Women at work in Pallaipakkam village. Photo: M. Karunakaran

Ari embroidery is a way of life for many village dwellers in Sriperumbudur. Not many know that in and around this town, the art of Ari embroidery is being carried on for perhaps 100 years. A look at this intricate craft and its creators.

The fabric is stretched out tight on the frames. Seated on the ground and bent over the embroidery frames are men and women who carry on a communion with the fabric. Their needles dart with lightning speed as they rapidly pierce the cloth embedding their delicate stitches on it. Their fingers work in perfect unison and soon, beautiful colours and designs begin to emerge. Floral borders and abstract shapes materialise, sometimes with only the help of colourful thread but often embellished with sequins, beads, wire and crystals.

Kanchipuram is synonymous with silk weaving. But not many know that in and around Sriperumbudur near Kanchipuram, the art of Ari embroidery is being carried on for perhaps 100 years. In nearly 40 villages in the area, men and women are employed in executing the intricate hand embroidery, as a means of livelihood. With agriculture no longer an option, they are either engaged in the embroidery or take up jobs in factories.

The long frames, or “kattils” as they are known for they resemble cots, are set up in their homes or even out in the open under the trees. The orders come from textile shops in Chennai as well as boutiques. They also come from Gujarat and other parts of the country. Ari's fame has spread across the shores and it is sought after in Egypt and Sudan; special wedding saris are commissioned by outlets in Sri Lanka......

Read more at  -  http://beta.thehindu.com/arts/crafts/article466961.ece?homepage=true

Tools and Materials
Buttons, embroidery floss, thread (in the color of the fruit you want to create)
Standard sewing needle
Embroidery needle
Fabric napkins (we used 10-by-10-inch tea napkins)
Embroidery hoop (optional)
Fabric pen

Fruity-Button Napkins How-To
1. Lay out your design on the napkin, arranging the buttons in place (mark with a disappearing-ink fabric pen if necessary), then sew on the first button, using matching thread. (For easier stitching, you may want to use an embroidery hoop.) Sew on the remaining buttons.

2. Using the disappearing-ink fabric pen, lightly mark out the leaf or stem of the fruit or vegetable. Stitch along the pen marks, using embroidery floss and a classic chainstitch or a stem stitch. To make a stem stitch (which works well for stems), working from left to right, make standard, slightly slanted stitches along the line, keeping the thread below the needle. For leaves, use a satin stitch, making straight (not slanted) stitches, each touching the next, across the width of the leaf.

This project appeared in Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts.

We just came across this Do It Yourself Baguette bag from Fendi’s Spring 2010 collection; a nice follow up from 2008’s Paint-Your-Own Baguette Tote. Finally all the needlepoint expertise we learned at summer camp will come in handy!

Rare is the case that a large design house, especially one with as much prestige as Fendi, gives the consumer a chance to customize. Chanel did it last year for Fashion’s Night Out when they let shoppers pick the colors and leather type of their bag, but Fendi wins with two different customizable bag options. Now you really won’t have to worry that someone else is carrying your bag.

Today, we noticed the woven raffia Baguette with embroidery kit on Netaporter.com, which is on sale for $995. The kit comes with thimbles, needles, and a rainbow’s array of colors for your all of your embroidery wishes.

So if you’re looking to get a little more creative than usual for spring and don’t mind spending $1000 and then having a few week’s worth of work ahead of you before you can bring your new spring bag out, we suggest you go to Net-a-Porter and snag a bag for yourself before they all sell out.

SOURCE  _  http://www.styleite.com/retail/diy-fendi-baguette/

The reupholstered chair: from an auction house bargain to a thing of beauty

by Jacqueline Mulvaney

Reupholstery and a little TLC can transform a cheap chair into a statement piece of furniture. In this extract from Revive!, a new book on recycled interiors, Jacqueline Mulvaney shows you how

Try working with a piece of furniture that you find at an auction house or junk shop. When I talk about furniture picked up at auction, I'm not talking antiques. Consult your telephone directory to find a saleroom in a small town rather than one in a big city, which can be a lot pricier. Most sales have preview days, and it's worth having a browse and looking closely at any pieces that catch your eye....

Read more at  -  http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/apr/20/how-to-reupholster-a-chair

Craftpersons from various regions demonstrate their skills. Photo by K Murali Kumar

by Bhumika K

When you see a banana fibre bag, what you see is a cool “green” accessory, one that matches with your beige pants. When you see a colourful “ethnic” wound-thread necklace with black metal pieces, you see funky jewellery to go with your kurta. Of course it is. What they also are, are markers of transition. Drop in some time before April 18 at Mother Earth, the indigenous fair trade craft store in the city, and you'll figure out why, if you talk to some of the women demonstrating their skill at the store as part of a handicraft exhibition.

Lali Bai, a Lambani woman from the Minsnal Tanda (group) near Bijapur, has been selling her embroidered pieces on bags, wall-hangings for the last 12 years. Traditionally, her Lambani community was nomadic, travelling from place to place. Today, her family is settled in a village 25 kilometres from Bijapur, and they work in agricultural fields. Ask her why she continues to do the traditional embroidery and Lali Bai says “So that I don't waste time!” and grins. “Otherwise I get equally good money doing agriculture, growing jola.” So embroidery figures somewhere in between working in the fields, running home, and raising three kids.

Dashew Supply Co.’s Jory Bender, right, is the fourth-generation president of the family-run embroidery sewing supplier, which turns 112 years old this year.Photo by Shannon Lee Zirkle

by ELISHA SAUERS

Dashew Supply Co., an embroidery threads and tools purveyor, with its five-person staff and four-room warehouse off of General's Highway, is a living relic of the once-booming garment industry in Baltimore.
The family-owned company, in its fourth generation, has outlived most of its contemporary competitors and has made many sacrifices to survive major market changes throughout the century.

Founded in 1898 by a young immigrant, Jacob Dashew, under the name J. Dashew Inc., the company began as a sewing-machine parts and repair business.

In the early 20th century, Dashew invented and patented a few unsuspecting machines that revolutionized the industry - an electric automatic buttonhole stitcher that kept the workers' fingers at a safe distance from the vacillating needles and a tea bag maker for McCormick Spice Co. that sewed tea leaves into a filter pouch for easy steeping.......

Read more at  -  http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/bus/2010/02/23-37/Vestige-of-Baltimore-garment-district-alive-in-Annapolis.html

Bridgewater, NJ - February 17, 2010 -- February is National Embroidery Month, and in celebration, Brother International Corporation invites enthusiasts and beginners to visit their local Authorized Brother Innov-ís Dealer to see the latest advancements in technology that have made embroidery easier than ever before. As a leader in the sewing and embroidery industry, Brother® has a true commitment to innovation. Offering a full line of embroidery machines with models suited for beginners, casual hobbyists and advanced users—there is a machine for every skill level. Plus, with monthly financing options and aggressive rebates*, these machines are even more affordable during National Embroidery Month.

The art of embroidery is a centuries-old skill. Traditionally a hand-craft, embroidery has greatly evolved with technological advancements and the development of computerized embroidery machines. The user-friendly features in today’s computerized machines allow beginners to become a designer with the push of a button. Customizing existing apparel, accessories and home décor items with embroidery is much easier to do for some beginners than the skilled, sometimes complicated, steps of garment construction.

“Advancements in technology over the years have allowed us to enhance the features of our computerized sewing and embroidery machines—making it easier than ever to achieve professional results and create customized designs,” explained Dean F. Shulman, senior vice president of Brother International Corporation and head of the company’s home appliance division. “The ability to quickly, easily, and professionally personalize apparel, home décor and accessories is possible with all of our embroidery machines.”

Brother offers a variety of computerized machines—from sewing and embroidery combination machines, to embroidery-only machines, to six-needle single head embroidery machines, like the Entrepreneur™ PR-650, that can provide unlimited business potential. Many of these machines include user-friendly features such as automatic needle threading, built-in designs and fonts for push-of-the-button embroidery, on-screen editing and customization, and a built-in embroidery card slot for access to thousands of optional designs. The most advanced embroidery machine from Brother, the Entrepreneur™ PR-650, has automatic color changing on the six-needles of the machine. This feature allows for pre-programming of a thread color sequence for an entire design. Another time-saving feature is the automatic thread trimmer—which means no time consuming trimming after the embroidery is complete.

The opportunities for personalization and customization with embroidery are endless—from caps and bags for local sports teams, and shirts and uniforms for businesses, to monogrammed baby blankets, bibs and diaper bags. Plus, it’s easy to add character to projects with exclusive licensed embroidery designs featuring popular Disney®, Disney/Pixar®, Nickelodeon™, and Warner Bros. and DC Comics characters. With a Brother embroidery machine, crafters can have access to popular designs featuring characters such as: Mickey Mouse™, Disney® Princesses, Winnie the Pooh™, “Cars,” “The Incredibles”, “Toy Story”, “Finding Nemo”, “Monsters, Inc.”, Blue’s Clues™, Dora the Explorer™, SpongeBob Square Pants™, “BATMAN”, “SUPERMAN”, “SUPERGIRL”, “Scooby-Doo” and “Looney Tunes.”

In celebration of National Embroidery Month, Brother is offering limited-time rebates*, financing*, or free gifts with purchase on an array of sewing and embroidery machines including the Entrepreneur™ PR-650, the Innov-ís 2800D, the Duetta™ 4500D, and the Quattro™ 6000D. All of the featured machines are available at Brother Innov-ís Dealers only, and the limited-time savings are only available until February 10, 2010. To learn more about the complete line of sewing and embroidery products from Brother and current offers and promotions, visit the home sewing pages of www.brother.com or call 1-800-4-A-BROTHER to locate an Authorized Brother Dealer.

About Brother International Corporation:
Brother International Corporation has earned its reputation as a leading supplier of innovative products for the home sewing enthusiast. Through a growing network of sewing machine dealers and retail outlets nationwide, Brother offers a full line of home sewing machines, from basic to top-of-the-line sewing and embroidery machines. The company is recognized for its high-quality, state-of-the-art machines and accessories, offering ease of use and flexibility at affordable prices.

Brother is a wholly owned subsidiary of Brother Industries Ltd. With worldwide sales approaching $5 billion, this global manufacturer was started almost 100 years ago by sewing fanatics.

Brother offers a diversified product line that includes fax machines, Multi-Function Center® machines, P-touch® Labeling Systems and both color and mono laser printers for home, office and industry.

Bridgewater, New Jersey is the corporate headquarters for Brother in the Americas, from Canada to South America. It has fully integrated sales, marketing services, manufacturing, research and development capabilities located in the U.S. In addition to its headquarters in Bridgewater, New Jersey, Brother has facilities in California, Illinois, Massachusetts and Tennessee, as well as subsidiaries in Canada, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Peru and Mexico. For more information you can visit the website at www.brother.com.

*Financing options and rebates are subject to restrictions and limitations.

Bridgewater, NJ - February 17, 2010 -- Brother International Corporation announced today the launch of its new Facebook fan page, ‘Brother Sews,’ which provides a new interactive online community for crafters and sewing and embroidery enthusiasts. The Brother Sews Facebook page features free access to educational and inspirational information from Brother, as well as shared information from fellow crafters in the online Facebook community. By signing up to become a fan of Brother Sews, individuals with all levels of experience have access to the Brother Creative Corner—a virtual space for daily inspiration, tips and how-to videos.

Brother Sews fans will have access to up-to-date information on special promotions, industry news and more, in one easy-to-access place. They can even link to other informative sites like the Brother Sews page on YouTube to view even more videos for inspiration and education. "We hope to foster a positive forum for creativity in the online community through the Brother Sews Facebook page and virtual Creative Corner,” explained Dean F. Shulman, Senior Vice President of Brother International Corporation and head of the company’s home appliance division.

Facebook is a social utility that helps people connect, share and communicate. Millions of people use Facebook everyday to keep up with friends, share photos, links and videos, and learn about the people they meet. With over 300 million active users on Facebook, Brother is hoping many are crafters who would like to share their inspiration with others through the Brother Creative Corner on the Brother Sews Facebook page. To become a fan, visit www.facebook.com/BrotherSews.

For more information on Brother products, accessories and software, visit the home sewing and embroidery pages of www.brother.com, or call 1-800-4-A-BROTHER to locate an Authorized Brother Innov-ís Dealer.   

About Brother International Corporation: 
Brother International Corporation has earned its reputation as a leading supplier of innovative products for the home sewing enthusiast. Through a growing network of sewing machine dealers and retail outlets nationwide, Brother offers a full line of home sewing machines, from basic to top-of-the-line sewing and embroidery machines. The company is recognized for its high-quality, state-of-the-art machines and accessories, offering ease of use and flexibility at affordable prices.

Brother is a wholly owned subsidiary of Brother Industries Ltd. With worldwide sales approaching $5 billion, this global manufacturer was started almost 100 years ago by sewing fanatics.

Brother offers a diversified product line that includes fax machines, Multi-Function Center® machines, P-touch® Labeling Systems and both color and mono laser printers for home, office and industry.

Bridgewater, New Jersey is the corporate headquarters for Brother in the Americas, from Canada to South America. It has fully integrated sales, marketing services, manufacturing, research and development capabilities located in the U.S. In addition to its headquarters in Bridgewater, New Jersey, Brother has facilities in California, Illinois, Massachusetts and Tennessee, as well as subsidiaries in Canada, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Peru and Mexico. For more information you can visit the website at www.brother.com.

by Hardeep Dugal

Phulkari is the skillful handling of a single stitch, which when positioned in a sequence forms striking designs. Attractively, all designs are made within a geometric grid, yet come across as curvilinear.

With the roots of phulkari lying in the rural Punjab, motifs within these grids are inspired from village life and nature. They could represent birds, animals, vegetables, rivers, sun, moon, fields and other everyday imagery. Based on these, the patterns get their classification; like dhaniya (coriander), motia (jasmine), leheria bagh (garden of waves), surajmukhi (sunflower), mor (peacock), kukad (cock) etc. Composition of ornaments such as hansali, tika, kada, singhar-patti and guluband can also be seen.

The embroidery derives its richness from the adroit use of long and short ‘darn’ or ‘straight’ stitch, which when placed in different directions – horizontal, vertical or diagonal – give the threadwork many hues and thus its opulence. The smaller the stitch, finer is the quality of embroidery. The other stitches used in tandem to extenuate the design are: stem, herringbone, satin, back, blanket, split and cross-stitch.

Another unique aspect is that it is worked entirely on the wrong side of the cloth with the pattern taking shape on the front. The design is made such that it does not have an upward or lower end. The skill of the untrained artists doesn’t stop here. It draws further appreciation owing to the fact that it is neither drawn nor traced.