Peacock design using colorful cloths

Already started sharing about peacock designs in my blog. In one of my previous posts shared about Peacock design carvings . In this post sharing a peacock design made of colorful stripes of clothes :

Find some more peacock designs in this section : Mayuri

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Its already four years in Blogosphere

Time just flies! Its already four years completed in blogosphere .  Have written about 167  posts about my experiences and experiments with different kinds of arts and crafts. Tried to introduce some artists and their works.
 Just love this way of following my passion. Above all have got some very good friends in this blogosphere !
2014 was the year of many ups and downs , quit the IT job to become a full time tutor. Started a new venture of making handcrafted fashion jewels. Because of the major decisions in life , life was bit imbalanced, that impacted number of posts too.This year has a good start. Travelled a bit and collected information about different arts and crafts of India. Also equipped with many sources of knowledge about different kinds of craft, like books and articles.
Some are here, the encyclopedia of handicrafts of India: 

 

A narrative book on sarees of India:

Soon will start posts about crafts of the World. Also, will share many tutorials , which will help craft learners like me.
Thank you all for your support, will continue this journey of sharing about arts and craft, through each post.

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Tholu Bommalata- hand painted leather puppets

Tholu Bommalata, (In Telugu,  Tholu -  leather, Bommalata – puppet dance), is the traditional craft of AndhraPrandesh, which was flourished under the patronage of Vijayanagar kingdom.  The bright color combination on the leather which is translucent makes it perfect for the puppet show. I never got an opportunity watch the puppet show :(

Recently in a craft fest I could capture some images of the leather puppets: Normally the puppet shows narrate the stories of Ramayana and and Mahabharata:
Every puppet show commence with  a prayer to  Lord Ganesha. This is the puppet of Ganesha, which appears on the stage during the prayer.

 Puppets of Rama and Laxmana

 The artist holding the Puppet of Sita.

These puppets are made of translucent  goat skin and painted with natural colors. Now with the decline of the puppet show, the artisans have diversified their art in making different kinds of decorative items, like lampshades, wall hangings, frames, partitions  etc.
Lampshades:

 Partition with Radha and Krishna pictures :

Wall hangings:

Now there are hardly any puppet show using these kinds of leather puppet. Thanks to the artists of Tholu Bommalata , who kept the art of making puppets alive by diversifying their art. Most of the traditional arts and crafts, if changed according to the present day needs, it will be kept alive for the coming generations.

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Peacock design- carving on Mahabodhi temple

It has been quite sometimes that I had planned to share peacock designs. .  The perfect blend of enchanting colors o the peacock feather, and the pattern have made it used in many forms of arts and crafts.

Image courtesy- Wikipedia

 I had designed a saree using glitter paint  and a dress with peacock design.  I love to work for some more sarees with peacock designs. Almost all forms of Indian arts and crafts are influenced by peacock designs, may be its Rangoli, embroidery designs, jewel designs, mehandi designs, wood work or carvings in temples. Let me start the series of posts on peacock design with this carving on the walls  Mahabodhi temple of Bodhgaya.  

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On the outer walls of Mahabodhi temple  there is carvings of Buddha is different meditation postures. Below that the design of two peacocks heading each other is carved.
In another carving the design is  different , the two peacocks are holding a bead strand together.

Both have very beautiful peacock designs.I'm planning to use in my next project of embroidery. Will share the designs once it is completed. I feel it can be used in Rangolis and paintings too. What do you opine?

I will share many more peacock designs in coming posts, in the section: Mayuri

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Cutwork - An embroidery which needs lots of patience

Its always embroidery that I like the most in all arts and crafts. But it needs lot of patience. Now embroidery machines are used. As I know, with the machine only few kinds of the embroidery stitches can be made. Cutwork is included in the list of embroidery stitches which can be made using machine. Though it can be made using machine, it needs lots o patience and skill.
Cutwork originated from Italy and migrated to other parts of the world. Hand cutowrk is the traditional way of doing cutwork. Here the embroidery is done on the edges of the design and the inside fabric is cut away. Though I had learnt hand cutwork as well as machine cutowrk, I could not make any remarkable work in cutwork.
I could find the hand cutwork piece with Late Smt Manjula, who was an expert in all kinds of hand embroidery and crafts. Here are cutowrk she made:

 This is an elephant design, with cutwork done around the elephant design. Here is the closer view:

 Complete work is hand cutowork, really hats off to her patience.

Modern technique uses laser cutowrk, in which the designs can be made very precisely.
There are many forms in cutwork, about which Im collecting the details. Soon will share about different forms of cutworks.

 

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Wooden replicas of Jharokas

The last post  contains some information about wood work of Rajasthan. While writing about wood work of Rajasthan, replicas of Jharokas cannot be missed.
Basically Jharoka is a balcony constructed in Indian Architecture. The Jharokha projects out of the window and decorated with beautiful carvings and painted.
Jharokas in different types :

Image courtesy - Wikipedia

Image courtesy - Wikipedia

Image courtesy - Wikipedia

 

 

 

The wood workers of Rajasthan make the small replicas of these Jharokas. There are very artistic. The Jharokas are carved on the wood and painted with different colors.

Each one is unique and very artistic. Its a perfect artifact to decor your home. Isn't it?

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Colorful Wood work of Rajasthan

Rajasthan , which has biggest desert of India, is famous for unique crafts.As I have observed almost all crafts of Rajasthan like tie and die on cloths, block printing , phad painting, miniature painting, blue pottery, Meenakari etc involve lots of bright colors.Even most of the  folk songs of Rajsthan includes the word "Rang", means colors.
As opined by many craft researchers, wood work is pactised in very few places in Rajasthan, where there is existence of forests. Wood work practised in many parts of India, use paint to minimal. The woodwork of Rajasthan, is not only involves very intricate carvings, also painted artistically.
Here is glance of the woodwork of Rajasthan, which I captured in an exhibition :

 Wooden boxes are made with wood and embossed with metal sheets. And allover decorated with colors and designs.

 Carved and painted figures are very attractive :

Here are some beautifully carved wall stands :

  The replica of Jharoka, is very significant in Rajasthani wood work. To know about Jharokas, wait for the next post.
Until then,

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana