Today’s Featured Shops

We’ll be featuring a few shops a day. For a full list of our shops, watch the scrolling avatars at the top of the blog. For a full list of all our shops offering promotions during our Miracles of Hanukkah sale, go here!

Tracey’s Treasures – http://traceylipman.etsy.com

As one of our Israeli artists, Tracey exemplifies the word eclectic! She works in polymer clay, she works in fabric, and she works in a fairly new product called Paverpol. Her shop has Judaica, jewelry, bags, home decor, and tutorials. In fact, it’s always exciting to visit her shop because you never know what she’ll come up with next!



She is the co-founder of the Polymer Clay Guild of Beit Shemesh, Israel, where she also lives.
Since all her work is handmade, you can always find a unique, one of a kind item for that special someone in your life!

For the Miracles of Hanukkah Sale, Tracey’s Treasures is refunding 10% to you through Paypal if you spend $10 or more, excluding postage. Just use the code word in the “Notes to Seller”: If you are coming from this blog, use the secret word "candles."   For Jewish Woman Magazine, use the secret word "JW Mag."

Yafit’s First Glass – http://yafitglass.etsy.com

Yafit Haba is an Israeli glass artist and materials engineer who has been living in the US for the last 6 years. She began working in glass art back in Israel and continued on, exploring more techniques in beautiful Washington State. She enjoys designing new products and making molds or other specific equipment she needs. In her words, “Innovation is my strategy!!!”

Her shop contains both functional and decorative items. Each of them is a one-of-a-kind item, making each piece a collector’s item.



During the etsychai Miracles of Hanukkah sale, Yafit’s First Glass is offering a free gift ($15 value) with purchase. Just use the code word in the “Notes to Seller”: If you are coming from this blog, use the secret word "candles."   For Jewish Woman Magazine, use the secret word "JW Mag."

Mark Kaplan – http://markaplan.etsy.com

Mark Kaplan studied Jewelry and Metalsmithing at The Rhode Island School of Design. His absolute love for and pride in his craftsmanship shows in each and every one of the pieces in his shop.
Even though he lives in the smallest state in the U.S. (Rhode Island) he spends a great deal of time in the rather large continent of Asia. The influence of these travels shows up in many of his pieces.



Mark’s prices are extremely reasonable for the high quality of work he’s offering, making his etsy shop a great place to shop for anyone special in your life.

This post by April Grunspan of AgruArts

When Do We Eat? Part II – Kids at a Seder

Little kids sometimes get antsy at a very long Seder (they aren't the only ones, either) …. but there’s many creative ways they can be amused and still involved in the holiday.  Here are a few more suggestions from EtsyChai Team members on their holiday traditions … be sure to leave comments of your own solutions, too!

Dancing Around Jerusalem Print

from Leslie of siragwatkins & leslietsy -

“We go around the table reading the Haggadah--no one has to, but generally anyone who can read does at least a paragraph when it's their turn.  That & the anticipation of the meal seems to keep our teens in check.  My cousin usually serves hors d'oeuvres in advance, too, which helps.  We haven't had any littles at our Seders for awhile, but with a new batch coming up.....

In fact, newest granddaughter celebrates her 1st birthday this week & has just started walking, so it should be interesting--last year she was happy in a lap.

Maybe our 7-year old granddaughter will be here too--depends on her school vacation. She'd probably like a coloring book, but is also very interested & will probably try to read.

My 1st cousin, of blessed memory, used to be our patriarch, & liked to move things along quickly.  Now Seth is technically the patriarch (he does do boray pri hagofen) but is not technically Jewish, and my cousin's now-grown granddaughter is becoming more religious so the Seder's been getting a bit longer.

It evolves as the family does--this year a runabout, 2 new in-laws, 2 babies on the way. Next year, who knows?”

 Mostly Vintage Judaica Charm Bracelet

 

Tammy of Tamdoll’s SILVER Mountain Originals said:

“When my kids were little, I always worked to keep them excited and engaged.  For a couple of years, I cut back the length of the Seders by using a children’s version of the Haggadah and supplying all the kids with their own copies, complete with crayons to color in the coloring-book pages.  (My Very Own Haggadah was the title of one that I’ve used, but couldn’t find a link to include here.)  Passing on the traditions and telling the story were more important to me than making sure we filled in every detail and frustrating the little ones.

As time passed, we’ve upgraded to a family Haggadah and everyone, guests included, takes part in the Seder, asking questions and reading parts in Hebrew and English.  My husband makes sure to throw out some “plagues” (toy frogs) at the appropriate time, and our table is usually covered in the drawings of Seder plates and decorative Elijah cups that the girls have made in religious school over the years (I store them with the Seder plates and dishes.)

In the preschool years, they decorated felt squares with glue, threads, little gems and beads and glued them to another square with some stuffing in the center – creating little pillows for all of our guests to lean on.  They were proud to have done this contribution and each year, I take them out again to use.”

LuckXury Leather Red Bracelet 

 

Here’s an interesting article over at Linda’s blog - “The Search for Hametz” -

 

Enjoy!!

Jerusalem Glass Fused Picture

 How do you keep everyone engaged at your Seder?

Wrapping up the Passover Freedom Event with EtsyChai

Sales.  Discounts.  New items.  Free shipping.
Participating shops & some of their specials are listed here and you can search on Etsy with the keywords: "pesach" or "etsychai" or “passover”.  Please remember to use the word "Passover" in Notes to Seller when shopping with EtsyChai members!

We’ve had some interesting and informative posts this week:

Passover Freedom Event – Holiday Prep & Participants

Passover Freedom Event – Holiday Prep, Part II

Passover Freedom Event – A Rhyme to Remember, Part I

Passover Freedom Event – A Rhyme to Remember, Part II

And… it’s not over yet!!

There’s still time to knit up a matzah/afikomen bag or cover using this great pattern:

Recipes, how-to’s, family traditions, stories and more will be featured in the coming weeks as we all prepare for Passover.  For example… here we have Lisa of handmadeinisrael.etsy.com talking about her Passover plans:

“Purim is now over and the build up to Pesach begins! We try and start early with the preparations and clean out two kitchen cupboards each evening, beginning several weeks before the start of Pesach. Though I dread the holiday and all the work it entails, the reality is that when the festival eventually arrives we enjoy a wonderful Seder with family or friends and have a fantastic week touring Israel from north to south. The kids are off school, my husband takes time from work and we enjoy the beautiful spring weather and see some gorgeous places around our little country. Last year we visited The Dead Sea and Qumran, an orchid farm and parrot farm in the north, and hiked in the forests nearer to home. This year we of course have yet to make specific plans, but who knows where the Pesach vacation time will take us.

If you wish to see a little more, here’s last year’s blog post about my family’s Passover travels.”  - Lisa Isaacs, Handmade Greetings Cards

Great magnets for the holiday… can hold up your favorite recipe while you cook!:

How about a tutorial to make your own matzah tray, making the holiday extra special and personalized?… or make one for the host/hostess of a Seder you’ll be attending: (Wouldn’t it be nice to make one of these out of a cherished heirloom tablecloth that may be torn or stained and unusable? – Tammy)

If you haven’t yet, you can always sign up below for email updates of these blog posts and get them delivered right to your in-box.

Will you be making anything new or creating a tradition during this year’s holiday?

Purim 5770/2010 EtsyChai Roundup

• Purim - Traditions, part II
• Purim – Let’s make some noise! – video how-to
• Purim – Traditions, part I
• Purim – What’s it all about?

Craft links submitted by Linda B. of Linda B’s Beaded Jewelry:

• From Chabad.org - Purim crafts
• Purim masks to print and color
• Miscellaneous Purim crafts

Mardi Gras Earrings by LindaB142

Craft links submitted by Tammy of Tamdoll’s SILVER Mountain Originals:

• Games, music, e-cards, crafts, recipes at BabagaNewz.com (great resource for Parents and nice online site for kids!)
• cards, masks, decorations, treats, costumes….Creative Jewish Mom
• games & Hebrew resources at Behrman House Publishers

Hamentash Earrings by Tamdoll’s SILVER Mountain Originals

Fairy Princess Witch Girls –Discontinuted -Pattern from GoofingOff 

 Abstract Pin/Brooch with lapis from Siragwatkins

Purim – Let’s make some noise!

During the reading of the Book of Esther, the "Megilla", during Purim, listeners use a noisemaker, or grogger/gragger,  whenever Haman's name is mentioned during the reading – to “blot out the name of evil”. 

Here, EtsyChai team member Terri (terrbear37.etsy) shows us how to make our own noisemaker out of paper and includes a really nice rubber-stamp technique called Joseph’s Coat to decorate it:

After watching the how-to video, you can print the pattern, here, and make your own.

Thanks to Terri of Cards & More by Terri (terrbear37.etsy).  You can also watch more great technique videos at her blog.

What will your decorate yourself or your house with this Purim?

keum boo hair doodle by markaplan

 

Love in the Vineyard magnets by TamarHammer

 

 Tibetan silver charms by Leslietsy

Don’t forget to read all the other great Purim posts this month and check back for more to come!