Threshold Art-2

My previous post on this topic was here:

http://summersofindia.blogspot.com/2011/10/threshold-art-1.html

Just to jog your memory..

Now a days turmeric and vermilion have been replaced by paints. Who wants to scrub their thresholds every week and apply turmeric and vermilion especially those living in cities who don't have even time to breathe. More over getting it painted is almost a permanent solution, needs repaint once in 5 or 10 years. Still the art of decorating is very creative.

Here is an example: 

This is the main threshold of an old traditional house in the coastal region. See the design of the flowers and the leaves. See the hibiscus flowers placed in the corner  worshipping the threshold.

See the scenery in the center. The paint has peeled off a little. But we can still make out the scenery. Blue mountains in the distance, orange and yellows of the sky denoting the sun rise, birds flying on their way to start their day.  We can also make out a house with slanting roof. These are tiled roofs (terracotta tiles) which is quite common in the region. The house is situated on the banks of a river. The most common tree is coconut. So the artist has added a few of them along with a boat in the water. The artist had captured the essence of the local region with just a few strokes.

I wish the scenery had not peeled off. It brought back memories of my child hood, my roots, my maternal grandma's  house and so much more when I visited the house.....I will share those moments with you in some other posts....

Oh by the way can you share with me any pictures of threshold art of your homes, if you have anything different? Send those pictures via email with a little description about it...We all would be very glad to see them please.....

Watch out for more on threshold art.

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Gopuram Stitch Tutorials-Part II

My first part was only the basics. My grand mother taught me these flowers. If I remember correctly, these flowers were stitched with a white thread (coarse cotton yarns) on her velvet blouses usually of dark colours. The flowers had 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8 petals with a mirror in the center or sometimes a chain stitch  or French knots or satin stitch in the center of the flower. These were used as motifs on the back, around the neck and hem of the sleeves. They were also worked on pillow covers(minus the mirrors) and cloth bags, door curtains etc.

 I learnt them from her much later. Here are some samples I worked out:

3 petalled flower 

7 petalled flower

Here I have anchored the last stitch with French knots and bullion stitch. Sorry my bullion stitch are not state of art work especially when I am working with wide eyed needles :) :).

Some more patterns I have worked for my sampler.

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Kundan Ear Rings

Kundan Jhumkis or danglers are in fashion now. They are available in many colours.I picked up Red and Golden Yellow as they will match any silk or other brocade saris. These are looking stunning.

I also picked up blue coloured one but gave it off to my sister. I will take a snap of it if possible and post it some time. I could not lay my hands on  green set though. Before I could pick it up, some one else snooped on it ...:) :) perhaps better luck next time.

I picked up smaller ones. actually these days huge and heavy danglers in many shapes glittering with stones are in fashion. They are too heavy, meant for party wear and I don't like to look so decked up. Since they are heavy, one has to use chains to support them. So I picked up simple and small ones which also cost very less.

Watch out for more.......

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