Twilight Vacations

In my last post I explained about   How to create Papier Mâché within some informative clear photos as they do it traditionally in Kashmir.Though I liked what the two masters were doing but still couldn't understand why this art was a Heritage of Kashmir until our guide Ejaz opened a simple door and suddenly I found myself in another world! You could find loads of different shapes with diversity of colors and designs and they were all made of waste papers! Amazing!  The most important characteristic of these Handicrafts is, they are not only outstandingly beautiful but also so light and even resistant to water! you can see how I'm holding some big items which they weighed not more than 200 grams ! At last I bought one piece for myself which I really love it and whenever I look at it,it reminds me of beautiful Kashmir and its simple but kind and hardworking craftsmen! Give this to me and I will be super happy You can see all the Kashmiri st...

Papier Mâché is a delicate decorative art which is resistant to water as well as being so light made from waste papers.This art flourished in Kashmir in the 17th Century. But it was Syed Ali Hamadani (lived in 13th century), a Persian famous Sūfī who  brought almost 80 artisans from Persia including, painters, silversmiths, carpenters, carpet makers with him to teach and employ the Kashmiris who were then so poor. Iranians might have learned the art from French or Italians though.Because this art has been existed in Italy in 13th century but French are the ones who invented the Papier Mâché boxes and later on they became the potential Papier Mâché buyers from Kashmir . I could see loads of Persian designs from floral to birds on the Papier Mâché pieces and I became so excited to see that as an Iranian girl! Apparently later on, this art got highly favored  by Mughal Emperors and you can see their influence on the design of the handicrafts as well. The cra...

I had always heard about Kashmir Shawls as super light with  finest texture but I never could imagine how it could look like until I happened to see loads of beautiful Kashmir Shawls in Srinagar,Kashmir. As I told in my earlier posts about Kashmir persistent merchants,I got to know Kashmir Shawls when they came to my house boat and opened their white cloth and suddenly you could see diversity of color and design in their coarse and simple hands! I couldn't believe my eyes though I'm a Persian girl and I'm almost familiar with nice textiles but still it was shocking! Then they were showing me a small ring and I was wondering why they were showing me the ring until I saw they passed the whole shawl through that small ring!!! And it could show how elegant and fine was the quality of that Kashmir Shawl .In Kashmir you could see lots of Shawls with nice colors and design but not all are authentic Kashmir Shawls from that special wool taken from the goat! Then I was taken t...