Craftandartisans

27/03/2020

Dhabla /Tangail / Shawls of Gujrat

The crafts persons belonging to the semi - desert land of Rann of Kutch make Dhabla shawls. The shawls are woven on the traditional pit-loom using dyed cotton, silk and woollen yarns. The loom is prepared and the designs are marked after counting the warp (tana) threads so that the motifs are spaced and weaved evenly. The most common motifs are the rhombus, stripes and damru shaped. The warp (tana) of the desired color is put on the loom using the extracted water of rice (kanji) or starch. Traditionally the colors used are black, yellow, red, orange and green.

The numbers of threads are dependent on the design and are tied with pedals. Crafts persons weave the shawls using the up and down technique. When the pedals are operated, the warp (tana) threads come up and the weft (bana) thread is passed through those threads with the help of boat shaped handloom shuttle.

This 700-year-old indigenous craft is skillfully done for generations by Bhoomkar and Rabari community. Vankar Nanji Bhimji is one such person from the Rabari samajh. He has also won National Award for this craft in the year 2003.

A Tangeliya Shawl is a handwoven shwal and is marked by Geographical Indication application number 127. Surendranagar district in Saurashtra is the prime location for the Tangeliya weaving. Loose and twisted white wool is used to make designs. Two or three warp threads are weaved to give the bead - like appearance on the surface.

Contact:
Vankar Nanji Bhimji: 09824208527/ 09925313798
Ashwin Bhimji: 9687404698

21/03/2020

Sanjhi is a ritualistic craft used in the worship of Lord Krishna. The sheer simplicity of craft is breathtaking. Craftsmen use specially designed scissors and handmade paper to accomplish the process. Sanjhis play a vital role during festivals. The Braj Yatra is a most important festival of the year (a period of 45 days in September and October) when pilgrims from all over India visit the sites associated with Lord Krishna. During this period sanjihs are used to decorate places of worship, both in homes and temples.
This lanquishing art form Sanjhi is derived from the Hindi word saanjh, the period of dusk, which was originated and perfected in Mathura. The art grew during the time of Bhakti Movement, when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityanand Prabhu (Nitai and Gaur) were singing folklore of Lord Krishna in the streets of Mathura and Vrindavan. It was the time when Ashtayam Leela (8 prahar of the day of Lord Krishna) was performed again in the streets of Vrindavan. And people felt that Bhagwan Krishna is born again. The sanjhi making starts in the 5th prahar (3-6pm). The gopis eagerly wait at the deri (footsteps at the entrance) or aangan(open courtyard) when the cows returned home in the cloud of dust, shepherded by the beloved cowherd Lord Krishna. The Gopis used to shape the tapestry in the prangan of the house with creepers, leaves and flowers and eagerly wait for Lord Krishna’s eyes to gleam and mesmerizing smile each time he looked at their sanjhis. Sanjhi is a reflection of tender and innocent love of gopis for Kanha. Traditionally sanjhi designs were created by young unmarried girls of Braj to show their love to Lord Krishna. The folk songs of that era still resonates in the streets and temples during the pitrapaksh when the sanjhis are made.
The art depicts tales from Lord Krishna’s boyhood and youth in Braj Bhoomi. The most popular designs are the scenes depicting Ras-leela, Naukavihar, Sanjhbela, or Cheer-leela, the one where Kanhaiya steals the clothes of gopis while they are bathing in the river.
It has been displayed in Delhi metro stations and was recently used for pictograms during the Commonwealth Games.
Sanjhi designs can take anywhere between an hour and a month to complete. Sanjhi find its resonance even today in the work of a single family in Mathura. Vijay Kumar Soni of Mathura and Ram kumar Soni of Alwar are involved in making sanjhis and have bagged many awards including the ‘’State Award For Craft Excellence’’. The biggest challenge the craft faces today is that it has to compete with the cheap plastic rangoli stencils that are available in market.
There is a very unique style of making Sanjhi on water. A marble like base is created on water using talcum powder sieved through a mulmul cloth. The stencil is carefully placed on the surface and the filling of the colors is done using arrowroot gulaal.

07/03/2020

On Women’s Day Team Craft and Artisans present to you a fusion of crafts.
All Women Love to Shop and save their precious money as well. Bored of your old saree or dupatta. Give it a fresh look by getting it printed in hand block prints . Revive your old Georgette, Chiffon, Chanderi Saris, or any other saree/Dupatta to new look with Block prints.
If your saree is already block printed. You can opt for a Rogan printing on it. It is done in Gold, Copper and Silver. We will explain and make a video of this craft technique in detail in future Videos. This is different from Khadi print.
The process:
1. Send image of your old saree which you want to get printed. We CANNOT print on Synthetic saris. It has to be pure Cotton, Pure Silk, Pure Viscose or even a mix of them is also fine. We can even do the Dupattas.
2. We will suggest you what can be done on it. Our Suggestion is not binding of our actions. We can also suggest you something more to it like Tasseling or Piping or even Redyeing . Although your design ideas are welcomed but we have our own constrains.
3. The Cost of printing is Rs. 700 to 1500 per saree.
4. We are NOT liable for any failed experiment, as it is done to the best in efforts as per your requirement and our knowledge.
5. You can also buy new sarees like Kota Doria Cotton, Kota Doria Silks, Gota Patti from us. Designs will be shared on Whatsapp only.
6. Contact 9928396633, 9529088999 preferably via a Whatsapp. For any queries.

06/03/2020

Jaipur’s Maniharon Ka Raasta is bustling with activity. It’s Holi—that time of the year when Jaipur’s famous ‘Gulaal Gota’ makes its appearance.
Maniharon ka Raasta, a Lane famous in Jaipur for ‘lakh ki churi’, or Lac bangles, that is home to a few skilled ‘karigars’ (artisans). The artisans are expert molders of lac, and Holi is a busy time for them.
The art of making ‘Gulaal Gota’, colourful balls made from lac. The art is 400 years old in this city.
The artisans use fire and glass or copper pipettes to blow up lac into hollow balls, similar to "The Hand Blown Glass technique". Once they cool, they fill them with ‘Herbal Gulal’ made of fragrant Arrowroot, which makes the ‘Aalu Tikki’ crispy, and seal them with lac or paper. When revellers, throw these balls at each other, they burst to smear them with colors without hurting them, unlike water balloons.
Each ball with herbal Gulaal inside weighs only 10-20 grams. They are sold in packets of 4-8 and cost anywhere between Rs 80-160. 'Gulal gota' is also exported to Britain, Spain, Canada, Australia, Nepal, France and anywhere else that has a large Indian Diaspora, Saqib, a young artisan, says.

Packaging the balls is no mean task: it takes careful handling to avoid the risk of the balls bursting in its wrapping. Being a festive product it cannot be bought at any time of the year. All these Artisans are also involved in making Lac bangles.

However, the tradition of Gulaal Gota is a struggling enterprise, primarily because of poor profit margins. Says Gulrukh Sultana: “We’re doing this only for Holi. We also have a bangle-making business besides, because this alone is unsustainable.

Mr. Ayaz, Owner of Ayaz Arts, Shop no 129, Manhiharon ka Rasta, Kishan Bazaar Jaipur is one of the best lac jewelry making Shops in the lane. +91-931414164
Contact Mr. Saqib for Gulal Gotas :- +91-9929851801

03/03/2020

Orrisa Ganjifa cards are circular in shape. Earlier Ganjifa cards were painted on Ivory or Mother of Pearl.
Banmali Mahapatra along with his son Vijay and daughter Savitri are keeping this ancient art alive now. He comes from a family of painters. A deck of Dashavatra Cards takes 10 to 15 days to complete. These cards are painted on cloth coated with Glue and tamarind paste.
The cards decks they make are
Navagrah Card: The nine planet card deck. 96 Cards in Total, Sun Moon, Vrishpati, mangal, Rahu, Ketu, Shani and more.
Dashavatra cards: The Incaranation of lord Vishnu. Matsya, Varha, Kurma, Narisngh, Parshurama, Ram, Krishna(Jangannath), Kalki, Vaman
144 Card Deck includes Lord Shiva, Ganesha, Agni, Vayu, Indra and more.
"Shri Bhagwat Puran" says, that invoking the name of Lord Vishnu through gestures, or even games, helps to wash away sins. A game of cards like Ganjifa is pleasing to the Gods.
There is an urgent need for Ganjifa to be revived. Otherwise it will remain just a collector's item!"

मैं बचा रहा था धरोहर,
२००० साल से ज्यादा पुरानी,
अब तोह लोटा दो इस विरासत को जवानी।

Please don’t use them as Coasters.

Contact Banamali Mohapatra, and Vijay(Both of them understand only Hindi and Bengali) +91-96 92 483 181, +91-95 56 403 969. Vijay is also available on Whatsapp

28/02/2020

Molakalmuru Sarees, The Kanjeevaram of Karnataka. Molakulmuru is a town in the Chitradurga district on the borders of Karnataka. This town is renowned for the production of Molakalmuru Saree. These Sarees are usually produced in silk and showcase a number of motifs and patterns, usually inspired by nature.
The community of weavers known for producing the Molakalmuru Saree is small – a total of 440 artisans.
The techniques of weaving a Molakalmuru Saree are very intricate and usually require three shuttle looms. The sources of inspiration for this saree essentially pertain to the motifs weaved onto them. The most popular motif amongst weavers of the Molakalmuru Saree is the temple motif. It should ideally have a pic of the Temple Motif highlighted, inspired by the grand architecture of temples in this region. These motifs are usually incorporated along the thick border of the saree. Their pleasing geometric shape and interlocking symmetry add a lot of beauty to the garment. It is called Molakulmuru when done in Chitradurga district, Karnataka and Kanjeevaram when done in Kanchipuram District of Andhra. You can buy it directly from the artisans:
Vanjre Ramesha, National Award Winner (Traditional Handloom Silk Sarees Manufacturers) #586, 7th Cross, 5th Main (Behind Sumathi Kalyan’s Mantapa), Prakash Nagar, Bangalore- 560 021
Factory Adress: Molakalmuru 577535, Chirtadurag District Karnataka
Contact No : +91 98 45 345 764

28/02/2020

Molakalmuru Sarees, The Kanjeevaram of Karnataka

04/11/2016

Witness Odisha’s artistic excellence in stone carving right here in Streets of India!

Here's presenting Prabhakar Maharana - a renowned National Award winning craftsman specialising in stone carvings, whose statues and sculptures have received global appreciation.

To explore his stunning work of art, visit SOI this November (11th-13th) at Swabhumi,Kolkata.
Web: www.streetsofindia.net | Contact: 8820820208 / 9674145167

02/08/2014

Cotton block printed reversible jackets
Available in various sizes - S/M/L/XL/XXL

16/09/2013