We all go through different ‘simcha’ stages in life. I remember when I was going to engagement parties every two minutes, the weddings followed, and then hopefully a Brit Milah or Simchat Bat ceremony. It now seems that I have reached the stage that many of my friends’ children – and my own children in the not too distant future – are celebrating their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs.

A couple of years ago one of these friends called me and asked whether I made Bar Mitzvah guest books. She wanted one for her son’s upcoming celebration and, since she was already a regular purchaser of my handmade cards and knew the style of my work, wanted me to make one. A new product was born!

Handmade Bar Mitzvah guest book

Handmade Bar Mitzvah guest book

We e-mailed back and forth a few times and I gathered information about her son. I learnt what his favourite sport was, which animals he liked and on which arm he wears his tefillin! From all this information a very personal book was put together for all his friends and family to sign at the party. Both the Bar Mitzvah boy and his Mum loved it!

Word spread and I have made many guest books since then. My own father-in-law was celebrating a significant birthday and I was finding it hard to think of a good present for him. “What about doing him one of your books, then on his birthday lunch people could write in it and we could put in photos?” my sister-in-law said. A customized guest book it was, decorated with his name and papercut illustrations of his various hobbies and interests. From first-hand experience I can tell you that it brought great joy to my elderly father-on-law on his special day.

My handmade books are perfect as a guest book or photo album for any celebration and can be customized on the cover and on several pages inside to reflect the person or couple’s interests and hobbies. It makes a great gift for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, special birthday, wedding or any other happy occasion.

 

Hand made Bat Mitzvah guest book

When an order for a book is made I ask for the name(s) and date the customer wishes to use on the cover, or a short message if they prefer. This can be in English or Hebrew. I also request a list of the hobbies and interests, favorite pet, color and anything else that is special to the person they intend to give the book to. They might also like to send me a photo of that person so that I can match hair and eye color, hair length, style etc. Please remember though that my papercuts are by no means portraits.

The guest book itself has a pale wooden cover with a black spine and is a good size at 30x30cm. There are 20 (40 front and back) high quality cream colored pages inside, for messages that can be written in any pen. The pages are also suitable for gluing photos on to. The book comes in a matching presentation box and is wrapped in tissue for safekeeping.

 

Hand made Bat Mitzvah guest book

Hand made Bat Mitzvah guest book

Please allow me 2 weeks to complete your book and anything between 5 and 21 working days for shipping, depending on your location. If you need it sooner please let me know right away and I will do my best to accommodate.

I am British-born but Israel has been my home for more than 16 years. All of my work is designed and made in the new city of Modi’in. If you would like to see what I am currently working on please go to my blog: http://lisa-handmadeinisrael.blogspot.com or visit my online store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/handmadeinisrael to order your very own guest book. I can also be found on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HandmadeinIsrael and Twitter: http://twitter.com/handmadeisrael

Lisa Isaacs is the creative talent behind ‘Handmade in Israel’, a home-based papercraft business stocking a large range of greetings cards in English and Hebrew for all occasions, papercut pictures, gift boxes and of course, customized guest books.