Woodland Papercuts

custom Woodland River papercut ketubah

2020-11-18T01:45:00.000+02:00

Shira commissioned me last year to create a truly unique fine art ketubah for her. She and her husband-to-be Brian chose the Reform pledge for their wedding vows, and needed a ketubah that will enhance and respect the sentiment expressed therein. Like myself she sees a lot of symbolism in nature and wanted her ketubah to tell her and Brian's story and truly be a celebration of their lives and all their wishes and dreams.

Against a backdrop of Washington state nature scene I drew flora symbolic of healing and justice (to represent their chosen professions), added fruits of fertility and grace, and populated it with native creatures of strength, loyalty, nobility and love. Can you find them all? Together we created a picture of familial and romantic love and devotion, on par with their wedding vows. This special ketubah truly is swoon worthy!

It's a cherished privilege to bring brides and grooms' vision to life and I'm so honored to be part of the process. Sometimes it takes one or two revisions for my brides to clarify what they want, and sometimes we land it in one. In Shira and Brian's design process we went through a few small corrections, each one an improvement over the last, until we found the perfect representation of them.

I cannot express how much I love drawing woodland creatures ~ Deer! Bears! Otters! ~ The first design had larger than life otters, but Shira really loved the bears so I shifted focus to a family of papa bear, mama bear, and two cubs. I enjoy adding life to my scenes and I do admit I was sad to lose some of the critters along the way, but the final ketubah is so good you forget it was any different.

18X18 inches big, with 4 color layers, Shira and Brian's magical woodland scene features a family of bears, deer, otters, birds, squirrels, and a variety of flora. Not least of all a bough of cherry blossoms to represent the tree under which they got engaged. It took me a while to come up with a name for this design. Bear Escapade? Bear Country? A Quiet Place (too horror-moviesh, right)? Decided on Woodland River, but please reach out to me if you think of a better name! Cute puns are not my forte.

Wish you could have a ketubah like this one? I'm happy to announce a version of this ketubah is now available in the shop!

Once again, the magic of summer camp twinkles on: Shira chose her woodland wedding venue because it is where she went to summer camp growing up and decided then this magical place would be where she marries the love of her life.💫 The ketubah's artwork reflects the splendor of the woodland setting, and its exquisite craftsmanship is repeated still in the wedding gown and decor. The entire theme repeats in all details big and small - perfectly considered! The ketubah serves as a wonderful keepsake of this celebration, and all the couple have accomplished and will accomplish yet.

TESTIMONIAL

It is GORGEOUS! It's even more beautiful in person. You truly made our vision come to life. Your detail and artistry is amazing! Thank you so, so much for creating such a lovely, meaningful piece that encompasses our commitment and love. It really is one of the highlights of our wedding!!

PRAISE FROM MOTHER OF THE BRIDE

I love the design and craftsmanship. Thank you for creating such a lovely, meaningful ketubah. You integrated so many elements important to them: their love of nature and wilderness, their "home" in DC and Maryland, their commitment to medicine and law, even pomegranates. I really appreciated how you worked with us as we developed our ideas for the design, you were very patient.

I also want to thank you for taking a centuries-old Jewish tradition and modifying it so that it is appealing and meaningful to the current generation of Jewish young adults.

The ketubah held a place of honor at the wedding!

High praise indeed! A handful months later the bride's cousin also ordered a ketubah😊

If you too would like an artisan ketubah for your wedding ceremony or celebration,
please get in touch with me here.

For more photos of this Ketubah
GO HERE.

For more photos of this Wedding
GO HERE.

| photographer Kir Tuben / @kir2ben
| wedding planner / day of coordinator Kristy Hartig
| venue Woodend Sanctuary

A Bounty of Wildflowers in the Catskills ~ custom papercut ketubah & client photos

2020-02-21T10:00:00.000+02:00

"When we received our ketubah we just sat and stared at it. Absolutely thrilled doesn’t even begin to cover it!"

Ariel and Michael are nature enthusiasts who spent years hiking the Hudson Valley, Catskill Mountains, and Adirondacks of Upstate New York. They commissioned me to create a special ketubah that celebrates the untamed beauty of those places.

Custom artwork commissions are a journey for both the clients and the artist. And this is how artwork is also personal for the artist: At the time in my life I got bad news, and I remember thinking I needed to draw something happy, something cathartic - an explosion of wildflowers - and then came Ariel and she was into it! Talk about right time, right place.

Ariel had a pretty good idea of the design brief but left the flowers pretty much up to me. I researched the flora that grows in the Catskills and what flower varieties symbolize health, happiness, fidelity, and more... and I poured all of it into this papercut!

Ariel knew she wanted a color scheme of ivory and silver. I wanted to add a lot of color to the ketubah so I proceeded with a skill I recently started honing, that of carefully puzzling together colorful layers for each petal and leaf. It's painstaking crafting on a different level and this design took hours to complete but the result is so worth it. We ended up going with a silver background which made it incredibly hard to photograph, but the finished ketubah is a masterpiece of vibrant colors!

C L I E N T P R A I S E

When we received our ketubah we just sat and stared at it. Absolutely thrilled doesn’t even begin to cover it!

We love the design and feel like it embodies our story!

Thank you for making our vision a reality. It is beyond perfect!

If you’d like an artisan ketubah for your wedding ceremony or celebration,
please get in touch with me here.

For more photos of this Ketubah
GO HERE.

For photos of past client weddings
GO HERE.

| photographer @cristinagphoto
| wedding planner @chivintagewed
| florist @persephonefloral

Summer Camp Papercut Ketubah - an ode to childhood

2020-02-14T10:00:00.000+02:00

Back in 2018 I received a commission to design a ketubah that is dedicated to that nostalgic coming of age place - the Summer Camp. Like my STARGAZING ketubah, it pays homage to where the couple first met, fell in love, and connected with nature. A place of growth, discovery, and finding yourself. Where adventures are embarked upon - and this one, Blaire and Sam's love journey - circles back to.

I N S P I R A T I O N

The clients were referred to me by their friends, upon which they discovered the MEHNDI DREAMS ketubah I made a year prior. They loved the style, being both connected to Asian culture and practitioners of yoga, and wanted a design that would honor these motifs. The scenery had to include elements of the summer camp where they met as children, as well as other important locales in their lives such as California and Israel. Hopefully I achieved a design that facilitates relaxing immersion back into precious memories.

T H E D E S I G N
As a personal artwork it's unlikely other viewers will receive the same energy looking at the ketubah as my clients will, which makes it all the more uniquely theirs. I included pomegranates, ferns and fir trees, lacey chakras and even a cheeky lemon. There were a first and a second version to the design on the way to get the plant balance right, but I think you'll agree this gold and ivory creation hits all the right notes!

SUMMER CAMP CHAKRAS

🌿18X18 inches | Ivory & Light Gold🌿

Blaire & Sam are two of several clients who met at summer camp as children. A repeating theme, I've reached nearly ten commissions with the same premise, which shows that the magic of summer camp connections is indeed real! It's a privilege to bring forth these intimate, funny, complex and personal love stories into artful keepsakes for my clients. How did you meet your forever love? Tell me all about it!

If you’d like a bespoke ketubah for your wedding ceremony or celebration,
please get in touch with me here.

For more photos of this Ketubah
GO HERE.

For photos of past Wedding Papercuts
GO HERE.

custom papercut ketubah | My Brother's Wedding Gift

2020-02-06T10:00:00.000+02:00

In September of 2019 my brother married his beloved. It was a beautiful wedding at the Tiberias lakeshore and I was honored to create this symbolic wedding keepsake for them both.

Creating artwork for your family is never easy. They get a glimpse into the process that my other clients never do. They certainly get to walk in and look at my messy table and half-drawn sketches before I'm ready.😱 Disappointing loved ones is a stressful possibility, for myself and surprisingly them as well. Part of my process with my brother and sister-in-law was to keep reassuring them that their feedback is welcome and won't insult me or hurt my feelings.

After all, I'm here for you and to create a masterpiece for you! Honest communication is necessary for successful creative collaboration - and the door swings both ways. I shifted through ideas and guided my clients to their best ketubah before, gladly so. Put your trust in me and you'll have your dream ketubah!

In the end, my brother and sister-in-law have a cherished keepsake of their wedding and I got to make a heartfelt gift. Win-win;)

I N S P I R A T I O N

My brother and sister-in-law came to my studio months before their wedding date was even set to discuss their ketubah. They poured over previous ketubot and really thought over the text, scale, and details they'd like to have in their artwork.

A ketubah that really caught their eye and became the basis of their own design was ALWAYS & FOREVER. I asked them to break down what drew them to this particular design: They liked the landscape orientation, the layered papercuts, the enveloping trees, and the hidden treasures of the carved motto and symbolic creatures that peppered the scene.

The consultation stage is its own beast and changes from client to client. For some it means a quick email and for others it's a conversation lasting over several days. You don't need a clear picture of what the artwork will look like - leave that to me - but this grants you a moment to consider your individual and shared stories, what binds you together. For my brother and sister-in-law, references to their heritage, familial history, and Israel were all in order.

T H E D E S I G N

Their proposal story is pretty magical, with Disney-esque wildlife appearing to witness my brother get down on one knee. I made sure to reference them, along with other symbols of their own love story - from the hidden windmill to the kissing horses.

Even though they gave me a detailed concept list and a reference framework to start from, I had to redraw the artwork after they saw the preview. This is the nature of custom design: I'm a skilled artisan, but I'm not a mindreader. And that's ok!

The first version is similar to the final ketubah only it featured a scenic view of the Galilee. But in Marie Kondo's immortal words ~ it didn't spark that joy within them; they wanted that magical forest feel over the familiar landscape reference. I changed course and created a woodland realm of ancient trees and rustling foliage with hidden treasures thoughtfully placed throughout. They chose autumn colors that gave depth and texture to the artwork. All that together created a wonderland scene that is uniquely Woodland Papercuts.

🌲YOU & ME ALWAYS🌲
handmade papercut ketubah
40X50cm | 5 colorful layers

Since this was a family gift I got to not only bestow it but also witness it in use on their wedding day! The oohs and aahs around the table during the Signing Ceremony were very very rewarding, to say the least. So were the interested questions from the wedding guests! To have family choose your artwork with whole hearts and to see it framed and displayed in their home is extremely gratifying. The ketubahs that I make - keepsake artworks that they are - aren't the norm in Israel. I'm delighted this modern version is appreciated!

T E S T I M O N I A L

My sister has been making ketubot for several years now but I never understood the depth and breadth of what she does until I commissioned a ketubah of my own. We were hesitant at first because we didn't want religious bias in our wedding but Naomi explained the concept of the secular ketubah and made the process really inviting and easy from start to finish. We not only received a precious artwork for our home but one that makes us consider and truly appreciate the vows we took for each other. The artwork enhances our pledge and makes it truly magical!

If you’d like a handmade ketubah for your wedding ceremony or celebration,
please get in touch with me here.

| Wedding photography by @adriansebalweddings

Etsy Awards 2019 Winner

2019-11-25T09:30:00.000+02:00

Etsy announced their winners of the first ever Etsy Design Awards and I'm happy to share that my WONDERS OF SEA & TREE ketubah was declared the winner in its category Festive Celebrations!

“We’re constantly looking to uncover the latest trends emerging on Etsy, and the Etsy Design Awards were an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the highest quality items created by talented makers around the world.”

-Dayna Isom, Johnson, Etsy Trend Expert and competition judge.

FIND THE WINNERS OF THE OTHER CATEGORIES AND THE GRAND PRIZE RECIPIENT HERE

The Etsy Design Awards (or Etsies for short) sought to highlight sellers who “truly embody the spirit of Etsy," an artisan marketplace boasting thousands of talented and skilled craftsmen and craftswomen. Naturally for an introvert artist like myself it is a bewildering honor to be considered one of "the very best of Etsy!"

I certainly didn't feel like it when I applied. Truth was, I was in a slump. I was reading articles and workbooks by creative business coaches and filling out branding questionnaires and suddenly this Etsy Design Awards opportunity appeared in my inbox. I only applied not after reading the pitch, but after reading the application questions. I found myself thinking the questions over and decided that if I was going to answer them for myself I might as well send them on for other people to read. I'm sure my fellow winners will agree, the questions in the application form helped me remember why I create my art in the way that I do. How satisfying it is and how connected I feel to my craft. I honestly felt a weight lifted off my shoulders with every impassioned answer I gave. My answers helped me and my business before I ever knew I was chosen as a finalist!

Awards are recognitions of qualities you want to celebrate and encourage in the whole community, not just the recipient, so being chosen as an Etsy's Design Award recipient is not only a boost to my confidence as a creator - it's validation by my community. I’m so humbled and thrilled that Etsy agrees there is room in this modern world, in this wedding industry, for these handcrafted artworks.

The Festive Celebrations category's tagline is For all things wedding that are the life of the party. This is a perfect description of what a ketubah is! A ketubah is nothing if not a celebration of a couple's shared life, their hopes and dreams. It is a true keepsake ~ displayed proudly on the wedding day and at home to always remind spouses through hardships and happiness the strength of their love and commitment to each other.

The Wonders of Sea & Tree papercut ketubah perfectly embodies the renewed spirit of this ancient wedding artistry: highly decorative with elements of both land and sea, it illustrates the merging of the bride and groom's lives together. Creatures of legend surround the marriage pledge and bestow a sense of adventure and excitement onto the wedding vows. Both worlds come together to create a design lush with symbolism and color that honors the sacred wedding vows and celebrates the the sentiments that inspired the wedding union.

I began making papercut ketubahs to celebrate the love pledge between lovers in a modern style that both honors the tradition of the ketubah’s craftsmanship and celebrates all modern love stories. At their core, all my papercuts begin with the story my clients share, of how they met and fell in love. The craftsmanship I put into creating them makes the sentiment behind a marriage covenant just that much more special and heartfelt, and I aspire to make each of my tactile artworks as enchanting as the love pledges they frame.

I approach each client with patience and a wish to help, because I know that many are unfamiliar with wedding artwork - traditional or otherwise - and I am here to educate and guide. The process of ordering a wedding keepsake should reflect the positive energy that brought the clients to this milestone, and be as breathtaking and joyful at the end.

I hope to always keep papercutting, creating and sharing beautiful artistry that my clients will cherish and cultivate in their own homes.

To Order Your Own
W O N D E R S O F S E A & T R E E
Contact me HERE | Go to MY SHOP

Etsy's first ever Design Awards were covered in different publications, including APARTMENT THERAPY, HOUSE BEAUTIFUL, and HUFF POST.

| Gorgeous studio photography by Nechama Jacobson Photography
| Animated GIF by Ted + Chelsea Photography

Custom Papercut Ketubah for an Interfaith Wedding | Elephant's Kiss

2019-11-19T10:00:00.000+02:00

When Ruchi and Eric first contacted me for a bespoke ketubah to celebrate their destination wedding ceremony, I knew instantly this was going to be a beautiful artwork for me to design and create for them. Their interfaith wedding meant that both Hindu and Jewish cultures would need to be featured and with so many intricate and ornate symbols typical of both faiths, I couldn’t wait to bring the two together to represent their union!

I N S P I R A T I O N

Ruchi and Eric adored my Mehndi Dreams ketubah and there were details they wanted to feature having seen it. From the Star of David with the Om symbol to the Hamsa, I filled the design with good luck charms nestled betwixt symbolic elephants, peacocks, mandalas, lotus flowers and stars to feature in their design.

Whilst this may seem like a long list of components to include, thanks to the consult process I do Ruchi and Eric provided me with a really clear vision of the ketubah they were looking for so I had a strong groundwork to start designing for them both!

The couple chose a rich palette of midnight blue, ivory and super gold to bring a decadent and regal look to their ketubah and I love how the three so naturally complemented the design references they had asked for.

T H E D E S I G N

I came up with the concept for Elephant’s Kiss to symbolise everlasting love and wisdom. Showcased beneath the ketubah text, two elephants create a focal point with their trunks lovingly entwined to signify a kiss and I added traditional Mehndi designs to them as a nod to Ruchi’s culture.

Sitting proudly about the ketubah text is a single peacock as a symbol of prosperity, protection and good fortune. I then designed around the animals to create a wonderland of decorative flowers, foliage with dainty hidden gold treasures thoughtfully placed throughout. The more detailed the papercut, the laciest it will look, and the ornate elements only enhanced the concept of this ketubah's design. It's fun to papercut, too! It's designs like these that challenge me to improve my skills with the blade and develop a style that's uniquely Woodland Papercuts.

From design to creation, Elephant’s Kiss took me around three weeks to produce. I refined the digital design twice for Ruchi and Eric, making small changes to give some of their favourite elements a little more visibility.

I am so thrilled with how this bespoke ketubah looks and I love how it brings together two truly beautiful cultures. As with every ketubah, these are paper heirlooms to treasure forever and I was delighted to have the couple proudly display theirs in their home following their wedding ceremony.

If you’d like a bespoke ketubah for your wedding ceremony or celebration,
please get in touch with me here.

Etsy Awards Finalist

2019-08-06T11:05:00.001+03:00

I'm honored to share that WONDERS OF SEA & TREE papercut ketubah is an Etsy Awards Finalist!

Etsy's been a bright guiding star in my life. It has steered me into this ocean of freelance opportunity and exciting community I never would have adventured to on my own. Etsy has empowered me to live a life I would not have dreamed possible and I AM SO GRATEFUL!

I discovered Etsy in 2007 when searching for cupcake-shaped pin cushions. Down the rabbit hole I went! I was earning a BA in illustration at the time and told EVERYONE about this site. I opened my own tiny stationery shop on Etsy then and I'm pretty sure most of my class followed suit, listing their posters, paintings, and art dolls. Several are still active today - check out TushTush and Tosya!

A full time independent creator and business owner, I am an Etsy success story. This small crafters marketplace changed my life for the better! I’ve witnessed it grow over the years as I’ve grown. It connected me with other artists, shared stories of success and advice, showed me opportunities and encouraged me to be brave. I opened WOODLAND PAPERCUTS in 2011 and found a life worth living - full of creativity and heart.

Thank you Etsy editors for picking one of my ketubot for your first annual awards! And guys - go take a look, there are so many great artists on the list and beyond - just writing this I searched for my old shop and discovered a collection of new makers!

If you're interested in WONDERS OF SEA & TREE - this beautiful masterpiece was first inspired by folklore of land and sea - creatures of legend surround your marriage pledge and bestow a sense of adventure and excitement on your wedding vows. 18X18 inches big this design is entirely hand-drawn and hand-cut. Just choose your text & colors and off we go!

"I think I'm quite ready for an adventure!"

WONDERS OF SEA & TREE was nominated in the Festive Celebration category - for all things wedding that are the life of the party. This category is a perfect description of what a ketubah is! And this ketubah specifically embodies perfectly the renewed spirit of this ancient wedding artistry.

A ketubah needn't be boring, traditional, or closed off and secretive. It's a celebration of love - it should be shared! On Etsy I found likeminded artists who were trail-blazers in this niche industry. With the help of Etsy we shared the ketubah with a wider audience than ever before. No more unimaginative designs and low-quality prints, here you found story-tellers that created with care and a personable touch. I believe I was of the first few to sell papercut ketubot on Etsy, breathing new life into this dying artistry. You couldn't find a handmade papercut ketubah in an open, young style anywhere else but Etsy! Discerning Jewish, Quaker, and Artistic brides and grooms found us on Etsy and I'm thrilled to see this niche category has grown so much!

To Order Your Own
W O N D E R S O F S E A & T R E E
Contact me HERE | Go to MY SHOP

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Wedding photos by Tristan Crane Photography

Florence In Love papercut ketubah for a destination wedding in Italy

2019-05-27T10:00:00.000+03:00

Even intimate celebrations are worthy of a cherished artwork to commemorate them. Such is the case with Alexandra & Shawn's destination wedding to Florence, Italy.

Alexandra was not my usual client as she wanted me to emphasize not nature but rather the spectacular man-made structures of Florence, Italy - namely the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio. From my past work you'd assume this is not in my wheelhouse, but now, Florence is my dream vacation destination! I'm an art history buff and the Italian Renaissance is my favorite art era so I understood why she wanted to feature them in her ketubah. I knew these buildings would carry my handmade style well and I was thrilled to have this little bit of Italy in my studio!

As with all custom orders, we delved deeper into the couple's vision for their ideal ketubah. After our 1-on-1 consultation we added more elements to the design: like the statue garden of the Four Seasons Hotel they'll be married at, the logo for the local restaurant where they'll be having their rehearsal dinner, the couple's initials, the bride's flowers, and the lace pattern of Alexandra's wedding gown. All in a white and gold color scheme worthy of a Medici. Or at least a modern descendant:)

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FLORENCE IN LOVE

13X19 inches | Ivory, Gold Leaf

(click photo for best resolution)

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My favorite detail of the design is the gate peeking from the tree foliage, which is the central gate in the hotel gardens. That's just the illustrator in my, though. The design went though several variations in my studio because I couldn't decide on the placement of the structures - each is such magnificent masterpiece in itself! But I made it in the end and sent it to the client who luckily quickly approved of my choice.

Because the ketubah will be flying from the US to Italy the bride asked me to have the text layer separate from the papercut layer, a request which also informed the design I created. It's sad for me that the entire piece will not get to bask in Italian sunshine, but no-checked-luggage is always best.

For more photos of this and other custom design ketubot
GO HERE

To Order Your Own
C U S T O M P A P E R C U T K E T U B A H
Contact me HERE for consultation

Orchids papercut ketubah for an elegant wedding

2019-04-22T10:00:00.000+03:00

F E E D B A C K "I am obsessed with our ketubah"

Courtney & Saul's ketubah order was very straight-forward. They opted for the easy, no-fuss route of choosing one of the bespoke designs from my shop - the ORCHIDS.

A quick consult with me on the color options (mockups included!), and the couple chose the Orchids in timeless ivory and silver. They also provided their own Egalitarian text for the ketubah, which I personalized with their details and font choice. A quick proofreading by them and off their ketubah went. Four days later they had it in their hands!

Courtney & Saul's elegant wedding was featured on the wedding blog Smashing the Glass. They read their ketubah aloud to their guests, so this cherished handmade artwork will undoubtedly always evoke those heartfelt memories for them.

To Order Your Own
O R C H I D S P A P E R C U T K E T U B AH
CONTACT ME HERE | GO TO MY SHOP

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Photographs by Vivienne Tyler Photography

A Ride To Remember

2019-04-15T10:00:00.000+03:00

Even though my work is very crafty and old school - there's no machine cutting these papercuts for me! - I do rely heavily on technology for my business. All my clients are from overseas after all! But man oh man, the magic of the internet escapes me sometimes. For some reason every year or so I suffer through a mysterious bout of disappearing emails and bad connection. It always takes me a few weeks to realize the dearth in customers isn't a natural occurrence and then I scramble to make heads or tails of what's happening. It happened to me again over the holiday season and the start of this year, but this time I solved it with some coding mumbo-jumbo and managed to recover at least 2 weeks of emails (older ones were gone for good, sadly).

This commission here fell victim to that internet void, but luckily Zan believed in me enough and persisted through network glitches and missing emails to share with me her vision for the ideal wedding keepsake and cherished artwork.

S I D E N O T E | It came out so well. So please don't give up on me if I fail to reply, I lost your email and can be reached over on instagram and etsy!

Every time anew I am humbled by the trust and respect clients put in me to commission a wedding art piece that will not only stand in a place of honor in their homes, but in their hearts as well. There's a special kind of power in that artwork, which I feel comes from the shared affinity I and my clients have for Mother Nature. Its regenerative powers of healing and hope go hand in hand with that of Love, and what I strove to convey with this design of an idyllic view.

From the pinterest board (I should recommend more clients make these!) I knew Zan & Daniel were looking for a 16X24" big design in golds and greens that will have the atmosphere of scenic bicycle trails and specifically feature windmills, cherry blossoms, peonies and field flowers, Oregon mountains view, a violin, and pomegranates. For further inspiration I used the verse they asked to include with their text, which is not the usual verse people ask for but one that exemplifies Zan & Daniel's awe and respect for nature so well:

"For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;"

After I finished drawing the papercut I decided adding colors to the leaves would really make them jump off the paper, as it were - so I spent a few hours assembling these like a puzzle underneath and over each other. It was strangely therapeutic, and the impact of the different golden shades shimmering in the sun cannot be disputed!

For more photos of this design
GO HERE

For more photos of custom papercuts
GO HERE

To Order Your Own
C U S T O M P A P E R C U T K E T U B A H
Contact me HERE for consultation

Written In The Stars papercut ketubah

2019-04-01T10:00:00.000+03:00

I always liked lush designs with a lot of detail. A good example for an amazingly full and lacey design is this one, commissioned by Lev for his wife Jamie. Lev asked for an anniversary ketubah to celebrate their relationship milestone. Our starting point was his proposal, which was written in the stars across the planetarium's IMAX dome (be still, my heart!) but we added in so much you would need to look over the papercut several times before seeing it all!

A sharp eye will catch the couple's pets, monuments of Washington DC, references to their Charleston wedding venue, Jamie's favorite flowers, wagon wheels and the landscape of their Texas town and more…

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WRITTEN IN THE STARS

16X24 inches | Ivory, Pearl Grey, Super Gold (stars)

(click photo for best resolution)

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For more photos of this design
GO HERE

For more photos of custom papercuts
GO HERE

To Order Your Own
C U S T O M P A P E R C U T K E T U B A H
Contact me HERE for consultation

Santa Barbara in papercut

2019-03-25T10:00:00.000+02:00

Looking back on the many commissions I did across the years, I spotted a trend in my papercuts. My papercuts were always lush in design but subtle in coloring but last year I noticed my papercuts had more details, more layers, more color - an evolution seen most clearly in this papercut for a wedding that took place earlier this year.

Alexi & Benjie actually contacted me after seeing another beach design I did for their friends, so they wanted something in that same grand scale with multiple layers only they wanted theirs in a lighter color palette. Somehow, from the client's wish for a sunset snapshot of Santa Barbara by the beach (emphasis on the ocean) and all the elements that make up their love story in the city, came out this 11 (that's ELEVEN!) layers colorful artwork. I surprised myself with this one!

This commission couldn't have come at a better time, it was freezing where I lived and I needed to warm up. Santa Barbara looked like a Mediterranean beach town, and a papercut of it deserved all the light-catching colors in my stock.

Alexi & Benjie met fell in love in Santa Barbara. It is their home and a backdrop to their love story so I was worried about capturing it and and all the details that make it special to them, but after a few late night sessions with reality tv playing in the background inspiration struck and I think I did well.

I was lucky that Santa Barbara has Mediterranean architecture so I had a lot of familiar angles to pull from - including that of the sandy beach. The cobalt blue dome of the local Hillel center was a starting point, actually. I decided to frame the wedding text with driftwood after they shared with me that for their first date they went to the beach and sat on a log for seven hours talking (can you imagine that connection)! To balance out the cityscape on the right I filled the left portion of the papercut with sea life - from shells to sunset sailing - with the local fruit and flora bridging the gap top and bottom. Terracotta rooftops, bicycles, palm trees, and roses (Benjie likes to buy Alexi rose sculptures so they always have fresh flowers at the house) completed the design. I especially like the addition of the couple's silhouettes gazing at their vows.

To Order Your Own
C U S T O M P A P E R C U T K E T U B A H
Contact me HERE for consultation

Otterly Love You custom papercut ketubah

2019-03-18T14:54:00.000+02:00

A custom design concept often begins with a list. What the couple wants to see in their ketubah? What do they definitely don't want to see? And I proceed from there. As a designer it's my job to flesh out the clients' vision and bring it to life in an edited, beautiful design. And I'm not gonna lie, sometimes I struggle with editing, myself. To have many ideas - same as to see many color variations - can often be too many ideas. More times than not I drive my assistant crazy because I work in tandem on 2 to 4 designs - sometimes to completion - before I can decide on the design to show the clients. It's not good time and labor management, but it's my creative process. And I definitely went through about 6 versions of this design before I settled on the one I showed Holly & Bill. (I still have the other versions in my back-pocket, waiting for their day.)

Holly & Will wanted their papercut ketubah to encompass their relationship across the years. It's a beautiful concept and oh my gosh we had a lot of pretty imagery to pull from! Holly gave me a list that included: lace, Chicago Musical Theater, castles, pumpkins, the Scottish Highland games, Superman, the ship necklace Will gave her, 'Safe in the Waves' motto, and more. A lot, right? Sounds random but she included a backstory and reason for every element to explain the emotional connection. The challenge for me was to pick and choose what to include and to create a cohesive composition that worked together not only aesthetically but also story-wise.

The two biggest elements I needed to feature were the bridge in Cedarburg, Wisconsin where the couple got engaged (Bill actually proposed to Holly there!) and a cutie-patootie otter couple (they mate for life!) - besides the ketubah text, of course;) Through their symbols - personal and universal - their love story needed to be told with a beginning, middle, and future. That the artwork came out so adorable is just a great bonus!

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OTTERLY LOVE YOU

18X24 inches | Super Gold, Charcoal

(click photo for best resolution)

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Our Favorite Hiking Spot | custom papercut ketubah

2018-12-22T10:00:00.000+02:00

With designs based off real locations, sometimes the design depicts the scenery, and sometimes I stylize the elements to create an image that will evoke the memories and feelings the clients are looking for. Annie & Zach wanted a papercut artwork to represent a location close to their hearts: their favorite hiking spot in The Three Sisters Park in Colorado.

From all the papercuts I did featuring state park forests I know it's a landscape that resonates with many -myself included!- and it's a challenge for me to create this response anew, without repeating myself. I believe I succeeded with this commission:

OUR FAVORITE HIKING SPOT

16X22 inches | Ivory, Copper, Ivy, Charcoal

(click photo for best resolution)

Our Favorite Hiking Spot is a 16X22 inches big papercut made out of four layers. It's a landscape design that draws you in - and to me is reminiscent of The Secret Garden imagery - a gateway to another world. The papercut is full of details from the different landscapes that brought Annie & Zach together - flowers and trees and mountains and bears. The illustration frames the text, but I think in this case the text is truly secondary to the intricacy and beauty of the papercut layers. It's one of those papercuts I like to say has hidden treasures, so the joy of viewing it extends with every new discovery. My personal favorite are the little mice!

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The Blessings Tree | modern papercut ketubah

2018-12-08T10:00:00.000+02:00

Lisa & Marshall wanted a design that married her love of tranquil nature with his wish for a vibrant Jewish style. She likes organic, subdued designs, he likes colorful and lush designs. My challenge was to come up with a comrpomise that would appeal to them both.

The design is purely symbolic for the couple. As Lisa wanted a no-fuss design, everything featured within had to hold meaning for the couple. I knew I was going to do a reference to Hanukkah as they were getting married on the eve of the holiday, so I hoped it will satisfy Marshall's wish for the Judaica style. I turned to the Bible for nature references that will appeal to Lisa and fit within the nature-theme, as well as connect back to Israel for Marshall. Bonus: the elements will symbolize all the principles for a loving union and work kabalah magic to strengthen their bond!

I made two versions eventually. The first papercut design featured the miraculous oil lamp of Hanukka (hope & resilience), from which a symbolic tree of blessings bloomed forth with the strong-rooted trunk of an olive tree (peace and health), the twisty, graceful vines weighted by grapes (love and fertility), and cascading blossoms of figs (prosperity and modesty).

Their feedback was that it needed to be more colorful, and they wanted to get rid of the oil lamp and replace it with a big menorah. I decided to alter the design to a frame of leaves and fruit so the combination of the different trees (and values) will be even more seamlessly organic. A few more mockups to tweak colors and the new design was approved - my most colorful papercut yet!

THE BLESSINGS TREE

13X19 inches

Mercury | Midnight Blue | Moss | Fir | Olive | Copper | Super Gold

My Most Colorful Papercut Yet!

(click photo for best resolution)

All the colors in this papercut are made of different layers. Assembling everything together was an unusual experience for me, it felt almost like piecing together a puzzle! It was labor intensive - I think it took about 6 hours all together - and it's not because I work slowly! I thought it would go much quicker, honestly, which goes to show that after 7 years every commission is still a unique experience.

The photo to the side was taken pretty late at night - maybe early morning? - when I was finally finished and tiredly packing the ketubah for pickup the next day. I was sad to see it go. Also, I clearly work nights pretty often, you can see I have another papercut on my desk in the beginning stages, and a movie cued up on screen.

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Tropical Bouquet | papercut ketubah for a bohemian wedding

2018-12-01T10:00:00.000+02:00

As winter is settling in and the year is drawing to a close, I'm looking back on commissions from this year that speak of warmer weather. None do so quite like this one, which just about shouts 'summer' to me.

Amelia commissioned me to create a papercut ketubah for her and Harrison that reflects their theme of a tropical beach wedding. They specifically wanted lots of flowers, and as they were getting married in Key West, Florida, I piled on the flora! Garden Roses, Anthurium, Ranunculus, Vanda Orchids, Peonies, Sophronitis, Hibiscus, Morning Glory, and Monstera Leaves, all play a part in their wedding decoration from the invitation set to the bride's bouquet, so I had a lot to draw from. The color palette was soft blush and light gold, like sunset.

To be honest, I didn't think I'd post about this commission. The clients were lovely and the design process went smoothly so I have plenty of photos but little to write about. I have no anecdotes to share other than that both the bride and I were tickled about the idea of including flamingos. There are three of them nestled in the design, if you can spot them: one for the bride, one for the groom, and one for good luck:)

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TROPICAL BOUQUET

18X18 inches | Blush & Light Gold

(click photo for best resolution)

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custom | Torrey Pines Park

2018-11-16T10:00:00.000+02:00

From the start Elana & Gregg knew they wanted a multi-layered design in their wedding colors of greens, blues and golds, in an off-center layout. They were looking for something with trees and the ocean. After discussing the design they wanted I knew that I'll be using more than my usual 2 papercut layers to deliver a magnificent ketubah. Six (6!) layers in total make up this 16X22 inches papercut that depicts a scenic beach view of their much-loved Torrey Pines Park spot.

We started with a beach scene at sunset, but the design also features myriad of other elements big and small that symbolize different aspects of their life. For example, the lighthouse where they met, My Beloved verse, a hidden golf player's silhouette, and one detail that only they will understand is the golden book open on the sea-waves.

We tried many color combinations before they decided on their color scheme shown above - here are four examples. Which would you choose? (click images for bigger sizes)

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Fairy Garden | papercut ketubah for a magical backyard wedding

2018-11-09T10:00:00.000+02:00

Janessa & Scott wanted to get married in their backyard under their willow tree. Small but untamed, it's been a playground and home base to their dog and daughter, a myriad of wildlife, and the ever secretive fairies. Yes, fairies! With tiny houses!

When Janessa first contacted me she described my papercuts as "lovely and whimsical, like a peaceful dream." I hope she feels the same about her own special ketubah; I certainly do!

After getting their vision for the ketubah it wasn't hard to whip out my pencil and draw a summer garden design overflowing with fairytale magic that features butterflies, gentleman toads, owls, turtles, and hedgehog families, to name but a few. I even have their daughter climbing the willow tree. It's one of those fun papercuts where the more you look at it the more details you find hidden in the local flora that fill up the design.

I think it took me a full week to cut once the design was approved, if I remember correctly. I kinda dragged my feet because I enjoyed it so much. Did I watch Fantasy movies while working? Ya bet I did!

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FAIRY GARDEN

16X24 inches | Polvere & Pearl Grey

(click photo for best resolution)

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custom | Starry Desert Nights papercut ketubah

2018-11-02T10:00:00.000+02:00

Farryn & Jake came to me with a mood board of their wedding and asked me to create a ketubah to match. They were incredibly organized with reference photos and synopsis and all I had to do was use my imagination and skill to translate all that into an artwork that will hang in a place of pride in their home. No biggie!

Sand dunes and cacti, a starry desert night framed by lattice decor of traditional desert cultures, this papercut feels like it could have framed poetry. Is this an elegant design befitting 1,001 Arabian Nights? You be the judge. I ended up doing several versions before the client settled on this one, which I think is the prettiest. I was fortunate I had a last sheet of tan paper to make up the dunes, and several shades of shimmer paper to choose from for the monochrome desert color palette the bride was looking for.

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custom | Snapshots of Us

2018-10-31T10:32:00.000+02:00

Nate came to me looking for an anniversary ketubah to celebrate his marriage to Tiffiny. As befitting an anniversary design, the artwork needed to reflect and touch on many memories, big and mundane, that they created together in their whirlwind romance. With the help of their backstory to help me understand what stands out to him over the course of their relationship, as well as a booklet of detailed instructions with reference photos, I whipped up this papercut into shape and created a cohesive and harmonious design.

We ended up with an Anniversary Ketubah that is truly a collection of vignettes that together symbolize their story. From their love of travel to the bannister design from their wedding venue, the papercut covers many memories. My favorite is the glimpse of the actual crossword puzzle Nate gave Tiffiny to finish before they even started dating (they still have it stuck to their fridge door, you guys!).

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SNAPSHOTS OF US

18X18 inches | Blush & White, Blue text

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18X18 inches big, with colors to match their wedding stationery, the papercut surrounds Nate & Tiffiny's marriage vows to each other. They opened it together on their wedding anniversary!

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client feedback years later

2018-10-11T10:00:00.000+03:00

Back in 2013 I created a custom papercut for Eric & Angela's wedding. I think their papercut was the first 16X24 inches big I made? Their ketubah was a modern version in three languages that celebrated the scenic landscape of Texas. Sadly I have no good photos of it (what am I doing here?) but imagine a desert landscape of Texan cliffs, a river snaking across the land, and a great tree.

They were a joy to work with, and left a touching note after receiving the ketubah:

-------------------- F E E D B A C K --------------------

It is I N C R E D I B L E !!!!

The more Angela and I look at your handiwork, the more we love it (and we thought we loved it before). We are so glad you were the one to make this custom heirloom that will be with us the rest of our lives. Your creativity, artistic eye, and execution of the design is breathtaking. We thank you, sincerely, for how easy it was to work with you as well. The response time, the ease of going through the design phase, and your own enthusiasm in all those steps made it a joy to go through the process with you.

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I recently found an email they sent a year ago (gosh, how time flies!) that made me tear up. As a wedding vendor I send out my artwork to the clients and then rarely hear from them again. That this note came years later is truly unique - and I can't believe I've been doing this long enough to get feedback years later!

--------------------2 N D F E E D B A C K , Y E A R S L A T E R --------------------

We just wanted to say hi and acknowledge your handiwork hanging on our wall as we have passed it so many times for over three plus years now. On the evening of the wedding rehearsal a car ran through two stop lights and crashed into Angela's parents' car. They were in the hospital and couldn't make the wedding. We ended up going through with the ceremony, not knowing what was ahead. To make a very long story short, we later lost Angela's dad and her widowed mom can't drive but therapy is still improving issues. And now, over 3 years later, the headaches with all the hospitals and collections and insurance and lawyers might finally be coming to a close. I write this because I want you to know that our ketubah has been looked at during many difficult times during the years. We love it, and the message on it would end up being more appropriate and give hope than we could've imagined before the wedding. It is truly our heirloom. The Lord used your skills to bless us and it still does...we pray you are blessed as well!

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To be truthful I am bombarded with humanity's ugliness on a nearly daily basis when I step outside of my studio and this work is a comfort and a boon to me. I had just heard from other papercutters I admire that they would describe themselves as hermits, as do I. I know I need that home shelter. We sit in silence alone and bring forth beauty we hope people will cherish and cultivate in their own homes. It's so humbling and comforting to know that it does.

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IMAGE SOURCE | Photos of Stephanie & Lae's wedding taken by The Spragues. Photos feature the Twin Cherry Trees ketubah, which is available in the shop.

new in the shop | Starry Night and more traditional ketubah designs

2018-10-06T10:00:00.000+03:00

There are three new designs in the shop, all derived from commissions I did in the last three years that I kept getting requests for.

B L O O M S & B E R R I E S Two years ago LeighAnn and Isaac commissioned me to create a custom design with a traditional flare that would also fit their extra long text. After deciding the design should include traditional Judaica patterns of pomegranates and berries, along with flowers that included Mackintosh roses as a nod to the bride's Scottish heritage, they opted to enlarge the dimensions to 16X24 inches and really make it shine. I think it worked:

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Oh my goodness -- what an incredible job you've done!! I thought I understood from the renderings just how beautiful it was going to be, but in person it is just amazing! Isaac laughed at me because I took pictures for each step of the unwrapping process :) We love it so so very much. Thank you. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with you!
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Earlier this year Yael contacted me looking for a version of it to fit her own text & vision. After sitting on these designs for a few months I decided to tweak both versions for optimum broad compatibility and both are now available in the shop! Which would you choose?

click photo for best resolution

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BLOOMS & BERRIES

16X24 inches | your choice of colors

(text box length is dependent on your choice of text unless specifically requested)

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S T A R R Y N I G H T Following my last post on the STARGAZING Redux I decided to add my favorite version of the design to the shop! Trees, hidden squirrels and magical twinkling stars - who can resist? For this ketubah too I featured some of the changes you can make to the design (and many more are available!) to make it your own.

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STARRY NIGHT

18X18 inches | your choice of colors

(click photo for best resolution)

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J U D A I C A N O U V E A U I wrote about this design and versions of it here on the blog many times before. After another request to produce this ketubah earlier this year I decided to add it to the shop as well! No doubts about it, this design is best suited for couples looking for the traditional Judaica design (hence the name), but still has a flare of modernity about it.

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JUDAICA NOUVEAU

18X18 inches | your choice of colors

(click photo for best resolution)

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J U D A I C A N O U V E A U
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client photos | the Twin Cherry Trees wedding

2018-10-04T10:00:00.000+03:00

Stephanie & Lael were happily married a little over a year ago. My story with them is a good example of the stress and jitters my clients sometime suffer through in the chaos of their wedding preparations - and how in the end these are no more than little hiccups that are easily forgot once the day passes and they have each other. They don't say a wedding is one of the most stressful events in a person's life for nothing! I always strive to be a calm, patient voice to guide and take care of my clients in the short interactions I have with them, so on the ketubah front at least they can count on having a beautiful art piece that will show up on time, will stand muster with the rabbi, and will grace their homes forever.

Stephanie & Lael ordered one of my most popular designs - TWIN CHERRY TREES (available in the shop)- in a warm colorway to feature their carefully composed custom text. It was a fun quick order and the bride was very happy - they loved the design! - until her groom saw the ketubah unveiled and said he didn't like the colors. Cue panic!

To be clear, mistakes are few and far in between, but when they do occur I never take them lightly. If it's my fault I will refund, send a replacement, or cover the costs of returning-fixing-sending the ketubah back in time. There is that grey area on occasions when clients open their gift-wrapped order and tell me they made a mistake on their text or they don't like the colors they've chosen. I always feel guilty for not reading their mind or just knowing better. I am a classic perfectionist and any flaw is a mortal strike - thankfully with this job I rarely get to feel this way.

I really felt for Stephanie and Lael, two weeks before the wedding and they wanted to know if they could change the ketubah's colors all together! I gave them a price and time quote but encouraged them to think it over. They were stressed and emotional and I was convinced they'll like their ketubah as-is once the wedding fog cleared since they loved the design so much. It might sound presumptuous but in these cases I encourage my clients to look at their ketubah in different light conditions and to place it against the walls in their home to better judge how it will really look in its final resting place. It's amazing the difference a good night sleep or two will have, too. In this case, it helped a lot and after much consideration Stephanie and Lael decided to keep their ketubah in the colorway they originally chose. It was the best decision, as these breathtaking photos show (taken by The Spragues). In fact, their wedding was so beautiful I am tempted to share an inappropriate amount of their photos with you! Instead I'll limit myself to those featuring the ketubah, which colors in the end complimented the venue so well.

F E E D B A C K

I'm overwhelmed, it's so beautiful. Lael turned to me during the start of the ketubah signing and said “I really like the ketubah” while he started tearing up, which then made me tear up. The ornateness of the design juxtaposed with all the honey tones of the wood table and gave the whole thing this really cool earthy feel, like it combined both our styles.

Thank you SO much for all your patience and help, you've really been exceptional to work with.

S T E P H A N I E & L A E L

photos by The Spragues

Congratulations Stephanie & Lael!

Thank you for choosing the Twin Cherry Trees ketubah

for your celebration and to display in your home

for a lifetime to come

For more photos of this wedding and others, see my
CLIENT PHOTOS GALLERY

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custom | Floral Chuppah ketubah

2018-10-01T10:00:00.000+03:00

Rachel was referred to me by her friends who ordered a ketubah some three years earlier. She wanted a floral design to match her elegant chuppah - a beautiful living structure of delicate blooms and branches. I included her favourite flowers like roses, gerber daisies, and hydrangeas, as well as a monogram of the couple's names. The result - a delicate wreath of blooms enveloping the traditional ketubah text.

FLORAL CHUPPAH

16X16 inches | Mercury & Charcoal

(click photo for best resolution)

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Looking at photos of this ketubah reminded me of other floral designs of similar elegance that I previously made. Which is your favorite?

click photo for best resolution

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Floral Chuppah
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custom | Field Flowers Lace

2018-09-29T12:22:00.001+03:00

Tamar married Eric in an Orthodox wedding (she's Secular) and somehow in the consultation stage this marriage of different traditions, same religion translated in my mind into a mirror design so the ketubah could potentially be viewed top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top and still be the same. The bride was (in her words) a sucker for wild and field flowers so we crammed a lot of flowers in there, along with a few lace flowers from Tamar's chuppah fabric. Honestly, the resulting lush lacey effect was great. I watched a lot of Sense & Sensibility when I was drawing that day. Also, Three Men & A Baby for some reason…

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It’s absolutely lovely! Thank you! We cannot wait until the big day and for us to display it on our wall for the rest of our lives. We appreciated working with you and sharing our ideas with you. It was a real pleasure. Thanks again!

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