Embroidery has always been an integral part of our clothing and handicrafts. When it comes to embroidery the different regions of Pakistan has different type of embroideries and the patchwork is one of them .
Its typical Sindh crafts where ladies make bed spread called Rali but now a day a lot of cushions also created.The technique is very interesting and all the stitching is done with hand using running stitch. joining multicolor little piecesso the pattern range is huge, with intricately designed embroidery patches and ethnic geometical designs.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
East World Market method of Ajrak &Block printing:
East World Market method of Ajrak &Block printing:
There is more and less same method use to create the Ajrak of olden days except in olden days the making steps are more and done in open space and near water resource like river or tank but now Ajrak or block printing can be done at home with less recourses.
Block printing
The chemicals used are:
UD binder
Sodium Alginate powder (make a paste with water)
G3 Binder (if you are making glittery effects to your block printing)
Alco (combination of blinders ,kerosene oil )
White paste
Natural Dyes can be used for block printing like
Black: This is take by mixing acidic solution of iron i.e. put rusted nails/horse shoes etc. with jiggery (country sugar) allowed to rot for about 10-15 days.
Many other natural substances used for producing dyes are pomegranate skins, bark of mango tree, vinegar, slaked lime etc.
Red: red dye is obtained by combining a source material such as alizarin with alum, the results of this dye is pink to deep red.
Indigo Blue: Blue is obtained from the indigo bush found throughout Pakistan &India.
Yellow was the color of spring, many blossoms flowers are filled with yellow color (my mother use to dye her scarf with small flower stem ) and we can use saffron or haldi and henna.
Or
Use pigment colors in block printing .Make a paste with binder mix in kerosene oil; this is called Alco and then adds drops of pigment colors. While mixing take care to get correct consistency of paste, for if it is too thick it gives a raised effect on the material also check the color tones if too dark it will spoils the design. Always start with lighter tones and then increase the dye ratio. Once the paste is mixed stored in small bottles .you can mix two or three colors together and make a new color. These colors are visible as one prints and do not change after processing.
East World Market provide all the printing material like
Readymade white paste
Carved block for printing
Alco
Pigments in primary color & secondary colors
Pure Cotton by meter
Pure Silk by meter
Natural Dyes Powder
Mordents
Common mordents used in block printing are: Tin, Chrome, Iron, Copper, Alum, Cream of Tartar, Oxalic Acid, Soda Ash, Chalk, and Tartaric Acid
Tools: The main tools of the printer are the wooden blocks in different shapes and sizes called bunta. The blocks are made of seasoned teak wood is being preferred because of its light weight. The blocks are prepared by craftsmen trained in this art. The underside of the block is kept flat, and the design etched on it. Two or three cylindrical holes are drilled into its thickness connecting the upper side of the block to the carved lower surface. The holes help in freeing air bubbles and excess of printing paste if any while printing. Each block has a wooden handle carved on top. Each block has its distinguished design style and can be used with low toned colors. Delicate lines, creating fine designs as poppy, rose or lotus background can be white or light beige. Or you can use block as big and bold and use technique (resist-printing) and the dyeing process produce a reddish black shade. Wild flowers, buds and foliage have provided inspiration to printer also wax resists can be used then creates a dramatic in red and black.
Block Making Process:
The block carving process is tedious and demands an exceptional degree of skilled craftsmanship is required. The most skilled part of the block making process is the making of the outline block. The outline block is often the costliest of all the blocks in a design set. It is the skeleton around which the rest of the design is fleshed out.
Let see how the blocks are design by craftsman or you can try making your own block, I had made few my own designs blocks although a lot of labor and hard work required. It’s better to buy a professional made blocks for better result. Now let see how the blocks are made, work on the block begins with an accurate freehand drawing of the design's outline on tracing paper. Using the outline drawing as a map, a drawing for each color in the design i.e. the color fill blocks are traced out. A block starts out as a planed slice of shesham wood or any soft wood. The design is traced on to the wood's planed surface. The wood is then chiseled to the depth of a third of an inch. Tiny holes are drilled in areas intended for the application of flat color. These holes are stuffed with cotton at the time of printing to ensure an even application of color. The precision that a master block maker achieves with his hammer and chisel is truly extraordinary. Generally the size of a block is between five to eight square inches. However in instances where the design requires it, blocks of up to fourteen inches may be carved. It’s always advisable the size constraint of the blocks to a large extent defines the parameters of viable design. Hence small motifs and repetition, characterize block printed designs. The number of blocks required for a design can range from 3 to 35 depending on the complexity of the design. Once the blocks are carved they are left to stand in large trays of mustard oil, for a couple of days. This is done to prevent attract & absorb moisture from liquid dyes during printing. Then drained the excess oil from the blocks by leaving them to stand on layers of fabric for a couple of days.
Type of blocks
There are three types of set of blocks
1. Outer block or the gad is carved in intaglio and print large background figures
2. Middle block or rekh are carved in relief, it also mark the outlines of the motif and used in conjunction with gad blocks
3. Inner block or data are also carved bold relief and compliments the designs of gad and rekh blocks
Each of these blocks is used separately or together to produce endless patterns & designs.
How to plan a design using blocks
1. Choose set of blocks for creating a pattern.
2. The number of colors used, since each color will have its own block.
3. the different components of the design, i.e. the presence of a border in addition to the main design. The borders will always consist of a separate set of blocks (outline plus color fills), distinct from the block set used for the main design. Depending on the complexity of the border, its size and the sequence in which it is to be printed, the border itself may consist of several sets (outline plus color fills) of blocks. Prior to printing the tiny holes drilled into the blocks, are stuffed with cotton.
How to preparation the fabric for printing:
The fabric (usually cotton) is first bleached by immersion in a gentle bleaching solution. The fabric is left to dry in the hot sun. After drying the fabric is pressed and now the printing process starts with different dyeing technique best suited to the design .select the type of dyes and mixed them then prepare the dye pad. The dye pad consists of a rectangular wooden tray into which a metal frame is fitted. The frame has several yards of nylon rope tautly wound around it. The taut rope mesh provides a spring effect during printing. The body of the pad consists of several layers of coarse sacking or jute material piled on top of the rope mesh. The final layer however, is a piece of finer fabric: like silk, chiffon or voile. The choice of the top fabric depends on the dye saturation required for printing. Once the trays are prepared an appropriate quantity of dye is poured into them. The surface of the dye pad is evened out with a piece of wood after which it is placed on wheeled wooden carts and put color on a different cart. The carved blocks are distributed color wise, amongst the carts, and organized in the order of printing, on the racks below. But if you are working in home studio then take small plastic trays cover with sponge or thick layer of towels then lay a thin fabric like silk mesh or nylon mesh. This is going to be your dye pad.
Then fabric is measured, cut and pinned tautly on to well padded 6 meter long tables. If you are printing three and four sided borders round a yardage it’s impossible to printing then it’s better to cut each piece separately and printed individually. If you are making a textural element in the design then stamped all over with the texture block.
Always first print the outline of the design. You dip the outline block into the dye pad and moves down the length of the table, stamping the fabric by carefully placing the block on the fabric and striking it with the heel of your hand. Also use a blank paper to correct overlapping specially on the corners.
Washing: after printing the fabric is thoroughly washed. Pigments are washed thoroughly by multiple immersions followed by vigorous hand beating to wash out all traces of gum and fixing agents.
There is more and less same method use to create the Ajrak of olden days except in olden days the making steps are more and done in open space and near water resource like river or tank but now Ajrak or block printing can be done at home with less recourses.
Block printing
The chemicals used are:
UD binder
Sodium Alginate powder (make a paste with water)
G3 Binder (if you are making glittery effects to your block printing)
Alco (combination of blinders ,kerosene oil )
White paste
Natural Dyes can be used for block printing like
Black: This is take by mixing acidic solution of iron i.e. put rusted nails/horse shoes etc. with jiggery (country sugar) allowed to rot for about 10-15 days.
Many other natural substances used for producing dyes are pomegranate skins, bark of mango tree, vinegar, slaked lime etc.
Red: red dye is obtained by combining a source material such as alizarin with alum, the results of this dye is pink to deep red.
Indigo Blue: Blue is obtained from the indigo bush found throughout Pakistan &India.
Yellow was the color of spring, many blossoms flowers are filled with yellow color (my mother use to dye her scarf with small flower stem ) and we can use saffron or haldi and henna.
Or
Use pigment colors in block printing .Make a paste with binder mix in kerosene oil; this is called Alco and then adds drops of pigment colors. While mixing take care to get correct consistency of paste, for if it is too thick it gives a raised effect on the material also check the color tones if too dark it will spoils the design. Always start with lighter tones and then increase the dye ratio. Once the paste is mixed stored in small bottles .you can mix two or three colors together and make a new color. These colors are visible as one prints and do not change after processing.
East World Market provide all the printing material like
Readymade white paste
Carved block for printing
Alco
Pigments in primary color & secondary colors
Pure Cotton by meter
Pure Silk by meter
Natural Dyes Powder
Mordents
Common mordents used in block printing are: Tin, Chrome, Iron, Copper, Alum, Cream of Tartar, Oxalic Acid, Soda Ash, Chalk, and Tartaric Acid
Tools: The main tools of the printer are the wooden blocks in different shapes and sizes called bunta. The blocks are made of seasoned teak wood is being preferred because of its light weight. The blocks are prepared by craftsmen trained in this art. The underside of the block is kept flat, and the design etched on it. Two or three cylindrical holes are drilled into its thickness connecting the upper side of the block to the carved lower surface. The holes help in freeing air bubbles and excess of printing paste if any while printing. Each block has a wooden handle carved on top. Each block has its distinguished design style and can be used with low toned colors. Delicate lines, creating fine designs as poppy, rose or lotus background can be white or light beige. Or you can use block as big and bold and use technique (resist-printing) and the dyeing process produce a reddish black shade. Wild flowers, buds and foliage have provided inspiration to printer also wax resists can be used then creates a dramatic in red and black.
Block Making Process:
The block carving process is tedious and demands an exceptional degree of skilled craftsmanship is required. The most skilled part of the block making process is the making of the outline block. The outline block is often the costliest of all the blocks in a design set. It is the skeleton around which the rest of the design is fleshed out.
Let see how the blocks are design by craftsman or you can try making your own block, I had made few my own designs blocks although a lot of labor and hard work required. It’s better to buy a professional made blocks for better result. Now let see how the blocks are made, work on the block begins with an accurate freehand drawing of the design's outline on tracing paper. Using the outline drawing as a map, a drawing for each color in the design i.e. the color fill blocks are traced out. A block starts out as a planed slice of shesham wood or any soft wood. The design is traced on to the wood's planed surface. The wood is then chiseled to the depth of a third of an inch. Tiny holes are drilled in areas intended for the application of flat color. These holes are stuffed with cotton at the time of printing to ensure an even application of color. The precision that a master block maker achieves with his hammer and chisel is truly extraordinary. Generally the size of a block is between five to eight square inches. However in instances where the design requires it, blocks of up to fourteen inches may be carved. It’s always advisable the size constraint of the blocks to a large extent defines the parameters of viable design. Hence small motifs and repetition, characterize block printed designs. The number of blocks required for a design can range from 3 to 35 depending on the complexity of the design. Once the blocks are carved they are left to stand in large trays of mustard oil, for a couple of days. This is done to prevent attract & absorb moisture from liquid dyes during printing. Then drained the excess oil from the blocks by leaving them to stand on layers of fabric for a couple of days.
Type of blocks
There are three types of set of blocks
1. Outer block or the gad is carved in intaglio and print large background figures
2. Middle block or rekh are carved in relief, it also mark the outlines of the motif and used in conjunction with gad blocks
3. Inner block or data are also carved bold relief and compliments the designs of gad and rekh blocks
Each of these blocks is used separately or together to produce endless patterns & designs.
How to plan a design using blocks
1. Choose set of blocks for creating a pattern.
2. The number of colors used, since each color will have its own block.
3. the different components of the design, i.e. the presence of a border in addition to the main design. The borders will always consist of a separate set of blocks (outline plus color fills), distinct from the block set used for the main design. Depending on the complexity of the border, its size and the sequence in which it is to be printed, the border itself may consist of several sets (outline plus color fills) of blocks. Prior to printing the tiny holes drilled into the blocks, are stuffed with cotton.
How to preparation the fabric for printing:
The fabric (usually cotton) is first bleached by immersion in a gentle bleaching solution. The fabric is left to dry in the hot sun. After drying the fabric is pressed and now the printing process starts with different dyeing technique best suited to the design .select the type of dyes and mixed them then prepare the dye pad. The dye pad consists of a rectangular wooden tray into which a metal frame is fitted. The frame has several yards of nylon rope tautly wound around it. The taut rope mesh provides a spring effect during printing. The body of the pad consists of several layers of coarse sacking or jute material piled on top of the rope mesh. The final layer however, is a piece of finer fabric: like silk, chiffon or voile. The choice of the top fabric depends on the dye saturation required for printing. Once the trays are prepared an appropriate quantity of dye is poured into them. The surface of the dye pad is evened out with a piece of wood after which it is placed on wheeled wooden carts and put color on a different cart. The carved blocks are distributed color wise, amongst the carts, and organized in the order of printing, on the racks below. But if you are working in home studio then take small plastic trays cover with sponge or thick layer of towels then lay a thin fabric like silk mesh or nylon mesh. This is going to be your dye pad.
Then fabric is measured, cut and pinned tautly on to well padded 6 meter long tables. If you are printing three and four sided borders round a yardage it’s impossible to printing then it’s better to cut each piece separately and printed individually. If you are making a textural element in the design then stamped all over with the texture block.
Always first print the outline of the design. You dip the outline block into the dye pad and moves down the length of the table, stamping the fabric by carefully placing the block on the fabric and striking it with the heel of your hand. Also use a blank paper to correct overlapping specially on the corners.
Washing: after printing the fabric is thoroughly washed. Pigments are washed thoroughly by multiple immersions followed by vigorous hand beating to wash out all traces of gum and fixing agents.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
CdCrafts a plateform for crafters to grown into big group.
The demand of modern living has increasded our stress levels and craft is one way to get way of counting the stree since this is therapeatic yet fun as well..cdcrafts trys to make crafts accesseible to all.by displaying the best of what is made .our crafts experts will be writing about their achivements and passing on tips which will enable you to apply simple technique to lasting good effects in your home decration and gifts.Our regular feature will enable our members to keep in touch with each other and enjoy our craft activities as a group. so please do send your contribution in a form of tips,a feature on any interesting topic related to crafts or ladies to cdcrafts@yahoo.com.
the aims of our club
* to stimutate and develop interest in different crafts
*to provide information of the world through newsletters.
*to share ideas and creativity in crafts
* organize annual crafts exhibitons in different cities of Pakistan and at the internatinal level (USA/UK etc ).
*specail discounts ,rebates and substantial cuts in crafting expenditures.
*work on crafts activities as a group.
*earn a living out of crafts and eventually form a bussiness,
*easy access to crafting material through our mail order service.
the aims of our club
* to stimutate and develop interest in different crafts
*to provide information of the world through newsletters.
*to share ideas and creativity in crafts
* organize annual crafts exhibitons in different cities of Pakistan and at the internatinal level (USA/UK etc ).
*specail discounts ,rebates and substantial cuts in crafting expenditures.
*work on crafts activities as a group.
*earn a living out of crafts and eventually form a bussiness,
*easy access to crafting material through our mail order service.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Trichem Paints
Trichem paints is a globally recognized company that conducts art workshops in 55 countries around the world.these workshop are conducted by qualified instructors.its also called friendship paints.the paint quality is very good and last very long.I am trichem instructor since 1990 and trained hundred of ladies across Pakistan.trichem has different techniques and can be used on fabric,glass,wood and same paint.......its very interesting.and surpricly no brush is required.coming months I will also add more techniques of trichem paints.
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