Most people her age may want to relax at home. In contrast, Rajalakshmi Vasantharaj want to out of hers. She travels alone to places like Bombay and a few other cities in the northern parts of India. She is craft artist and travels a lot to collect craft materials and to attend workshops.
Rajalakshmi makes designer gift boxes from craft papers, embossed with an artwork known as punch craft. She also works on craft forms such as jharokha, sheet engraving, modelling from Thai clay, 3D murals and soft toys.
“I also receive orders from corporates and individuals. Recently, I did a gift box symbolising 25 years of a couple’s marriage anniversary,” says Rajalakshmi. She does all this under the banner Creative Collections.
“I lived in Bombay for a while and from there I learnt the different forms of craft such as lamasa, paper punch and Thai clay modelling,” she adds. When she retuned to Chennai in 1978 she enrolled herself for short-term courses offered at Cultural Academy in Santhome.
After her husband’s death, she has dedicated herself to the crafts.
“During the 1980s, I took part in various craft and culinary competitions. Today, I go as a resource person for craft workshops conducted at schools or colleges or as judge at competitions,” she says.
Rajalakshmi also conducts culinary classes. She teaches cuisines native to China and north India.
Recently, she started another venture Taarika under which she does painting on saris. “Taarika also sells saris brought from different States,” she adds. Rajalakshmi Vasantharaj can be contacted at 98404 33022.
