved 2 weeks ago, and I’ve been blessed with a great response, even selling out and having to quickly restock after the first week. Happy Chanukah!

P.S. I’ve made commenting on this page easier and there’s no need to give your email address, so I’d love to hear from you! Click here to see the new Chanukah menorah designs!

Looking back at the year - תשס"ט

2009-09-16T11:50:00.009+03:00

Things I am grateful for ;

Knowing what I want
I feel blessed that I know what I want and that I love to create, so much that it can make me laugh out loud, dance for joy or hug my staff.

My kids
Fortunate to have two funny, smart, silly, driving me crazy half the time, loving, healthy children (that now let me sleep at night, hurrah!)

My new staff
Kandi, my office manager and Roni, my silversmith have taken all the pressure off my work, so I am able to dedicate my time to my favourite parts - design, creation and contact with clients. So if you are in the Neve Tsedek neighbourhood come in and say hello!

My iphone
If you have one then I don’t need to describe the joy. If you don’t, go and get one!

My business advisor - Haim
Haim has the answer to every question I ask. Sometimes a direct answer, sometimes spiritual and sometimes he makes me find the answer, but there is always an answer. It’s like therapy.

My family
I am lucky to have a close and supportive family –husband, brothers, mum as well as great in laws, whom always have my back.

Things I wish I could have changed

Mobile phone bill
In the thousands, after foolishly surfing the internet abroad on my iphone

Waiting at home…
…. for my husband Mickey to return from the war in Gaza

Recession
Like the whole business world, the Judaica field has slowed down this year, so I have been forced to change my design strategies to create less expensive products (Hannukah Menorahs and Mezuzot that should be ready in a couple of weeks)

Wish
Gilad Shalit could be at home with his family for Rosh Hashanah

Here’s to a happy, healthy, creative and inspiring תש"ע

Something I didn't know about mezuzah scrolls

2009-07-06T15:07:00.006+03:00

I am currently researching a new design for a mezuzah, where I will put an image of the scroll on the outside of the mezuzah.

As usual, I surf the Chabad, Aish and “Ask the Rabbi” websites looking for information to make sure that all my designs follow halachic rules and respect unwritten traditions. I'm sure they're all experts in their knowledge of mezuzah scrolls.

It always amuses me when I click the "Ask the Rabbi" button. I envision a crack team of top Rabbi’s twirling their payot, waiting for a message to ping up on the computer.

This reminds me of the haredi men on bicycles (this seems to be a popular occurrence in the Sheinkin area of Tel Aviv, one of the few areas where ultra religious and ultra secular Jews seem to happily coexist.

This time I am asking if there are any restrictions on displaying an image of a mezuzah scroll on the outside of the case, and I am waiting to hear back.

I always have a quick look to see what other people are asking –

Q. Is it ok for a Rabbi to buy a German car when many of his congregation are shoah survivors?
A. Best not
Q. Do I need a mezuzah on a nanny’s room?
A. Yes and No (classic Jewish answer)
Q. Is one permitted to study a Hebrew textbook that does not contain Torah in the bathroom if ones primary intention in for the sake of learning Torah?
A. As long as it is not Torah you can learn it in the Bathroom.

And something that in my line of work I really should have known…

Q. What is the meaning of the words on back of Mezuzah scrolls?

A. The three words at the bottom of the Mezuzah on the outer side of the parchment are "Cuzu B'mucsz Cuzu" -- an altered form of the phrase "Hashem Elokeinu Hashem." It is actually a form of Gematria (Numerology) where each letter is "raised" to its next letter. Thus, an Alef becomes a Bet, and a Bet becomes Gimel, etc. Rav Moshe Isserlis quotes the Hagahot Maimoni as the source for this custom. It is "only" a custom -- a Mezuzah without these words is still considered valid.

Why I am loving the recession

2009-05-11T13:18:00.010+03:00

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.

Mezuzah Love

2009-04-28T11:12:00.010+03:00

I am designing a mezuzah (based on the above image) that has LOVE on it in many languages

I need to check that I have the right words (must be the noun)

So far I have got

French - Amour
German - Liebe
Italian - Amore
Spanish - Amor
Hebrew - Ahava אהבה
Swedish - KÄRLEK
Danish - Kærlighed
Dutch - liefhebben
Polish - miłość
Japanese - 愛???
Chinese traditional ??? - 愛???
Chinese simplified - 恋
Russian - Купидон
Yiddish - Libn

If one of these is your native language can you confirm that I have got the correct word?
Google linguistics is giving me the same word/symbol for Japanese and Chinese...

And if you have anymore to add please contact me info@lauracowan.com

Thanks!
Laura

Twitter, Facebook and the Exodus

2009-04-01T10:10:00.004+03:00

Is it me or is Twitter a load of old rubbish?

I’ve tried, but I really don’t get it.

I’ve followed Madonna, Barak Obama, Britney Spears (embarrassing, I know, I deleted her quickly), Martha Stewart, Stephen Fry (British comedian) and several friends.

Whenever I tell my friends that I can’t see the point they say, oooh, you must follow so and so, then you will see why it’s so good. But I still haven’t found anyone worth following.

Twitters don’t seem to filter their thoughts, so you just hear the ongoing babble in their head, which makes me realize that it’s a very good thing that we can’t read people’s minds.

That’s not to say I don’t love social networking on the internet. I am big fan of Facebook. Since I moved to Israel 13 years ago, I have missed that day to day contact with my friends from home, and now I can see what’s going on in their status updates and pics.

If you like Facebook too you will want to see this funny link. I came across is when I was googling Pesach and Passover for research for new Judaica designs.

The story of the Exodus as told on Facebook, check it out;
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=65010297492&h=7eML9&u=lgrV4&ref=nf

Really Good Carrot Cake

2009-03-27T12:01:00.010+03:00

This cake is my new best friend.

It brought me my 15 minutes of fame at my son Max’s kindergarden bring and buy sale.
People actually said “Ooooh” and “Wooooow” when I walked in with it and I was elevated to celebrity status!
I’ve never been so popular and even strangers were asking me for the recipe.
Now I just have to work out how to keep it up the façade of master baker. (Michal, send me more recipes ASAP)
Here’s the recipe - let me know how it works out for you….

Really Good Carrot Cake (that’s a bit orangey)

Ingredients

Cake
1 cup vegetable oil
½ cup unsweetened apple sauce (you can use more oil if you can’t get this)
2/3 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
2/3 cup sugar
4 large eggs
1/3 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 cup plain flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups finely grated peeled carrots

Frosting
100g/4 oz unsalted butter (room temperature)
1 package cream cheese (220 g/ 8 ounce) Philadelphia is good. Best if room temperature otherwise it doesn’t blend well
2 tablespoons orange juice
2 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon orange zest

Preparation
For cake: Preheat oven to 160°c / 325°F. Lightly butter a large cake tin. Line bottom with baking paper; butter paper. Mix oil, apple sauce and both sugars in blender. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in orange juice and zest. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt - beat to blend. Stir in carrots.
Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until knife inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Transfer tin to rack. Cool cake 15 minutes. Turn cake out onto rack. Remove waxed paper and cool.
For Frosting: Blend cream cheese and butter until light. Beat in orange juice and orange peel. Add sugar; beat until smooth. Spread frosting using spatula in thick decorative swirls over top and side of cake.
Cake can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.

Enjoy!
Laura

You know you have become an Israeli when

2009-03-24T12:58:00.008+02:00

You know you have become an Israeli when

1. You can say כפרה עליך (capara alecha) and not sound ridiculous
2. Taxi drivers stop charging you double tourist rates
3. Your kids eat olives for breakfast
4. You can sms in Hebrew
5. You know the right way to ask for directions is not to say, “Excuse me, please can you tell the best way to get to the Ayalon” but to wind your window down and shout “Ayalon???”
6. You can say לך לקיבינימט (lech lkebinimat) and get away with it
7. Your old friends from home think you are the rudest person they have ever met
8. You turn up for wedding just as the bride is walking down the aisle. Then proceed to smoke, drink and make phone calls while they get married.
9. You live in the artist quarter of Neve Tzedek

Tel Aviv - Insider Tips

2009-03-22T09:56:00.028+02:00

Take a look at some of my favourite corners of Tel Aviv. Real life at its best.

Best Humous
Abu Hassan in the Old City of Jaffa – get there early, they close when the big bowl of humous is finished (usually early afternoon) All the staff from Galai Tsahal (Army Radio) eat there because there studio is just round the corner. Also try the masabacha – a kind of hot spicy humous which you eat with chunks of onion. The masabacha is so strongly flavored that the onion tastes like a sweet apple in comparison. Just don’t go on a date that evening. Address: 1 Dolphin St. (on the hill)

Real Life
My favorite corner is Levinsky and Nahalat Binyamin (further south than the well known Nahalat Binyamin Craft Market) Take a step back in time and see all the spices and nuts in big sacks. Stock up on saffron, cinnamon sticks, rose tea and vanilla pods.

Modern Judaica
Me! Art studio for Judaica in the Neve Tsedek quarter. I design and create contemporary Mezuzahs, Hanukkah Menorahs, Shabbat Candlesticks, Kiddush Cups and Seder Plates in stainless steel, pewter and anodized aluminum. Visitors welcome by appointment, email me at info@lauracowan.com

Modern Kiddush Cups

Restaurant (celebration)
Herbert Samuel. Fantastic food. Called tapas, but that’s because the style is small portions to share – the type of food is eclectic. The olive oil that comes with the bread is so delicious you could drink it. Cool décor but unpretentious. Excellent service. Expensive, but not prohibitively so. Herbert Samuel Street (close to Dan Panorama Hotel)

Restaurant (budget)
24 Rupee. Satisfyingly hard to find. Sit on the floor on cushions, and feel like you are backpacking. Great for small kids that can’t sit still (like mine). They only serve one main dish – tali” – which is an Indian platter – theirs includes rice, chapatti, 3 types of curry and raita. Tastes just like the real thing. Veggie. Try the chai too. 14-16 Shoken Street (Industrial part of south central Tel Aviv)

Yogurt
The new craze to hit Tel Aviv. Whipped yogurt with a wide variety of fresh fruit, nut and chocolately toppings. Try Yogo on the corner of Ahad Haam and Nahalat Binyamin. Mad queues at the weekend. Or try the newly opened Yogurt Anita on 23 Shabazi Street in Neve Tsedek. They are the sister shop to the best ice cream in town (or anywhere in fact) Anita Cafe on Shabazi 42 (corner of Pines). Home-made Italian style ice cream, all real ingredients.

Clothes
Visit the up and coming Gan Hahashmal area for young designers – very contemporary (read crumpled, unusual cuts, vintage style etc)

Airport Taxi
Another local secret - Hadar Airport Taxi 03-971-1103. These are the cheapest taxis to the airport, they are the ones that have taken fares from the airport, and rather driving back empty they pick up fares for about 20-30% cheaper than other taxis. I know they service Tel Aviv, Raanana, Herzaliya and Jerusalem, you would need to check for other towns.

New modern mezuzahs

2009-03-19T11:48:00.010+02:00

I am creating new line of new modern mezuzahs with photographic images. Do you have a snap that you are particularly proud of?
Send it to me, and if your picture is used you will win a prize.

The part of the picture that will be used is a thin strip, either 8 cm x 2 cm for the small mezuzah or 13 cm x 2 cm for the large size, so it is best if it has extremes of colour and tone – it has to make an impact in a small space.

Some good ideas would be; Israel themes - The flag, stones of the Western Wall, pomegranates in the shuk.

Nature - flowers – bold close ups, dramatic sunsets. Kids - your child’s drawing – must be colorful!

I don’t mind if your picture is highlighted, cropped or photoshopped to within an inch of its life, but I can’t use faces or people – it mustn’t look like we are praying to idols - it is a mezuzah after all!

In anticipation…
Laura

Rainbow Saturn Rings Handcrafted Mezuzah

Modern Jewish Gifts facebook page!

2009-03-19T11:45:00.008+02:00

I have set up a Facebook page for my modern Jewish gifts. You don't have to be a rock star to have one and it's a great way to keep in touch.
If you would like to become a fan please sign up at http://www.facebook.com/ModernJewishGifts and feel free to forward it to friends you think would like it!

Please also feel free to leave some feedback and let me know what you think about my unique handcrafted modern Jewish gifts!

Rainbow Rocket Modern Hanukkah Menorah

Pesach Seder Plates

2009-03-19T11:41:00.007+02:00

My Mum, Aunt and brother-in-law are all coming to stay for Pesach so I have to hide all the mess. We have a huge bed that lifts up with a compartment underneath. I am hoping to find all the guest linen in there, and in one fell swoop, ditch all the mess and rubbish that we have accumulated since last Pesach underneath it. But bed has mind of its own, and tries to close on my head with my legs sticking out. Have to use superwoman strength to lift it up...and then use conventional methods of tidying up.
Luckily the studio doesn't need a massive clear out, I am pretty good at keeping things organized at work. At the moment we are preparing Pesach Seder Plates since the festival of Passover is just around the corner.

Since it was in Bon Appétit Magazine a couple of years ago the demand for them has been amazing and it has become my best selling item. They are made from a sheet of heavy gauge aluminum. I polish it to a fine mirror finish, engrave the Seder words and then stamp the depressions with a ten ton press. Each one turns out slightly different. Then the Seder plate is repolished and signed and ready for shipping for Passover directly to my customers or to the Judaica galleries that I work with.

My new Judaica website in HTML

2009-03-17T11:31:00.016+02:00

So I am remaking my Judaica website. I've been told that while Flash is lovely for all your arty bit and bobs, it doesn't cut it with the search engines, so I have to go the HTML way. It's hard to go commercial, but this is 2009 credit crunch world recession era, so it's not the time to be fussy.

My webmaster, who is a Flash girl at heart, has been living and breathing SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for the last month, so much that she doesn't talk in sentences anymore, only keywords. webmaster edit: She said that if I want my Judaica website to be found in search I need to blog about my handcrafted Jewish wedding gifts and link to some of the pages from here.

The site has been checked over by a top SEO specialist and he gave it the thumbs up. So I am hoping to get worldwide exposure, without even having to step out of my studio.

Here's a link to the site http://www.lauracowan.com/