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.

For a bride and groom, there is no day bigger than the wedding day. Months — and sometimes years — of preparation go into planning a picture perfect ceremony and reception. While the actual wedding may only last hours, the memories last a lifetime. Many people focus on photos and videos, but some of the most sentimental keepsakes of a Jewish wedding come from the traditional glass breaking ceremony. Preserve those memories forever with a stunning wedding glass mezuzah. In addition to keeping the wedding memories alive, the wedding glass mezuzah is the perfect decoration for the doorway of any master bedroom.

The Ani Li Dodi Wedding Mezuza handcrafted by Gary Rosenthal is a true fan favorite!  Broken glass is stored inside the mezuzah to create a cherished keepsake. The top of the mezuza is elegantly embossed in gold and says: “I Am My Beloved’s And My Beloved Is Mine” in English and Hebrew. Made of brass and copper with clear glass on top, the mezuzah can be personalized with the bride and groom’s names, along with the wedding date.

The Floral Crushed Glass Wedding Mezuza by popular Judaica artist Sara Beames is another great option. This pewter-based mezuzah is topped with a handcrafted piece of fused glass with a colorful floral pattern of glass. Similar to the Rosenthal mezuzah, there is a clear glass tube, which adheres to the top of the mezuzah. It is used to encase the broken glass from the wedding ceremony.

Weddings create amazing memories for the bride and groom, as well as family and friends. A Wedding Glass Mezuzah from Traditions Jewish Gifts is the perfect gift to help loved ones remember that special day forever.

Special Promotions:

• 10% off all Gary Rosenthal Art. Use Coupon Code: GARY10.
• Save 10% on all Quest Collection items. Use Coupon Code: QUEST10P. Offer valid through 3/4/11.
• Purim Gift Promo: Free Shipping with a $50 min. order on select Purim Items. Use Coupon Code: BadHaman.  Offer valid through 3/5/12.
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• Enter our Pinterest contest with a chance to win a $25 gift card: http://www.traditionsjewishgifts.com/Pinterest_Contest.html

Tomorrow is Shabbat, a very important day for anyone who celebrates the Jewish faith. Why not take Shabbat dinner to the next level by including some beautiful Judaica pieces from Sara Beames? Sara produces some of the most beautiful hand-made fused glass Judaica and home accessories. Here are a few great items we recommend in making your Sabbath even more special:

You and your guests will never want to drink out of any other Kiddush cup again after sipping wine from the 12 Tribes Fused Glass Kiddush Cup. Handcrafted in the U.S., this stunning cup features artistically-decorated, fused glass squares that represent the 12 Tribes of Israel. The gorgeous 7″ tall Kiddush Cup is so unique and beautiful you may never want it to leave your hands.

Serve dessert in style as well with the Geo Cake Server & Knife Set. This stunning set includes a cake server with matching knife. Both handles include pieces of geo- fused glass in an assortment of colors.

Sara Beames kicks Shabbat up a notch with her stunning fused glass Judaica works. Her art makes for the perfect gift for any special occasion including weddings, anniversaries or showers. For more of Sara Beames’ beautiful Shabbat creations, visit her page on TraditionsJewishGifts.com. Shabbat Shalom!

 Special Promotions:

• 10% on all Gary Rosenthal Art. Use Coupon Code: GARY10.
• Save 10% off all Tzedakah Boxes. Use Coupon Code: Charity10. Offer valid through 2/17/12. http://www.traditionsjewishgifts.com/Tzedakahbox-all.html
• Purim Gift Promo: Free Shipping with a $50 min. order on select Purim Items. Use Coupon Code: BadHaman.  Offer valid through 3/5/12.
• Become our newest Facebook Fan here: https://www.facebook.com/TraditionsJewishGifts

One thing is crystal clear about Sara Beames Designs – you can’t go wrong with glass works of art available in the Traditions Jewish Gifts Online Store. These pieces of Judaica art have been nominated for a number of awards, and it’s no surprise as to why. Designed using fused glass, these breathtaking pieces are unique in nature. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a gift as exquisite as Sara Beames Designs.

For all the challah lovers, cut to the chase with the Fused Glass Colorful Challah Knife. We’re not exaggerating when we say this utensil is the best thing since sliced bread. Handcrafted by Sara Beames and engraved in Hebrew with the words “Holy Sabbath” on the stainless steel blade, this is one beautiful accessory that definitely makes the cut in any Jewish kitchen.

Hand crafted in the U.S., the Millennium Lattice Matzah Tray makes the Matzah presentation even more special for any Jewish holiday. The tray is artistically crafted with colorful fused glass accents that will stand out at any dinner table. It measures 11″ x 8 3/4″. This hand-crafted gem is unique, as no two trays look exactly alike.

If you are looking for Judaica art that is functional, aesthetically appealing and accessibly priced, then Sara Beames Glass Designs is the perfect solution! Enjoy.

Special Promotions:

• Back by popular demand – For a limited time save 10% on all Gary Rosenthal Art. Use coupon code: GARY10.
• 10% off Select Wedding Gifts – Use coupon code: Weddings10. Offer valid through1/31.  http://www.traditionsjewishgifts.com/Discounted_Jewish_Wedding_Gifts.html
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Nothing is harder than losing a friend or family member. Everyone grieves differently. One way to keep a person’s memory alive is to honor the anniversary of their death with memorial lights. These lights will help preserve that special someone’s memory and keep a piece of his or her memory with you forever.

The Fused Glass Electric Memorial Light handcrafted by Sara Beames is a beautiful way to remember a loved one. This fused glass plaque with colorful dichroic glass squares sits on a stand that holds a memorial light. The plaque is 4 1/2″ wide x 5″ tall and fits comfortably on any night stand or end table. A bulb is included.

Another way to set up a memorial for someone special is with a beautiful Stained Glass Memorial Candle Holder. This memorial candle box comes complete with a memorial candle.

An Electric Memorial Lamp is another way to commemorate that lost life. This brass made lamp has a blue and gold colored flame. The words “In Loving Memory” are inscribed on the base. This lamp includes a neon Star of David bulb.

Although that special someone in your life may be gone, you can honor his or her Yahrzeit with memorial lights. These are just three of the many options from Traditions Jewish Gifts to help make the grieving process easier.

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
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