Funky Hair Accessories

An excerpt of an article of mine published on Oct 22nd in She.sulekha

When I wrote about hair accessories being a must have in summer 2010, I expected only the tweens and teens to take to it in India, exception being a few women in their early twenties. But I was wrong, Influenced by international exposure, women of all age groups are taking to hair accessories in a big way. It is great in a way because then you don’t have to worry about perms, hair color, or extreme hairstyling to look great. A few hair accessories like attractive pins or clips can make you look beautiful, unique and stylish.

This accessory trend promises something for every age group. From glam to oversized or simplistic, hair accessories can be a perfect option for any type of occasions. If you think colorful ribbons and cutesy hair bands belong only to the tweens think again. With the movie Aisha being a great hit the black sequin bow hair bands and Audrey Hepburn hairstyles has become quite popular.

Traditionally in India, we have always used real and artificial flowers as hair accessories. With westernization it almost disappeared save a few occasions like wedding and festivities. But now that the west has come back strongly with the usage of rosettes and floral accessories, why should we be left behind?

Click here for the full article 

Cheers

Unisex and Menswear jewelry

Is it really possible to make jewelry for men...?? good question with a very difficult answer...Last month a group of my (guy) friends were behind my life to create stuff that could wear. They didnt want anything to do with beads and didnt want cuffs or pendats that were already there in the market.Given that I don't have metal smithing facilities, my options were very limited. But I did try out a few bracelets using loads of techniques. Many flopped some were okay ans some good.

so here they are; they might not be as great as menswear...but unisex definitely yes

Cheers

Got featured in blogandsoul/getcrafty

Hello everybody,

want to share a good news with you guys...

I got featured on Blog and soul/getcrafty  a great blog to discuss Indian arts and crafts,as their featured artist. I learnt a lot going through their archives and never once dreamed that my work would be featured by them someday. Its a great honour and I am elated.

Thanks a million Madhavi, you have made my day...

Here's a link to the feature, my interview with pics of my work

This is an inspiration to strive harder and create better work....

Cheers

Quirky Brooches

I have seen lots of products like this before - clips, badges even necklaces but never attempted them due to lack of access to the kind of plastic base that was mentioned in such tutorials. Sometime back one of my students told me that she made something similar but cutting out pieces of cardboard and wrapping on then. Sounds like too much work...isn't it?

I thought a bit about it and then decided to use the foam washers(stoppers) that come inside water can refills - they were perfect - so I made these...scarf pins. Initially I thought that the golden ones might be gaudy...but they looked very cute and glamourous once worn.

After thought....hmmmm..they might even go with my sarees this Navaratri...

Happy Navaratri to everybody

Have lotsa fun this festive season

Cheers...

Wire Swirls

Now tell me who doesnt love wire swirls...be it the classic swirl necklace with beads or the simple open spiral earrings...swirls are simple,quirky, easy to make, look classic and go with almost everything. so here a batch or swirls and spirals I have made.
A piece of wire, small pliers
A tune in you heart, a buzz of thought
A swirl here, a Twirl there
 Fly away my Swirly Butterfly Necklace 

Open Spiral Earrings

Spiral Clasp Bangle

Classic swirl necklace

Wire and bead set

Cheers

Divya N

How to make Silk Thread Jewelry

Last week I got a call from somebody who wanted to learn Silk jewelry from me. Considering that this is the only form of Jewelry making I had actually learnt, I was fine with it. As before taking any class, I did some research and sample projects to come up with new ideas as its been a while since I made silk thread jewelry for sale. Deviating from using the statutory frame (block and nail  technique), I used Chinese wall hooks and I should say that result was just the same (now it is more cost effective and I can change the length of the cord any time without making a new frame :) )

so here are some products I made. Beginning with some simple wrapped bangles in nice bright colours...

 

 

then I made a neck cord with danglers(mummy wrap) and some anklets in multiple colours

   

The ones with the pendants are my first collection in (oct 2008) and finally earrings in a couple of patterns - sun burst and Peruvian -cross wrap( you need to count coils for it)

The Peruvian Earrings were the most difficult to make, though I should say that the tutorial - String art pendant by Camille Sheron I found on the Beading Gem blog was very very helpful. It was difficult as I don't have a wire coiler so I coiled it with my awl (the only thin pointed object I had)I got good coils but owing to the thickness of the awl I had to use really thick threads while making the earring. So instead of looking delicately intricate it looks very bold and Tribal now....(I wished I hadn't thrown away similar earrings I had bought 12 years back when they were quite a rage..could have reused the frames)

I tried a cross wrap techniques (the easiest while counting coils) - let me see if I have the patience to do the peacock eye design in the future.

Some tips - apart from making both earrings simultaneously (at every stage- which I did), use a coiler so that you can use fine thread, while knotting the thread on top use a knot that is used to string flowers and secure with fabric glue - they will never unravel. Finally instead of using embroidery floss(strands) its easier to use running thread from a thread roll as as it doesnt knot or tangle.

I hope that these tips are helpful if at all somebody decides to make it...

Cheers