Saturday, February 21, 2009

Some necklaces I made


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

I got hooked to making jewellery sometime in FY, college. Then I used the wires, threads and beads I got from Matcheswala (a store in Ahmedabad)and made a huge batch of earrings and necklaces.. Even held an impromptu exhibition and sale. That was a wonderful day, friends came over at the small house, we had a party of sorts and some sale :). The major turning point for my jewellery-making compulsion was a trip to Ajmer and and the Pushkar fair... There, to my joy, were many sellers squatted on the road, selling all kinds of beads. My sister and cousins had a tough time dragging me from the footpaths, for I used to squat by almost all the roadside sellers, haggle a lot and as I am choosy when it comes to beads, hop from one seller to another to get just the kind...

Cut back to Ahmedabad. On the secluded university road, sat a beadwala. He mainly had those square beads with letters written on them (they were a rage then). You could get him to make keychains or necklaces with names out of those... He also had some other nice beads and on one day, when I had a lot of time on hands, I sat there and asked him to show all the variety he had... I was thoroughly impressed and at once wanted all those... Somehow, I don't know how, I managed to cajole him into selling me his entire collection and there I was-- with bags of beads(many which I have used in the necklaces shown here)...At the time he sold off his stuff, he was planning to quit what he called a 'measly means of income' and get into something quick and risky... We chatted for a long time, and he was hell bent on giving it all up and running away somewhere. His name was Raj and I sometimes wonder where and how he is...

My interest in making my own jewellery has since then led me to markets in Hyderabad, to a Mumbai wholesale market and to the little-known narrow lanes of Kolkata. Now, my necklaces are far more finished than the FY days. (Matcheswala wires used to rust after 7-8 months!) I am not sure if all these details about beads and jewellery interest you... In college, Minal used to tease me and mimic 'Bhaiyya, aapke paas koi beads hai?" everytime she saw me, knowing my compulsive obsession with looking for new beads at handicrafts fairs... So that's how it goes...

I feel I am lucky to have chanced by a desire to make something and thankful for the day when I thought, "Damn, this jewellery is too expensive, even I can make it!" and started my bead-hunt... I am sure it's a passion that's going to last a lifetime...

You can read the short description of each necklace here

Do tell me how you liked the stuff...

15 comments:

Siddharth said...

Extremely creative... R u planning to sell some of the stuff...

Dr. Ally Critter said...

This is so creative. I would love to e able to make things like you do.

dharmabum said...

i think its gorgeous stuff! i would categorize myself as 'aesthetically inclined', and yet, in found them simply beautiful. all of them
i specially loved the one with the 'dholak' beed...i am going to remember to check out for beeds when i go out, and remember you :)

whats most interesting is that this creative pursuit is also quite beneficial, apart from the kicks, you get jewels, and what more does a girl want, right? :)

super, super! i am inspired...

~mE said...

pretty..:) you should have an etsy shop :)

Gauri Gharpure said...

Siddharth-- Thanks :) Selling is not exactly on my mind right now.. don't have the time and a huge collection at present to go for it..

Alankrita-- Thanks so much.. I am sure you have a secret art of your own..

Dharma-- thanks, thanks . :) wow! it would be great, keeping an eye for some beads and stuff.. i wouldn't mind a surprise courier either :D

Me-- Hey, i didn't know of the Etsy store.. thanks! I checked the link and sounds good..

Unknown said...

hey all the stuff is beautiful n yes in much more finished state than ur FY collection..gr8

sagari said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
void said...

Very cool. Eclectic, colourful, and the result of hours of planning and execution (I'm sure). On the outside, looking in, seems quite intricate. :) So what other talents do you have up your sleeve?

Darshan Chande said...

Well, I can not tell much about the thing here.. haha.. if I had a gf maybe, she would opine..!

But still I must say here that you are really a multi talanted woman!

Hey Gauri, I too have started my personal blog like yours. I thought you would have a look at it and provide some feedback..

It's here: http://darshan-chande.blogspot.com/

Also, I would suggest you give name/url option for commenters. That's easier.

Kokonad said...

I love the cards too! I find them really REALLY nice. Beats the overrated commercial nonsense of Archies any day! :)

bhumika said...

Back to your blog after a really long time and with just the perfect post to begin with! I remember your obsession with beads and that exhibition. I still have those pretty earrings with me :) Good to see some of your stuff again, this time much more finished than earlier. Would love to have some more earrings :)

Unknown said...

Very pretty coleection,Gauri..only a person as creative as you could do it!!

Gauri Gharpure said...

Komal--- thnks so much for dropping by the blog! FY se leke ab tak koi to positive changes hone hi the :)aur kya chal raha hai bolo...

Void-- I am flattered:) execution takes some time, the designs happen in a matter of minutes in the mind..

Darshan-- Don't tell me a gf is necessary to help u form opinions abt jewellery (or anything else!!) :D I saw the blog and was a different take than the illustrated one I usually visit.. :)

Kokonad-- first of all, thnks for dropping by.. by cards, you mean the ones for anonymous smiles, or the ones I have used at the bottom or at the sides of some posts? do drop in again..

Bhumika-- long time indeed... u still have those tiny earrings I made??? wow.. btw, I still remember the wonderful food and the mint lassi we had at your place tht day.. :)

Sara-- honoured! Thanks a lot Sara...

Kokonad said...

I meant the ones for the anonymous smiles! :)

R said...

I can't make any of it but I absolutely love handcrafted and bead jewellery. I own tons of it! And your pieces are gorgeous.