Kata-gami

Kata-gami is the ancient Japanese art of cutting stencils that are used for printing garments and household textiles. The klaf stencil is divided into quadrants containing patterns suggesting the Elizabethan four elements – earth, water, air, fire – overlaid on lush Italian silk.

These sections are further divided into 18 (chai) rays surrounding the text to wish the couple a long and blessed life together.

3 colourways • printed on washi paper

PLUS papercut option

Wedding ring Quilt

A handmade quilt is the essence of home and love.  The “Double Wedding Ring” is a beautiful and technically challenging vintage quilt pattern that evolved from several design sources dating back to the 4th century.

This quilt is assembled from handmade washi paper, a tough and resilient material used in Japan for clothing, household goods, toys, and ritual objects.  Some pieces of this quilt are indigo-dyed, others have liberal flecks of gold leaf.

Shin

In Japanese and Korean, the Kanji  pronounced “shin” has three forms, meaning (L to R]: trust, genuine, and heart.  Underlying the whole design is the Hebrew letter shin, indicating God’s presence. All of these concepts are at the core of our relationship with our beloved as well as with the divine presence.

printed on washi paper

Thanks to Yoichi Kumagai for linguistic insights.

Celtic ribbons

Interlacing is at the heart of Celtic design, textile structures, and marriage.  Images of 5-band woven ribbon and antique Brussels lace twine together wihout a break around your betrothal vows.

4 colourways

Rainbow

A full spectrum of fabrics surrounds the ketubah text, forming a continuous rainbow of joy and promise for the new couple.

I chose many of the fabrics for their fond associations; such as pieces of my chuppah, a jacket my Bubbe made, and unfinished project of a dear friend who died.

Hamsa

A hamsa – which comes from the root word meaning five – is a hand-shaped amulet intended to protect the wearer from the the “evil eye”. Originating in the Middle East and North Africa, it is pervasive among Jews and Muslims (the latter calling it the “hand of Fatima”, Mohammed’s daughter).

These hamsa forms are inspired by the collection of the Israel Museum.  Eighteen hands surround the vows, as symbolic witnesses and supporters of the couple’s future.

2 colorways • 1 vertical and 1 horizontal layout

 Gingko Spiral 

Gingko Biloba is the earth’s oldest living tree species, with fossils dating back 270 million years.  It is wide-spread throughout the world. The Chinese name is “silver fruit” for the female tree’s seed pod; its Western name refers to its distinctive “bi-lobed” leaf.

This ketubah uses leaves from my front-yard tree that have been coloured and preserved.  Each leaf is as unique as yourself.

3 colourways

Plus a multi-layered version

Mosaic arch

A sabbatical year in Jerusalem provided an opportunity to enjoy two particularly magnificent mosaic archways: the YMCA and the Rockerfeller Museum.  Both were constructed in the 1920’s and likely used the same Armenian craftsmen for the tile work.

Intricate patterning in rich blues delight and uplift; and like marriage the archways create a dramatic, physical transition to new experiences.

“Log Cabin” quilt

Quilt lore suggests that the centre squares of Log Cabin quilts were usually red, to signifythe heart and hearth of home. These blocks are arranged to form the traditional “Chimnies and Cornerstones” design.

The quilt is assembled from handmade washi paper, a tough and resilient material used in Japan for clothing, household goods, toys and ritual objects.

Song of Songs Labyrinth

Unlike a puzzle maze, a labyrinth is an elaborate single path that forces the traveller to proceed slowly in order to achieve a spiritual state.  As the lovers follow this path towards the ketubah text, quotations in Hebrew and English from the “Song of Songs” in their textual order accompany the journey.

This particular labyrinth structure is called the “Unicorn”  Its colours pay homage to the series of 16th century French tapestries whose rich blues and reds are still vibrant today.  The original embroidery for this ketubah required over 300 hours of stitching with hand-dyed silk.

Covenant ketubah

God’s covenant with Abraham states: “In blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multply thy seed as the stars of the heaven.” (Genesis 22:17)

A network of stars cut from parchment / klaf is inspired by an ancient Japanese silkscreen design. Eighteen / chai rays oof light surround the ketubah text, which is itself a covenant.

3 colourways: Jerusalem’s Azure Twilight, Aurora Borealis, Day Dawning over Mountains