“Every one of them is like a bridesmaid.
They are so pretty, fresh & shiny”
Linda Steinberg’s parents were both creative and artistic and all four of her kids are too. Little wonder then that they come from all over SA and the world for the amazing challah covers she makes. And boy-oh-boy, does she make great challah covers!
Linda, a qualified nurse who specialised in wound care, has been making and selling challah covers for over 15 years. She has made hundreds over the years, each one unique and distinctive.
Linda comes from creative stock. Her mom, Helen Green, is a well-known artist who has held exhibitions over the years. The 89-year-old only stopped painting two years ago when she developed macular degeneration.
Her late dad, Joseph, was an engineer who also painted his whole life and played five different musical instruments. “His favourite instrument was the violin,” recalls Linda. He played both violin and trumpet in the Durban Jewish Orchestra.
Little wonder they passed on such creative genes.
And that Linda did so in turn. She says that all four of her children are creative and some have even studied arts.
LINDA’S PASSION FOR ARTS & CRAFTS LED TO HER TEACHING FOR MANY YEARS
When Linda’s kids started coming it was time for her to start doing what she loved most (apart from parenting), so she left nursing to become an arts and crafts teacher. She also started using her creativity by making all of her own clothes.
Although Linda’s kids are grown up now and she does work full time, her Linksfield home is still an arts and crafts workshop. “I have a huge dining room with two tables,” she explains, “one for eating on and one for crafts.”
Fifteen years ago, the challah covers Linda sewed became a big hit among the community. She started taking more and more orders and as the word spread she found most of her spare time was taken up with challah covers. No time for any other arts and crafts for our Linda as the orders kept coming in.
“I CAN ONLY SEW WHEN I AM HAPPY & LISTENING TO MUSIC”
Every challah cover takes Linda three to four hours to complete. “But I can only sew when I am happy,” says Linda. Then she adds her secret ingredient, her music, and off she goes.
Linda says that she is constantly looking for materials that she uses in her challah covers. She has a huge variety on her dining room table, but she can never get enough. She gets orders to make up covers in all colours, she says, but right now she is “sewing flat out” to keep up with orders for Rosh Hashanah, “and that is all in shades white and silver,” she says.
Having lovingly produced each individual cover, Linda then gift-wraps each one with as much care in cellophane and attaches a card.
Linda charges R350 each for her challah covers (a little less on orders for a few). “People phone me from many years ago and ask if I am still making them,” she says.
On Monday when she was being interviewed by MyShtetl, she received an sms from Australia. The sms said that a few people wanted and asked her to please make up twelve! The lady said her son was coming to SA and he would pick them up.
SHE TALKS ABOUT THEM AS IF EACH ONE WAS A PERSONAL FRIEND
“Every one of them is like a bridesmaid. They are so pretty, fresh and shiny,” said Linda passionately as she was packing some of her challah covers out so that MyShtetl could take a picture of them.
She may even have had a tear in her eye as she spoke of her creations.
Linda Steinberg can be contacted on 071 607-5682 should any Shtetlers wish to see her stunning craft. She is quite happy to take custom orders so you can choose all your various fabrics and other material from her vast stock if you would prefer.
To tell the truth, though, she showed us about a dozen and each one was more beautiful than the next.
Chala covers are a passion for Linda. She has made thousands over the years..JPG
I'm so proud :)
I'm so proud :)
Linda's gorgeous challah
Linda's gorgeous challah covers! 071 607 5682 Order Now!
Linda What beautiful challa
Linda
What beautiful challa covers!!
I am one of the lucky ones around the world, I have two of them!!
Thanks Linda,you are soooo clever and creative!!
Wendy
Linda you are amazing. I am
Linda you are amazing. I am one of the lucky ones, too, so thank you! Each challah cover really is so precious and made with such love. Your art classes were inspiring and wonderful.