Esoterika Designs

11/30/2016

Cool article about a paper cutting artist named Erika!

The Swiss art of Scherenschnitt tells stories in silhouette.

09/10/2015

Hello friends and supporters! The public activity of Esoterika Designs has been a bit quiet over the last few months, but I'm happy to say that during this time I've been in the process of creating my first laser cut ketubah! This is good for lots of reasons. One, because the laser cut pieces are not made by hand (I only assemble them by hand), I am able to sell them at a lower price point and therefore make my ketubot accessible to more people. Two, it gives me more time to do other work instead of recreating one piece by hand multiple times. And, it means I can sell them much more easily on sites like Etsy where customers can just go online and order a piece. I will be adding new laser cut designs to my portfolio soon, but in the meantime, please check out my first one, which features my most popular design - the birch forest. Please share/post widely! Thank you so much in advance!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/246428919/intricate-paper-cut-ketubah-birch-forest?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=birch%20ketubah&ref=sr_gallery_6

This ketubah is an exquisite paper cut design featuring a forest of birches. The image places you in the middle of the woods, surrounded by a

01/13/2015

My most recent ketubah - a redwood forest.

10/19/2014

Yes!
http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/carol-milne-knitted-glass-sculpture

Looking at these knitted pieces by artist Carol Milne, you’ll immediately notice that they weren’t fashioned with yarn. In fact, they’re crafted using something that’s much less malleable - glass! It’s almost unbelievable how neatly each fragile row is made and has the look and feel of fiber; this i…

09/01/2014

Very cool.

07/11/2014

Always loved Leo Lionni's children's books. Had no idea he was an important American Modernist designer too!
http://www.paulshawletterdesign.com/2011/07/from-the-bookcase-no-4%E2%80%94between-worlds-the-autobiography-of-leo-lionni/

Strictly speaking, this book is not from my bookcase. I was unaware of its existence until Steve Heller mentioned it in one of his blogs. Yet, I never saw a copy until I visited Annie Lionni, Leo’s granddaughter and a classmate of mine at Reed College, for a college reunion meeting a few months ago.…

07/03/2014

This woman does very cool work. http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/04/transfixing-3d-paper-patterns-by-maud-vantours/

Paris-based designer and artist Maud Vantours uses layer upon layer of cut paper to create hypnotizing patterns and textures that translate into set designs, fashion accessories, and editorial treatments. Vantors has explored a number of 3D paper treatments including floral patterns,

06/19/2014

My first wedding cake topper! Well, it actually went on a pie, but anyway... This gave me the chance to work with modeling clay for the first time in years, which was so fun, and a nice temporary shift from paper. I got my start as a kid making dollhouse wedding cakes out of FIMO, so this was the perfect project.

06/19/2014

06/17/2014

06/17/2014

My latest ketubah, a variation on the birch forest design! This one has a new quote on the bottom, as well as different wildflowers (buttercups, chicory, Queen Anne's Lace, and clover.

06/17/2014

It's been a busy few weeks and several projects wrapped all at once! Here is the grace after meals prayerbook cover I designed for Ari Brochin and Sarah Meyer's wedding.