Shalom, Thanks for taking the time to read this blog – it's my first one (and is being re-posted from 2007...but the sparks still apply) and I'm not really into all of this "techi" stuff, but am willing to give it a try.
I thought it only seemed natural to start from the "sparks" that inspired my small business called "Creative Crafts."
Creative Crafts is what I call my dream come true. It began as a need to cover the cost of an airline ticket to the US for a close friends wedding (that's u Lisa) and developed into a vibrant business teaching both children and adults interesting and fun crafts. Although I love crafting, learning new skills and teaching my goal for Creative Crafts is a little deeper..... it's really about increasing self-esteem, getting people in touch with who they are and creating a fun, safe environment to "let go”; a place where people can connect with others via the creative process. Hence my motto..."Creative Crafts....Cheaper than therapy and a LOT more fun"! I am currently based in Efrat and service the local community known as "the Gush." I am interested in expanding to the greater Jerusalem area.
For those of who don’t know me personally,,my name is Dana Ernstoff (previously Milstein). I currently live in Efrat, Israel having made Aliya in 1995 from Passaic, NJ. I grew up in Waterbury,Connecticut and later moved to Cheshire, CT (yes, like the cat!) I had great art teachers in high school from nearby Yale (I went to high school in New Haven) and later continued my education at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. I began teaching art in summer camps in the U.S. when my kids were young and have been fortunate enough to find my home each summer teaching art at Camp Nesher in Lake Como, PA.
My main influences were my rather creative family – I was always encouraged to create things on my own- following the example of my mother and grandparents. My grandmother was very involved with knitting, everything from booties to blankets (which I treasure to this day). My grandfather had a woodshop in the basement where he taught me a few things about building structures. I was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time at my grandparents home growing up, as we all know grandparents let you do a lot more fun things than your parents do! As a girl I remember my mother caning chairs, re-doing furniture, sewing everything from gorgeous clothing, to coats, to curtains, needlepoint and the like. Sometimes I think I grew up in a fabric store, having spent so much time there with my Mom as a girl. I worked in Manhatten in the fabric industry, where they were very impressed that I could tell just by feeling a fabric what contents it had!
I have had the privilege to develop meaningful relationships with my amazing students and see them learn so much about themselves via their creations.
So in pausing (cuz it's not really a conclusion) I would just like to express my gratitude to all of the forces (especially my students!) that have given me the insight and courage to follow my dreams and make them a reality.
Dana
