Brooches

 Brooch is a piece of jewelery used to enhance the beauty of a plain or simple garment. It is usually used by pinning it on the dress. In India we use brooches pinned to our saris. I am so very fond of brooches and collect them when ever I can and wear them on special occasions.

Brooches are made of metals like gold, silver and gems. or other metals and semi precious stones. These days, multi-coloured ones and stone brooches are quite in thing. Younger generation may not much care for it when they wear modern attires. But when one wears saris it enhances the beauty especially if the saris are plain ones.

Any way here are some from my collection....

This is a bunch of purple flowers, made in Indonesia. Its gold plated. For the past six years I have been owning this and it still retains its shine and beauty.

 These are pink coloured stones. Reminds me of pomegranate seeds.

           Peacock Feather Brooch

  This is one of my favourites -shaped in peacock feather..blue stones a bit rare shade in blue...

 

Peacock Feather Brooch  

Now this is a smaller one when compared to the above but with emerald green stones...

 

                         Swan Brooch 

Now here comes my pink swan...I love it...pink and white coloured stones on white metal...

                     Dolphin Brooch 

This little one is a dolphin...I love dolphins great friendly creatures..any wonder I love to wear it?

                       Peacock Brooch

Here is a multi coloured peacock...The coloured work is known as Meenakari..that is inlay of enamel or art of decorating metal with enamel.

Photographing them was very difficult since, they were very shiny. But somehow I did it. That is why some of the pictures may not be crystal clear.

Hmm I do have some more but will share them some other time.....

Do leave your comments...

Applique Work

I am back with another sari. Again it is from Bengal. It is a pink cotton sari.. The cottons of Bengal are very famous. Especially the saris. This one I am going to show is light pink colour with a light green border. It has borders on both sides. Actually this makes any sari a bit heavy. Therefore I don't prefer a sari with borders on both sides. Moreover when we wear a sari the top side border-most of it is tucked in and is not visible. Only one forth is visible. That is why some saris have only that much border on the topside where it is visible.

Any way you can see that the border is woven with silk threads.

You can see the chain stitch done by the Aari-known as Aari work. Aari is a needle like the one used by the shoemakers, for stitching the leather. It is known as Tambour work. This way its very easy to embroider chain stitch and fast too. The stitch is even. Here multi coloured silk floss has been used for the stitch.

Here you can see the most of the sari has applique work-tiny squares of dark blue coloured cotton ikkat fabric . You can see that the squares have been edged with tambour work of multi coloured floss.

Here is the close up of the appliqued square.

Here is the Pallu with the tambour work. You can see the green stripes woven on  the Pallu.

But here is the grand attraction. The huge piece appliqued on to the center of the Pallu. Note the center where the technique of "Reverse Applique" has been used.

Here is a closer look

Here you can see the tambour work on the rest of the Pallu.

So that was the applique work on cotton sari from Bengal. How do you like it?

Classic Motifs

I love to look at fabrics, flowers, vegetables and fruits when I go out for window shopping. Basically I like the colours and shapes. They inspire me a lot, sometimes just kick the creative thoughts in me. That is why I volunteer for shopping. But then when I am in a shop amongst lots of fabric, I just love it. I have some of my favorite shops, which I visit regularly, to see what is new. I just like to browse on my own, feeling touching, just looking at the colurs, textures and then when I come across something new or unique, my creative juices start flowing.

I used to design my and my sisters, clothes. But now I have restrict myself to my clothes. Of coarse, I design my and my moms saris and get them specially weaved. I just love experimenting with different colours, shapes, motifs and combination of various colours.

Recently I happened to come across this... a very rare print of birds on fabric. I think this feels like a very fine cotton. It is. The colour combination was very good. I think it gave it a very antique and royal look, Something out of the bygone era? The Raj? I don't know whether I have put it correctly or not.

My mom calls it English print. But the flowers, birds and the vines and the leaves all look like the ones that have been carved out on the pillars of Indian temples.

But any ways here it is.. I want to make tunic out of it a long one with full sleeves and Nehru collar...How will it look? any suggestions? Any embellishments needed like high lighting with gold thread or something like that?

Please do leave your comments. I am a bit confused on that....


This is how it looks...

Here is the bird in flight

Here is another bird sitting on a branch. These birds attracted me in the first place.

This is one classic motif. Reminds me of Pomegranate and Moghuls. Is that what it is? Any guesses?

Now here is the flower.

Should I high light these motifs with ordinary floos, silk floss or then gold thread? Whether contrasting or same colored floss?  What do you say? Please do leave your suggestions....