Torans-2

MAMIDI TORANALU-Mango Leaves

Torans or Toranaalu as known in Telugu are valences hung across the door ways. My previous post on the topic is here:

http://summersofindia.blogspot.com/search/label/Torans

Torans made of green Mango Leaves are considered very good. No auspicious occasion be it marriages, festivals or any other happy occasion is complete with out the torans hung at all the doors- leading to out side of the house or even inner doors. But if one cannot hang torans on all doors at least decorating the main door and the back door is a must. 

Torans made from natural and traditional products, like fruits, flowers etc are quite cheap, healthy, environmental friendly and add beauty, colour and fragrance to the surroundings. These also take very little time to make and are use and throw type.  In olden days, when a toran was hung on the main door of any house, it indicated that something good or happy occasion was being celebrated in the house. Even today, we practise this.

Though these days people are using other artificial materials, for us South indians, especially Andhra people, using of Mango leaves for torans on the main door is a must. At least a bunch of mango leaves are hung at both sides of the entrance if one doesn't or can't make a toran.

Green symbolises auspiciousness, fertility, prosperity, health and wealth. 

Here is a very simple or basic toran made from from fresh mango leaves:

        Mamidi Toranam-Mango Leaves Toran

This is the basic version. I have used simple cotton thread which is used for making flower garlands. To this I have attached Mango leaves. I could not get more leaves so I just put a few. But if more leaves are used to fit the entire doorway, it looks very good. One can grade the leaves according to the size and use to make different torans. 

• Big ones in the center and then smallers ones on either side, 
• use same sized leaves for entire toran
• Small ones in the center and bigger ones (gradual increase in size) on either side 
• Use flowers-orange, yellow or red Marigold in between
• The combinations as above are many according to our creativity
• I have used two strands of cotton thread-which is like candle wick yarn. Some use other treads or yarn made of jute or wool

Here are some illustrations I made. Sorry I could not get real pictures. Hope you can follow them:

All the leaves are of equal size 

The leaves in the center are larger and decreasing in size towards the ends.

The leaves in the center are small gradually increasing in size towards the ends.
  

Here alternate leaves are big and small.

Here marigold flowers have been used in between the leaves.

Here too marigold flowers have been used but strung sideways-you can see the green stalks

Hope this is informative. One of my friends wanted it. 

Embroidered Butees-5

PEACOCKS-2

Here is one more butee...the first one in this series is here:

http://summersofindia.blogspot.com/2011/02/embroidered-butees-4.html

                  Peacock Butee

This is the second butee-the head is turned on the other side. All the remaining is same.

You can use these as single butees or as pairs facing each other. Pairs would look good for pallu area. 

               Peacock Butee -Pair

What do you think of these butees? Let me know please.... You can also note down these pasterns and try out in a similar manner or by using threads, beads etc .....

More to come. So keep watching.....

Embroidered Butees-4

PEACOCKS-1

Peacock is the most beautiful bird. Its out national bird. Who can deny the beauty of a Peacock. But the funniest part here is that it is the male who has the most beautiful feathers in its train-tail feathers. OK OK I do not want to hurt the feelings of Males. But then God can sometimes be naughty. Don't you agree with me? 

But everyone loves beauty-keeping aside male or female part..:) and every one loves a Peacock. those who are interested in knowing more about them look here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peafowl

Now coming to the main story...I am going to post this whole week(I will do my best) from today some of the most beautiful embroidered butees on Peacocks..so follow me on this blog..

Here is the first one. The magnificent Peacock in all its glory. It reminds me of the Indian Monsoons, the smell of earth when the first drops fall on it, the thunders and lightening, and then the colourful Rainbows, the Peacocks displaying their train....This beauty has been captured here in this embroidered butee or patch... 

                    Peacock Butee

It is a patch, done on a stiff blue cloth with silk threads of blues,greens and reds, gold and other metallic threads-gold and other coloured bullions, purls, sequins, coloured kundans or stones and gold beads. The patch is backed by a fabric so that you don't have to bother about the ugly back side showing through the materials. Since the patch is stiff, it is easy to handle.

Below is a close look at the top portion.

                   Peacock Butee

Just have a closer look. These can be stuck on to fabric-saris, kurthis or dresses as you like, or just tack the edges to secure them.

Those of you who can embroider this design  can do so on a thick silk fabric. Alas! I don't have that much time or energy though I would love to give it a try.

Tell your friends or groups so that any one interested in this type of embroidery can have a look at these.....

More to come......so keep a close watch on my blog....