On The Design Boat: November 2014

Saturday, 29 November 2014

S n i p p e t * 15 - A P a p e r H e r i t a g e

Text: Hina Nitesh

Photo Courtesy: www.abrandmadeofglitter,com

For over 1300 years, the traditional Japanese craftsmen have been making a special paper with the bark of the mulberry tree. Known as Washi, the process used for making the paper is known to master craftsmen who have inherited it from their parents.

Warmth, flexibility, strength and translucency are associated with the paper. Washi is used for calligraphy and for making screens, room dividers and sliding doors.

Modern techniques used today for making paper are quickly replacing the traditional process. But it is thanks to the skilled Washi craftsmen that the paper is still alive and the old knowledge is not lost.

The good news for paper makers involved with Washi production is that it has recently been included in the UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage items.

Tuesday, 25 November 2014

W h e n M i n d m e e t s M a c h i n e

Text: Divya Agrawal

Sewing has been a hobby of mine since long.

As a child I would make soft toys, gathering patterns from magazines and the odd TV show (those were pre-internet days) and tiny jackets and dresses for my dear dolls. The transformation of scraps of fabric into something with beauty and utility mesmerized me then and continues to so.

The world of textile art is vast and magical. One can see textures, pattern and color woven across a collage of materials. Today's feature offers a peak into this world through the works of a textile artist, Sarah Walton.

Sarah is an artist extraordinaire. She deftly manoeuvers thread with a sewing machine, over a strategically placed patchwork of fabrics to create portraits and scenes from daily life.

Sarah works with eye-catching, beautifully patterned fabrics and places them just right in her compositions.

These portraits also point to Sarah's fine grasp over translating human form across mediums and an eye for balance and detail.

These pieces could pass off for the works of a costume designer! I particularly like the lady in blue trousers.

A self portrait?

Exquisite detailing in the pieces above.

Sewing machine - Sarah's tool for expressing the artist within!

Some more happy moments on Sarah Walton's canvas.

We sure will be on the look out for more works from Sarah. Meanwhile, should you feel like adorning a wall in your home with Sarah's work, you may visit her Etsy shop here.

She also does commissions. You may get in touch with her here.

All Images: Copyright Sarah Walton

Text & creative layout copyrights: Onthedesignboat

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Sunday, 23 November 2014

S n i p p e t * 14 ' P l a y f u l ' S c u l p t u r e s

Text: Divya Agrawal

A successful attempt at bringing art into public spaces.

This sculpture is sited at the waterfront of Lake Ontario in Kingston, Canada and constantly invites the attention of tiny tots.

Gazing onto the water beyond from a sculpted perch, an invitation to play hide and seek, a test of climbing skills and the simple joy of appreciating art while enjoying a sunny day by the green - something to do for everyone!

Wednesday, 19 November 2014

Rediscovering I N D I A N T E X T I L E S – I

Text: Hina Nitesh

We, in India, are blessed with a rich tradition of hand woven textiles. There is something typical which is crafted in each region but which is slowly being lost to the power loom. We at OTDB thought of starting with a series on rediscovering Indian textiles and bringing them to you. Hope you will enjoy the first in the series...

A red and black hand woven silk sari gifted recently by hubby dear and with which I promptly fell in love made me pick up the theme of this post – I K A T.

Image Courtesy: 1. latestfs.com, 2. linenroom.com.au, 3.onekingslane.com, 4. pintrest.com, 5 & 6. zazzle.com

Ikat is a style of weaving in which threads are tie and dyed before weaving. Depending on where the art form belongs to, it is either the warp or the weft or both the threads which are subjected to dyeing before weaving.

Image Courtesy: www.jadecouture.blogspot.com

The term, Ikat, finds its origin in the Indonesian language and can be used to mean thread or cord or tied. This weaving technique is popular in many parts of the world and everywhere the artisan has introduced his own nuances which distinguish the fabric from different regions.

Image Courtesy: www.graybotas.wordpress.com

To dye the thread and then weave patterns out of it seems such a difficult task but the skilled weavers are able to visualise patterns in threads. The accuracy of the pattern is checked before weaving by placing the threads on the loom.

Image Courtesy: www.textiletravels.com

Image Courtesy: www.homeworkshop.com

In India, Patan in Gujarat, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have had a rich tradition of weaving Ikat fabrics. In Gujarat, the process involves the warp and weft threads both being tied and dyed resulting in double Ikat.

Image Courtesy: www.tradeindia.com

The artisans from Gujarat migrated centuries ago to present day Odisha and Andhra Pradesh and discovered newer techniques. They dye either the warp or the weft thread. The time consuming process resulted in exquisite products which only the royalty could afford. In an effort to preserve the craft, the Rajkot Ikat was born where either the warp or the weft is tied and dyed. This decreases the time consumed to make the fabric and so affordable for the common man. But the patterns are not as intricate as they once were.

Image Courtesy: patanpatola.et

The Indian weavers incorporate motifs from nature that they see around them. It is common to see peacocks, elephants, fish, trees, flowers and geometric squares. Some motifs especially in saris from Odisha are inspired by temple spires from the architecture of the region.

Image Courtesy: 1. blog.cbazaar.com, 2. gopixpic.com, 3. scraps.oriyaonline.com

These days though, the traditional sari is undergoing change courtesy designer inputs which explore more than the traditional weavers

Image Courtesy: 1&3. translate@jaypore.com, 2. srihitaexports.com

Meanwhile, around the world too the designer fraternity is in love with the feathered Ikat patterns.

Image Courtesy: 1. omiru.com, 2. ibbdesign.com

The result is that the fabric is used by many designers to showcase their collections.

Image Courtesy: 1. thefashionables,com 2. translate@jaypore.com

Image Courtesy: 1. therugcompany.com, 2.christies.com, 3.promov.com, 4. taylorhowes.co.uk, 5. zahaarasanctuary.com, 6. couplehome at etsy.com

Ikat fabrics find a place of pride in homes in the form of curtains, table linen, lamp shades and other home accessories.

Image Courtesy: 1. pageranddesign.com, 2. paintedroom.com, 3. pintrest.com, 4. devieal.com

Image Courtesy: 1.aurumfellow.com, 2. mallymahon.com, 3. decorgirl.net, 4. creativelampshades@etsy.com

Some even take the fascination a bit too far like...

Image Courtesy: thegypsetters.net

Image Courtesy: confessionsofablogvixen.com

Do you have Ikat (it could be any form)?

Image Courtesy: paperandstitchshop.com, 2. thisisjeune.wordpress.com, 3 athinaeum.com, 4. homedepot.com, 5. chd-relaunch.chdmag com, 6. en.paperblog.com

Send us photographs showcasing how Ikat products are a part of your life. We would love to publish a select few in our blog. So keep us posted.

Text & creative layout copyrights: Onthedesignboat

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Friday, 14 November 2014

A Y e a r ' s J o u r n e y w i t h O T D B

Text: Divya Agrawal

On the Design Boat is a year old!

We started a year back with a thought, of sharing with you what we find inspiring in the field of design. We are now a pulsating platform, having an extended online presence as an Etsy store where you can see more related to our design interests, having started with children's clothing.

Design inspires us. It is a constant in our lives.

Buoyed by our encouraging readership statistics (5850 blog views to date!), we look ahead to continue to bring to you design in its many forms...

And, on our first anniversary, we would like to take you on a journey back in time to see all that OTDB has published in this one year!

Ceramics: studio pottery and clay traditions like the Pueblo storytellers

Sculpture: Paper cities, a paper boat on a journey through time

Architecture: Geoffery Bawa's residence, Retreats in Greece and South India, Boat House in Netherlands, and,

Some astonishing architectural forms in the Heydar Aliyev Centre, Baku; Shell house, Japan; Wind shelter, England

We also brought to you lots of Product Design: design with bamboo and cane; bead curtains; user friendly and inspiring packaging design; products made out of paper pulp, and, Kantha.

Crocheted playgrounds (yes!), furniture and paper lamps besides design in food!

We also featured traditional crafts being presented in a contemporary form - lacquer and woodwork, besides cutting edge modern design.

Graphic design and Street Art

Jewelry Design: Contemporary and Vintage, stunning fabric jewelry by Nadia Dafri.

Art, by celebrated artists

and, by the common man

Fashion: featuring the simple, indigenous and creative

Using native techniques and plenty of layering

Textile Design: Blockprints, Kalamkari and labels rooted in these techniques

We brought Our musings to you: On color, seasons, festivals and memories..

And finally, the all encompassing Nature

We hope you have enjoyed this journey as much as we have! Look forward to having you on board as we bring newer treats :)

Text & creative layout copyrights: Onthedesignboat

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Friday, 7 November 2014

D E S I G N S O N Y O U R P L A T E

Text: Hina Nitesh

Image courtesy: www. arschocolatum.com

The opening picture and the topic of this post would have given you enough hint about what is to follow. So let's not pretend to guess...We are talking about food.

Food on a design blog? Can be a bit mind boggling!

Could you, even in your wildest imagination, think of design and food in the same breath? After all food is for survival – a basic necessity of life while design is more like a luxury...

Image courtesy: www.pixgood.com

Image courtesy: www.troianis.com

You could talk about creativity in the way ingredients were used to create a dish - the lady creating a finger licking dish in a jiffy, but design and food still seem poles apart.

Image courtesy: www.pinterest.com

Design is as big a necessity as food

(though this aspect often goes unacknowledged and that is a topic for another day)

Image courtesy: www.relaischateaux.com

One look at the master chef series or at food served in gourmet restaurants will make you realize that when the talk is about food, its not just the taste buds but also the visual appeal that is involved. Who would let go of an opportunity to dig into a beautifully plated dish?