Chocolate

celebrate

a guide to simchahs

Soulful Gifts

Everything

Find creative gifts and giveaways at
Friendship Circle's Soul Center.

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Ronelle Grier I Contributing Writer

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on Pinterest.com

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TRADITION TRADITION! Is

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GLASS TO BREAK
CHUPPAH TO RENT
KIDDUSH CUPS
WEDDING GIFTS
BRIDAL REGISTRY

Available at:

Tradition!
Tradition!

Celebrating
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Call (248)557-0109 Alicia R. Nelson

Call for an appointment. www.traditiontradition.com

1960680

Party Planning Ilk-Invitations

Gifts

Home Accents, Giftware a, Bab y Gifts a'-Mitzvahs *.-Weddings

Corporate Events*, Lotions*, Soapssfr- Candles*, Clothing

Michigan-Made Products ✓ Gift Baskets*, Stationery*, Calligraphy

32802 Franklin Road I Downtown Franklin

248.862.6741 I Visit us at

C 2 0

celebrate! I March 2015

ir a memorable party with the
added benefit of helping young
adults with special needs, consider
the Soul Center for creative centerpiec-
es, custom giveaways and accessories
for bar and bat mitzvahs.
Offerings include an array of profes-
sionally designed items such as T-shirts,
sweats, sign-in boards, jewelry, napkins,
soaps and other products in a wide
range of colors, styles and materials.
"The possibilities are endless," said
center staff member Jordan Shifman.
The Soul Center is a project of
Friendship Circle of Michigan, an orga-
nization that provides programs, classes,
camps and other services for hundreds
of local children with special needs and
their families, in addition to offering
educational opportunities for several
Michigan school districts.
The Soul Center is staffed by profes-
sional artists who supervise young adult
artists with special needs in creating
custom party accessories and other art..
Design services are available to cre-
ate logos and artwork to complement
any theme; existing artwork can also be
incorporated into distinctive items such
as leather bracelets or other personal-
ized gifts. A new laser cutting machine
can produce specialty etchings on a
variety of materials; including metal,
leather, wood, acrylic, plastic, paper and
cardboard, as well as soaps and candles.
"The machine is like magic," said
Shifman, who described a centerpiece
with an engraved acrylic shopping bag
for a shopping-themed bat mitzvah.
Silk-screening is also available for cus-
tom sweatshirts and other items.
The young adult artists with special
needs are involved in the production of
every item. Staff artists supervise and
assist based on the project and the art-
ists' abilities.
"Some of our young adults are amaz-
ingly talented," Shifman said.
The products offered by Soul Center
are competitively priced; the earnings go
to the artists and the program.
"It gives the individual artists the
opportunity to earn money for their
work, which helps them feel valuable

: Eventblissfrarlainmi

Stephanie Harris and staff member
Allison Berlin, both of West Bloomfield

and productive," said Friendship Circle
Lifetown Director Bassie Shemtov.
In addition to traditional bar and bat
mitzvah accessories such as decorations,
centerpieces and napkins, invitations
and place cards, Soul Center offers a
limitless choice of giveaways. Custom
designed clothing, mugs, flashlights,
carabineers, jewelry, headphones and
more serve as permanent reminders of
each special event.
Individual gift items are also available,
such as personalized engraved Kiddush
cups, cutting boards, soaps, Shabbos
candlesticks and candles.
"We recently engraved an amazing
plexiglass menorah," Shemtov said.
The Soul Center is now based in a
temporary studio in Walled Lake. Its per-
manent West Bloomfield facility is under
construction. Called the Farber Soul
Center in honor of donors William "Bill"
and Audrey Farber of West Bloomfield,
the 18,000-square-foot building will
house the Dresner Soul Studio, named
for a gift from the Dresner Foundation,
originally established by Joseph and
Vera Dresner, and the Soul Cafe, a
kosher restaurant open to the communi-
ty, staffed by adults with special needs.
The art studio will feature photogra-
phy, animation and 3D printing as well
as painting, ceramics, weaving, jewelry,
and mixed media.
For more information, contact
Friendship Circle at (248) 788-7878, or
visit www.friendshipcircle.org .

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