Tuesday, November 15, 2011

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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Friday, November 4, 2011

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.