Ornament design challenge

ornament design

Art Elements Ornament design challenge is here with crafters all over the world participating with their creative entries. As usual, I had great plans for the hop. Recycled Ornaments with Gota, CD doodles, and fabric ornaments, all topped my list of items to do. Only when I got a reminder mail from AJE, I realised that apart from making my ornaments I would have to photograph and write about it too, which I could do only on weekends. Duh! Determined not be a klutz this time, I quickly whipped up some ornaments with my own Kolam art components.

Ornament design challenge

I have been writing about Kolams regularly now on both this blog as well as on my Instagram page as a part of #Margazhi series. But for Nebies, here is a refresher.

What is Kolam?

Kolam which literally means “form” is a type of transient art. It is drawn on the ground in the threshold of the house or in front of indoor/outdoor shrines to welcome positivity and divinity inside. Kolams can be drawn in the form of mandalas, eternal knots and/or grid structures based on dots and lines or just a composition of shapes. I wrote a post on how kolams and Celtic knots are connected a few years back here. A Kolam is usually drawn with white chalk powder (original dry rice flour) and can be filled with colours. It can be also drawn with wet rice paste and colored with red oxide. There are several names for this art form in India – Kolam, rangoli, Alpana, Murjha, Mandana and Mungli are some of them. Please read my past posts on Kolam here. You can see some samples of my Kolam jewelry here.

kolam bottle pendant

Ornament design challenge

The Ornament Challenge set forth by Art elements suggested that we create handmade ornaments in any style of our choice with any material. Usually both AJE and ABS mandate that we use Art components for their challenges. This is at times difficult, as I do not really have access to Art beads not it is sell them here. So I end up making art components as not making a suitable component means forgoing a particular challenge. However, this time, it was not necessary to use Art beads and look what I did – I made three art components and used them! I guess that I am still not over the “No means yes” phase that my students are in.

black pulli kolam charm

Kolam in Ornament design – the philosophy

Kolam and Ornament design might seem like a strange combination but there is sound reasoning behind it. At a time and age when women were not allowed to voice their opinions even inside the house, drawing kolams provided them with outlet to express their views outside the house. Looking at the kolam drawn you could figure the mood of the lady or her likes and dislikes.w You could tell hether there is a celebration in the house that day. It also showed the world what she wanted to manifest for her home and family on that day.

Manifest

When I was thinking about ornaments, I was reminded on my school days and how we used to bring a pine ( orw as it fir?) tree to class and decorate it. We would buy ball or star ornaments and paper streamers with whatever little money we had. We would make tassels or tiny gift boxes out of paper and old birthday card crafts to decorate the trees. Lights were not a possibility as this was the pre LED serial lights period and we had no money for an electrician. If we wanted to manifest a glow there would be golden stars or balls with shapes out of golden and silver paper. Canes were rare; we pretended that they were sweet treats for the elves. Hanging up a gift box meant that we wished for a gift in the New year. My mini artificial tree at home too would be completely filled with gift boxes, stars and a Mardi gras bead necklace that was supposed to represent the lights. I still have that mini tree (20 years and going) and for the past three years it goes up on my desk at work.

Christmas tree
I had a crazy end of semester  month and didn’t have the time to decorate it yet. I hope to complete it by 26th and leave it on till New Year.

Well that reminiscence was how the word “Manifestation” struck me and I made the association with Kolam. I made three ornaments – A Bottle pendant, a beaded black pulli kolam charm, and one with a quirky parrot. They are meant to manifest creativity, order, knowledge with a little bit of fun. In the spirit of transformation, these ornaments too would later become pendants on necklaces to celebrate Margazhi. What is Margazhi you ask? Come back next week and you will find out.

kolam ornaments

Until then, a Merry Christmas and holiday season to all of you. Enjoy spending time with family and friends while decked up in your best. Do Check out the recent Tutorial on how to create a Blingy Tassel necklace if you are still looking for ideas to create a stunning piece of jewelry for yourself.

Do check out past ornament posts like the Upcycled Bohemian ornament and Mandala Ornament as you create your own decorative objects. Hop around the participating blogs of the Ornament design challenge to look at lovely ornaments. Manifest love, joy, and Prosperity.

Guest Designers
Art Elements Team
I hope you found it interesting
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas 🙂
Cheers

28 responses to “Ornament design challenge”

  1. CraftyHope avatar

    For being short on time to get this done, you did a wonderful job. I love how unique they all are. And, the Kolams are so cool too. Thanks for the lesson and the eye candy! Oh, and your little tree is so precious!!

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      Thanks Hope. I really do love that tree. I have had it for about 20 years now.

  2. Susan Kennedy avatar

    Divya, as always, I love your post! I love the inspiration and meaning you put into your work! Thank you for telling us about your trees, and the ornaments are wonderful! Happy Holidays!

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      Thanks Sue, that is so kind of you. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas too

  3. Cathy S. Mendola avatar

    Oh my! I just love the kolam pieces. The celtic knot/mandala design work is mesmerizing. I love the blue cylinder piece the best- Beautiful work!

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      Thanks Cathy. Your comment reminded me of the Celtic knot post I wrote years ago. Here is a link if you would like to see it http://jewelsofsayuri.com/2012/01/celtic-knot-connection.html

  4. Claire avatar
    Claire

    I am also full of ideas… but time is always hiding somewhere 😉

    I love all your ornaments, especially how colourful they are and their playful vibe! The parrot one is my favorite, he just made me smile! 🙂

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      I am normally a bit scared of birds but I am really getting attracted to them these days. They are whimsical creatures, arent they?

  5. Caroline avatar

    Loved reading your post and your ornaments are beautiful!

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      Thanks Caroline 🙂

  6. Laney Mead avatar
    Laney Mead

    I just love celtic knots and your design is inspired!

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      Thanks Laney, I really like them too

  7. baymoondesign avatar
    baymoondesign

    Divya, I love that you still have your original Christmas tree. I have one with a similar history and it is still special to me. Your ornaments are sweet. I love the quirky parrot. Enjoy your holiday!

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      Thank you, Its a tree I bought when I was 12 years old. Before that we would use real pines but I would be sad to throw them away away Christmas, so I got my dad to buy this one for me

  8. Sam Wescott avatar

    Those are so beautiful and I learned so much! Thanks for posting! <3

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      Thanks Sam, Happy Holidays to you

  9. Tammy avatar

    Your posts are always so informative and interesting, with combination of facts and personal stories. Such a pleasure to read. The ornaments are delightful.

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      Oh Thank you Tammy, I love telling stories and guess that comes through. Happy Holidays

  10. Gayathri avatar

    Wow, your art is amazing. This is my first visit here and you are already making me feel like I have two left hands. But I am intrigued, I am gonna be visiting again, for sure.

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      I would love that Gayathri 🙂 I agree that Jewelry making is an art that requires practise but everyone is creative in their own way. If you can sign your name, you can draw. If you can draw you can start visualising items in 3D and work towards making them. Do try it out

  11. Denise avatar

    The explanation of the kolam is fascinating. I always wondered how people could create art knowing it would be gone by the next day. I love that it could be an expression of what the woman of the house was feeling. Also, your little tree is very cute.
    The intricate detail on your ornaments is impressive. How long does it take to make a design like that? Merry Christmas!

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      Denise, that is the beauty of Transient art. It encourages you to take time to appreciate your art as you are creating it without worrying about its permanence. Kolam experts can draw a knot in a few minutes time. It depends on how big it is. I have lost touch now but I can draw a 2 feet long one in 20-30 minutes. The grid takes time but the rest is easy. Digital ones take more time as you have to get the strokes right

  12. Rozantia Petkova avatar

    Combining traditions keeps them alive, I think! The Kolam theme made the ornaments even more interesting and sophisticated! Love them all!

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      Thanks Rozantia. I do think putting them up on a tree will give a lot of local vibe. Isn’t that why holly berries and canes were used in the first place?

  13. Melissa Trudinger avatar

    I love the meaning behind your ornaments, have definitely learned something today!

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      Thanks Melissa. Transient art can do wonders for stress – that is why the whole world is going crazy behind mandalas

  14. Maya avatar

    Your participation in challenges is always exciting and you make immensely beautiful and interesting pieces. These were no exception!

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      Awwww…that is so sweet, thank you.

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