Sunday 5 December 2010

What Exactly is a Batik

Over a thousand years ago the people of Java, an island in the East Indies, wanted to put pictures of the fruits, flowers, and birds which they saw around them on their clothes. They knew that wax would resist water, so they covered the designs they had made on the cloth with melted wax. When the wax was stiffened the cloth was dipped into a cool dye made from vegetables and fruits. After the wax was removed by melting it again with hot water, the light pictures showed clearly against the dyed, colored background.

Today this process, as well as the cloth itself, is called batik. You can make a batik yourself with wax crayons and a package of dye. Suppose you want to make a batik scarf. First draw your design, perhaps some fruit, or flowers, or a bird, just as the Javanese did, on a piece of cotton material. Cover the design solidly with the wax crayon. Dip the cloth into the dye, following the directions on the box.

After the dyed cloth has been thoroughly dyed, wash it with soap and hot water. You will find the crayon washes and you have a real batik. This same method can be used to make a crayon batik on paper. Instead of dye you can use black water-color paint. Draw your picture on the paper and this time use all the bright colors you can. Press hard on the crayons and cover the design solidly. Then brush the black paint over the whole paper. When the paper is dry you will find that the beautifully colored picture shines out of the dark background

David is the author of many articles including Best Friend Quotes and also the author of Best life quotes

other articles:
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Bunch

Monday 18 October 2010

Make Your Own Bag Toppers for Merchandising at Your Craft Show

I love crafting, which is why I spend countless hours creating handcrafts in my workshop. One of my favorite activities is preparing for upcoming craft shows. I love the last few days just before a show, packaging and pricing merchandise, deciding on how I'll set up my booth depending on the time of the year, and making last minute additions to my inventory.

What I particularly love is creating my bag toppers for my projects. I am a graphic designer as well as a crafter, so designing bag toppers for seasonal shows is a task I do myself. With a color printer and some card stock, bag toppers are easy to make.

First I decide on the color of card stock I plan to use. Then I determine the size topper I need for each size bag I will be using. After I determine the size of the bag topper, I can then sketch out my design layout.

On each topper, I like to utilize applicable seasonal designs. For fall shows, I use graphics such as pumpkins, colorful leaves, Halloween images, and Thanksgiving themed designs. Christmas toppers will have reindeer, vintage Santas, snowmen, Christmas trees, angels, and prim stars.

I make certain to leave plenty of room for the text. The text should be in a font size that shoppers can easily read. I usually put my pricing on the topper, also, along with my business name, address, telephone number, and website URL.

I use card stock for my bag toppers because it is more durable than paper and can withstand the packing, unpacking, and repacking at the craft shows. If some toppers become worn from trips to several shows, I simply replace them with newly printed ones when necessary.

The bag toppers are not expensive to make. The card stock and the printer ink are the only tangibles involved. The main "expense" for the toppers is my time in designing the graphics on them so they will be attractive to customers.

The bags themselves are in varying sizes and while they do not cost that much individually, I buy them in bulk so initially there is some capital to be outlaid up front. I try to limit how many different sizes I need because I buy a specific size in quantities of 1000 or so.

Even if you don't want to make your own bag toppers or just don't feel graphically inclined on the computer, you can still purchase toppers ready made from a graphic designer with your custom information on them.

Bag toppers are a wonderful way to merchandise your crafts because they, like your handcraft creations, reflect your artistic talent and shoppers are attracted to tasteful and appealing product packaging.

Don't have the time or desire to make your own bag toppers? Buy some affordable and attractive Custom Bag Toppers at Penney Layne Graphics. Penney Layne also offers DIY Site Hosting and EZ Street Shoppe virtual online craft booths so you can showcase your products online for only $2.08 a month!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_McAvery

Saturday 18 September 2010

Earth Craft House, an Eco-Friendly Program in Atlanta

With the emergence of Eco-Friendly programs such as the Earth Craft House, the local of Metro Atlanta is paving a path for Southeast US to know what going green basically defines. There are around six Earth Craft communities and around 5,500 certified Earth Craft homes in the city. The structure of the program has proved to be so successful that even the Georgians also have adopted the program, as have places like Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee.

The standards of the program were made in 1990 for the area of Metro Atlanta, to help with the measuring and encouraging of energy efficient structures in the region. So in order to confirm the standards are met, homes made have to reach the dedicated practices of energy effectiveness, conservation, prevention of pollution, comfort and even the impact on the environment.

The real estate market of the Metro Atlanta area is consistent with homes with seal of approval by Earth Craft. The builders responsible for the construction of such green eco friendly homes are given the required technical and practical training.

You have to know that the concept would most probably leave you wanting such an eco-friendly home but the fact remains that houses with these approved seals are not all about the idea of tree-hugging. So that is not the attraction, the real attraction stands in the added value that comes from the certification processes. The values automatically rise up. These houses are no doubt a healthier place to reside in and have a longer lasting life line. They also have the higher standard quality building materials used in their construction. The air quality indoors is very high, as the houses are built to help save the money of the owner.

This whole program point to the aspirations of the Atlantic community turning green and the timings could not be better. This is an area that has grown the most in the last few years in the USA. It's a lucky thing as well that such a city would adopt such a plan.

Any programs that help the environment are a testament to the country's continuous effort to make the world a better place to live in for everyone. And by taking such small steps and trying to be an Eco-Friendly locality the country is surely doing its share little by little.

The author is a full time writer for many topics. He also write on odd topics such as massage therapist salary and neuromuscular massage therapy

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roy_C_Freeman

Wednesday 25 August 2010

Discover a Shopper's Paradise in the Handicraft Capital Kerala

It is said that the best shoppers' items one can bring home from one's travels are the quintessential goods that reflect the destination's culture, art and cuisine. Although hobnobbing for bargains in branded stores may be some shopaholics' idea of the ultimate shopping experience, seasoned travellers know what local specialties make for a collector's item or the ideal souvenir that captures the soul of the holiday location. And if it's an authentic shopping experience in India one's after, there's no better place to hit the local markets than the sun kissed state of Kerala.

Renowned as a venue of choice for all that is traditional, the major shopping districts of Kerala are concentrated in Trivandrum and Kochi. A popular locale for all that shines, gold and ivory are much sought after items in the region while antiques are virtually available in every street corner. Jew Street in Kochi is one such hotspot that sells everything from Malayalam collectibles to Chinese ceramics while the metal mirrors of Aranmula are also popular items among travellers. Kairali and other government run emporiums are ideal for souvenirs such as Kathakali masks and other local crafts while wall mats, bags, natural fibre furnishings and carpets are all the rage in the Alappuzha and Kuttanad markets. Sandalwood figures, teak urus and rosewood snake boats are also staples in any Kerala shopping list while coconut shell, wood and coir creations are equally famous. Handicrafts made from buffalo horns are also prized items in addition to handlooms and Kasavu Mundu and Neryathu which are traditional garbs of Keralites.

Famed as the land of spices, Kerala is also the place to pick up those treasured condiments that form the basis of Indian and Asian cuisine. Whether it's aromatic cardamoms, ginger, arecanuts, spicy peppers or medicinal turmeric all that is needed for a well-stocked spice rack are available at the numerous spice markets in the state.

For those with a hankering for a steaming Kerala cuppa, look no further than the tea capitals of Idukki district and Munnar where real Indian tea is up for grabs. Caffeine fanatics on the other hand can head down to Kalpetta or Wayanad district to experience the state's coffee culture although there are a myriad of tea and coffee vendors approved by the Tea Board and Coffee Board scattered across Kerala.

Visitors in search of first class hotels in Kovalam will be more than satisfied with the stylish rest that is The Leela Kempinski Kovalam Beach, Kerala. Ideally situated within close range of the Trivandrum International Airport, it is also one of the most conveniently located Kovalam hotels in all of Kerala.

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pushpitha_Wijesinghe

Sunday 15 August 2010

Wooden Handicrafts - An Important Business Option

Wooden Handicraft:- "Handicraft", as the name suggests, is the traditional art of creating useful and decorative items entirely by hand. Thus, wooden handicraft is a craft where skilled labor is employed to decorate or carve wood to create items with bare minimum tools. India takes the pride of superlative craftsmanship which reflects the right shades of traditional beauty and style. Important to mention here is the fact that goods involving mass production or machinery are not considered as "Handicraft".

Types:- Now moving on, we find that wooden handicrafts can be segregated under the following categories. They are:

* Antique Woodcraft
* Wooden furniture
* Wooden Gift Items
* Wooden Kitchen accessories
* Wooden Toys and Games
* Wooden Statues
* Wooden blinds for corporate as well as domestic purposes

The Industry:- India is one of the chief exporters of wooden handicrafts in the global market. The factors that have added to the benefit of this industry from India's perspective are:

* A low capital investment and other resources
* Scope of employment for about six million artisans (becoming the second largest employment provider after agriculture)
* Scope of earning for the women folk, who, constitute a large section of the handicrafts industry

Wooden Handicraft Suppliers:-

Each state mentioned have a unique workmanship which add to the value of that product from that region. The Indian states which contribute to the growth of this sector are:

* Uttar Pradesh
* Arunachal Pradesh
* Rajasthan
* Gujarat
* Madhya Pradesh
* West Bengal
* Karnataka
* Andhra Pradesh
* Tamil Nadu
* Kashmir

Apart from these states and the related business centre, many B2B market places have emerged to eradicate the gap between demand and supply. At the very click of the mouse, an array of suppliers and manufacturers line up to satisfy every individual need.

Right from antique handicrafts, wooden furniture designs to kitchen accessories and gift items, these market places have the solution to every problem.

Conclusion:- The Indian craftsmen of each state create these handicrafts using wood that is available locally. Some of the the most common varieties used to make Indian handicrafts are:

* Teak,
* Sheesham,
* Sal,
* Oak,
* Mango,
* Ebony and
* Mahogany

Worth mentioning here is the fact that Sandalwood, rosewood and walnut are the exotic varieties and are highly expensive raw materials. Hence, they are used in producing very niche and high end furniture and decorative items.

Although, Decentralization of this sector, perennial Deforestation, Lack of Infrastructure and Working Capital, and above all Poor Marketing Strategies have been a major concern in the growth and development of this sector, one cannot deny the following landmarks too:

* Indian Wooden Handicrafts has emerged as one of the major sources of foreign exchange earnings for India
* Considered to be an important export commodity for India
* India's handicraft exports show a consistent increase of sixteen per cent every year

Author has wide knowledge of B2B Marketplace and Business industries. For latest updates, business opportunities on wooden handicrafts products and available trade leads, visit Trade.indiaMART.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vaiv_Jais

Wednesday 2 June 2010

Indian Pottery Craft - A Vibrant Handicraft Tradition

Making pots was the earliest vocation of Indians. Many civilizations are named after the type of pottery found. They were made in various colors and material. The primary colors used were red, black, ochre and white. Similarly the designs used were also different and significant. On the basis of clay found in the region of manufacturing they had their own variations.

Pottery was first made by man for utilitarian purpose but in later course when savage mankind transformed into civilized one, this became one of the most sought after vocation. Invention of potter's wheel was a revolutionary development which provided the much needed boost to pottery making.

When the utilitarian purpose of pottery was fully explored, the artistic creativity deviated towards the decorative aspect. Pottery has been used as decorative item for a very long time. The design of the pottery and the impressions made on it reflects the view and disposition of the society of the time. Shape and color of a piece of pottery gives a visual message. This art is most sensual and elegant of all arts. In has to be handled very carefully to make it long lasting.

The glory and chic of the Indian pottery is not diminished at all even today. Different regions of India boast of making different but yet unique pieces of pottery. The same flower pot can be found in an amazing variety of shapes, sizes and designs depending upon the place of its creation. The diverse nature if Indian handicrafts can be evidently seen in its pottery traditions. Every Indian state is special in its own traditions of pottery be it Bengal and terra cotta, Rajasthan and blue pottery, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and other Indian states and their traditions.

Rajneesh Dubey is Content Coordinator for http://www.india-crafts.com This is a website covering all kinds of art and craft forms of India. Here, you will come to know about jewelry, dresses, sculptures, religions, paintings and various other topics on India. You can see here the lists of the manufacturers, exporters and suppliers of an array of handicrafts too.

To know more about Indian pottery, please visit Pottery tradition of India [http://www.india-crafts.com/pottery/index.html/]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rajneesh_Dubey

Monday 10 May 2010

Visit Kuta Bali - Buy Handicraft

Talking end for end Bali, there is many beautiful and interesting places that you can visit, for a month you going around at Bali, I think, it is not enough to exploring that graceful Deities lovely Island.

First if you visit Bali, please let ask your tour guide that you have to endure to Kuta, and I guaranty that you will get some experience that in no degree same with your other visit.
Interesting place around Kuta.

Kuta Beach.

Kuta Beach is very famous. You can remark the beautiful sunset at this beach everyday. In that place is many hotels, restaurant and other places you can stay or pure relaxing by enjoying the beautiful sunset. The International hotels/places like Mercure Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel etc, or any other restaurants just a few step from the sands. You do not believe how imaginary it is, until you come and be delighted with it. You may go around to other place, however do not remember to go favor to Kuta beach about 04.00 PM o clock to enjoy the sunset. If you like to surfing or just want to learn about surfing, you know that Kuta is the right place for it. There are many tourists from Europe, USA or Australia or other countries come to Kuta for one thing, surfing and surfing.

Bali Water Boom.

Of course you can find the best water boom in Indonesia at Kuta. There is clean, many foliage with a scarcely any leaves and safety. Here the place to swimming, sunning, and you could do the water sliding as high as 30 meters heights. This place is located at Kartika Plaza Road (about 3 kilometers from Kuta Beach). There are many hotels, restaurants, and cafes through the Kartika Plaza Road. You can buy the handicraft souvenirs at this place.

Legian.

Through that street, you testament find many souvenir shops and cafe/restaurant. Like at Kuta beach, the nightlife in Legian is very attractive to. I recommend to you to make a photograph at Bali Bomb II Monument at Legian.

Kuta Square - Kartika Plaza.

Kuta Square at Kartika Plaza is the center of sales the exported handicrafts. At Kartika Plaza there is a shopping mall named Discovery Mall, there is a cafe at behind mall that you can relaxing and enjoy the beach at there. And you can buy the handicraft at this mall moreover. Near the Discovery Mall there is various famous places probable Kuta Centro, Musro, Cabaret Cabaret, There is many luxurious hotels through the Kartika Plaza Road.

Visit to Indonesia? Do not slight to endure to Bali, If you visit to Bali, do not forget to stay at Kuta, and in imitation of all you will find the beautiful and interesting really hand made handicraft, souvenir and gift.

Risno Lamin is the owner of Bali Indonesia Handicraft, an online Bali Indonesia handicraft, gift, souvenir, antique, art, collectibles, statue,etc. and live in Indonesia. He make also http://www.balidoll.com, an online Indonesia handicraft store special for Indonesian only.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Risno_Lamin

Saturday 1 May 2010

Why Ethnic Gifts Are Preferred by Many

Many people have a special fascination for art and handicrafts. These items carry cultural and traditional values and represent an era. With hard labor and dedication the craftsmen design these items and cater to the world of art lovers. They can be called as the product of toil and artistic sense blended with traditional and cultural touch. Skill, creativity and artistic mind are the major factors on which the art pieces and handicrafts depends. A handicraft is actually an item of artistic excellence crafted beautifully and brought in use for different decorative and other purposes. Art and art craft can be seen in the clothes embroiled beautifully to represent the rich culture and tradition of an era. Jewelry and furniture items are also designed by the craftsmen with their dedication and sense of art. They can also be included in the world of handicraft as they are designed by human beings and not by any machine. Their excellence lies in the fact that they are neatly designed by hand with toil and a rare sense of art and beauty. With the help of special tools and equipments, art is crafted and designed on a piece of wood or fabric.

There are a special place for handicrafts and art pieces in the hearts of the people, especially the art lovers. They not only carry cultural and traditional importance but also show the artistic sense of the craftsmen who are genius in their own right. Handicraft and art has been enamored as a tough and respectable work that is executed by the persons who have this skill in their blood. These rare and unique items can also serve as great gifts due to their beautiful and traditional appearances. The handicraft industry is flourishing as a result of the growing inclination of people for the traditional and ethnic designs and patterns in handicrafts. There is a huge demand for ethnic gifts among the people who are charmed by the beauty and glory of these items.


Sculptured statues, embroidered costumes, wooden handicrafts, designed lamps etc. have attracted many people towards this beautiful facet of craft and art. India is the country to nurture handicraft and art crafts. This beautiful country is known for its diverse tradition and culture. Each state is renowned for its unique and individual handicrafts and art pieces. Whether it is north-eastern states of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Assam or northern states like Kashmir, Gujarat, Rajasthan or southern states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra etc. each place has its own individual and unique style of art and handicrafts. Due to this individuality, the handicrafts designed by the people of these regions are not only unique but above par excellence.

Cultural Elements (culturalelements.com) is the storehouse of different types of art pieces and handicrafts. They offer varieties of ethnic gifts, including decorative boxes, decorative trays, jewelries, embroidered clothes and furniture with traditional touch. As far as authenticity is concerned, this store has gained much popularity in offering original items brought from different parts of the world.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ima_Johnson

Tuesday 27 April 2010

Build a Successful Online Craft Business

Opening a store in a Craft Mall is just the beginning, building a successful online business is a slow process that takes work and commitment.

You start by creating content for your new shop, customers coming to your shop cannot touch and feel your unique handmade crafts like they would in a brick and mortar shop, so it is extremely important that your images are crystal clear and your descriptions are detailed. It is also very important that you tell your customers about you and your craft and maybe even add your picture so that your customers can see who you are, this makes the customer feel like they know you.

Being in an online crafters mall can give you an advantage because there are already customers coming and shopping there, but that doesn't mean that you can sit back and do nothing, "well actually you can" and you might even get a few orders, but if you really want your business to succeed you will have to work at it.

So where do you start!

You start by focusing on getting traffic to your shop. By spending just a few hours a day promoting your new shop, you will find that little by little the customers will start coming and buying.

So where do you promote!

You can start by writing a couple of small adds about your unique handmade crafts and post them in online shopping classifieds, in your local newspapers and in online craft directories. You can place ads on sites like Craigs List or Kijiji for free. Join forums relating to your craft, start a Facebook page, open a Twitter account, post to Craft Blogs, start your own Craft Blog. Tell everyone you can about your unique handmade crafts and your new shop. It might take a year to build your business but in the end your hard work will pay off and you will have a steady flow of loyal customers coming and shopping in your online store. At this point you can start expanding your business.

There is no overnight success in any business on or off line, but with a little effort your handmade craft business can and will succeed.

About the Author
Catherine Stabler is the owner of the GLC Arts and Crafts Online Mall, http://www.glcmall.com the mall is designed to bring together Artists and Crafters with interested buyers worldwide.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Catherine_Stabler

Tuesday 20 April 2010

Tips to Craft a Public Relations Plan

A good businessperson knows the importance of stretching a dollar. In the current economic climate, it is important to constantly evaluate your company's ROI (return on investment). For managers who utilize B2B business to business marketing this is especially important because advertising costs are high and sometimes it is difficult to prove results.

To help stretch that almighty dollar marketing managers are returning to the highly effective practice of public relations. PR is an invaluable tool that marketers have at their disposal. It is a great way marketing managers can implement B2B marketing strategies, and produce interest in their company's overall mission statement and core values.

Incorporating Public Relations in B2B Advertising and B2B Marketing Strategies

In the current technological age it is easy for people to find information readily, and direct communication with your audience is vital. To promote a company's message, a good public relations plan utilizes traditional PR methods, as well as a host of at-your-fingertip social media options, including: blogs, Facebook, Twitter and other outlets. Online newsrooms, online directories, podcasts, webinars and other tactics can all be incorporated into an effective PR plan. Public relations strategies such as these give marketers the opportunity to showcase a company's expertise and to discuss how the organization is addressing issues and trends of interest to customers and prospects.

Public relations practices are only effective in a B2B marketing strategy through consistent cultivation of relationships with media and industry analysts. By forming these strong relationships, opportunities to highlight the capabilities of your organization will come to you.

The Dollars and Cents

An effective public relations plan does not have to be expensive. The cost to implement a strategic, initiative is considerably less than other B2B marketing strategies, such as direct mailings, radio or television campaigns, and print advertising. The backbone of PR is relationship building. While this can be hard work sometimes, it does not require a large budget.

Important Points to Consider

Conventional advertising and marketing is one-way. People want to feel involved and enjoy having a dialogue - they want a voice. In this online era, PR allows companies to interact with prospects and communities in a manner that will foster positive two-way communication.

The goal of advertising and public relations is one in the same - to communicate key messages to a specific target audience to influence attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors. Advertising and PR are different so directly comparing costs is difficult; however, it is important to consider both these B2B marketing strategies. Before spending thousands on your next ad placement schedule, consider whether or not a good PR program might deliver better results.

Rhonda Ryerson is a PR Specialist at TriComB2B, a Vandalia-based marketing company that focuses on technical writing for B2B marketing campaigns.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhonda_Ryerson

Thursday 15 April 2010

Make Your Kids a Craft Space

There are many things that children are able to do when wanting to have fun and study things at the same time. One of the better things that they have the ability to do is to create crafts. At a young age when kids are in school they are able to make anything they want, from paper bunnies to hearts.

It is stunning to see what youngsters are able to do when they put their minds to it and you need to encourage each minute of it. The best thing you could do is to create an area specifically and just for their crafts. It could be a whole room or merely a small space in the living room.

The first thing you need is something that can store all the paper, glue, stickers, and crayons. Target has a number of storage bins that are colorful, soft, and easy to set up. Kids love them and they are easy to utilize. Everything will have its own special drawer and you will not need to spend a fortune.

Get a writing desk or easel that they can use or you can purchase them both. It is not difficult to purchase these colorful desks at Wal-Mart or Target under $200. They are the right size for your child and yes they are able to take anything your kid has to bring to it. Position this next to the storage so that everything will be close to them.

Lastly you need to put together a bulletin board where they have the ability to display their arts and crafts. Buy a simple corkboard for $15 or less. Many individuals would utilize thumbtacks - but this is not something you need children handling. Instead put Velcro dots all over the side of it. Your kid can peel them from each other and stick them quickly and easily to the board.

Make a Craft Space that your kids will love and that will give them inspiration to draw and paint. Find out what essentials like Velcro Dots you need to put things together.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Naomi_West

Monday 5 April 2010

Craft

A lot of benefit from a craft, in addition to beautify the room, give meaning and other crafts are also helping us in making recycled goods that can not be recycled naturally.

Lots of creative now produces a unique craft, not rare even favored by sharing circles. Ditampilakan uniqueness in creating crafts Pali is the most important thing in making the work of extraordinary and admired

Friday 26 March 2010

Tips to Find Beautiful Handicraft Items For Your Loved Ones!

Artisans from time immemorial have showed their talent in paintings, sculptures and carvings. Even the cavemen have decorated their caves with paintings and pictorial representation. There is a greater demand for beautiful hand made decorative pieces. India is renowned world wide for its hand made objects. Khadi, handloom and pottery are quite popular among them.

Business to business directories have made it simpler for investors to reach out to these artisans and their hand made products. There is a galore of updates on trade shows and exhibitions, easy access directory of suppliers and manufacturers and much more. You can find beautiful bed spreads, hand-woven shawls, woolen shawls, pashmina stoles, bed spreads, embroidered table cloth etc. Sarees are beautifully hand woven, out of which silk and kanjeevaram types are the most renowned. Jaipur is known for its coloured glass work known as minakari work. You can get them customized to your needs.

Fine wooden work and intricate carvings can be found only in artisan's work. They are well versed in fine arts and carvings, you can show them a print of something you have liked and get them carved in the same pattern with intricate designs. You can spend hours in surfing through the items that have been handcrafted with much care and talent. These hand made paintings and sculptures are displayed in the online directories and some government emporiums offline. Such business to business directories find a platform for wholesales, suppliers, distributors, consumers and artisans. Buy and sell online and compare different products and its related prices.

In the field of garments, Indian garments have made a mark in the international arena. It is known for its intricate weaves & embroideries, printed & dyed fabric. Decorative items, table accessories, paintings, garden accessories, toys and dolls, paper made products are few of the other items which are found in display. In addition to this, if you are looking out for corporate products, find a variety of corporate gifts and business promotion products which are hand made.

Find updated products and services online. With the changing demands of customers, the handloom industry is changing accordingly. They always create some thing new every time, so that customers are hooked on to their products for a longer time.

Kirthy Shetty
Get all your tips related to Indian importers exporters:
Indian importers exporters

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kirthy_Shetty

Monday 1 March 2010

Rosewood Sceneries - A Perfect Gift For Any Occasion

Rosewood sceneries are perfect gift for any occasion. A gift signifies our personality. We just can't take it for granted. So a proper selection of gift is necessary to show the world who you are and you care. The cost of gift doesn't matter at all. Rather the selection and choice matters. If you gift someone well-designed rosewood scenery then it will represent your artistic bent of mind and distinctive thinking pattern. People will admire your choice and laud your efforts.

Rosewood is a rare wood. Very few regions in the world are capable of delivering genuine rosewood products. India is a pioneer among those regions. The designs made upon the sceneries depend upon the country of manufacturing. It's a trend among the countries like India, Pakistan or China to portray various local places, rituals, traditions, mythological characters or religious objects in the sceneries. So depending upon your choice makes your selection.

Ethnic Indian wall hangings are popular with wholesale art and handicraft exporters worldwide for their unique artistry and universal appeal. This wall scenery is a striking work of art and makes a wonderful home decor accessory and is ideal for corporate gifts and special occasions.

The best thing is now you can place customized orders with such manufacturers. That means on your formal request the makers will employ woodworkers to create rosewood scenery depicting your favourite scene or design. It will add a personalized touch to the item.

The internet has erased the distance between you and such manufactures. So, if you want to buy creative Indian rosewood products just go to any search engine like Google.com or Bing.com and enter the phrase Indian rosewood or rosewood sceneries. Within a second you will be bombarded with numerous relevant sites offering such items. You can browse through for products like rosewood wall panel lady, rosewood Tulsi wall panel etc. They are very common names of Indian rosewood wall panels or sceneries, and place your order.

The maintenance of rosewood items is not an easy task. So the person to whom you gifted the items may find it difficult to clean them. So consider gifting a manual or small booklet containing instructions to properly maintain the articles. Without proper maintenance those will fade away or lose the classy touch. Small things like keeping them away from fire, hot or cold items etc. may turn out to be pretty useful for the owner of the gift. Moreover if you accompany your gift with such a manual then your image will get another massive boost.

Chitra Handicrafts present to you the real craftsmanship for what India is famous for. http://chitrahandicrafts.com/wood-art.html has special images of all the handicrafts with detailed description and unique features which is sure to ease off your heart and soul. If you enjoyed this article feel free to read other articles and visit http://www.chitrahandicrafts.com, and feel free to contact us to place your order.
Aashish Washikar is the social media strategist for Chitra Handicrafts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aashish_Washikar

Monday 15 February 2010

Dokra Craft - Indian Handicrafts Facing an Encouraging Resurgence in the Global Brassware Market

I am sure you have often heard of this art form known as Dokra craft or Dhokra art. But do you know what it is? Have you any idea where Dokra craft is manufactured? Do you know the story of its genesis?

What Is It?

Dokra craft is a kind of metallurgical art form based on the lost wax technique that is used during the metal casting. Of course, like myriad other art forms from India - one of the prime seats of culture, Dokra is also a type of Indian handicraft that belongs to the genre of brassware handicrafts.

Why Is This Craft So Popular?

There are millions of contemporary sculptors who give other techniques a miss, preferring Dokra over other more fancied stuff. Industrial manufacturing units and the field of dentistry have been using the lost wax technique of Dokra craft for the past 100 years. And since it is generally scrap metal that is commonly used by Dokra craftsmen, Dokra craft or Dhokra art is regarded as eco friendly.

Artisans nowadays, at the behest of cultural and external affairs and handicrafts ministries of India, are trying to incorporate more modern designs into Dokra craft/Dhokra art. Therefore it is no wonder that this incredibly beautiful and individualistic art form is now increasingly traveling across the shores and hitting the global markets of Europe and America, where it has found big favor with the international clients.

People in Milan have been bowled over by the intricacy of patterns and peerless craftsmanship for which Dokra craft is famed.

A few words on the Dhokra/Dokra craftsmen and artisans

Although Dokra is primarily referred to as the art of Bengal, there are thriving centers of Dokra manufacturing units in parts of Andhra Pradesh in the south and Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa in central India. You will find the Dhokra craftsmen scattered sporadically across a vast stretch of mineral rich land in the tribal dominated pockets of central India and parts of Bengal in districts like Birbhum, Bankura, Midnapore, Purulia and Burdwan.

The folk cultures of these tribal belts have provided inspiration for Dokra motifs. In places like Raigarh and Bastar districts of Chhattisgarh, bronze, brass and bell metal are used to carve out Dokra craft/Dhokra art. The technique of coiled thread used in Dokra casting is completely unique to Bastar.

If you are interested in discovering more on fascinating Indian Arts and Handicrafts, you must visit http://www.theindianhandicrafts.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nantaram_Orubenga

Monday 1 February 2010

How to Make Money from Your Handcrafted Jewelry

So several years after you started taking on a handcrafted jewelry hobby, you are probably now an expert in the craft. Perhaps your drawers and cabinets are overfilled with necklaces, earrings, bracelets and other trinkets. Maybe you have already run out of friends and relatives to give these things away. Now is the time for you to make money from your handcrafted jewelry by selling them.

For many hobbyists, taking the next step of making a pastime into a means of earning is an exciting phase. However, there are also many of those who could still be quite hesitant take their handcrafted jewelry hobby making to the next level because of many uncertainties that may come along the way. If such is the case for you, read on and discover how you could make your hobby not only pleasurable but lucrative as well.

Where to Sell Your Handcrafted Jewelry

For many people, selling would mean putting up a store or a boutique, but this should not always be the case for beginners. Building a shop can be intimidating, and not to mention risky, especially during the early stages. The best thing to do is to test the waters (i.e. the market) first before taking the plunge into a full-pledged handcrafted jewelry business. Here are some great venues where you can start up.

1. Handcrafted Jewelry Parties at Home - this is where many successful handcrafted jewelers start out. They invite their friends for some snack or dinner one afternoon or evening. As desert is serve, and small talk begins, you can show your guests your latest creations. Let them take a look and feel of your products. Have mirrors handy and allow guests to try your jewels out for size. This relaxed and friendly environment could be a great venue not only to take pride of your handiwork but also to sell them to people who are close to you.

2. Handicraft Fairs - after hosting some parties, you may now try to venture into the outside world, and a great place to do this is in handicraft fairs, where people of the same interest gather to look and shop for interesting finds. Fairs provide great settings novice jewelers as they provide good learning experiences such as the latest trends in the business. This is also where you could meet with potential contacts for your future handcrafted jewelry ventures.

3. Online Jewelry Shops - you may also take advantage of the convenience afforded by technology by selling your products online. The great thing about online shops is you could reach a wide market without having to leave your house. You may join an online shops that specialize on accessories or you may also sell you goods in online auction sites. For a minimal cost you could enter a vast ocean of potential customers. eBay is now a phenomenally popular site that sells everything from pets to computers, and you could greatly take advantage of his wonderful channel.

You may also put up your own website so that people would associate your products directly to you. Publishing and maintaining websites these days are no longer costly and considering how much you would earn with your handcrafted jewelry business, this could be a venture worth taking.

For How Much You Can Sell Your Handcrafted Jewelry

This is another area of handcrafted jewelry business that perplexes a lot of people, however it is actually very simple. You just have to take not of the costs of your materials, how much work you have placed on the crafts, and the overhead. To do this you need three steps:

1. List the cost all the materials and tools you used for making the jewelry.

2. Carefully think how much time and effort you gave to make your goods and decide how much you are willing to pay yourself. Perhaps in the beginning it is reasonable to pay yourself $10 or so for every hour you worked. You can increase this as your business grows.

3. Finally, take not of all the other expenses that is related to your jewelry making. This could include the rent of the stall in the trade fair you joined, or the website maintenance expenses, or the telephone charges you got from calling contacts. Usually, these miscellaneous expenses can be estimated by taking 25% of the your material and labor costs.

With these in mind you would know how much your goods are worth, so that you would neither overprice nor under-price.

Making money out of your handcrafted jewelry is not as difficult as it seems. With determination and hard work you could be earning from your hobby in no time.

Lee Dobbins, an avid jewelry collector, designer and dealer, hosts http://www.jewelerati.com where you can learn about all kinds of jewelry from vintage, to modern to unique handcrafted jewelry.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Dobbins

Sunday 3 January 2010

The Indian Handicraft Industry

India is a land where exporting is much a necessity than a preferred choice. It is a highly populated land where commerce and business are the need of the hour. And then, India is also a leader in various fields, and the abundance of few specialized items can afford it to export such items. However, when we talk about the Indian Export Business, do we easily think of Handicraft industry? Not really, because Agriculture as a major export area is a famous and popular concept, overshadowing many other fields.

India is indeed one of the major exporters of handicrafts and gift items. Owing to a heritage of rich art and craft culture in ancient times, Indian Handicraft sector is recognizable for their most popular craft items like earthenware, pottery, woodwork, sculpting, scarves, shawls, textiles, embroidered and knitted goods, zari items, jewelry, etc. Indian Handicraft goods have a great demand overseas, as they are a perfect mix of traditional designs with modern techniques. The export of Handicraft items in India is growing exponentially, and so-much-so that it is emerging as the second largest employment generating sector after Agriculture. Hence, a large number of artisans are engaged in designing pottery and other craft work.

The Agriculture Export Business is increasing at a consistent growth rate and is spreading its wings to various nations. India has been exporting its products to USA, UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, UAE, Canada, Belgium and others countries. From various exported handcraft items, few that are high on the demand list are Wood wares, Hand printed textiles, Shawls, Zari Goods, Imitation Jewelry, Crocheted Goods and more.

Another reason for the popularity of Indian Handicraft goods is the exceptional and varied design items. Consisting of 28 states, India offers an enormous range of handicraft products, where many states have their own handicraft USP. Following is listed the various Handicraft items and the Indian states they are associated with it.

• Wooden ware- Saharanpur, Hoshiarpur, Srinagar, Amritsar, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Mysore, Madras, Kerala, Behrampur

• Marble and Stone Craft- Jodhpur, madras, Agra

• Zari Goods- Madras and Rajasthan

• Art Metal- Moradabad, Aligarh, Rewari, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Delhi, Madras, Beedar, Kerala, Jaisalmer

• Jewelry- Delhi, Moradabad, Kohima

• Papier Mache items- Kashmir, Rajasthan and Bihar

The Indian Handicraft goods are used for leisure pursuits and as a style statement. The manufacture of Handicraft goods is giving employment to many people in India, and has forged an unsurpassed reputation in the international market.

Indian Manufacturers: B2B India, yellow pages India, suppliers India are some of KRAs of Sanjeev Pandey who is associated with Bizedia.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sanjeev_Pandey