Another Hadlakat Neirot

This piece is from before I got good at the calligraphy part.  I really like the design, so maybe one day I'll redo the writing.  In case you can't read it, it says:

והאר נרנו שלא יכבה לעולם ועד

והאר פניך ונושעה

אמן

Taken from the Yehi Ratzon some say after lighting Shabbat candles.

"Sheep"

Here are two pieces (both 8x10 inches, 2 layers) in honor of the coming Yamim Noraim. The text is a song taken from Shir Yichud, said in some communities after Ma'ariv on Yom Kippur night.

כי הרבית טובות אלי

כי הגדלת חסדך עלי

ומה אשיב לך והכל שלך

לך שמים אף ארץ לך

ואנחנו עמך וצאנך

וחפצים לעשות רצונך

Since you have given your goodness to me,

Since you have increased you kindness upon me,

What can I return to you? For all is already yours!

Your are the heavens, also the land is yours,

And we are your nation and your sheep,

And we desire to do your will.

איזהו מכובד?

Here is another 3 layer, 10x10 inch square.  The text is from Pirkei Avot-

.איזהו מכובד? המכבד את הבריות

Who is respected? The one who respects all creatures/people/beings. (I can't decide how to correctly translate briyot)

I had certain thoughts when I designed and cut this piece.  However, people have since told me about other things they see in it so I will leave it open to your own interpretation. 

Anim Zmirot Arch

This is a square paper-cut 7x7 inches.  It has two cut layers, plus a background. The design is the first line from Anim Z'mirot framed by cutesy, happy, fun, free spirited dancers under an archway of music notes.

הווי

This paper-cut was commissioned by friends on mine. They requested the following text taken from Mishna Avot, we decided on a 3 layer, 10x10 inch square, and they told me to have fun with the design. 

הווי עז כנמר וקל כנשר ורץ כצבי וגיבור כארי

לעשות רצון אביך שבשמים

Translated:

Be strong as a tiger, light as a vulture, swift as a gazelle and brave as a lion

To do the will of your Father in heaven.

Mizrach

Here's another Yerushalaim themed piece in honor of Shabbat Nachamu.

It's a simple one, 8x10 inches, 3 layers.

(That little thing on the bottom right hand corner is my friends' wedding monogram.  This was a gift for them.)

Nachem

With 9 B'Av approaching, I though this would be an appropriate piece to post.

The verse in this piece is taken from the Haftarah of Parshat Shoftim, which is one of the שבע דנחמתא (seven weeks of consolation between 9 B'Av and Rosh HaShannah).

כי נחם ה' ציון נחם כל חרבתיה

וישם מדברה כעדן וערבתה כגן ה'

ששון ושמחה ימצא בה תודה וכל זמרה

Translation from Mechon Mamre:

For the Lord hath comforted Zion; He hath comforted all her waste places,

and hath made her wilderness like eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord;

joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

The technical details:
3 cut layers, no background.  The people I sold it to framed it in a frame with no backing and hung it in the unpainted square they left in their front hall in memory of the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash, so the stone wall shows through the holes in the paper-cut (see blurry picture to the right).

15x12 inches (Or maybe a little bigger, I made it a while ago and I didn't write down the exact dimensions.)