Zentangling a Chamsa

Yesterday was the annual Yom Limmud in Houston.  One of my favorite sessions was an art class on how to zentangle a chamsa.  After a brief warm up using a pencil, most of us switched to the permanent Sharpies and went to task.  Here is my finished chamsa that I zentangled. 

Here is Darren's finished piece.

He used watercolor to brighten his lovely design.  I love it! 

Isn't the intricate detail in this one delightful?

I had a grand time learning how to zentangle and look forward to doing another one soon!

Torah portion completed

I am thrilled to announce that I have completed my cross-stitch Torah portion for the Torah Stitch By Stitch project and have sent it off to Canada .... hopefully I will receive word soon that it has been received.

My four verses tell the story of Joseph's return to Egypt after he had traveled to bury his father in the land of Canaan and about his brothers reaction to their father's death. The English and Hebrew are on my first post (here) about this project.

 Genesis 50: 14-17

I added the borders on the three sides - an option.  I look forward to seeing the entire piece assembled and on display.

For the curious - here is a view of the back of my piece.  Is it almost has interesting as the front?  Sylvia, my mother-in-law, was always more interested in admiring the backs of my projects than the actual project.  So I share this one in her memory -- may her memory be a blessing.

For more information on how to participate in the international project (recreating the entire Torah in cross-stitch, four verses at a time), or just for updates as to how it is going, follow the website: 

http://torahstitchbystitch.temmagentles.com/

This completes my July goal in A Lovely Year of Finishes too.  Click here to find out more about this monthly "can you finish it?" challenge being run by Melissa at Sew BitterSweet Designs (http://blog.sewbittersweetdesigns.com/) or Shanna at Fiber of All Sorts  (http://fiberofallsorts.blogspot.com/).

I am Linky #20 in the Goal posting for July (click here to see all that posted goals) and I am Linky #28 in the Finishes posting for July (click here for all who posted finishes)

A trio of Hamsa quiltlet gifts

Three weddings among our small religious school staff during our year with "Peace Love & Music" theme gave me the challenge to make something special for these friends.  The gifts were commissioned by our Religious School Director and would be given from the entire Religious School Staff.  Something alike yet different was needed as well as something incorporating the Judaic charms that Marna gave me.  My ideal goal was to create original pieces that would be well-loved by each of the three newly married couples.   Months of pondering lead to the idea that was shared in the post here and the finished pieces are below.

This first Hamsa quiltlet of Peace, Love and Music was made especially for Sarah and Michael, the first couple to marry of the three.  The fabric used for the hamsa is the same that I used to applique a dove on my block for their wedding chuppah.

 My dove block is on the farthest side of the chuppah - in other words, you can't really see it in this photo...

so here it is or click here.

 The beautiful bride Sarah and her Mom Cathy smile in anticipation.

One serious groom Michael is focused during the ketubah signing.

The second Hamsa quiltlet of Peace, Love and Music was gifted to a journalist Michael (another different Michael, of course) and his bride Rachael.

   

I loved using this newsprint fabric for this wonderful couple whose wedding was a lovely outdoor setting in Central Texas.  Purple was also a prominent color in their wedding and reception.

 Such beautiful smiles by newlyweds in love!

Cutting the cake is always a fun time at weddings, and moments captured on other's smart phones is the new normal.  Do you see the purple kippah?

The third Hamsa quiltlet of Peace, Love and Music is in orange, the favorite color of the groom Matt.  I hope his bride likes it as much as I do -- it may feature my favorite quilting too.  Note: I only quilt my smaller pieces, such as these which are approximately 15" x 18".

 Their wedding was small and intimate amidst the trees in the Houston Arboretum.  I do not have any photos of their small wedding and reception, so will share a favorite from last summer, when the groom Matt was traveling in Israel as a chaperone for a group of teens from our religious school (a group that included my sons).  I think he does like orange!

These three quilts were a joy to make for my friends.  They were finally completed and gifted to the couples in June, after the school year ended, though a sneak preview was shown during our closing school luncheon for the faculty.

I've missed the linky at the beginning of the month (again) but this is for the final linky for the month of June in "A Lovely Year of Finishes" ... sigh.  However, it's never too late to finish something!

Join this monthly challenge group "A Lovely Year of Quilt Finishes" at any time.  In the first few days of the month, you post your goal for the month, then in the closing days of that same month, you post your successful completion.  It's that simple.  To keep it fun, there are prizes awarded randomly - woo-hoo!  I am linky #64 on the completion posts.
(Is this a perfect number?   Eight-squared - I love playing with numbers, don't you?)

an idea begins ...

Sharing the beginnings of a new series ....

First, the germ of an idea is flushed out with the help of construction paper.

I am using the hamsa as the focal shape of this new series of quilts, small quilts (quiltlets) that will be given to three pairs of friends who have recently been married.  They are all faculty of the religious school where I teach Kindergarten.  Our theme this year is "Peace, Love and Music", hence the three shapes in yellow.  Question:  which way do the fingers of the hamsa point?  or does it matter?

          This is what I learned when looking for this answer:
The hamsa, meaning five fingers (or digits) of the hand, symbolizes luck and prosperity. The hamsa is sometimes referred to as the Hand of God and is also known as Hand of Fatima, or the Hand of Miriam.  One source stated that the hamsa hand conveys a message to the devil, so upwardly hamsa is good against the 'evil eye' and a downward hamsa is an auspicious sign of prosperity and success. However the hamsa is displayed in either direction.... I may have to look into this further.  

For my project, I have decided to place the fingers downward.  Next step is to select the backgrounds and the hamsa fabrics for three different quiltlets.

 

 

After appliqueing the hamsas onto each background, my next step was to use reverse applique to attach the Peace sign, the heart and the musical notes.

Stay tuned for further developments ....

Torah Stitch by Stitch

It was nearly one year ago that I first learned of this amazing project being pursued by a Canadian fiber artist Temma Gentles.  Temma is creating a Torah entirely by embroidery stitches, cross-stitches to be exact.  She has named this endeavor "Torah Stitch By Stitch" and is busily recruiting volunteers to stitch up four verses at a time.  As she explains on the website: "Torah Stitch By Stitch honours the Five Books of Moses (Pentateuch) through the timeless medium of cross-stitch, a basic textile tradition in many cultures.  Participants from numerous national, linguistic and spiritual backgrounds - regardless of gender or craft skill - are joining hands and hearts to stitch 1463 individual panels of the Torah in Hebrew, 4 verses at a time."

If the image above is difficult to read, go directly to the website:

http://torahstitchbystitch.temmagentles.com/

I was excited to learn about this project and knew immediately that I had to be a part of it.  So I eagerly filled out the online form, paid my $18.00 and waited patiently for my kit to arrive.

I waited .... and waited ..... and waited.  I contacted Temma to inquire about my status only to learn that my kit had been mailed months ago.  A replacement kit was sent out ... more waiting ... more emails .... to make a tediously long story much shorter, one week ago my kit turned up!  Hurray!

 

Mailed in a plain white legal sized envelope, my complete kit arrived.  As there was not a postmark on the envelope, we can only imagine where in the world it has been traveling to between leaving Canada and arriving at my home in Texas.  I contacted Temma who was as thrilled as I was and I began stitching immediately.  Here is the first word of my portion which is from the book of Genesis, chapter 50, verses 14-17.  I have officially begun!

This portion is about Joseph's return to Egypt after he had traveled to bury his father in the land of Canaan and about his brothers reaction to their father's death.  Here is a translation that I found on the Chabad.org website here (Hebrew is read right-to-left, opposite from English):
 

		יגוַיִּשְׂאוּ אֹתוֹ בָנָיו אַרְצָה כְּנַעַן וַיִּקְבְּרוּ אֹתוֹ בִּמְעָרַת שְׂדֵה הַמַּכְפֵּלָה אֲשֶׁר קָנָה אַבְרָהָם אֶת הַשָּׂדֶה לַאֲחֻזַּת קֶבֶר מֵאֵת עֶפְרֹן הַחִתִּי עַל פְּנֵי מַמְרֵא:
14  And Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers, and all who had gone up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.		ידוַיָּשָׁב יוֹסֵף מִצְרַיְמָה הוּא וְאֶחָיו וְכָל הָעֹלִים אִתּוֹ לִקְבֹּר אֶת אָבִיו אַחֲרֵי קָבְרוֹ אֶת אָבִיו:
15  Now Joseph's brothers saw that their father had died, and they said, "Perhaps Joseph will hate us and return to us all the evil that we did to him."		טווַיִּרְאוּ אֲחֵי יוֹסֵף כִּי מֵת אֲבִיהֶם וַיֹּאמְרוּ לוּ יִשְׂטְמֵנוּ יוֹסֵף וְהָשֵׁב יָשִׁיב לָנוּ אֵת כָּל הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר גָּמַלְנוּ אֹתוֹ:
16  So they commanded [messengers to go] to Joseph, to say, "Your father commanded [us] before his death, saying,		טזוַיְצַוּוּ אֶל יוֹסֵף לֵאמֹר אָבִיךָ צִוָּה לִפְנֵי מוֹתוֹ לֵאמֹר:
17  'So shall you say to Joseph, "Please, forgive now your brothers' transgression and their sin, for they did evil to you. Now please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." ' " Joseph wept when they spoke to him.		יזכֹּה תֹאמְרוּ לְיוֹסֵף אָנָּא שָׂא נָא פֶּשַׁע אַחֶיךָ וְחַטָּאתָם כִּי רָעָה גְמָלוּךָ וְעַתָּה שָׂא נָא לְפֶשַׁע עַבְדֵי אֱלֹהֵי אָבִיךָ וַיֵּבְךְּ יוֹסֵף בְּדַבְּרָם אֵלָיו:

I have been working steadily on my portion, sometimes as I relax and watch a little television at night or while I wait in the car for my teenage boys (I am still their favorite chauffeur).   Here is where I am as of today .... approximately half-way ....

If you are interested in learning more about this massive undertaking click here; or in making a donation to the Torah Stitch By Stitch click here; or in stitching your own contribution click here or here or contact directly via email:  torahstitchbystitch@gmail.com.  Buttons are being solicited  to help attach the panels of portions together.  Click here for more information on the buttons requested.  Last of all, click here to see an artist's rendition of the final display as well as an article that appeared in The Canadian Jewish News, October 2, 2014.

My dove

Mazel Tov to Sarah and Michael!

This sweet dove block is one I've made especially for Sarah and Michael,  two dear friends.  It will be one of many blocks made especially for them in honor of their fast approaching wedding.  All the blocks will be stitched together to make their wedding chuppah.  It promises to be one of their first 'family heirlooms' to be treasured for years and years and years.

One final touch is for me to sign it.....

Shalom - a w.i.p.

Shabbat Shalom

Today I am featuring a developing "w.i.p." (work in progress) and since it is Shabbat, this seemed like a great choice.

This piece, Shalom, began in a teacher workshop last spring held at the Jewish Community Center.  We started by drawing our own designs (or tracing a provided pattern) .  I enlarged one of the patterns given to create this simple Jerusalem-esque look, then added the Hebrew lettering for Shalom.

After tracing/drawing with Sharpies onto a cotton base (no cautious sketch-in-pencil-first approach today), we painted with watercolor (yes, classic elementary-school-type water color) to enhance our simple line drawings.  (Sadly, I did not think to photograph these earlier stages).  The watercolors are gorgeous, but will not be permanent (add a little water, and the color bleeds a little more, repeatedly - see the blue-ish windows?).

At home, I added more color using crayons (yes, classic Crayola coloring crayons) which will be more permanent than the watercolor, especially after heat setting the crayons.

I also melted crayons directly into the design on the cloth with the assistance of a coffee-mug-warming-plate placed underneath the fabric.

I finished by watercolor-ing the sky, aiming for a sunset/sunrise feel.  Can you see the images of a few stars sprinkled across the sky?  I'm not sure that they are very visible - but that is much like actual stars seen at dusk - they slowly emerge as the sky deepens and darkens into night.

Shalom is now a "wip" as I ponder what to do next to this piece.  more color? deeper color? add borders? quilt the size that it is? how to quilt it? add beading? or embroidery? or a little of both?  hmmm .... do you have any suggestions/ideas?

Henrietta Szold

I've finished my piece for "With One Voice" the 2008 Breaking Traditions Art Quilt Exhibition. It is not too late for you to join the exhibit, too!

First, Breaking Traditions is an art quilt exhibit, curated by Lynn Krawczyk, that will be on display at the American Sewing Expo in Novi, Michigan from September 26 to 28, 2008. The theme this year is "With One Voice" as stated on the website:

This year the exhibit will give a voice to all the good that is present in the world. From the next door neighbor who helped to shovel your snowy walk, to organizations built solely on the purpose of serving those in need, to famous individuals using their influence to do good. We honor all those who stand up and say, in one loud clear voice, "I will make a difference."

Following its own theme, this year the Breaking Traditions show proudly teams up with Fiberart for a Cause, a project led by Virginia Spiegel which has raised over $160,000 for the American Cancer Society. What a fabulous way to continue to spread all that is good in the world!

Without further ado, my quilt for this exhibit honors the memory of Henrietta Szold .... and here she is!



The striking image of Henrietta above is used with courtesy from the Jewish Museum of Maryland. The original is dated 1913, one year after Henrietta Szold founded Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America. She is 52 in this photograph, an age of independence, strength and maturity.

I chose to honor the memory of Henrietta Szold (1860 - 1945) not just because she is the founder of Hadassah, but also because she blazed a new trail for women in an age when women were not encouraged to venture outside the traditions and expectations set by family and society. How do I summarize her life and her character? To begin at the beginning ... Henrietta was born December 21, 1860 in Baltimore, Maryland when the country was entering the Civil War. Imagine the lifestyle of American citizens in those years....

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition describes Henrietta Szold as an American Zionist leader, editor, and translator. Further stating these facts: "After graduating from high school in 1877 she taught (1878–92) in private schools, organizing some of the first night school classes for immigrants. She was a founder (1888) of the Jewish Publication Society of America and served as its general editor until 1916. In 1912 she founded Hadassah, of which she was president from 1912 to 1926. In 1920 she moved to Palestine, directing the organization’s medical service and relief work. She is particularly esteemed for her leadership (1933–45) of the Youth Aliyah, an organization that rehabilitated thousands of children during World War II. She also translated many works from French, German, and Hebrew."

But this just doesn't capture the full essence of her remarkable spirit. As an educator, Henrietta not only taught English to new Jewish immigrants (a necessary skill), she also taught them History. She continued her own studies by receiving permission to study at the Jewish Theological Seminary, after promising not to seek rabbinic ordination. Remember, this was a time when only men were Rabbis. If she lived today, she could become a Rabbi, no questions asked! My how the world has changed! The children she "rehabilitated" during World War II in fact were over 22, 000 Jewish children rescued from Nazi Germany!

But what about Hadassah?
After traveling to Palestine in 1909, Henrietta was aghast at the poor medical conditions which existed there. In 1912, at the age of 51, Henrietta Szold founded Hadassah with a goal to improve medical conditions in Israel (then Palestine) for all its citizens, regardless of race, religion or ethnicity. The Hadassah Medical Organization (one small aspect of Hadassah today) has achieved international acclaim for promoting peace in the Middle East by providing equal treatment to Palestinians and Israelis and was nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize! What an honor!

Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America has grown from its small beginnings in 1912 to become the largest women's, largest Zionist, and largest Jewish membership organization in the United States. In Israel, it supports medical care and research, education, and youth institutions, and reforestation and parks projects. In the US, Hadassah promotes health education, social action and advocacy, volunteerism, Jewish education and research, Young Judaea and connections with Israel. For more information, please check out the Hadassah Web site at www.hadassah.org

This organization continues to grow and change with the times and now reaches beyond the original goal of improving the medical needs of Palestine. According to the Hadassah Mission Statement, Hadassah is
"a volunteer women's organization, whose members are motivated and inspired to strengthen their partnership with Israel, ensure Jewish continuity, and realize their potential as a dynamic force in American society. ... Committed to the centrality of Israel based on the renaissance of the Jewish people in its historic homeland, Hadassah promotes the unity of the Jewish people. In Israel, Hadassah initiates and supports pace-setting health care, education and youth institutions, and land development to meet the country's changing needs. In the United States, Hadassah enhances the quality of American and Jewish life through its education and Zionist youth programs, promotes health awareness, and provides personal enrichment and growth for its members." I, myself, have been a Life Member of Hadassah for nearly twenty years.


I've rambled on too long --- but I am amazed by all that exists today because of the daring and determination of this one voice, the voice that once belonged to Henrietta Szold. Encouraged by her actions, I urge all women and men today to follow their hearts by acting on what they see as a need whenever/wherever they see it. Help us to make the world a better place.

Imagine the future positive repercussions there could be by speaking out with one voice, yours!


P.S. This is the first completed UFO for my UFO Olympics ... on to the next ....