Come holiday season, shit gets a little out of control round the blogosphere with everyone the world over making holiday decorations for their homes or for gifts. Although crafts for Chanukah seem to be improving every year, I find many of them dated in style, too blue or Magen David/ star-heavy. That’s why I was psyched to find this project from Creative Jewish Mom. Not only does Sara have some great, modern crafts for Chanukah, she also has a great deal of kid-friendly projects. So I set up the toilet paper rolls on our table, along with the tissue paper and some metallic paint thrown in for good measure, and somehow things started to take a decidedly, creatively different turn…

Introducing: The Chanukah Candle Mobile! (Yay!)

These eight ‘candles’ or painted toilet paper rolls are hanging in my stairwell (from the stair rail you can see in the photo at the bottom). Since the stairs get the most light and are breezy-central with everyone walking through them, the candles sparkle as they float around. Plus, they bring surprise holiday cheer as you walk down to the living room/ kitchen where all the Chanukah and family celebrations take place.

It was easy and fun, for kids of all ages, and to prove it, here’s how we did it.

You will need:
8 toilet paper rolls
1 paper towel roll (for the taller Shamash or lead candle – we didn’t do this part)
Metallic paints (gold, silver, bronze, copper… you get the picture) glitter paints in colors would work just as well
Tissue papers in flame colors (red, orange, yellow)
Metallic pipe cleaners
Fishing wire
Glue
Scissor

Step 1:

Paint your toilet paper rolls with the metallic (or glitter) paints. Feel free to be creative here, amping up the sparkle effect with glue and glitter, stickers (neon or shiny), sequins, fabrics…

Step 2:

Cut out flame shapes from your tissue paper. Vary the size per color for added flame likeness.
Glue tissue papers onto the inside of the toilet paper roll for fire effect. Let dry.

Step 3:

Using the edge of your scissor (this part’s for adults), poke two holes through the toilet paper roll, mindful of the tissue paper.
Insert the metallic pipe cleaners through the two holes, meet them together on top, forming a flame-top shape, and twist together to close. (The pipe cleaners give you something stable and central to tie the fishing wire onto and hang the candle from.)

Step 4:
Repeat above steps to create 8 candles, one for each night of Chanukah.
To create a taller shamash, or lead candle, repeat the above steps with a longer paper towel roll.

Step 5:

Tie fishing wire to the top of pipe cleaner flames and hang from your desired place (ceiling, window pane, chandelier, hooks…) I used the stair rail which you can see at the top of the photo.

With 6 more nights left to celebrate Chanukah – and holiday vacation with the kids ahead – it’s not too late to decorate your house with this easy and fun Chanukah mobile. Happy crafting! Happy holidays! and Happy Chanukah to all!

About a year ago, I found these two items at the Yaffo flea market: A beautiful, hand-embroidered cosmetic case bound in a Tiffany-blue, textured leather and a similar compact mirror. The shop owner told me they were made in Israel in the early years of the State but he had no specific information, other than what was written on the inside lining: Orient Made in Israel.

Ive become a lot more obsessed with the idea of crafts lately. The idea of craftsmanship, its positioning as somehow outside of the fine arts but demanding expertise of skill and execution all the same, and the traditions of the field, how they’re unphased for the most part (or are they) by technological advances…

All this to say, I need your help, please. I want to delve deeper into Israel’s artistic history and practice. Beyond design as creativity and production and Israel as a meeting point for global influences and top notch approaches, what are Israel’s traditions of design as object? How did culture, history, politics, or economy impact design in every day life – and craft production too? What were the first Israelis’ crafts or home goods? When did design become an important aesthetic in their homes? Their lives?

There’s this romanticized view of Israel’s early pioneers (I mean in the 1940s and 50s specifically) as having lived with very little, both because there wasn’t a maximized economy or commercial market here, but more because they had to be so devoted and dedicated to the founding of cities like Tel Aviv. So then you find these cosmetic cases, “Made in Israel”. By who? And for who? A decorative compact case for what kind of woman or women – were there many like her or was it created for a select few?

I guess it’s a look into material culture meets visual culture meets design history. Like more than this particular example – the cosmetic case and the Israeli woman from the 1950s – what did homes and design look like in this period? There are graphic design posters from this period that can help shed light on a public aesthetic, but what about in private settings, homes, rooms… My Googling skills are now exhausted – without much success. So please send names of people, books or places for further research? Thanks for your help. I look forward to sharing my findings with you on the blog. Who knows, it could be fun.

Simply put: this poster box,

which holds this poster,

also becomes these alphabet cards and card box.

Israeli designer Oshrit Ben Gal, the brains behind Gugu Design, strives to create aesthetically engaging and mentally challenging games for children and babies that also contribute positively to our shared environment – as in less wasteful packaging and more pleasing repurposing. I personally love how her aesethtics are sweet and modern without overly childish commercialism or cheese, making this a great gift for any design-savvy parent looking to decorate their kids rooms with a bit of Hebrew and lot of pretty. If you have trouble with the site’s all-Hebrew-ness, contact Oshrit directly to order. (And if you still have trouble, contact me for more help.)

Discovering Barbara Shaw’s gift shop on Bezalel Street in Jerusalem was like finding the perfect present pitstop for friends and family in Israel or abroad. With graphics that combine kitchy fun with contemporary abstract, Barbara’s textiles, pottery and glassware offer a wide range of gift giving options for that special man, woman, baby, child, friend, coworker, dinner host, parent or family member in your life – yes, the gift options are just that good. And – AND! – they’re all reasonably priced, under $50!

Below are a few of my favorite selections from Barbara, favorites that Id love to give or receive this Chanukah, or click to her English site – complete with an online shop – to peruse her complete collection yourself (and make someone very happy this holiday season

This pillow will adorn my couch one day. I love the Jaffa Orange retro-meets-Warhol print/ pattern.

Budding artists, kids included, will enjoy this portable pencil roll up with patterned notebook. There wasn’t a good pic to download but on the site you can see the opened roll with all the pencil slots. From the Seven Species collection.

UPDATE: If you’re in Jerusalem, Barbara is hosting a pre-Chanukah party at her store, 2 Bezalel Street, on December 15th. Enjoy live music, drinks, nibbles and good cheer as you stock up on some Chanukah presents for friends in Israel or abroad (with enough time to send by post). Details here.

It’s more than taking time to stop and smell the roses. Now you can curl up with a good book and rest your head on a cushy pillow, right under your favorite flower or plant. Israeli design team Studio Libel bring the outdoors in with these unique pillow planters for your home.

Gives new meaning to the range of green or eco design options for your home – or perhaps just a more literal one… And now, starting at $40 USD, you can purchase a pillow (or two) from the Studio Libel Etsy shop. What a great, natural way to kick off this season’s Shop Israel Gift Guide! Hmmm, that gives me some ideas.. stay tuned for more

via::Inhabitat

Israeli architect extraordinaire, Moshe Safdie, has set his creative sails for China’s port city of Chongquin, a historic economic center at the Yangtze and Jialing river junction, and a major manufacturing and transportation hub for all of Southwestern China.

Drawing upon the city’s cultural symbolism and historic significance, Safdie’s Chongquin Chaotianmen is a modern interpretation of a fleet of ancient Chinese ships. The eight rising towers resemble heraldic sails, their arch akin to winds blowing back their masts.

I love the swooping grandeur that he achieves with height, scale and arch. Just to peer out from these mast-high gardens, over the busy city and riverscapes below. I can almost smell the damp air, heavy with creativity, production and inspiration.

More here, via::Designboom

The woman behind the design – literally, ha!

You see, Tarazi and helpers created this metal chair by dropping a 100kg (roughly 220 lb) female mannequin onto the metal, square frame. It’s a ‘free fall’ effect by which her weight and its impact, force not only the dummy to ‘sit’ into the chair but also the chair to conform to her.

Bizarro cover of Tom Petty’s Free Falling song aside, the slo-mo video below is actually a compelling demonstration. If you’re at all like me, you’ll find yourself cheering that moment of impact – or shall I say that moment of creation or design.

For more on Tarazi’s forward-thinking and thought-provoking designs: designboom

via Core77

If you don’t know about Designboom you should not only check out every category on their extensive site, but also sign up for their fascinating, daily or biweekly newsletters featuring thee roundup of today’s newsmakers from around the world in the field of design. Check out today’s example here just for a sample of all they have to offer.

I love so many things about Designboom – the writing, photos, comprehensive coverage, editorials, compeitions, workshops, the list goes on. But my top two favorites are:

1. Designboom welcomes artists and designers to submit their own works. Encouraging and enabling independent artists to take advantage of their enormous network is one of the most beneficial and generous relationships a website/ newsletter/ authority can offer budding young talent seeking exposure abroad.

2. Designboom seems to love Israeli design and designers – almost as much as I do! I am constantly finding new, known and always exciting Israeli designers on Designboom. Take Ronen Kadushin’s dicast chair above – straight off their blog!

For more about the chair above, including how it was made – hint there’s molten aluminum overflowing – click here. For more about Ronen Kadushin, visit his website here (English).

UPDATE: Even though it appeared yesterday on Designboom, Ronen Kadushin pointed out that the chair was made in 1999.

So to help shortcut design fans to the best of Israeli design, here’s the low-down on all the various events coming up (and fast). Please read through to the end since there are exhibition listings, seminars, workshops and more. And just to give credit where credit is due, all listings were taken from here.

Israel Design Week Holon
The Best of Israeli Design
May 06 – May 15, 2011
Exhibition
To mark Israel’s 63rd Independence Day, Israel Design Week Holon will be held at various locations around the City of Holon from May 5 to May 15, 2011. This initiative is a continuation of and an additional stage in the process led by the City of Holon to promote design in Israel and transform the city into a national design center, a process that began with the inauguration of Design Museum Holon. Israel Design Week Holon will present the achievements of design professionals in exhibitions and study days, as well as the achievements of local industry in general. These events will raise relevant design issues for professional discussion and address the direct connection between Israeli design and Israel’s ‘Made in Israel’ industry.

Exhibitions during Israel Design Week Holon include:

Designed in Israel 4 & Designers of the Future 4
Opening: May 6, 2011
Design Museum Holon

Designed in Israel 4 presents the achievements of contemporary Israeli design in the past year. The exhibition presents about 240 works from the fields of industrial design, graphic design, branding, interactive media, jewelry design, and so forth.

Designers of the Future 4, presents a selection of about 70 graduation projects by graduates from all the design schools in the fields of industrial design, graphic design, and jewelry design from the past year.
Additionally, a catalogue of the two exhibitions will be produced in Hebrew and English, which will serve as documentation of the practice and power of Israeli design and industry. The catalogue will be distributed in Israel and abroad as part of the international exposure strategy for Israeli design.

Made in Israel Expo – Designed and Made in Israel
Opening: May 5, 2011
Mediatheque complex

The event presents the “Made in Israel” industries that express national pride, and exposes products designed and manufactured in Israel in a variety of sectors, such as construction, food, electronics, jewelry, consumer goods, fashion, and so forth, and demonstrates the connection between Israeli design and Israeli industry.

Garbs of Creamy Goodness
Opening: May 7, 2011
HaMishkan Gallery, Beit Meirov

An exhibition presenting design duo Helena and Philip Blaunstein’s “Frau Blau” label – a new, colorful collection whose designs are inspired by the work of renowned graphic artist Gary Baseman.
“Frau Blau” was founded in Tel Aviv in 2002 by designers Helena Blaunstein and Philip Blau, and the concept behind the label is quality fashion with a humorous twist.
Gary Baseman lives in Los Angeles and is a star in the firmament of contemporary pop art. He is considered one of the most prolific and influential artists in his field, and has won a BAFTA award and three Emmys for the animated series Teacher’s Pet, based on which Disney Studios produced a feature film by the same name. He has worked with The New York Times, The New Yorker, Mercedes-Benz, Kodak, and Nike, to name but a few major firms. In addition to being a renowned illustrator, he also works in diverse fields, including animation, television, advertising, vinyl toy design, and fashion.

Profile Pictures
Opening: May 6, 2011
Holon Theatre Gallery

An exhibition of graphic designer Tal Spiegel’s work. Spiegel is a fourth-year student at Shenkar College of Engineering and Design, who designed a new Facebook profile picture of himself every day in the course of a year. His face appears in each and every picture, while the background and context change. The project is mostly influenced by culture icons, everyday objects, and anything else that crossed his mind.

Stitches in Copper
Opening: May 7, 2011
Hankin Gallery

An exhibition of works by Nati Amoyales presenting garments made from copper. Nati has been working with copper for fifteen years and has experimented with numerous techniques to find her distinctive path with the material. She says: “I’d cover the whole world in copper”.
Her works are sculptural. The copper sheets are cut and sewn together by hand to create garments: corsets, bras, dresses, and trousers. The complex technique includes beating, making holes, embossing, enameling, and utilizing pleating and lace motifs to create the effect of soft material.

“Made in Israel” Posters Designed by Students
Opening: May 5, 2011
Mediatheque and Dov Hoz Blvd.

The Israel Community of Designers in conjunction with the Israel Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor “Made in Israel” Department will be holding a competition between the departments for visual communication at the various design schools on the subject: “Made in Israel”. The “Made in Israel” Department will award prizes for the top three designers. The judging committee comprises representatives of the “Made in Israel” Department and the Israel Community of Designers.

Israeli Book 2011
Curator: Ilan Hagari
Opening: May 6, 2011
HaChava Gallery

The exhibition presents about 40 books in three categories, artist’s books, exhibition catalogues, and research books on Israeli art, that have been designed by fifteen of the most prominent Israeli designers in the field.
Art books constitute a platform by means of which diverse techniques and printing materials can be used for each book, and provide an opportunity for the designer to present the new and original.
Alongside the works of prominent designers, the exhibition also presents a selection of projects by students and recent graduates from design schools in Israel.
Designers participating in the exhibition include: Michal Sahar, Gila Kaplan, Nadav Shalev, Kobi Levi, Kobi Franco, Noa Shwartz, Koby Barhad, Dan Alexander, David Tartakover, Ilan Hagari, Guy Saggee and Adi Stern, Anna Geslev, Noam Shechter, and Nirit Binyamini.

Three study days will be held during Israel Design Week Holon:

May 5, 2011 | A study day on Design as an Economic Driver: Developing Strategic Company Assets Trough Intellectual Property Management, focusing on emphasizing the importance of design as an economic/business driver for company development.

May 12, 2011 | A study day on Industrial Design, Graphic Design/Branding, presenting leading designers in Israel who will also be showing their work.

May 15, 2011 | A study day on Interactive Media, discussing the cultural difference between interactive designers and their counterparts from the world of interactive startups.

Two “Design Friday” encounters will also be held:

May 6, 2011 | A lecture by leading New York based industrial designer Dror Benshetrit and Raphael Navot Nevo, guests of Tollman’s.

May 13, 2011 | An encounter on the subject of books will be held on . In this event, which is associated with the book exhibition at the HaChava Gallery, leading Israeli book designers will present a selection of projects and conduct an open discussion with the audience on book design.

About the Israel Community of Designers:
The Israel Community of Designers is a non-profit organization that represents industrial design, graphic design, and jewelry design professionals in Israel. The ICD represents Israel in international organizations, and includes practicing designers, students, and recent graduates from all the design schools in Israel.
Further information on the ICD website: www.israel-designers.org