Laura Cowan's Moon Seder Plate: available in your friendly neighborhood Jewcy storeTel Aviv-based Judaica designer Laura Cowan's space shuttle-themed mezuzot may be on their way to the International Space Station with astronaut Greg Chamitoff, but her celestial Moon Seder Plate is right here in our very own Jewcy store. Inspired by the craters of Earth's satellite, the play of light and dark and the shiny, reflective finish offer a uniquely modern take on an ancient ritual object. Looking to update your Passover table? With the holiday only two weeks away, now is the time to order!

Previously: No Sweat Gear Made in Bethlehem

Related: Q&A with Laura Cowan, Judaica Designer to the Stars, 5 Jewish Astronauts Who Brought Their Judaica into Space

Laura Cowan: Her designs are out of this world!Tel Aviv-based Judaica designer Laura Cowan is about to get the star treatment—that is to say, her space-themed mezuzot are on their way to the International Space Station. Astronaut Greg Chamitoff contacted Cowan himself in an effort to get his hands on her work, which combines traditional silversmithing techniques with modern production processes. He'll be bringing two of her mezuzot, the "Apollo" and "Shuttle Pewter" designs, along for the ride in May. We got in touch with the delightful designer to learn more about what inspires her, and what other cosmic projects she has up her sleeve. Like her style? You can pick up your very own Laura Cowan Moon Seder Plate right here in the Jewcy store.

Tell me about your entry into the world of Judaica design. Is this something you've always wanted to do? Not at first – it is something that evolved. As a child growing up in Manchester, England, the range of Judaica was very limited and uninspiring. Mezuzot were ancient looking things that no one really paid attention to. My favorite lesson at school was art but looking back, the classes were really old fashioned – only painting and pencil drawing. It was quite an academic school and it didn’t occur to me that there were other types of art. After school I did an art foundation course, where you experience different types of media and the teachers try to break you down and then build you up again. It was probably my most challenging year. I remember crying as I was told to bin about 100 life drawings in my midterm review. I found myself happiest in 3D design and went on to study BA Silversmithing and Jewellery at London Guildhall University, where I developed my techniques of stamping, lathing, and anodising. It wasn’t until I moved to Israel and started designing for myself that I became interested in Judaica.

It can be challenging to apply the ancient teachings of Judaism to our modern lives, but your space-inspired mezuzot symbolize Jewish modernity. Beyond aesthetic design, what does this mean for you? I like to think of Judaica as a fun educational tool. By creating designs that people want to use and display I feel like I am adding a way for people to express their Judaism. There is a concept in Judaism called Hiddur Mitzvah – a directive to make a mitzvah beautiful – which is an amazing gift to Jewish artists. As I create new pieces I research the needs of the specific piece. My research can be anything from talking to Rabbis to surfing the internet and reading biblical texts, so it’s a learning process for me, too. When I started designing ten years ago there wasn’t the range of well designed Judaica like there is today. I felt that by creating desirable designs, it would encourage people to practice Jewish rituals, which in turn would be my small way of preventing assimilation.

When did space and the Sixties mission to land a man on the moon become interesting to you, and how did it come to translate into your design work? I remember sitting on the university library floor surrounded by space books, absolutely overwhelmed and excited by what I was seeing and reading. It puzzled me that it seemed so futuristic, yet it was something that had actually happened. The shapes of the rockets connected with a project we were working on in class, and I began stamping out simplified rocket shapes based on what I had seen in books. I got hold of some moon landing tapes and saw how carried away people were. You could feel the energy even through the footage which was then 30 years old.

How did you become acquainted with astronaut Greg Chamitoff? Greg’s former professor and close friend contacted me in order to purchase mezuzot for Greg to carry on Expedition 17, the next mission to the ISS. When his friend’s email kept bouncing back, Greg contacted me personally. His email started “I am writing to you from Houston, Texas, regarding your Apollo mezuzah design. I’ll be flying on the next Space Station Mission, Expedition 17, and would very much like to take one of your Apollo mezuzahs with me…” I almost fell of my chair reading it!

Given the opportunity, would you travel into space? I think I would be too scared!

Mezuzah to the moon: It sure looks aerodynamicThe pieces you create are all ritual objects. Which Jewish rituals are the most meaningful or moving for you? Tricky question. I would say I am most drawn to Havdallah…the beginning of a new week, the smell of the spices, and the light of the candle flame…

You've created mezuzot, candlesticks, menorot, and seder plates. Are there any other objects you haven't made yet that you're planning to try your hand at? I am on a design roll at the moment, so I am working on several pieces at once: A Shabbat set of candlesticks and Kiddush cups called the Creation Series, which is almost finished. Also a dreidel inspired by Saturn’s discs which is at the production stage, and a new mezuzah design which is at the sketch and model stage.

Related: 5 Jewish Astronauts Who Brought Their Judaica into Space, Must Have: Laura Cowan's Moon Seder Plate

While previous editions of Hump Day Art have highlighted a Mid-East graffiti collaboration, a quirky illustrator, and some good old fashioned domination/ submission artwork, this week we're going totally old shul (couldn't resist!) by featuring works from the current exhibit "Gilded Lions and Jeweled Horses: The Synagogue to the Carousel" at the American Folk Art Museum. Turns out the same artisans who were carving elegant adornments for synagogues in the early 1900s also created the ornate horses for carousels. Here are three works from artist and Coney Island native Marcus Charles Illions.

Last week: Ophrah Shemesh Puts the Hump in Hump Day

I stumbled across a beautiful Shabbes quilt not long ago, and when I inquired about it, I was pointed towards various resources online for Jewcy-crafty types. I had no idea! Anyway, sewing and general Martha Stewarting (I know, I know, I want to resent her, too, but sister makes some great stuff) is sort of a secret pleasure of mine, so here's what I know:

For some inspiration, try my two faves: hit the campy and wonderful Judaikitsch: Tchotchkes, Schmattes & Nosherei by Jennifer Traig for projects like the Neil Tzedekah Box and a beaded matzah purse. With a description of "what would happen if Martha Stewart was abducted by a tribe of trailer park rabbis"--- it's obviously useful and hilarious. Then check out Jewish Holiday Style by Rita "Jewish Martha Stewart" Milos Brownstein. A few other good reads you might find some inspiration in: Jewish Holiday Crafts for Little Hands by Ruth Esrig Brinn, and Jewish Holiday Treats: Recipes and Crafts for the Whole Family by Joan Zoloth & Lisa Hubbard.

The Pomegranate Guild members are reviving Jewish traditions and stories through their work with textiles, here we read about Marci Greenberg’s “Knitting by Torah” project, and here is a great article about Knitzvah, Skitch & Kvetch (modified from the popular Stitch and Bitch) and Not Your Bubbie’s Yarn. (And check out this alef-bet chart.)

Quilted Quickest Sewer Upper: Who wants to sew this for me? Kidding! Sort of.

The fabulous Dreidel Crafts offers Jewcy-themed buttons, a nice selection of rubber stamps, several clasps and charms, appliqués, quilt supplies, fabric, candy molds, and on and on. Such great stuff. So fun. And they even offer gorgeous quilting patterns, like this Torah Quilt and tons of other Jewcy quilt designs. Here Elizabeth Rosenberg sells patterns for her stunning quilts, (Oh, speaking of Jewish quilting, read this interesting piece about Jewish and Palestinian quilters coming together for a peace quilt.) Fancy Delancy by the way, specializes in hard-to-find Jewcy fabrics.

Blackwork Archives has these beautiful pomegranate needlepoint patterns (Rosh HaShanah napkins next year anyone?) while Crafty Needle has several patterns for tallis bags and needlepoint. And, will you get a load of these DIY wedding resources? This from Do-It-Yourself Weddings and this from Martheleh Stewart. Rumor has it, The Artful Bride by April Paffrath and Laura McFadden is a really great DIY wedding book, but, uh, yeah, I'm no authority on weddings, yo.

Chadis Crafts offers all sorts of tribey bead projects like adorable “beadie” dreidles that would surely be a hit with kids. A DIY seder plate would be a cute project, too. For more fun resources for kids’ projects, Making Friends has a jewish crafts section, (I say “kids’ projects” but, hello?, I’d totally make the Magen David napkin rings.) and this dreidel would be a cute projects for a bit older kids. Then again, a friend of mine decoupaged beautiful dreidels a year or two ago, so maybe we can have just as much fun as the wee ones on the dreidel craft department. I mean, even Martheleh gets into dreidels. Oh, and see her other Chanukah craft ideas here. Oh, oh, and her matzo cover here. Uh, and of course she makes candles for Chanukah.

Handmade candles: Oy, Martheleh, oh, Martheleh, what can't you do?

Of course, if you’re not so keen to make things yourself, you can always hit a design-your-own site or commission a tallis to be woven for you, or look through hundreds of sites for Jewish artisans (like here and here) and still reap the benefits of having beautifully handmade Judaica.

What about you folks out there in Jewcylvania? Any craftiness you want to share?

(My mother, by the way, is going to plotz over this post. She's so crafty. Must be where I get it from.)