Tante Leah's Handmades
It used to be that almost every Jewish child had a Tanteh. Not an Aunt, but a Tanteh, someone who came from the old country, and had a funny accent and a funny name. A name with some gutteral sound or another, like Tanteh Ruchel, or a name that never did quite get translated into English, like Tanteh Lebah.
These grand old ladies cooked by feel, with no recipes and no way to impart their specialties on to the next generation. They did beautiful hand work: they knitted or crocheted or made needlepoint. They pinched cheeks...hard. They were steely, even when they were only four feet tall and plump. They weren't like the other women of the age, they were somehow "other".
Some years ago, I began to make quilts, and then, more recently, tallitsim. When I decided to sell, I remembered my old Tantehs and so, in their honor, Tante Leah's Handmades was born.
All of my tallitsim are made to order, and the attarah are customized to fit the the recipient and/or occasion. For my father, I used "Honor thy father and thy mother". For a grandfather who was giving the tallit to his grandson, "From generation to generation".
They are made with dupioni silks and heavily ornamented with ribbons and embroidery. Matching bags and keppi are available. I never work on the Sabbath, and imbue each piece with love and spirituality.
Tallit start at $500, matching bags are $75, and the handmade, monogrammed little keppis are $25.
Please contact me if you are interested in a Tante Leah tallit, quilt, handknit or other piece of fiber-based craft. Art. Fine Craft. Fiber Art. What ever.
