Manipuri dancer from India...

Manipuri, one of the main styles of Classical Dances originated in the beautiful ,picturesque and secluded state of Manipur in the north-eastern corner of India. The geographical location of this state ,surrounded by the mountains has kept the people of Manipur away from the influence of other states, and hence this region has been able to retain its unique traditional culture, aesthetics, values, conventions and ethics.

The origin of Manipuri dance can be traced back to ancient times and is associated with rituals and traditional festivals of the state.

I have used terracotta, paper mache ,polymer clay, wires, silk, chiffon, organza, beads, sequins etc to make this doll. It is about 14" tall . Excellent for interior décor, gallery and gift items...

 

Spring Time !!!

Last night  while watching Project Runway....I completed one of my spring wearable art piece ......

Its OOAK, beaded bib necklace with different shades of pink beads and Lucite flowers which gives this statement wearable art an interesting color and texture. Its done on ultra suede with a leather backing .Wear it with your little black or white dress in your spring time garden parties and steal the show :).The bib necklace hangs by strands of pink crystals and ends with a toggle and sweet little cherry martini charm.

 

 

 

Kathakali dolls from Kerala

Kathakali is the classical dance-drama of Kerala, South India, which dates from the 17th century and is rooted in Hindu mythology. Kathakali has a unique combination of literature, music, painting, acting and dance. The costume is the most distinctive characteristic of Kathakali. The makeup is very elaborate and the costumes are very large and heavy.
In 1988, I went to Kerala on a vacation with my parents and my daughter . I felt so blessed to be able to share the experiences of this trip to Kerala which is also known as 'Gods own country' with my loved ones.It was during this visit that I learnt about the culture and traditions of kerala and was over whelmed by the performances and costumes of Kathakali dancers. This doll is based on my memories from the trip to kerala.

I made this doll using paper mache ,clay and terracotta and wires as the basic structure of the doll and for the elaborate costume I used silk, various trims, rhinestone settings, beads, paints and handmade jewelry. This doll is an exquisite creation.......
This OOAK art doll is from my 'Exotic indian' dolls collection and can be an excellent interior decor,  gift items for every reason you can think of ...except its not for children .

A 'santhali',tribal couple from India

'Santhal', also spelled as Santal, is a major tribe of India residing in the eastern states of India including Bengal ,Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa etc. The Santhal people love music and dance and their culture has not been influenced by any mainstream Indian culture or traditions.The Santhals are musicians and dancers par excellence and have dances for every imaginable occasion.
This indian tribe is known for their colorful costumes, music and dance festivals. I had an opportunity as a little girl ,to meet some of these lovely people and I tried to recreate my memories through my dolls.
I have used terracotta, polymer clay ,paper mache, wires ,silk ,ribbons, beads etc to make these dolls. This pair is about 14" to 15" tall.

Rajasthani Doll from india

This ooak doll depicts a regular day in a 'Rajasthani woman's life'. Rajasthan is a state in western part of india rich in color,culture and royals.But there is also a huge 'drinking water problem' in the state. Continuous drought from last 20 years makes it more difficult  in western rajasthan that comes under the Thar desert of India. In every household, in the rural areas in Rajasthan, women and girl children bear the responsibility of collecting, transporting, storing, and managing water. In many rural areas, women still have to walk for miles with baked clay pots on their head to reach the source of water.

During my last visit to  Rajasthan I have witnessed these beautiful rural women in colorful costumes walking miles with water pots balancing on their head and smile on their face as the tourist cars drove by.
My inspiration for this doll is from my vivid memories of those hardworking ,charming rural rajasthani women.This doll is about 17.5 inches in height and is made from paper mache,terracotta,wires and clay which forms the basic structure. I have used silk,organza,trims to make the beautiful costume.I have also used some beads and chains to recreate the magic of rajasthani jewelries which is usually very elaborate and gorgeous.
                                                   

                                                                

A bengalee woman on her way to the temple

A beautiful indian woman from the state of west bengal,on her way to the temple. The inspiration for this doll is from my childhood memories of my mother going to the temple dressed in white silk sari with red border and head to toe decked in gold jewelry. As a little girl,I looked at her in awe as she walked past me to the chaueffer driven car that was at our main gate to take my mom to the temple...

First Blog posting....

 I have been planning for quite sometime to create a new craft related blog which will show case my creativity and some of my products from my online Etsy store and would give me a chance to interact with other craft lovers....

Creativity in any form,shape or color has been my passion as long as I can remember. As a kid I expressed my creativity with water colors on the white ,pristine walls of my mom's living room or when my older sister ,Jay would come to visit us over the weekend from her university,she and I would spend our time together doing my home work and in between making colorful clothes for my dolls.... a haute couture line!! every weekend... With the passing of time I have evolved and focussed my creativity on mixed media wearable art and art dolls.I am inspired by own fantasy, my childhood memories , fashion , texture ,color ,nature and artists. I have always pursued my creative flair as an intense passion and never a profession.