Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Tie Dye printing on fabric
Tie and dye is one of the traditional dyeing styles in Pakistan, one of traditional form of tie dying began some 5000 years ago and called as bandhani or Chunri. This technique involves tying small dots with thread all over the fabric to create designs and motifs. After tying the fabric is dyed then the ties are removed and a beautiful pattern form on the fabric. Most popular material to use is cotton as its soft and easy to handle but now a day more fabric are used like silk, georgette, chiffon and Katan.
Let me tell you the method how the artisans of East World Market make beautiful scarves.
Mostly Artisans work from their homes with pieces of malmal (fine muslin), handloom or silk fabric. Usually the cloth is first bleached and then folded into two or four layers depending on the thickness of the cloth. An artisan with sense of designing and called in local language rangara or designer who marks the layout of the pattern on the material using wooden blocks dipped in geru, a burnt sienna color mixed with water. The artisans then begin to tie the cloth part which is not to be dyed. The folds of the material within the small motif are lifted and tied together. The material with the first set of ties is dyed yellow. There is also a process, of dyeing parts of the material by hand - lipai technique (surface dying). The material is again tied and dyed into red or green. If the border has to be darker all the lighter parts are tied and covered with plastics the edges are dyed with the required colors. Repeated tying and dyeing produces elaborate designs. There is another method in which the artisans first draw a pattern or design on a tracing paper and make holes with wool needle all over the design. The cotton cloth is bleached and silk is washed, the fabric to be dyed with this method is spread on a long table covered with old newspaper or rough paper sheet as underlay. In the been time another artisan make a mixture of red clay and kerosene oil and apply this on the tracing paper lying on the fabric. This is the pattern making or marks where the threads are tied on fabric.
Artisan use different ways to mark the pattern for tying sometimes they use the holes pattern method or use a wooden block to make the impression with detailed motif or tie lentils (dals )to get a star burst pattern, the fabric within the motif are lifted and tied after dying take place and they removed the ties threads by pulling the cloth and holding on both side when open a beautiful pattern form on the fabric with showing a ray of colors and white dots clearly seen making an impressive design.
The process of tie and dye in earlier times was done with the use of basic colors extracted from plants like the shellac was used for reds, turmeric for yellow, Iron shavings and vinegar for black, and pomegranate rinds for green but now they prefer to tie dye with dyes powders.
There are other methods to do tie dye without tying the fabric and just by folding the cloth into different angles. And it’s called the Leheria pattern - literally meaning waves. These are harmoniously arranged diagonal stripes, dye in the bright colors of yellow and red, green and blue or yellow.
In Pakistan different region has different patterns, designs. The dyeing and printing of textiles has become a highly developed craft in Pakistan.
Mostly these two type of dying are done on dupattas(scarves).This is the essence of the art form which need advance planning and detail work and then the intricate patterns show. This art form reflects an essence of royalty and is created as per the custom order from clients. In big and small cities of Pakistan you can see small dyers shop offering different type of printing and dying services on minimal charges.
Let’s discuss some of the easier designs first so that everyone can try them and become familiar with the different results.
To start, soak the fabric to be dyed in a soda ash solution (1/2 cup soda ash per gallon of water), agitating it for five to ten minutes. Remove the fabric and wring it out thoroughly; the fabric is then ready to fold. Tying cloth soaked in soda ash can be hard on the skin, so use tight gloves that give you dexterity such as surgical gloves. The right wetness is very important to the final results of the item. If the fabric is too wet, the dye becomes diluted and a washed-out look will result. If the item is too dry, the dye will not penetrate into the cloth and there will be large irregular white areas. If the items are tied dry, they can be dampened before dying. To test dampness, squeeze the item firmly. There should be no water dripping. Locals called different designs in their own language like charkhana, lehrai, boota &booti, bhandhi.
.
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Let me tell you the method how the artisans of East World Market make beautiful scarves.
Mostly Artisans work from their homes with pieces of malmal (fine muslin), handloom or silk fabric. Usually the cloth is first bleached and then folded into two or four layers depending on the thickness of the cloth. An artisan with sense of designing and called in local language rangara or designer who marks the layout of the pattern on the material using wooden blocks dipped in geru, a burnt sienna color mixed with water. The artisans then begin to tie the cloth part which is not to be dyed. The folds of the material within the small motif are lifted and tied together. The material with the first set of ties is dyed yellow. There is also a process, of dyeing parts of the material by hand - lipai technique (surface dying). The material is again tied and dyed into red or green. If the border has to be darker all the lighter parts are tied and covered with plastics the edges are dyed with the required colors. Repeated tying and dyeing produces elaborate designs. There is another method in which the artisans first draw a pattern or design on a tracing paper and make holes with wool needle all over the design. The cotton cloth is bleached and silk is washed, the fabric to be dyed with this method is spread on a long table covered with old newspaper or rough paper sheet as underlay. In the been time another artisan make a mixture of red clay and kerosene oil and apply this on the tracing paper lying on the fabric. This is the pattern making or marks where the threads are tied on fabric.
Artisan use different ways to mark the pattern for tying sometimes they use the holes pattern method or use a wooden block to make the impression with detailed motif or tie lentils (dals )to get a star burst pattern, the fabric within the motif are lifted and tied after dying take place and they removed the ties threads by pulling the cloth and holding on both side when open a beautiful pattern form on the fabric with showing a ray of colors and white dots clearly seen making an impressive design.
The process of tie and dye in earlier times was done with the use of basic colors extracted from plants like the shellac was used for reds, turmeric for yellow, Iron shavings and vinegar for black, and pomegranate rinds for green but now they prefer to tie dye with dyes powders.
There are other methods to do tie dye without tying the fabric and just by folding the cloth into different angles. And it’s called the Leheria pattern - literally meaning waves. These are harmoniously arranged diagonal stripes, dye in the bright colors of yellow and red, green and blue or yellow.
In Pakistan different region has different patterns, designs. The dyeing and printing of textiles has become a highly developed craft in Pakistan.
Mostly these two type of dying are done on dupattas(scarves).This is the essence of the art form which need advance planning and detail work and then the intricate patterns show. This art form reflects an essence of royalty and is created as per the custom order from clients. In big and small cities of Pakistan you can see small dyers shop offering different type of printing and dying services on minimal charges.
Let’s discuss some of the easier designs first so that everyone can try them and become familiar with the different results.
To start, soak the fabric to be dyed in a soda ash solution (1/2 cup soda ash per gallon of water), agitating it for five to ten minutes. Remove the fabric and wring it out thoroughly; the fabric is then ready to fold. Tying cloth soaked in soda ash can be hard on the skin, so use tight gloves that give you dexterity such as surgical gloves. The right wetness is very important to the final results of the item. If the fabric is too wet, the dye becomes diluted and a washed-out look will result. If the item is too dry, the dye will not penetrate into the cloth and there will be large irregular white areas. If the items are tied dry, they can be dampened before dying. To test dampness, squeeze the item firmly. There should be no water dripping. Locals called different designs in their own language like charkhana, lehrai, boota &booti, bhandhi.
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Monday, March 14, 2011
Making Treasures from trash
In our trash sometime we find interesting products to be crafted into something useful like this little felt covered box to keep beads, buttons etc.
Today I am going to show how to make this little felt covered box
Things require for this project:
Tin box, scissor, felt red and black 1 sheet each, hot glue gun & glue sticks, a tray to keep the cut pieces and place to assemble your project & Pearl bead.
1. Cut a stripe from red felt and wrap around the tin box and fix it with glue.
2. Cut a square piece from black felt and stick on the lid of tin box. Just keep in mind that the tin is cut with cutter that remove the sharp edges if not then file the edge with a filer. Once the circle of tin is fixing cut the extra felt out and you will get a round lid now time to décor some decoration by putting lace around the lid.
3. Cut a red square and fix in the bottom and cut the extra felt also so now you have your neatly covered felt box put a bow on top of the lid and fix a pearl in the end. If you have plans to keep a metal products inside
Then cover the inside also in the same way. I have plans to keep just the button and beads so it’s ok without covering. You can also cover the inside with paper to give a finished look.
Voila! A handy little box is ready.
Today I am going to show how to make this little felt covered box
Things require for this project:
Tin box, scissor, felt red and black 1 sheet each, hot glue gun & glue sticks, a tray to keep the cut pieces and place to assemble your project & Pearl bead.
1. Cut a stripe from red felt and wrap around the tin box and fix it with glue.
2. Cut a square piece from black felt and stick on the lid of tin box. Just keep in mind that the tin is cut with cutter that remove the sharp edges if not then file the edge with a filer. Once the circle of tin is fixing cut the extra felt out and you will get a round lid now time to décor some decoration by putting lace around the lid.
3. Cut a red square and fix in the bottom and cut the extra felt also so now you have your neatly covered felt box put a bow on top of the lid and fix a pearl in the end. If you have plans to keep a metal products inside
Then cover the inside also in the same way. I have plans to keep just the button and beads so it’s ok without covering. You can also cover the inside with paper to give a finished look.
Voila! A handy little box is ready.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Dough craft Creative Cold Porcelain
Dough crafts
These days’ people are talking about dough crafts. I had worked on different dough’s for many years,making my own dough than teaching to my team of artisans so they can make flowers and other crafts .
Today I had thought to share you how I make my different type of dough’s like Italian dough, Creative cold porcelain and Creative flexi dough.
What is Creative COLD PORCELAIN?
Cold Porcelain modeling is a relatively new craft which is growing in popularity. This readymade, air-drying paste or you make your own with simple kitchen ingredients. Here is the recipe
CREATIVE COLD PORCELAIN
RECIPE
Ingredients
2cups of corn flour plus two spoonfuls
2cups of wood glue or white glue.
1/2spoonful rice starch
1spoonfuls of baby oil or cold cream
1spoonful of liquid glycerin
1/4cup of Luke warm water
1lemon juice(small) or 1tsp vinegar
Method
Mix the following ingredients one after other in enamel pan or glass bowl if you are using microwave 3Tsp baby oil ,lemon juice, glycerin, water and cold glue than stirring the ingredients with a wooden spoon. Now add 2 cups of corn flour and mix well. Dissolve the lumps. Keep this mixture for15minutes then cover so the air bubbles escape and then cook at very low heat or just micro wave the dough. I am writing both the method for cooking this dough:
Stove method
In the method of cooking use a stove,keep stir until it become thick and uniform approximately 10-15mins then remove the pan from the fire as soon as the dough start leaving the sides of the pan and wooden spoon come out clean after removing from heat use the second spoonful of corn flour. Knead the dough using cold cream .
For microwave method
Mix all the ingredients in the bowl, leaving the cold cream, which is used for kneading the paste. I use a big plastic spoon or hand mixer to mix as it removes all the lumps and make a very uniform mixture. Place the bowl in the microwave and cook it during 2 minutes on maximum power. Open the oven on each minute and mix the paste with the wood spoon, so that it cooks all around equally. the dough will leave the side of the bowl and form a round ball.
Kneading
As soon as the paste will be cooked in either method , spread only 1 tablespoon of cream on a plastic bag then on counter top surface and place the paste, still very hot now knead the paste by applying cold cream this will give you better results. Knead the paste for some minutes; say about 5-7 minutes. The trick, the more you to knead, better it will be to work. And knead combing the material until the paste is no longer sticky. Remember if necessary thicken with corn flour or soften with hot water. Add some cold cream in plastic bag and knead the dough keep in mind that this dough is very hot please wear gloves or another plastic bag on your hands. keep the dough in airtight sealed plastic bags. Refrigeration’s are not necessary. This paste is very simple it must be air-dried in the shade and baking is not required. And that is why it’s called cold porcelain. Since this paste is white in color it’s very important that you wash your hands before starting to work to avoid the paste becoming discolored. As earlier mention that storing the paste in a sealed polythene bag and then inside a plastic container. Take a small amount of paste and knead it properly before every use. If the paste appears too soft leave to open air for a minute and knead, it will firm as the moisture evaporates. Please keep this in mind that the cold porcelain shrinks about 15-20% on drying. Don’t roll too thin the paste, as it will crack from the edges. With creative cold porcelain modeling is done easily just using water, with wet fingers, which is most useful for details. Any work may be start by the artisan at any time by brushing first with glue and adding paste. Cold porcelain allows including oil colors, water or food coloring in the paste. Since colors become stronger when they dry small quantities should be used. Sometime I also mix white poster color also to make the color light in shade. Don’t add too much whitener because the paste will become dried and crumbly. To make good dough Kneading is key factor. It should be soft and stretch more .now you can make your flowers and figures should normally be left overnight to dry, and large flowers may need longer. The petals can be slightly reshaped the next day by holding over steam and bending.
These days’ people are talking about dough crafts. I had worked on different dough’s for many years,making my own dough than teaching to my team of artisans so they can make flowers and other crafts .
Today I had thought to share you how I make my different type of dough’s like Italian dough, Creative cold porcelain and Creative flexi dough.
What is Creative COLD PORCELAIN?
Cold Porcelain modeling is a relatively new craft which is growing in popularity. This readymade, air-drying paste or you make your own with simple kitchen ingredients. Here is the recipe
CREATIVE COLD PORCELAIN
RECIPE
Ingredients
2cups of corn flour plus two spoonfuls
2cups of wood glue or white glue.
1/2spoonful rice starch
1spoonfuls of baby oil or cold cream
1spoonful of liquid glycerin
1/4cup of Luke warm water
1lemon juice(small) or 1tsp vinegar
Method
Mix the following ingredients one after other in enamel pan or glass bowl if you are using microwave 3Tsp baby oil ,lemon juice, glycerin, water and cold glue than stirring the ingredients with a wooden spoon. Now add 2 cups of corn flour and mix well. Dissolve the lumps. Keep this mixture for15minutes then cover so the air bubbles escape and then cook at very low heat or just micro wave the dough. I am writing both the method for cooking this dough:
Stove method
In the method of cooking use a stove,keep stir until it become thick and uniform approximately 10-15mins then remove the pan from the fire as soon as the dough start leaving the sides of the pan and wooden spoon come out clean after removing from heat use the second spoonful of corn flour. Knead the dough using cold cream .
For microwave method
Mix all the ingredients in the bowl, leaving the cold cream, which is used for kneading the paste. I use a big plastic spoon or hand mixer to mix as it removes all the lumps and make a very uniform mixture. Place the bowl in the microwave and cook it during 2 minutes on maximum power. Open the oven on each minute and mix the paste with the wood spoon, so that it cooks all around equally. the dough will leave the side of the bowl and form a round ball.
Kneading
As soon as the paste will be cooked in either method , spread only 1 tablespoon of cream on a plastic bag then on counter top surface and place the paste, still very hot now knead the paste by applying cold cream this will give you better results. Knead the paste for some minutes; say about 5-7 minutes. The trick, the more you to knead, better it will be to work. And knead combing the material until the paste is no longer sticky. Remember if necessary thicken with corn flour or soften with hot water. Add some cold cream in plastic bag and knead the dough keep in mind that this dough is very hot please wear gloves or another plastic bag on your hands. keep the dough in airtight sealed plastic bags. Refrigeration’s are not necessary. This paste is very simple it must be air-dried in the shade and baking is not required. And that is why it’s called cold porcelain. Since this paste is white in color it’s very important that you wash your hands before starting to work to avoid the paste becoming discolored. As earlier mention that storing the paste in a sealed polythene bag and then inside a plastic container. Take a small amount of paste and knead it properly before every use. If the paste appears too soft leave to open air for a minute and knead, it will firm as the moisture evaporates. Please keep this in mind that the cold porcelain shrinks about 15-20% on drying. Don’t roll too thin the paste, as it will crack from the edges. With creative cold porcelain modeling is done easily just using water, with wet fingers, which is most useful for details. Any work may be start by the artisan at any time by brushing first with glue and adding paste. Cold porcelain allows including oil colors, water or food coloring in the paste. Since colors become stronger when they dry small quantities should be used. Sometime I also mix white poster color also to make the color light in shade. Don’t add too much whitener because the paste will become dried and crumbly. To make good dough Kneading is key factor. It should be soft and stretch more .now you can make your flowers and figures should normally be left overnight to dry, and large flowers may need longer. The petals can be slightly reshaped the next day by holding over steam and bending.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Creative Parchment crafts
Parchment or vellum crafts is a very interesting hobby where you can make different things like cards in intricate designs, gift tags, bookmarks & customized invitations. Parchment paper is like a very thin wax coated paper or you can say a translucent paper that’s perfect for paper craft .this is an ancient art; it originated in Europe and slow learned by others. The craft has been around in various forms since before the invention of the printing press. Now a day it’s mostly used to create wedding cards and gift card
There are many special techniques used in this form of art for producing beautiful, delicate design. It’s a craft which is required to be learned by a teacher as special methods are used to hold the different tools and use different techniques. Parchment or vellum papers are available in different color and texture. Mostly used are in neutrals like white and ivory, soft pastels, metallic finishes and vibrant colors. The tools for parchment crafting include scissors, tracing paper, embossing tools, and special inks or pens.
There are many special techniques used in this form of art for producing beautiful, delicate design. It’s a craft which is required to be learned by a teacher as special methods are used to hold the different tools and use different techniques. Parchment or vellum papers are available in different color and texture. Mostly used are in neutrals like white and ivory, soft pastels, metallic finishes and vibrant colors. The tools for parchment crafting include scissors, tracing paper, embossing tools, and special inks or pens.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Paper Quilling
Paper Quilling is a very interesting crafts .you just need simple tools and there goes your creativity.
It involves rolling thin strips of paper, typically 1/8 inch wide, around a needle or slotted quilling tool. The tiny paper rolls are then shaped, pinched and arranged in order to create quilled paper creation for picture frame or cards and beyond like Jewelry.
Paper coils can be rolled very tightly or quite loosely for various effects within your final image.the more you practice the more you will master this craft. Most quilled shapes begin as either a closed coil or an open coil. A closed coil is rolled quite tightly and an open one a lot more loosely then press by hands to give different shapes.
here are some mostly common shaped used.
Tear drop,marquise,bunny Ear,Scolled heart,arrow,bent half circle ,duckfoot.
v scroll,the open heart,triangle,circle etc
It involves rolling thin strips of paper, typically 1/8 inch wide, around a needle or slotted quilling tool. The tiny paper rolls are then shaped, pinched and arranged in order to create quilled paper creation for picture frame or cards and beyond like Jewelry.
Paper coils can be rolled very tightly or quite loosely for various effects within your final image.the more you practice the more you will master this craft. Most quilled shapes begin as either a closed coil or an open coil. A closed coil is rolled quite tightly and an open one a lot more loosely then press by hands to give different shapes.
here are some mostly common shaped used.
Tear drop,marquise,bunny Ear,Scolled heart,arrow,bent half circle ,duckfoot.
v scroll,the open heart,triangle,circle etc
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Stocking flowers
In Pakistan when we first started creative designers crafts in 1987 and started training for ladies to make different crafts,flower making from different material and stocking flower making is one of them.this is a inexpensive way to make flowers using simple tools but achieving stunning results.there are different type of flowers to make and can be arranged on different boxes,basket,on brooches,gift embellishment,curtain tieback,lamps or just make flower arrangements for home decor.You can make endless form of flowers,butterflies,dragonflies and many more.
The material use to make these type of flowers or creation you will be needing just stocking o'cause new one and thin wire .The type of flowers we usual make are Tulips,Roses,Calla lily,Daisy,Magnolia.sun flower,Peony and Hibiscus.
Material required:
Stocking of different colors,Wires(special silver,gold or colored wires),Stamen,Floral tape.thick wire for stems ,wire cutter& scissor also tools for shaping or old tube shaped containers in different size.
First you make a wire structure of flowers using tools then wrap the stocking on it and tie with a sewing thread. assembly the flower by joining the different petals and attaching the leaves on stem covered with green floral tape .
For special occasion use glue (thinned with water) powder glitter and apply glue and spray glitter on top of flowers.a new look of your flowers.
The material use to make these type of flowers or creation you will be needing just stocking o'cause new one and thin wire .The type of flowers we usual make are Tulips,Roses,Calla lily,Daisy,Magnolia.sun flower,Peony and Hibiscus.
Material required:
Stocking of different colors,Wires(special silver,gold or colored wires),Stamen,Floral tape.thick wire for stems ,wire cutter& scissor also tools for shaping or old tube shaped containers in different size.
First you make a wire structure of flowers using tools then wrap the stocking on it and tie with a sewing thread. assembly the flower by joining the different petals and attaching the leaves on stem covered with green floral tape .
For special occasion use glue (thinned with water) powder glitter and apply glue and spray glitter on top of flowers.a new look of your flowers.
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