Lotus Pond

Love for stacking paper.  Trying out enamel effect or cloisonne on paper using whatever is available with me to bring out the desired output.  The effect is also called Meenakari in India. This time I have used semiprecious beads and polymer clay to accentuate my paper art.  As it takes as much time, energy and imagination as the other materials.  The cord it is strung on is also handmade with silk-cotton thread.

Once one of the ladies who was going through my creations told me it is so nice of me that I am putting waste paper into use.  I was saddened, I use high quality watercolor paper for my work :(.  I had to explain to her it was not easy, it is hard work, procuring raw material is an art by itself.  An eye for materials, such a brain wave before collecting or buying where that would exactly fit.  Sometimes it is trial and error.  The time we put in for research, learning techniques, coming up with new developments and ideas, the best place to procure things etc, etc... is a long process.  Only the passion for it does not make you feel tiered at all :).

The beads used here are green aventurine.  I am very particular about the names of the beads I go for.  I also check their significance.  This in particular, a stone which has metallic inclusion in its translucent appearance and also said to activate the Anahata chakra, the fourth chakra at the position of the heart. 

Vaalkannadi

Vaalkannadi – The word means mirror with a tail, a hand held little mirror for the women folks.   Aranmula, a town in Kerala, is known for its incredible ancient craft of making mirrors out of super polished metal alloys where the combination of the ingredients is a well-kept secret.  

The Vaalkannadi or Aranmula mirrors represents goddess of wealth and luck.

This is my humble effort to get this traditional design of mirror as a wearable art.  Of course, I have used the regular mirror as centre piece, embellished with tiny sand sized faceted beads on the pendent shaped like the Vallkannadi.    The pendent is strung on beaded cord which is made by my mother with handcrafted polymer clay beads.  The set is completed with matching earrings.

The length of the pendent itself is 4 inches, the length of the necklace is 14 inches including the pendent weighing about 54.4 grams.  The earring is 2 inches long and 3.1 grams each.

It was an instant hit, sold within no time of my posting it for sale.  I am happy the piece is now owned by one of my dear friend.  

Purple Love

Knowing the truth that nothing is permanent, I love change.  Since I love art, I cannot stick on to any form of art for a long time.  I have that madness to pursue the subject as long as I find the beginning, the concepts, the techniques and then I rest when I can handle it at any given situation.  In the beginning of this year, I had a chance to learn sculpting, painting with marble powder.  I instantly fell in love.  I can get ceramic effect with ease.  The effect of acrylic on it is mind blowing.  The only disadvantage is it is way too heavy.  If it is put to use in jewelry, it is fragile.  I had to work around those properties.  I have used technique of my own to sustain the piece. I could only manage a pendent, the effect I love.

This was about the time the Pantone color of the year was released - Ultraviolet.

A simple textured pendent enhanced with ceramic beads on waxed cotton thread. 

Ramya

Ramya – Presenting Ramya, keeping with her name, made a hibiscus theme necklace /chocker and earring set.  When it is for friends and one who is too sweet, you take your own time.  I took a lot of time to conceive this design and almost a month to finish. I can relate this design to my brand name Mystic.  Yes, I dreamt of the design J  Lot of planning and precision calculation had to be done.  The earring is a three-piece one which sways against each other when worn.  After a long time an art without mixing media.  Each piece handcrafted with polymer clay.  I wanted each bead in the necklace to be unique and to look unusual.  The earring too is my own design and looks unusual.

Jimikki Kammal

Part of an experiment with paper and ceramic. Not disappointed at all.  Happy with the turn out. What is achieved with this is the paper does not show through, the ceramics takes over, light weight as expected, finish is like ceramic.

Neeraja

This design is simply and purely from within.  Just looking at the fish in the pond filled with lotus.  A paper based simple earring but I had put lot of thought and love making this.  I made this for a friend whom I was supposed to meet but could not meet for not a reason we both should be responsible for.  Just could not meet :).  She too is a jewelry designer too, and I have noticed who loves to include fish patterns in her jewelry.

Mayur

Cannot get enough of the mayur.  This one is a result of a lazy but doodling mood of an afternoon.  The peacock looked good, so made another one with slightly another design.  since the brain is always thinking of wearable art, diminished the design to a smaller size, could not reduce it further.  It took almost 20 days to complete.  Contemplating the medium for the creation.  Finalized it to be on paper.  Painting, layering and waterproofing etc ate up a lot of time. The cord portion of it to had to be thought out and decided to go for polymer clay beads in antique finish.  All the beads are handcrafted, hollow and given an antique look.