Ranjitha S. studies commerce at Jain College and aspires to be a company secretary one day. She also panders to a variety of her interests — reading novels by Stephenie Meyer, collecting coins and taking a dip in the pool.
She tells us about making jewellery out of paper, the hobby that gives her pocket money and makes her popular among her friends.
It was while doing school projects that I found out I could use thin strips of coloured paper to make jewellery.
I am fond of such funky ways of decorating oneself. I used to make jewellery from beads during summer vacation with my cousins. With paper, I could make so many different accessories to match almost every one of my clothes.
Discovering the technique of quilling has been my major break.
Quilling or paper filigree is an art form that involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to create decorative designs. The paper is wound around a quill to create a basic coil shape.
Initially, any form of art work seems like a Herculean task.
Only after practice and experience does it become easy and enjoyable. I did not attend any classes but just watched my friend quilling and got the hang of it. I had a lot of free time after college hours, which I used to train myself to make different quilling patterns.
Though quilling sounds like a simplistic job, it is in fact highly challenging.
Paper is flimsy and is prone to tear; it cannot get damp and one can't put too much pressure on the material. It is frustrating and requires plenty of patience and concentration. Once I mastered it, I began making photo frames, cover designs for scrapbooks and mobile chains.
I use the jewellery and photo frames myself.
But when it is time for gifting someone something, these customised, handmade jewellery, I think, mean much more than a bought gift.
As told to Shreya N.
Keywords: jewellery designing
