Thursday, February 6, 2014

Sarees



There are many things in the above picture that looks appealing, it could be the greenery, or the hanging nest or the vermicompost khamba.
But what interests me here is the saree that is hanging on the clothesline. Not that it was washed or dried but I hung it there to click a good picture showing the complete saree with the pallu. Some like smaller block prints while others go in for bigger bold ones. But this is no print.


All the colours and designs that you see in the saree is hand painted.  And it was done by a young lady who is 93 years old. Yes the same “Lata’s mummy” about whom I wrote a few years ago.
When I had been to her place recently she was busy painting one of these. She says that people are buying plain sarees and giving it to her to get it custom painted. She is running short of time as there are many sarees to be completed.
I picked up two sarees of different colours and got it home to be photographed in daylight.

If you look at the border you will notice that each pattern is different though it may look the same from far.



I was just marveling at the patience and skill of this lady who could come out with different ideas and artistry skills.


Earlier I had seen her doing table cloths with figures painted all around the border.



The colour combinations are also appealing whether it is a peacock or a pharaoh


One of the pillow cases that she painted. 



A picture that I clicked on her 90th Birthday. 




And a recent one.



clicked in June 2014


A real inspiration for all I say.


34 comments:

Karen Larko said...

Lovely textiles!

Lowell said...

Utterly beautiful and to think the artist is only 93 years old! Kudos to her!

George said...

The talent of this artist is amazing. The fact that she is 93 years young makes it even more amazing.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

What beautiful handpainted textiles! This woman does such exacting work --gorgeous!

Our Neck of the Woods said...

Wow, these are so beautiful! The colors and patterns are amazing. Such lovely work.

TexWisGirl said...

wow. just beautiful! such artwork!

magiceye said...

Amazing work!
You are as old as you think you are!

Linda said...

This is gorgeous art!

padmaja said...

Living ones life and not age is the key to be happy and she is such an example for that, amazing creativity, god be with her to support her with her passion , I wish I were in Mumbai to meet her!

Haddock said...

Hi Padmaja,
Lata's mummy is not in Mumbai. She is in Pune.

Red Handed said...

Oh my God. Real skin and talent right there!
Respect!

Rama Ananth said...

Beautifully painted. She looks very fit too. She is blessed. I wish I could get a saree painted by her.

Arti said...

That is some talent to have. And the zeal to carry it on with passion, hats off. As you said - A real inspiration to all!

trees said...

Yes, this is one amazing lady! Met her recently and in the short time I was at the house, I saw how busy she was with various activities -- working on beautiful embroidery, discussing with her designer daughter over phone about the designs for shoes that the daughter was doing, going over accounts with the dhobi who happened to come by....Yes, you are definitely as old as you feel.

Karen Lakis said...

The sarees are beautiful! What a talented lady!

Wayne said...

Thanks for sharing that story, it is very interesting. She is a very talented young lady!

Pearl Maple said...

Fabulous photos and story, love meeting local creative people in our travels, so much to see and learn and share

Hilary said...

What a brilliant talent she is. She does such beautiful, intricate work.

deeps said...

for an active mind, creative person just about everything can be food for thought :)
this is an excellent shot

Saru Singhal said...

Oh, she is an inspiration and I loved her work. :)

Irina Kovalenko said...

What an art! When I took a closer look at the border, I saw it - each pattern is different! It's like the top of Duomo, Milan, not a single piece is repeated. God bless this charming lady!
I also hate posed photographs. Have a nice week ahead!

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

What a talent she has and to be still doing it in her 90's is amazing.
Thanks for visiting my post about the barn quilts. You asked why they are there. Now it is just for decoration but it started out with the Amish as a way to identify their farms. That way they could give directions to their farms before roads were named or numbered. They are not real quilts but a wooden block painted to look like a quilt block and hung on the barn.

Kay said...

What beautiful work and what a gifted artist she is! The sarees are wonderful, but so are the other pieces you have pictured here. And it's doubly wonderful that she has remained skilled and active into her 90s. Quite an amazing woman.

Meera Rao said...

What an inspiration! Thanks for posting this. I hope I will be lucky enough to continue with some creative work if I live to that age :) thanks again for all the lovely posts and photos .

Karen Xavier said...

Incredibly talented woman, she is remarkable for doing something that she loves... beautiful soul.

Debbie Nolan said...

What an amazing lady - and her work is beautiful. Loved the word young that you put with 93 for she truly is young at heart. Took a few minutes to visit your blog. Your Christmas tree with the nativity scene was lovely...those old things from our past really mean so much as one grows older. Thank you for sharing. Hope you have a lovely day.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Joe, Amazing artistry and talent. Marie had told me about her but I hadn't actually seen her work. Now I have! - Nandini

Haddock said...

I spoke to her Rama (and showed her your comment) She said that she would try to do something. If not a saree, maybe something smaller.

Breenah A said...

That's amazing that it's hand painted! I hope I'm still doing fabulous stuff like that when I'm 93!

A Homemaker's Utopia said...

Great talent by the lady..Wonderful photographs.Thanks for sharing :-)

Anonymous said...

Thanks Joe for making the effort to share the talent and wonder of this amazing lady, who inspired me 3 years ago when I first met her. I bow my head in admiration to her - Cindy

Martina said...

Saris - would love to wear one too! They are so colorful and great for women of all ages! Thanks for visiting me - see you back soon and - have a happy thursday!

Erin said...

What an inspiration!! The sarees are so beautiful.

Susan said...

Hi Joe, thanks for your visit to my blog. I've just been having a look around yours and enjoy your photos of life in action!
I'm especially impressed with the beautiful creations by "Lata's Mummy" - those saris are wonderful. I particularly like the peacocks, however, the work that has gone into each one is exquisite :D)