Classical South Indian Painting - Tanjore Painting

Tanjore painting is referred as Thanjavur Oviyam in Tamil.  It is considered an important form of classical South Indian painting which originated from Thanjavur –Tamilnadu and this word Thanjavur was anglicized as Tanjore. Tanjore paintings is usually on a solid wood planks- palagai padam (palagai = "wooden plank";
padam = "picture").

You can also view my previous blog on Pretty Paper Dolls and Exquisite Handmade Accessories

Pretty Paper dolls

My previous blog was on Exquisite Handmade Accessories. This week it is about Paper dolls made beautifully and artistically. 'Paper' are not only for books but also can be used for decorative purposes. Here are few of the handmade paper dolls

Exquisite Handmade Accessories

Hademade hangings or accessories not adds beauty to us but also gives us pride as we have designed them.The handmade involves our own imagination and creativity. I have observed some of the handmade accessories works and i am thrilled to try it myself. Some handmade earings might seem tough for the beginners but practise can make you perfect. Here are some of those works

Simple handmade designs

Pretty Patterns

You can view my previous blog Ribbon flowers

Lovely Ribbon Flowers

Following my previous blogs on Fantastic Fabric flowers and Fun with fabric flowers. Now, it is going to be about Ribbon flowers. It is easy and simple to make ribbon flowers. Ribbon flowers can be used on anything be it clips or slipper and it gives a vibrant look to them. Try making ribbon flowers with brilliant colors and decorate your stuffs with fun.

Needed things
•Needle
•Threads
•Buttons
•Scissors
•Thick ribbon

Step 1:
Starting from one end, stitch running stitches along one side of the ribbon and complete it till the end of the ribbon. Take four to eight inches lengthy ribbon.

Step 2:
After stitching till end, try pulling the thread and you might observe the gathering of the ribbon. Again back stitch your ribbon so that the folding stays intact.

Step 3:
Fold the edges of the ribbon and stitch it.

Step 4:
Cut of the excess ribbon after stitching

Step 5:
Now take appropriate button suiting the ribbon color. Place the button in the center of the ribbon flower and stitch it.

Now your ribbon flowers is ready!

Fantastic fabric flowers

BABY BAND

Following my previous blog on Fun with fabric flowers, here are some brilliant fabric flower handworks. Fabric flowers can be used on various things such clothing’s, bags, etc.

Fun with Fabric Flowers

In my previous blog, I mentioned on how to make paper flowers and stocking flowers. Today it is going to be about simple Fabric flower making. If someone dresses with brilliant colours on it, we tend to look that way as colors play an important role in attraction. What if we can use this fabric in our artwork because i feel it will be interesting if we can use the scraps to transform into beautiful flowers. Fabric flower making is very simple and fun to learn. You can try with different kinds of fabrics and add more decoration either to your clothes or vases. Here are some simple steps for the beginners to learn fabric flower making

Needed things
•Lace (small circularly cut lace)
•Pearl beads or buttons
•Satin
•Organza
•Thread
•Needle
•Scissors
•Candle (for burning the edges of the fabric)


Method

1. Cut one 4 inch diameter circle of satin, one 4 inch diameter circle of organza, one 2 inch diameter circle of satin and one 2 inch diameter circle organza.
2. Along the edges of the circle try cutting flower patterns as given below.

3. After that with the help of a candle, try burning the edges of the fabric until it the end of the fabric curls. Don’t expose the fabric to too much flame because it might eventually burn the whole fabric. Lightly hold the edges of the fabric and burn it carefully just once or twice around the edges.
4. Arrange the fabric one on the top of the other, with the larger satin circle below followed by the larger organza circle and accordingly.
5. After arranging the fabric, keep the circularly cut small lace on the top and sew it with a big pearl bead. Sew the whole arrangement along with the pearl bead. Make sure you have stitched it properly because any loose stitches might spoil the look of the fabric flower. Fabric flower is now ready! You can stitch this onto any dress or clothes according to your liking.

This how it will look

Here are few fabric flower patterns

A look on Pot Painting

Pot painting is very old art form which was practiced centuries ago. Each pot painting depicts one’s culture, beliefs and creativity and it will be beautiful to understand different cultural factors through pot painting. Nowadays pot painting is considered a hobby and is practiced by many crafts lovers. Not all pot painting involves skill and technique, there are many simple pot painting technique for the beginners. Here are some display of artwork done on pots.

Intrigue pot painting

Simple Pot Painting

Pot designs with the help of Chemical Clay

  

Different types of Flower making

The Art of Flower making is a technique in Handicrafts which can be acquired by anyone who has the urge to learn. These gorgeous creations of flower making can be made with the help of different types of material. Flower making is an enjoyable and creative hobby. Here are some wonderful creations of flowers created by one’s own imagination.

Stocking Flower

Flowers with beads

Paper Flowers

Simple and decorative Glass bottle painting

Arts and handicrafts are something many of us prefer doing in our spare time as it brings out our creativity and innovativeness. Last week blog was on flower making and flowers won’t be complete until it has decorative pot to hold it. Many empty glass bottles at home are unattractive and plain. If we decorate these plain glass bottles, they can make brilliant vases or ornamental jar s for display. It is very simple as glass bottles are readily available at home; this glass bottle painting just needs some basic things such as
• Empty glass bottle
• Glass outliner (black preferably)
• Glass colors ( 4-5 glass colors)
• Glue and gloss (for final coating)

Step 1:Take an empty glass container and soak them in water for some time. Allow it to soak, so it easy to remove the labels in the bottle. Dry it completely.
Step 2:With the help of black outliner, make box like structure in a random manner. It is not necessary to have a similar box like structures, so try free hand boxes with various sizes.
Step 3:Let it dry for few hours
Step 4:Try coating the glass colors in each box and ensure you give different colors for each box, so your bottle looks colorful and pretty
Step 5:Let it try for 24 hours
Step 6:Finally coat it with glue and glossy, for glossiness and permanent look.

This simple glass painting can make your living room lively with vibrant colors and welcoming flowers on it. Try it and you’ll surely get a hang of it.

Stocking flower making

Stocking flower making is beautiful flower making technique. It involves your imagination and creativity. Once you get the hang of it, you can try innovatively to make different types of flowers. Previous blog, I gave you few tips on paper flowers and how to make it. Similarly, this is unique flower making technique is easy. So give your home a warm welcome with these flowers.

Needed stuff:
Stockings (vibrant colours)
Green floral tape
Thread
Pollens
Wire size12 (for stem),
Golden colour /silver colour wires (for petals)
Wire cutter

Technique:
Step 1:
Cut six pieces of golden wire 8cm length and fold one of the 8 cm wire to form an oval shape. To get a heart shaped petal, press the centre of the oval a bit and drag either sides of the petal with hands.
Step 2:
Repeat the same to make other petals.
Step 3:
Take the stockings and pull it over the petal tightly. Then tie at the end using thread and slash off the excess stocking.
Step 4:
Repeat the same steps for all other petals.
Step 5:
Take the wire for stem and slightly bend it at one end. So this slightly bend one will enable us to fix the pollens.
Step 6:
Now, take 4-5 pollens and fasten this pollens to the bend stem. Tie this with the thread.
Step 7:
Arrange each petals accordingly and tie each petals with thread.
Step 8:
Cover the tied part with the floral green tape and completely over the stem wire.
Step 9:
If necessary, attach artificial leaves.

Carnation paper flower making

Following the previous blog on Pot painting, I would like to give you few tips on tissue paper flower making. These are relatively simple and easy flower making technique. Flowers are nature's way of smiling in delicate artful beauty and decoration for your rooms. You can create your very own works of art from base materials following these simple guidelines. Materials needed are as follows:

·         Tissue papers (bright and lively colors)

·         Wire (12 or 14 gauge)

·         Scissors

·         Glue

·         Green tape

Step 1: To make the flower petals 8 total circle layers for your flower: 4 big circles and 4 smaller circles. The simplest way to do this is to fold a piece of tissue paper in half until you have 4 layers. Trace your lids on the top layer of the tissue paper and cut out the circles through for all the layers. After cutting the circles, arrange them neatly into an aligned pile with smaller circles on the top and larger circles below the smaller ones.

Step 2: Use any sharp tools to poke in the center of all the circles. Push the wire stem all the way through the center of the circles and make sure the bottom ends of the stem are even. Then twist the two wires together on the underside of the flower head to form one solid stem. Wrap this stem with the green tape to complete the stem look. 

Step 3: Start crumpling the first layer inward to create a carnation-like texture. Repeat this for each layer downward until layers are crumpled to give a "poofiness" and texture. The more the tissue paper is crumpled, the more defined the texture will be and this will give you the actual carnation flower look.

Pot painting

Innovative handicrafts can be anything depending on your imagination. Today’s I like to tell you few basics on pot painting. All it requires is a 

• pot, 
• few enamel paint,
• glue and gloss (if required- glossy look) and 
• water.

First, you have to color your pot completely with any base fabric color/enamel paint-white/black color. While using enamel colors it is safe not to use paint brushes because the paint brushes become stiff when they dry and cannot be used in future. So here it goes, take a small tub/container and fill it with ¾ quantity of water. Now, spill the enamel colors onto the tub and you’ll observe the colors floating on the water. Now, carefully hold the mouth of the pot and dip it into the enamel filled water tub and twist it around slowly, so that the color it absorbed by the pot all over. Let this dry for 2-4 hours and if you need a glossy look, then you can apply glue and gloss over the colored pot. This type of pot painting has its own unique design as the colors are merged and gives you a vibrant outlook. Beginners can try this pot painting as it is easy and simple.