Say It
With Cookies
A PERFECT GIFT
TO SEND
OR BRING
FOR THE
HOLIDAYS
Happy Hanukkah Gift Basket
Simsbury Plaza • 14 Mile & Farmington Road
248-539-4029
HRS: M-F 9-6
Sat. 9.3
At
Vist our Website!
www.cookiebouquet com
LOCAL DELIVERY
WE SHIP ANYWHERE
Master Card
Tradition! Tradition!
Menorahs Come in
All
Shapes
and
Sizes
Tradition! Tradition!
Call Alicia R. Nelson
for an appointment
(248) 557-0109
12/4
1998
Irish tiles with great success. "He
can't even keep up with production,"
says Snell.
A regular customer of Raphael's,
who is Jewish and whose husband is
Irish, suggested a Star of David tile
that could hana beside the Irish one
she was giving b her husband.
It seems Nelson had been work-
ing on a new design - the "Star of
Hope." As an artist he believed this
would be a great gift for his Jewish
friends. Not only are these beautiful,
blue 3x3 tiles hand made by Nelson,
but he created the design, as well.
Inside the square tile sits a circle
with the Star of David within. "I
wanted the circle to encompass the
star," explains Nelson as he talks
about his design. He adds that
because the tile is carved, it has an
added depth. The result is darker
blue in the crevices as well as light
hitting the design in different ways,
thus producing sparkle and shine.
Nelson puts as much heart and
soul into actually making the tiles as
he did creating the design. With a
studio in his home, Nelson hand
presses each tile with the mold he
created. The tiles are left to dry for
1 1/2 weeks and are then placed in a
kiln to bisque. Basically, this is a
method for removing moisture from
the clay and rakes 30 hours. From
here, the backs of the tiles are
waxed, dipped in glaze and then left
to dry for 1 1/2 days. Finally, they
are placed once again in the kiln.
This time to be fired at a tempera-
ture of 950" for 24 hours. Every step
is performed by hand and by Nelson
alone. Sometimes he works 15 hours
at a time at his solitary craft.
The "Star of Hope" rile is sold
exclusively at Raphael's and retails
for 516. It comes in its own black
velvet pouch and contains a brief
note describing the history and whi-
bolism behind the Star of David.
Throughout the interview Nelson
stresses that these sometime 80-hour
weeks are not work and that this
tile-making venture is not a busi-
ness. "It's not a business to me. It's
making people happy, seeing their
enjoyment." And perhaps that is the
intangible that people connect with
in Nelson's designs.
c-==
H