Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Detachable Christmas Ornaments

Hello All!

A friend suggested this idea of making a Christmas card / ornament, and I simply loved it. I love cards, but hate it when they get dumped somewhere after the occasion. One can finally get around this problem by detaching the ornament from the card, and putting it up on the Christmas tree, year after year!

Here are a few ornament cards with a Christmas theme, and they seem to be the ideal holiday gift! Snowflakes, candies and Christmas trees...bring on the holidays :)

Sparkly Snowflake Ornament Card
$12, appx. 4" X 2"

Christmas Candy Ornament Card
$10, appx. 3"

Christmas Tree Ornament Card
$12, appx. 3" X 2"
Cheers!
Manasee

**Please contact me at paperpreciousart@gmail.com if you are interested in purchasing any of the articles. Customization of articles is possible.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Clocks...customized

Hello All!

A friend loved the way the White Lotus Clock looked, and wanted something on similar lines, but with a twist. She sent me the image below, asking me whether it was possible to merge this image with the technique of the White Lotus Clock.

The inspiration
This was a tough one! The technique of the White Lotus Clock works best with single paper strips, and hence comes out in a single color. Creating something like the sunflower image above would involve using smaller strips of multiple colors, glued together and then spread out in the given pattern.

Multiple smaller strips = more delicate work = more change of messing things up :)

I decided to give it a try, and came up with the idea of using 3 strips, brown, dark yellow and light yellow, each of 2 mm length, glued together end to end to make one longer strip. These strips were then put together in the pattern of the White Lotus Flower.

Here is how the project looked like half way through -


About a hundred such strips were made, joining smaller strips of brown, dark yellow and light yellow together. In the end, this is how the clock came out -

Custom Sunflower Clock
                                Price - $35
                                Size - appx. 7" diameter


I loved the gradation of the colors, the meticulous work and the patience in making it did pay off!

The friend loved the clock which she gifted it to her cousin as a house-warming present :)

Cheers!
Manasee

**Please contact me at paperpreciousart@gmail.com if you are interested in purchasing any of the articles. Customization of articles is possible.

Christmas Ornaments

Hello All!

Here is a sequel to the Holiday themed ornaments. Some of the holiday theme, some just plain fun!

Lets put up Santa up on the tree! Complete with a cotton beard and red hat, what would be more apt an ornament for your Christmas tree?

Santa Claus Christmas Ornament
$10, appx. 4" height
Pure ivory angels, another Christmas special ornament.
Christmas Angel Ornament
$6, appx 3" height

A beautiful and delicate Christmas wreath for your tree, dark lush green with bright red bells on top.

Christmas Wreath Ornament
$8, appx 3" diameter
Something fun, and kids special now. This ornament was custom made for a little girl who loves Panda Bears :). It is a surprise Christmas gift from her mommy for her.

Panda Bear Christmas Ornament
$12, appx 3.5" height
What Christmas ornaments would you like for your tree? Keep tuned in for more ornaments to come...

Cheers!
Manasee

**Please contact me at paperpreciousart@gmail.com if you are interested in purchasing any of the articles. Customization of articles is possible.

Monday, October 1, 2012

The Craft Fair Experience

Hello All!

As you have read/heard, I had been shouting about this from the rooftops for quite some time. Paper Precious put up a booth at a local craft exhibition, and I am very happy to note that it was a wonderful wonderful experience! From planning to set the booth up, to sitting out braving the chilly wind wearing slippers, to meeting some amazing people, it was all awesomeness packaged together.

We had to set the booth up early at 7.30 AM, and I was so excited and adrenaline-rushed, that I was unable to sleep at all the night before. It was probably the first time I woke up before the alarm went off! The fair was to take place in the parking lot of a local church, and when we reached there, I saw many booth owners already arrived and busy setting up their stalls. We were greeted by very friendly volunteers and participants. I had practiced putting up the booth at home, and was fairly confident that my helper and I could do it in half an hour straight, but the wind decided to play errant that day. Even though my display stands were weighed down with big heavy books, the wind kept knocking them off. At one unsuspecting moment, my Christmas tree, along with all the pretty handmade ornaments draped around it threatened to fly away into the neighbors booth. An hour into the setup, we had fairly stabilized everything and settled down to receive the first visitors of the day.

Putting up your work for complete strangers to see is the ultimate test for a craftsman. Strangers are not prejudiced to like it as your friends and family are. They have no obligation to kindly praise you, or motivate you in any manner. I watched with apprehension as people passed by my stall, some barely giving it a glance, but soon enough, people had started to stop in their tracks, take a long look at our stall (albeit from a distance), and then draw in for a closer look. People were very friendly, and soon we were engaging a lot of visitors into conversation about the craft and techniques involved. A couple of guys bought a few things, chatted for a long time, and left, only to return in a few minutes to take another look at the table. No doubt, I was beaming :)

The highlight of the day though was the people I came across. I love seeing people, observing them, and seeing bits of varied emotions and actions translate into the basic humanity that we are.

A little girl at the booth next to mine visited me at least five times throughout the day. She would just run over to the table, and keep looking at the items. Finally she convinced her mother to come along, and left only when she had bought a couple of items she had her heart set on. Oh the joys of seeing wonder and appreciation in innocent young eyes!

A lady from the booth across voluntarily gave her shawl to a shivering lady in the next booth. I am always humbled by such displays of such kindness and humanity.

Towards the end of the day, an elderly American gentleman stepped into the booth, looked around and asked me if I was from India. When I replied affirmatively, he proceeded to say "Yeh bohot accha hai" (This is very nice). It took all my effort to try not to fall backwards reeling with surprise. I managed to mumble a meek "Dhanyawaad" (Thank you). The gentleman proceeded to amaze me further by telling that he grew up in India as a kid, in Assam and Darjeeling, and had been to India every  year for the past eight years. When I expressed my surprise at his remembering the language, he responded quietly "Hum Hindustani samajhta hai" (I can understand Hindi).

People never cease to amaze and awe me.

With such a wonderful experience at the first fair, I am very much looking forward to the next ones! Here are some pics from the fair -
The booth

Resting for a while
Cheers!
Manasee