Laura Cowan Modern Judaica

  • Home
  • Shop
  • Categories
    • Design
    • Festivals
    • It’s Kosher
  • About
  • Contact

Introducing the New Square Saturn Dreidel for Hannukkah

10.18.2018 by laura // Leave a Comment

Square Saturn Dreidels for Hannukah designed by Laura Cowan

Just in time for Hanukkah comes the new Square Saturn Dreidel.

I designed this sleek, modern Hannukah dreidel using my signature themes of discs and cones inspired by the rings of the planet Saturn. And its defined shape draws inspiration from the Chanukah story where a small band of men overcame a powerful army. They achieved the impossible, squaring the circle, as it were.

I created the dreidel using matt anodized aluminium with a brushed finish center disc and the parts are attached by tiny screws and bolts. It is available in four different colour versions: blue, gold, purple and silver on a gold base.

As well as a striking statement piece for your modern Judaica collection, it is fully functional for a traditional game of dreidel, (or sevivon as its known in Hebrew). The game, which is usually played on Hannukah, after the lighting of the Menorah is an easy one to learn. Let me teach you …

How to play dreidel

Each player is given 10 tokens. (You can use items like chocolate money or shelled nuts for this). They keep five and place five in a central stake. Each player then takes a turn spinning the dreidel / sevivon.
“Nun” means nothing, you win nothing, you lose nothing.
“Gimel” means you take the whole stash.
“Hay” means you win half of what’s in the centre.
“Shin” means “put in” you lose and must put one more chip into the kitty.

Visit the online store now to order your Square Saturn Dreidel in time for Hannukah>

Categories // Design, Festivals Tags // Dreidel, Hannukah, modern Judaica

How to clean the wax off your Chanukah Menorah

12.12.2010 by laura // Leave a Comment

How to clean wax off your modern Chanukah Menorah
One of my favourite customers sent me this email, I thought I’d share it with you.

Hi Laura
Hope you are well. I have one of your lovely Cone Hanukkah Menorahs that Greg bought me for my wedding. It’s the one with all the colourful cones. I was wondering how to clean all the wax off it – any tips?
Thanks
Alexis

Hi Alexis.
Lovely to hear from you. The best way is to heat the wax with a hair dryer and clean it off with a kitchen towel and use Q-tips (ear buds) if you need to get into the candle bits. Or you can put it in the sink and pour boiling water over it, the wax should just pop out of the candle holders, but it can get a bit messy.
The most important thing is not to attack it with a knife! It could scratch the finish.
Laura

Hi Laura
That’s brilliant – thanks. All done and looks like new!
Shabbat Shalom
Alexis
x
Quick note – If you have one of my stainless steel magnetic menorahs, the best way to shine up the base is with regular vinegar (this also works for fridge doors, and is much more efficient and cheaper than any special steel cleaner!)

Categories // Festivals Tags // Hannukah, Menorah

Splash Dreidels: A Hanukkah Dreidel Craft Project For Kids

12.06.2009 by laura // Leave a Comment

Not messy, just looks it, appeals to toddlers.
(Also called Jackson Pollack drip technique dreidels for the more sophisticated budding artist)

You’ll need:

A shoe box
Scotch tape
A dreidel (the flat type that looks like a disc with a handle)
Paint – any type as long as it’s runny. The best is gouache or poster paint in a squeezy tube.
Plain Paper
A compass
Small blob of modeling clay (plasticine)
Sharp pencil
Scissors
Glitter (optional)
Lots of newspaper
Sense of humor in case it goes wrong and does get messy (don’t blame me!)

Method

1. Cut a large window in the top of the shoe box lid (about 6 inch by 6 inch – big enough to get a dreidel in and out)
2. Tape the lid on to the bottom part of the box
3. Using a compass, mark out about 10 discs the same size as the dreidel‘s diameter on some plain paper. Mark the centre point too.
4. Cut out the discs.
5. Make a central hole. The best way to do this is to place the hanukkah dreidel on a piece of modeling clay and poke a sharp pencil through it.
6. Place the paper disc over the handle of the dreidel.
7. Put the dreidel in the shoe box.
8. Spin it.
9. Dribble paint onto the hanukkah dreidel while its spinning
10. Experiment with different speeds, colors and paints.
11. If you are using glitter, sprinkle it on while the paint is still wet.
12. Remove the disc and place it (out of the way of little hands) to dry, preferably over night.
13. What to do with the discs – We used them to make a centipede collage. If you are crafty, you can use thicker card and small pencils to make new dreidels. Try using a small marker pen as a handle with the tip pointing down and spin it with the lid off – it make s a lovely pattern on the paper.

Happy Crafty Hanukkah!

Categories // Festivals Tags // Dreidel, Hannukah

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »
Modern Judaica from Laura Cowan

Connect with me

  • 
  • 
  • 

Categories

  • Design
  • Festivals
  • It's Kosher

Copyright © 2022 · Modern Studio Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in