Daily Art Fix: Kilim ON the Sofa!
Looking good? Antique Sarkoy kilim now adding color to the sofa! Jm April 2018
There’s No Limit to Creativity – Jewelry from Assam
Sharing the beautiful gemstone-studded traditional jewelry of Assam
Inspirational People from the Himalayas
When people push themselves beyond the limits of normal human capability, it is always admirable. A few years ago I’d read about the kora or parikrama that Tibetans performed as … Continue reading
Wealth of Motifs – Fulani Art!
What if we measured the wealth of nations by the number of indigenous motifs it has? Or the cultural history within those? Would we be fighting the same wars? Here … Continue reading
The Astitva Project – Phase II
Soon we will begin the next phase of the micro project. We will work with the same ethnic group that we did last time but this time it will be … Continue reading
Nomads in the Himalayas
Found these photos taken in March 2016 in my folders – waiting silently for my attention. A sighting of a nomadic settlement – a split second decision to stop … Continue reading
Material Pleasures
When I was young I desired a million things but had no money to buy them with. Now when I am old, I have more money but very few things … Continue reading
Daily Art Fix: Men with an extra Arm?
Or is it a stick? Maybe they are the sons of the weaver! Interesting motif on an antique Kazak rug.
Sentinels & Thresholds
The threshold is a very important line in a traditional Indian home. It is washed and decorated beautifully every day with auspicious symbols drawn in powder by the woman of … Continue reading
Patan Patola Ikat Weaving – HOW?
For those who wondered how! A video interview with a masterweaver Kanaiyalalbhai who explains the process step by step. To understand the technique of weaving Patan Patola double ikats and … Continue reading
Travel Plans
A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving (Lao Tzu) I long to evolve to this level of life! Maybe I will plan my next … Continue reading
Goa Carnaval 2018
Something to do over the weekend in case you are in Goa! Delighted to find local culture in the themes of the floats! Delighted to find people of all ages … Continue reading
Daily Art Fix – An Antique Robe with Amli Embroidery
Works such as these remind us of the value added simply by the skill of an artist! The wool and the silk and the scissors could have made a robe … Continue reading
The Wine Cup of Emperor Shah Jahan
Emperor Shah Jahan’s wine cup: Am still confused about the way it is to be used as a cup for drinking … It is probably cups like these that inspired … Continue reading
Crowning Glory of a Turban with Double Sided Embroidery
The absolutely mind-boggling craft of double sided embroidery on a turban! Maybe this will be one step forward in eradicating the gender bias… in a century or so maybe all … Continue reading
My kind of Palace
After a long time I have been able to afford the time to take a little solo trip. And here I am in a charming palace sipping green tea! in … Continue reading
Art Revived
Some vanishing arts have been strengthened and resurrected by external change agents. Soof Embroidery of Gujarat is one such art that had the blessing of nurturing by people who devote … Continue reading
Hidden Gems – new sightings in old acquisitions!
In an embroidery rich in texture and motifs and age, it was easy to miss the 5th color used sparingly – it hid within the flowers – almost shy of … Continue reading
Daily Art Fix -Sindh Dowry Embroidery
Bless the woman who made this!! A great way to start my day …. with a dose of beauty – gives the heart a small positive kickstart! Sept 2017
Tales the Phra Malai Thai Manuscripts tell!
It will be years before I will be able to understand all the stories contained in the few Phra Malai manuscripts that I’ve seen! Some are stories from the life … Continue reading
