At last, a long-time desire to create a ketubah has been fulfilled! When my husband and I were planning our wedding, I so wanted to create so many things: our invitations, our chuppah, my husbands tallis, the wedding programs, and a ketubah. But as my responsibilities, and creativity grew, time began to run out quickly. My ambitions to create a painting that would both illustrate our dedication to each other, as well as the kind of home we wanted to create started to fade. I needed to be realistic. I had soon forgotten my desire when I fell in love with the beautifully designed ketubah my husband and I picked out at our favorite Judaica store in Boston.

Then recently I received an exhilarating phone call from my best friend: First, she and her partner were planning a formal commitment ceremony! Wonderful news to hear since they have been together for nearly 10 years. Second, they wanted me to design a cross between a Ketubah and a Quaker certificate! So at long last my desire to create something liek this has been fulfilled, and now I have even more ideas: creating name certificates for the little ones in our family, anniversary certificates; my mind is racing with more and ore creative ideas.

“Using the season’s bounty of flora as influence and inspiration, students explore a variety of metal techniques within the context of botanical forms. Surface treatments such as reticulation, chasing & repousse’ and unusual techniques serve to enhance the forms students explore. Direct molding, wax impressions, natural object casting, electroforming and incorporating found objects are also investigated. Students produce multiple samples and finished projects for the course and are encouraged to work in series. Working critiques, slide presentations and outings for inspiration serve as a guide in exploring this organic approach to metalsmithing.”

He’s here! I can’t even describe how much my heart is filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and peace (must be that maternal instinct people always refer to).

Zachary Aaron, our son, came into this world earlier than expected on December 2, 2009 at 2:25 pm after less than 11 hours of labor! Contractions essentially started at 4am that morning, and after only about 25 or so minutes of pushing (and the assistance of forceps), he came out at 5lbs, 2.6 oz, at 18.5 inches long.

He is simply the love and joy of our lives, and we will be updating our blog with pictures as soon as we can. My next post will be about the labor and birth itself, followed by our bris/baby naming speech. Stay tuned! I have TONS of gorgeous pictures. I have been savoring every moment from diaper changes, to feedings, to naps…and yes, even tears of joy and frustration….but mostly joy.