Arts 11 Entertainment
The Gold Standard
Ann Arbor toy designers feature wares made of natural materials.
"My mother always
Web site, www.camdenrose.com , where
was an artist, and she
Internet
surfers
can
see
the
items
they
Special to the Jewish News
made our clothes," says
make and learn about their philosophy.
Julia, who converted to
"Right
now,
we're
working
summers
Ann Arbor
Judaism at Temple Shir
and weekends with the help of my
1 ulia and Jason Gold started pay-
Shalom before the cou-
mom, Karen Gold, doing the book-
ing more attention to toys
ple's wedding at the West
almost two years ago, when their keeping."
The Gold family surrounded by some of Julia and
Bloomfield temple. "My
The
Golds
went
into
business
a
year
first child, Fliah Rose, was born. The
Jason's creations
father built our house."
ago
and
named
their
company
Camden
Ann Arbor couple, both teachers,
Rose to reference their daughter's mid-
they play."
thought about safety as well as fun.
Jewish Playthings
The Golds maintain a garden at their
After reading that some plastics might dle name and their favorite place,
The Golds met 12 years ago at the
Camden,
Maine,
where
they
were
home
and like having another interest
pose a chemical hazard, dad decided to
Townsend Hotel in Birmingham,
taken
by
the
natural
beauty,
a
quality
that
keeps
them close to nature. They
make a rattle out of wood, and mom
where he worked as a busboy and she
they
hope
to
show
as
they
do
their
do
not
own
a television, preferring the
came up with a design. When their
served as a tea girl. They married four
work.
The
family
garage
is
toy
central.
quiet
atmosphere
that comes with read-
friends, also new parents, liked the rat-
years ago and decided to settle in Ann
"All of what we do is handmade of
ing
books,
magazines
and newspapers
tle, the couple made some as gifts.
Arbor because of the educational
natural materials," Julia, 29, explains.
and surfing the Internet.
Interest kept growing and so did the
"Jason makes all the larger items out of atmosphere and diverse thinking
The couple are researching places to
Golds' projects — wooden wagons and
found in a college town.
wood,
and
I
make
the
toys
that
consist
market
their growing line of toys and
trucks, kazoos and lyres and large fabric
Both attended Groves High School in have signed up to be part of educational
of
fabric.
We
want
them
all
to
be
fruits to use as squeeze toys for infants
Birmingham but were not there at the
uncomplicated and adaptable to the
conventions and other art fairs, includ-
and in pretend play for toddlers. The
same
time.
imagination
of
the
children
playing
ing Art on the Green to be held Sept. 5
idea to make projects for sale brought
Julia graduated from the University of in Franklin.
with
them."
them onto eBay and into art fairs, such
The Golds' early years prepared them Michigan with a degree in elementary
"We don't want to take away from the
as Fine Art at the Village to be held
education and teaches in a public
for
their
growing
business.
environment
as we use natural materi-
Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 6-7, in
school. Jason graduated from Eastern
"I was a woodworker and carpenter,"
als,"
Jason
says.
"To make up for the
Rochester Hills.
Michigan University with a double
says
Jason,
who
grew
up
in
Southfield
wood
we
use
in
toys,
we donate to
The Golds will be surrounded by
major in history and anthropology and
and
had
his
bar
mitzvah
at
Temple
organizations
that
plant
trees." ❑
artists from around the United States
teaches in a Waldorf school.
Beth
El
in
Bloomfield
Township.
"My
and Canada and all kinds of artistic
"I like the way Judaism asks people to
grandfather Gordon Garland taught me
projects, including paintings, ceramics,
Fine Art at the Village runs 10 a.m.-
study and learn," Julia says. "We're
how to use the tools and encouraged
sculptures and photos.
9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, and noon-6
thinking of making some toys that will
me to experiment. I built furniture
p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, at the Village
help children learn the Jewish tradi-
before starting with the toys, which are
Family Business
of Rochester Hills, located along the
tions.
We
hope
to
come
up
with
some
"We hope to turn the toys into a family made from maple or cherry."
northeast corner of Adams and
new
designs
for
dreidels
and
are
talking
Betty and Bill Sturley provided Julia
business," says Jason, 32, who encour- --
Walton.
(248) 689-8734.
about
Sabbath
kitchen
sets
so
children
with a can-do atmosphere in their
ages prospective buyers to visit their
can experience the religious rituals as
Beverly Hills home.
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