Wedding Wise

It's been awhile since I posted "Wedding Wise". I guess I needed to get a little older to become wiser. Today's tip is about "How do I personalize my Chuppah?"

 Planning your wedding allows you (hopefully) the chance to express your inner creative self. We all have it! Choosing color, dishes, flowers and dresses to show your  taste.

A Chuppah is no different. The only problem is when someone thinks about personalizing it all they think they can do are names and initials. Here's one example of a very personal Chuppah.

THE BASEBALL CHUPPAH - A couple spent most of their dating life going to baseball games. Luckily, they both loved baseball. Unfortunately,  a close member of the bride's family had passed away and she wanted to include a picture of this person. I designed a diamond (simulating the baseball field) set in a square. Each of the bases were a picture of deceased members of both families. This helped the bride feel that all these people were joining her at this moment in her life. Who was on the pitcher's mound? The couple of course.

Think outside the box. No pun intended. Chuppahs have fabric after that anything goes. You can have, embroidery, beads, silk flowers. Some clients choose Hebrew or English passages that express their love. Do you have pictures, ties, treasures from dates? All these items can be included in your chuppah.

A phone call is free so contact me and we will talk. Oh, I am getting so faklempt already.

My Coach in Life

This is a thank you note I sent to my coach in art. For those who don't know what a coach is here is an explanation:
Like in sports, it is someone who guides you to be the best that you can be. It is a person who pushes, hopefully not through yelling but through talking. A coach teaches you to set goals and offers suggestions on how to achieve them.

The person I thank for doing all of this with me is Lesley Riley. She has a program called "Artist Success".  I am the artist who creates your chuppah because of Lesley"s coaching. She helped lead me on the path to be your designer.

Please read below the letter for additional comments.

A year and a half ago I wouldn't have any words to fill in the last box "website".
In the Jewish religion there is a phrase "looking for your b'sheret". It is usually used when one is looking for their future partner in life. A b'sheret is someone who will stand along side you through life's trials and tribulations. It is someone who will help and support you to be the best you that you can be. The act of looking also implies working towards this goal.

Lesley, you are my b'sheret (in friendship). This last year you helped me see my potential. I am an artist who is capable of reaching goals I set for myself. I met you at a time when I was at a crossroad. I had public affirmations that my work was "good enough" to be recognized by experts in the field of art.  I knew I had "it" but I didn't know what "it" was. Our meeting was what I would call "the Hand of G-d" sending out a spiritual sign. At QBL you were just beginning your journey into a new venture at the same time I needed someone just like you to guide me on my journey.

My life will never be the same. You have made all the difference in my growth as an artist. Your gentle but direct insistence on helping me set my path in an organized fashion helped earn respect from those around me. I was no longer a "dabbler" but I was a serious artist and business woman. I am proud of who I have become. G-d sent you to me at just the right time for both of us. It was a spiritual hand as well as your hand that brought me to this point in my life. I have now combined my three loves in life; family, art and religion.

Today was our last phone call. I know that it will not be our last encounter. We will continue to share our successes and struggles. Our personal joys and concerns. You are my therapist, my coach, my support . You are my friend. Thank you for all that you have done for me and will continue to do for other artists. Do you realize your work literally makes this world a more beautiful place to live? 

 Thank you, Lesley

My prayer for you is that your b'sheret will support you and guide you to be the best you that you can be. Don't forget to do the same for your spouse. 

Let's have a party!

When I was young it was easy to get out of anything I didn't want to do. I would just ignore it or say "I don't know". It's funny how some things never change. I am what you would call "the great procrastinator", except when it comes to my commissions. Don't worry all future clients, I love sewing so your chuppah deadline is safe with me...not! Just kidding. No really I am kidding.

The last month and a half I have been pushing everyone away with the phrase " I am too busy, I have to redo my studio." I have worked a collective  8 hours in the last month and a half on my studio. I have worked on my computer, buying presents for birthdays and Chanukah on ebay, walking my 17 year old dog 5 times a day and finding every excuse to watch my grandchildren. Grandchildren are another great way to get out of doing anything else.

Several years ago I read a Dave Barry column. It was all about his messy house and how he and his wife never seemed to get to clean it. Paraphrasing, he said to his wife, "You know dear, our house is a pig sty. Do you know what  we need to do? We have to have a party?" Now most of you are probably thinking, is he CRAZY PANTS? Think about when you have a party. Don't you  clean like a maniac when you know people are coming? Why should you kill the illusion that you are organized, clean and perfect?

 Thanksgiving is coming! Guess whose studio is going to be finished in one week?

                                                       Before - Stay tuned for after
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Wedding Wise

I decided everyone needs a little help when planning a wedding, I know I did! Every other week I will post a wedding tip in my "Wedding Wise" section of my post. By the end of the year you should have 26 ways to solve those tricky wedding issues. This is a blog on my Chuppah  Creations  website so guess what the first 25 posts will be covering? Just kidding! I will start with some important info on creating the chuppah of your dreams because the last problem you want is a chuppah horror. Remember, it is the locale where most of your formal pictures will be taken.

Wedding Wise Tip #1 

What size should my chuppah be?
There are two criteria for choosing the size of the chuppah.

The first is the amount of people you would like standing under the chuppah. You and your fiance are a definite must; without you all those people wouldn't be there. Decide if you want the Rabbi standing under the chuppah with you. Other people to consider are parents and/or stepparents, siblings or close friends.  Only three people under a chuppah can be as small as 5 x 5 feet but 6 x 6 would be more comfortable. After that the size keeps growing exponentially. Larger than 8 x 8 feet will require additional supports.

The second is the venue.  I always inquire about the size of the space it is going to stand.  You could want a 8 x 8 chuppah but the platform it will stand on is 7 x 6. I know I wasn't good at all math when I was in school but geometry I could. Let me tell you up front, there is know way an 8 x 8 foot  chuppah will work in that space. When I design your chuppah I prefer to take my own measurements of the floor space and suggest an appropriate size.

This is a case of the shoemaker's children go without shoes. When my son was married I had my chuppah all ready.  Unfortunately, the florist didn't!  Somewhere along the way the chuppah frame was set up smaller than the the chuppah. Putting it mildly, there was a communication issue. I was standing there chuppah in arms. I imagined the chuppah being draped over us like a tent with only our feet showing. Luckily, two heads are better than one. The florist and I figured that draping the chuppah to the back would solve the headless wedding issue. I loved the look. The pictures have a beautiful backdrop as you can see and the day was saved. Measure twice and then twice more. By the way, the florist did do a beautiful job and the wedding was terrific.

Mazel tov!

Did you ever meet a couple that knows how to work together without yelling or berating each other? I have!They are my most recent clients, J and J.

At a Jewish wedding it is the obligation of the people who attend to make the bride and groom feel joyful. This is my attempt at making that joy happen for these two people. Apparently, J and J read TheKnot.com from cover to cover to plan their simcha. For those of you who are unfamiliar with The Knot, it is a magazine that is the bible of wedding planning. There was one wish that J has for his wedding day. He wants their wedding to be featured in The Knot.

I have looked at your magazine so many times, I think we're on a first name basis. Knot, if you see this, make this wedding day a little more special by granting this groom his wish. He will be eternally grateful and share his dog eared copies with his groomsmen.  Mazel Tov!

It takes a village to start a business...a computer literate one!

I am in my 50's with three children all over the age of 20, two in-law children and two grandchildren. You might think "ok. what does this have to do with chuppahs?" For those in my generation, have you noticed that our children have a computer chip in their bodies that was definitely not passed on through our DNA? By the way, it is now a permanent part of the DNA, since it passes to grandchildren, too. Here's a conversation I had with my 5 year old grandson. "Savta,  do you have the song 'Dynamite' on your phone?" "I don't know. How would I know?" " Savta, you take your phone and press this button, then slide this and then look up..." " Kid, I lost you at 'take your phone'".

This brings me to thanking my husband,  my children, in-law children, friends, web designer Holly Knott and anyone else out there who helped me limp along the process of using a computer to start this business. I couldn't have done it without you.

My 3 year old granddaughter in training with my phone

Welcome to the Chuppah Creations blog!

This is my first blog post. Check back soon and thanks for visiting!