Gary Rosenthal is one of those rare people who can look at a lump of cold metal and envision something exquisite. He takes ordinary copper, brass and steel,melts it, combines it with fused glass and magically transforms it into stunning Judaic art. Gary’s collection is always in demand with our customers at Traditions Jewish Gifts because it’s perfectly functional and yet beautiful enough to enhance a home’s décor.

I met Gary in 1994 and know that he discovered his natural talent for metalworking by serendipity.  He dropped out of Cornell University after his sophomore year and went to work in his father’s appliance repair business. That’s where he learned about welding and how he could create amazing art by shaping molten metals.

Gary started out in the mid-1970s making and selling large decorative wall pieces. Soon he added a series of small figurines depicting hobbyists such as dancers and scuba divers. When he featured these items at an art show in Baltimore, a customer admired them and asked if he could make a menorah in a similar style. When Gary agreed, he opened the door to amazing artistic opportunities.

You see, back then, contemporary Judaica did not exist. So people who wanted modern-styled Jewish art simply couldn’t find it. Turns out that Gary’s work was exactly what they were looking for.

Gary always shows great intuition in knowing what people will like and use for major Jewish holidays and life events. For weddings, for example, the bride-to-be might choose a special mezuzah from the Gary Rosenthal Collection, and insert a personal note to her bridesmaids or small gift for her guests. His other mezuzahs are absolutely lovely for displaying glass shards from the marriage ceremony.

I especially like Gary’s Heartholders group. It features memorable gifts such as picture frames and bookends that allow recipients to complete a gift by making their own additions – everything from photos to glass shards and other small mementos. Many of these items can also be inscribed with names, dates and special text.

To see Gary’s work, check out Traditions Jewish Gifts’ online catalog.  I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I do. And if you’re looking for a great gift, don’t miss our limited-time discount on Gary’s collection. Simply go to our home page or the Gary Rosenthal page of our website for details.

One of my favorite artists who makes unique Jewish gifts is Sara Beames of Beames Designs. From the studio attached to her home tucked into New York’s Catskill Mountains, she crafts beautiful, handmade fused-glass Judaica and home accessories. Sara’s pieces are extraordinary creations that our customers love to give as gifts to commemorate a Jewish holiday or special occasion. Her mezuzahs, menorahs, Shabbat accessories, tzedakah boxes and picture frames are among the most popular.

An artist through and through, Sara says she can’t remember a time when she didn’t feel a creative spark. A native New Yorker, she began working in pottery at the age of 11 and apprenticed with a potter in her senior year of high school. In college, she discovered glass as a medium and knew she had found her passion the first time she sandwiched a design between two pieces of glass and fired it in a kiln. She finished her degree in art at San Francisco State University and became active in a large Bay Area community of artists working in glass.

Sara’s first commercial pieces were home accessories, but once her work began to appear at the various retail and wholesale craft shows around the country, she began getting requests for Jewish gifts. So she put her creativity to work to develop unique, fused-glass pieces that celebrate Jewish traditions.

The great thing about Sara’s work is that it’s not only beautiful, but also functional and reasonably priced. Her designs incorporate iconic Jewish images such as the 12 Tribes and the Tree of Life, and she’s always experimenting with new elements to add color and effect such as paper confetti, ground glass, fibers or dichroic glass, a material originally created for NASA space shuttles that reflects light in interesting ways.

I also like Sara’s commitment to use products made in the U.S. and local craftspeople such as metalworkers who make the casts she needs for various items.

Known for its quality and originality, Sara’s work can be found in homes around the world. She has three nominations for Niche Awards, a program that honors excellence and innovation in American and Canadian fine craft.

While Sara is the creative genius behind Beames Designs, it’s her Aussie husband, Michael, who runs the business and is in charge of final quality control. The two of them make a great team.

All of us at Traditions Jewish Gifts love Sara’s work and like to recommend it to customers who need a Jewish gift that’s functional, memorable and beautifully out of the ordinary. I hope you’ll treat yourself to a look at Sara’s work in our online catalog, where we feature many, many of her products.

If you’re a football fan, this weekend is the event you’ve eagerly been awaiting since the first NFL kick-off. On Sunday, everyone will gather together to watch the “Big Game.” So to help celebrate this unofficial holiday, here are a few gift ideas for the football fan or fans in your family.

Score a touchdown with the Football Helmet Tzedakah Box. This charity box looks great in any child’s bedroom. It features a painted football helmet with two footballs on the field and a goal on the back.

Now that you’ve scored a touchdown, kick a field goal with the Hike! Football Mezuzah by the Quest Collection! This unique Mezuzah is the perfect addition to the bedroom of any football enthusiast. Handcrafted from cast pewter and painted with rich colored enamels, this Mezuzah is 4.5″ tall.

You won’t fumble with the Football Menorah by Susan Fullenbaum. This special team is lined up on the bench and ready to play ball! It is great to showcase year round on any living room table or wall unit.

Don’t just get your football shirts, hats and food for the big game. Get some great football themed Judaica gifts from Traditions Jewish Gifts to help celebrate you and your families love for football and the big game. Lets play ball!

Special Promotions:

• 10% on all Gary Rosenthal Art. Use coupon code: GARY10.
• Gift of Love promo. Tiered offer: $5 off $40: Coupon Code Ahava5; $10 off $75, Code: Ahava10; $15 off $100, Code: Ahava15 with Select Gifts. Offer valid through 2/14/12 http://www.traditionsjewishgifts.com/Gifts_Love_Valentines_Day.html
• Become our newest Facebook Fan here: https://www.facebook.com/TraditionsJewishGifts

If you are looking to purchase a truly special gift for someone then Mordechai Hazan Judaica is your answer. Each piece is an original work of art signed by the Israeli artist and the quality is second to none.

If you know somebody expecting a bundle of joy, give her the unexpected. The Noah’s Ark Mezuzah will make a beautiful addition to the door of any baby nursery. This 5” high ceramic mezuzah is handcrafted and hand painted. It features two giraffes, two lions, a dove and a butterfly. The picturesque mezuzah is the perfect reminder that the home has a new member in the family.

For the attorneys in your life, we have a most fitting mezuzah. Raise the bar on religious ornaments with our Lawyer Mezuzah. It’s suitable for any law office.  Handcrafted from ceramic and hand painted this mezuzah is adorned with the scales of justice. It measures approximately 4 3/4″ in height and is trimmed in 24K gold.

Whether you are shopping for a Mezuzah, Dreidel, Sedar Plate, Tzedakah Box or Menorah, you can’t go wrong by getting a gift by Mordechai Hazan Judaica from Traditions Jewish Gifts. Each of these gifts can be passed down from generation to generation!

Special Promotions:

• Back by popular demand – For a limited time save 10% on all Gary Rosenthal Art. Use coupon code: GARY10.
• Hanukkah Clearance Sale – 30-40 % off Hanukkah Decorations & Supplies. No coupon code required. Prices as marked. Offer valid until 1/12/12. http://www.traditionsjewishgifts.com/hanukkahsale.html
• Become our newest Facebook Fan here: https://www.facebook.com/TraditionsJewishGifts

Just because the Hanukkah festivities are on its final night doesn’t mean it’s too early to start preparing for next year’s Festival of Lights. Did we mention it’s the perfect way to save money? Take advantage of some great discounted Hanukkah Cyber Specials from Traditions Jewish Gifts. Buy these Hanukkah favorites now and enjoy them later.

The Rainbow Jewish Star Dreidel is a gift that can be used before next Hanukkah. This traditional Jewish gift is perfect for dressing up any end table or wall unit all year round.The unique hand-crafted 2.5” wide dreidel features a fusion of rainbow colorful glass stripes. It’s the ideal offering for any dreidel collector. Enjoy savings on this dreidel for a limited time. Although it regularly sells for $34.95, it can be yours for $27.96.

Save big on the Glass Dreidel Hanukkah Menorah from Tamara Baskin Art Glass Studio! Handcrafted in the U.S. this 8.5″ wide x 6″ tall menorah with polished candle holders features colorful fused glass dreidel shapes around a rainbow of colored glass. Regularly priced at $119.95, get it today for just $79.95. That is a savings of $40!

These are just two of the many great Hanukkah Discount Cyber Specials from Traditions Jewish Gifts. Browse this area of the website today to check out our other great bargains. Hurry! These cyber specials are only good until January 12, 2012.

Special Promotions:

• Back by popular demand – For a limited time save 10% on all Gary Rosenthal Art. Use coupon code: GARY10.
• Hanukkah Clearance Sale – 30-40 % off Hanukkah Decorations & Supplies. No coupon code required. Prices as marked. Offer valid until 1/12/12. http://www.traditionsjewishgifts.com/hanukkahsale.html
• Become our newest Facebook Fan here: https://www.facebook.com/TraditionsJewishGifts