Looking for the prefect return gift for guests coming home for Navaratri? Need new decorative items to make your Kolu stand out? Jayashree Narayanan and Usha Krishnan have an array of items to offer people who are out of ideas or tired of repeated visits to shops. Fondly called the ‘rocking sisters’ by the family, the two have been fevicryl teachers for decades.
They have inherited their artistic talents from their mother and have turned it into what they call a ‘past-time to profit.’ This year, they have created special articles for Navaratri which are priced from Rs. 25 to Rs. 250. Nature-lovers can choose from a wide range of eco-friendly jute and wooden items such as thamboolam bags, torans , photo frames, wooden kumkum box, small jute purse for kids, wooden key holders, Vaastu hangings, mobile pouch, jute clips, etc. And here is a breather for people who do not know how to make a rangoli. The sisters have created instant colourful rangoli pieces which can be used as mix and match. The jute for their products is sourced from West Bengal and for the rest of the items they obtain it from Parrys Corner in Chennai.
Apart from Navaratri gifts, they also have items like instant kurti attachments, which come with velcro. Anytime you are bored with an old neck design, you can pick one of the attachments and make your dress look new.
The sisters don’t believe in wasting cloth material. They make small purse out of small pieces of clothes. Another of their speciality is painting on saris and handkerchiefs.
Jayashree and Usha also undertake bulk orders.
“Depending on the item people order and the number, we need at least a month’s time to prepare everything. We get big orders for marriages and festivals like Navaratri,” says Jayashree.
Talking about her work, Jayshree says she runs her own training institute called Hasthashri Arts and Crafts, where she has trained more than 500 people in Thanjavur and other crafts. She is also the treasurer of Kala Kruthi, Egmore. Jayashree conducts programme for Kumudham Snehidhii and is a regular columnist of the magazine. She has helped a CBSE school give its name to Limca Book of Records in a card making event. She has been a judge for many competitions.
All the products for Navratri are displayed at Jayashree’s home and interested people can also come and learn the art of making the items. Her house is located at 19/37, Flat ‘D,’ Sundaram Enclave, Shenoy Nagar West (Near Thiru Vi Ka Park). For details, contact Jayashree at 98845 01959.
