Kolam by Sudha Balaji

  I find that the terms mandala or rangoli are freely used for rangoli designs in many countries outside India just as we use rangoli or kolam in India.  Since the word mandala is related to circle, let us have some circular designs as theme in this post. In the first rangoli concentric circles have been drawn without any aids like templates.  When we draw circles with this method there are some limitations.  Alternatively, we can mark the circles using geometric aids or a piece of chalk tied to a thread by drawing a number of concentric circles after holding one end of the string at what will be the centre of the circles.   After drawing the circles, the route along the circles can be overwritten with rangoli. I prefer the former method usually because I feel it gives a more naturalistic appearance to the rangoli. The rangoli is decorated with patterns inside.  As a result, it turns into an awesome rangoli . The use of free hand lotus designs makes i...

  OHP sheet toran or thoranam - Craft ideas for festival decoration at home  Toran or Thoranam is an important part of celebration of any festival.  The image below shows a festoon or toran made from artificial mango leaves.   We can use them in places, countries where mango leaves are not available. What we need for this craft idea a) OHP sheet  b) Cardboard c) pair of scissors d) Outliners  e) Fancy tape f) Glue or stapler  g) Chamki Make a template of a mango leaf with a cardboard.  Place it on an Overhead projector sheet and cut as many leaves as you want.  Draw the veins with yellow colour outliner. Fill the leaf like shapes that are cut out with green to represent the leaves.   Stick or staple the leaves to fancy tape.  Stick chamki on the tap to enhance the beauty.  An awesome craft idea that can be done very quickly.  Decorate for festivals like Diwali, Navaratri. Yes, apart from drawing rangoli, I als...

  Step by step images showing how to make an easy toran using mango leaves for decorating homes for Diwali, Navratri . Choose fresh mango leaves ( maavilai in Tamil ) so that they are all of the same length Take a thread of sufficient length so that it covers the entire doorway.  Extra thread is required to tie the toran on both sides of the doorway.   We can use the petiole ( the thin projection at the top edge of the leaf through which the leaf is supported by the tree ) to hang the mango leaf from the thread by part of the leaf with petiole to the other side of the thread and inserting it into the leaf.   This is the traditional method of  making a simple thoranam.  Some use staples too.  If you use staples carefully dispose the toran after use by removing the staples so that cattle do not eat and injure themselves Picture above shows a completed toran.  Some dip the thread in turmeric paste to display an auspicious occasion. 

  Rangoli tips tricks and techniques  Placing dots is a very important aspect of drawing beautiful rangoli designs.   They should appear like dots ( discussion is on  traditional kolam ) and not like small thick lines.   First take minimum quantity of white rangoli powder. It is available with many vendors.  In Tamil Nadu it sold by street vendors   More the quantity, bigger the dots.  Also releasing the powder with thumb should be controlled to get small and beautiful dots or bindu. For getting beautiful small, round dots, the texture of the powder should be right, and minimum quantity should be taken. Optimum texture can be obtained by mixing thoroughly 3 parts of white rangoli ( sieved ) with 1 part of rice flour.  Kolam as it is called in Tamil Nadu, means beauty, actually beauty in symmetry.  Beauty is achieved by various methods.  Placing small dots is one of them. As they say small is beautiful.  Only...

How to make OHP sheet toran at home for Diwali What we need OHP sheet and butter paper 3D glitter Glass colour Fancy lace Fabric glue Craft trinkets ( pearl chain ) Note:  After using glass colours or 3D glitter, or fabric glue allow 10 minutes to pass so that the toran element dries completely This toran can be a fancy decoration for these festivals. Also, in USA and UK where we get real mango leaves but the price may be on the higher side, we can make this mango leaf  thoranam to symbolically represent the décor.   Mango leaf thoranams are associated with auspicious occasions and festivals Gold colour 3D glitter for veins and border so that they can be seen in contrast Green glass colours for leaf Fabric glue - the advantage is that it becomes transparent after drying Craft items like pearl chain or stone stain for decoration Make a cardboard template of a leaf Place the leaf template on butter paper and mark outline of...

Small and easy peacock rangoli for Diwali We are fascinated by Mother Nature .  Naturally we try to imitate her .   The result is trying peacock designs in rangoli art. We try to represent peacock as humanly as possible in this simple art form.  Here are some of the attempts made by me  This cute rangoli can be drawn very quick , in a jiffy. Cute and small single peacock rangoli Mayil kolam in padi kolam ! A traditional line rangoli can be converted into a mayil kolam ( mayil is pecock in Tamil ) Majestic peacocks around traditional rangoli Peacocks design without dots through photos for Diwali, New Year T hough it is simple I have added pics to show the steps so that you can try for Deepavali or New Year decoration.  We can also draw such designs for Navarathri golu Draw the clover leaf like patterns first  This is the peacock rangoli without colours Peacock is our national bird and birds are associated with freedom....

Diya decoration with CD rangoli | eco friendly For this simple CD craft , draw rangoli designs on CDs with cotton bud dipped in honey.  Sprinkle semolina and tap gently to remove excess semolina ( or rava ).  A beautiful and easy Diwali diya decoration is ready for us to decorate our homes and show off. The lighting of diyas gives a beautiful and divine ambiance for this easy craft for Diwali Apply honey inside the patterns and paste kundan stones Diwali diya decoration with floating rangoli  Probably one of the most innovative and creative ways of decorating our homes with rangoli is using a floating rangoli and using the floating rangoli to light a diya.  The steps are as   Fill water in a vessel almost to the brim. Sprinkle rice flour throughout the water surface so that it forms a thin layer. Now place a CD rangoli or any other CD art on the surface of the water. In the remaining space draw rangoli patterns to decorate around t...