Discover The Art Of Chikankari For June 2018

Colour Stories

Did you know that the beautiful art of Chikankari was introduced by Nur Jahan, the wife of Mughal Emperor Jahangir in the 17th century? Read on to know everything about this amazing art…

Chikan, in the literal sense means 'embroidery.' The art of Chikankari belongs to Lucknow, the land of Tehzeeb and Nazaquat. It is a delicate and intricate embroidery style introduced by Nur Jehan that flourished under the patronage of the Mughals. Nur Jahan was a talented embroideress and was fond of this art. Her husband is believed to have been fascinated by the art form too and established many workshops to perfect this art form in India. After the downfall of the Mughal Empire, the chikankari artisans spread all over India, but Lucknow remained the main centre with Awadh a close second.

Chikankari is created by block printing patterns on the fabric. Craftsmen embroider stitches along the pattern and the finished piece is later washed to remove traces of the prints. Washing is the final stage of the chikankari process.

It started off as a type of white-on-white embroidery, but has evolved with white thread embroidered on soothing pastels. The preferred fabric is muslin or mulmul as it is best suited for warm and humid climate. However, cotton, chiffon, silk, net and organza is also used. The idea is to have a lightweight fabric that not just makes the embroidery process easier but also makes sure that the work stands out on its own.

What makes this art special is that the stitches are done to perfection and the quality and gracefulness is unmatched. The essence of this art lies in its simplicity. Floral patterns and chikankari go hand in hand. Owing to the strong Persian influence, flowers have always been a staple with stems, leaves and buti added in to complete the design. Other motifs include embellishments like Badla, Mukaish, Kamdani as well as mirror work, sequin and bead.

The work is done on kurtas, saris, scarves, caps and other pieces of clothing. The chikan industry has not only survived but is flourishing. Around 2,500 entrepreneurs manufacture chikan for sale in local, national and international markets. Today, Lucknow is the largest exporter of chikan embroidered garments. Chikankari may be an old form of art but is still one of the most appealing.

Hope you found this article informative!

Colour Trivia

Colour Facts For June 2018

1. Do you have green eyes? If yes, you are part of a very small group of people in the world! Green eye colour is the rarest colour found around the world, and it is estimated that only about 2% of the world's population has green coloured eyes. Green eye colour is a result of a mild amount of pigmentation in the eye with a golden tint. Did you know that there is a myth surrounding those with green eyes? They are believed to be good at inventing things, quick at making decisions without thinking too long and are a bit strange.
2. Did you know that red hair is thicker than other colours? Each strand of red hair is usually thicker than other shades. This compensates for the fact that redheads have less hair. Apparently they have on average 90,000 strands. They are not exactly going bald though, as each strand of natural red hair is much thicker, so the appearance is often that redheads have more hair in general. And the good news is that these fewer but thicker strands make it easier to style too.
3. An artist usually uses the subtractive colour system while painting, which is a way of mixing colours. With the additive colour system, the colour changes by adding different hues. With the subtractive colour system, the colour changes based on which hue you subtract or take away. For example, if you want a colour to appear redder, with the additive colour system, you simply add more red to the colour. With the subtractive colour system, you subtract the other hues until all you have left is the colour red. Colour play is fascinating, isn't it?

Colour Quotes For June 2018

• "We never really perceive what colour is physically."

  - Josef Albers

• "The picture will have charm when each colour is very unlike the one next to it."

  - Leon Battista Alberti

• "Colour is like cooking. The cook puts in more or less salt, that's the difference!"

  - Josef Albers

Colour Tips For June 2018

1. Take a good look at your ceiling before painting any of the walls. If you think the ceiling requires refreshing, paint it first. Don't ever paint the walls first and then start with the ceiling. Rolling the ceiling drops blobs of paint onto everything that is below. Painting the ceiling first gives you the freedom to be less fussy along the walls. Any paint that gets slopped onto walls will get covered up later when you paint them, which is why it is a good idea to always keep them for later.
2. The best way to spray or paint cabinet doors is to lay them flat on the ground – on top of an object. Allow each side to dry completely before turning them over to do the other side. Also, do not forget to place a towel or a piece of cloth between the cans and the doors to keep the paint from being scratched after you have turned it over. Laying doors flat will also prevent drips.
3. Have you ever hammered down a paint can lid only to have paint splatter everywhere? You can prevent that by using a 5-in-1 tool and using the pointy end to punch a few holes through the groove of the can's rim. However, don't forget to rotate the tool left and right a little to widen the holes. The holes let excess paint to drain back into the can. The lid will cover the holes and create an airtight seal. If you do not have a 5-in-1 tool handy, you can punch some holes with a hammer and a nail.

World Of Colours

Colours & Emotion For June 2018

1. Did you know that colour can help connect the neuropathways in the brain? When the right colour is found for a person's problem subject, it has been found that then the subject actually becomes a lot easier for the child. The student actually starts experiencing the joys of learning that subject. Children wearing coloured goggles that were made to complete pegboard tests were found to solve the tests much quicker when wearing goggles of their favourite colour.
2. Children also react to colours on a physical level. In case you are wondering how, there is science behind it! The explanation is that the light enters the Hypothalamus which controls the nerve centres, as well as the respiration and heart rate. The wavelength and energy of each colour varies and affects children differently. What is interesting is that even new-borns react to light. This has been proven using blue light in the treatment of infant jaundice.

Colours & Fashion For June 2018

Floral eyeliner

Who said florals are only meant for clothing or curtains? Makeup artistry has gone to another level with floral eyeliner. So if you have got a good eye and a steady hand, do give it a try. Makeup artists have showcased their versions of the fun floral liner, some using bright colours and some using pastels. The look involves painting tiny, intricate flowers on the upper lash line for a colourful spring-ready look. You can try simple minimal floral designs to an all-out winged field of flowers. The choice is yours! It is a trend which is easy to achieve, even for beauty beginners.

Colours & Gems For June 2018

1. Prehnite
   Take a look at this gemstone. It is called Prehnite. It is the first mineral to be named after a person, and it was also the first mineral to be described from South Africa, long before South Africa became one of the most important sources for precious and semi-precious gems. Its colour varies from soft apple green to yellow. The gem is believed to be a stone of unconditional love. It is known to bring peace and provide protection to its wearer. It is helpful for those who have a tendency to hoard materialistic possessions and for those finding it difficult to let go off these things. It is believed to alleviate phobias, deep fears, nightmares and healing the disease that creates them. It is known to be beneficial for hyperactive children.
2. Demantoid Garnet
   Demantoid Garnet is the rarest of all the garnet varieties, and is valued by collectors for its extraordinary brilliance. The Garnet family is a complex group of minerals ranging in colour from red to orange and green. The rarest and most valuable Demantoid is from Russia. Owing to the latest finds in Namibia and Mozambique, this semi-precious stone is gaining popularity by stone collectors and investors worldwide.

Colours & Nature For June 2018

1. Rosy Maple Moth
   Meet Dryocampa Rubicund - the rosy maple moth. It is a small moth native to North America. It belongs to the family Saturniidae, also known as the great silk moths. It was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1793. The species is known for its striking pink and yellow coloration. It is covered in a coat of dense fuzz, which helps it to pollinate flowers more effectively. Males have bushier antennae than females, which enable it to sense female pheromones for mating. It is nocturnal and relatively small, with a wingspan of up to 5.2 cm.
2. Fiery-Throat Hummingbird
   Take a look at this colourful bird. It is the Fiery-Throat Hummingbird. Males and females look similar in appearance and generally are green with blue tails. You can also catch a glimpse of the glistening golden-copper throat and the blue crown from a certain angle. Within the forest, it spends most of its time in the canopy, but comes much lower near edges and openings. It most often looks for epiphytic flowers by piercing long-tubed flowers or by using holes made by bees. Both sexes are known to be aggressive and defend flower territories when it is the non-breeding season. During breeding, males defend resource-rich flower patches and allow females to extract nectar from the flowers.

Décor

Do You Know The Colours Everyone Is Talking About?

Pantone, the global specialists in colour, have set the world of design abuzz with their palettes. Since colour creates mood, you need to decide the tone that you wish to set for your home. If you are planning on doing some painting and decorating this year, these are the colour trends you need to know.

Pantone believes that colours like blue and oranges add liveliness to a space. Blue as a dominant colour with pops of orange brings warmth. You can opt for these colours to make your space a welcoming one.

Pantone says that food-inspired shades like Celery and various shades of berry-purple combined with eggshell-blue brings freshness to a space. Opt for these colours if you wish to have a neutral backdrop.

Grey is still a good choice for many interiors, not just on the walls but also as furniture pieces.

Lime-greens, candy pinks and brilliant blues are great colours that you can play around with if you wish to bring out the child in you.

You can choose muted lavenders combined with rich purples for a tranquil resort-like feel.

You can go for earthy shades that you see in everyday living as these hues work well with greys and neutrals. Pair them with fresh florals and rustic accents to bring a sense of elegance.

Shades like almond, beige and cognac are also popular and are set to become fashionable colours. If you like brown, you can experiment with these colours.

Teal is a classic that works with almost any style, from traditional to eclectic. It offers the right blend of sophistication and sass.

Mustard is also a colour to look out for. If you are not too comfortable painting the entire room in this single colour, you can use it for an accent wall.

These were some of the trending colours that you ought to take note of. Although these colour palettes are trend predictions, ultimately choosing the perfect palette comes down to what you like best. Hope you will be inspired to give the walls of your home a new look

Wondering How To Use Off-Beat Colours At Home?

We know it’s easy to go with the simple colours for your interior paint needs. But where’s the fun in that? So instead of showing you colours you could find in almost any neighbour’s house, we’re going to take you ahead in the game.

And we're going to do this by introducing you to colours which wouldn't normally find lying around. But when you do, you'll know what to do with it! So here we go.

Sea-foam green
Imagine a light green reminiscent of the watery foam that forms over a clear sea, with a touch of grey to ground it. The lightness in the colour is ideal to brighten up most spaces, especially those where you'd like to create a calming or relaxing scene. Try combining this unconventional shade with classic shades, like a blue-black.

A green-blue hue
An opulent and mysterious green-blue hue with more blue than green. This is the kind of blue that reminds us of mythical creatures like the mermaids, and urges us to ditch our mobile phones and embrace the colours that are around us. As an interior paint, It can be used almost anywhere if mixed with warm metallic tones, deep rich tones, or simply whites and creams. If you don't want to go all the way, then there's a solution for that too. Get your side table or simply your front door painted in this striking shade and contrast it with a neutral room.

Green with a touch of blue
Now this is an invigorating colour that's obviously more green than blue, and is inspired by the oceanside. And just like the oceanside, it works as a sweet reminder to take a breath and leave your troubles outside. And to take this emotion to its most effective high, try painting your entryway in this colour, so that all the troubles you leave behind will be left on the doormat and you'll enter like a breath of fresh air.

A honey-comb inspired orange
A milder orange that takes everything which makes orange a fun, vibrant colour to look at but adds a touch of subtlety to it too. Good use of it can cause it to radiate warmth and comfort and thus make any living space brighter. Don't use it too much as it will become an overload on the senses. Simply see it as a splash of colour to a wall-shelf or maybe a door. Or you could even use it as a backdrop for a strong piece of art, or for a more interesting contrast, against fresh, green plants.

So there you have it. Get ready to excite, inspire, and maybe even make some of your neighbours jealous.

Want To Stay On Top Of June's Colour Trends?

June is bringing with it paint colours which we might see a lot in our lives, except this time they’re spruced up a little bit here and there and that’s what makes them unique and accessible, without being garish or rude.

Here's a quick lowdown on what's on everyone's minds.

Ultra Violet
This variant of the colour purple is expected to ignite trends and give shape to a lot of beautiful ideas for a large number of industries. You might already have seen violet used in the marketing of premium, higher-priced products or services. And Ultra Violet is the pinnacle of that. Violet has always been seen to represent the infinite creativity as well as spirituality of the collective mind, and because violet lies between red and blue, its mysticism and integrity comes from its blue and the passion and strength comes from red.

Grey
While Ultra-Violet might grab attention with its natural, passionate allure - this next shade is made more for a calming effect. A shade that comes into being when soft grey, blue and the green of a lush field come together, the amiability of the shade means that it can be used for both exterior and interior projects. What this also means is that it works well in homes, schools, offices, and especially hospitals where the aim of the good designer is to create a space that calms, but does not create an ugly 'hospital' vibe. We can also see it being used in spas and other spaces where relaxation and rejuvenation is the sought after emotion.

Red
This is a red infused with more passion than it has seen before. It is made of a very strong red garnished with a hint of orange, with a slightly muddy undertone. Its mere vibrancy demands attention, but, as in all great paint colours, the viewer will always be more than happy to oblige. Any other colour vying for your attention in the same space will just fall flat. That's why its proper use requires that it be paired up with slightly more subdued paint colours.

So you're now well-equipped to do two things - paint up your house in the month's cool paint colours, and begin an interesting conversation over the dinner table. Good luck!

Colours & Ancient Sciences

Feng Shui For June 2018

If you follow the Feng Shui belief that all life consists of energy forces which if used well can lead to wealth, happiness, and more, and if you love the colour blue, then here’s something for you.

Blue in Feng Shui

The blue which we can use for proper Feng Shui ranges from a gentle blue which looks like a wide sky and a blue-green which looks like the surface of the ocean, all the way to a deep indigo blue which we might find on the water surface as the night draws close. It's appropriate that it resembles the seaside because according to Feng Shui's theory of five elements the colour represents the water Feng Shui element. This colour brings the energy of stillness and serenity, properties associated with clear, healthy water, and thus gives an overall ambience of rejuvenation.

Now while all these properties sound great and it wouldn't feel wrong to plaster it all over the house, there are some subtleties to the colours which you cannot ignore.

A lighter blue is seen as the Feng Shui colour of peaceful, positive growth. This means that it would feel right in place as the colour of a home office, or for a child's study area. If you think about it, people have always sought out the seafront to think about ideas without the clutter of external inputs. That's why we suggest using this lighter blue as a ceiling colour, because it evokes the energy of the sky, brimming with infinite possibilities and positive motivation. Some studies have even showed that children performed better in school when their rooms were under a blue ceiling, as opposed to a white one.

A darker blue on the other hand invokes the energies of contemplation, intelligence, and relaxation. This means that you might want to introduce it to your bedroom, a place where one usually retires while thinking about the day that just went by, and where you'd like to be able to relax to your heart's content.

As a takeaway, try combining blue and white for a very effective calming feel. Open skies, a free spirit, and a little reminiscent of Greece - you're surely going to find that it makes a difference!

Reiki For June 2018

Did you know that Reiki can help you in solving eye-related problems? Read on to know how you can use the power of Reiki…

Reiki For Eye Conditions!

Eyes are the most important sense organ of our body. We get most of our information about things around us from our sense of sight. However, we often tend to overlook the health of our eyes. It is observed that everyone experiences some type of eye problem at some point in their life.

Reiki is a very effective holistic treatment for any eye problem. It works on all energetic levels – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. According to Reiki, the reason for illness exists in one of these four levels. As all the levels are interconnected, it is treated as a whole and the remedy is targeted to provide true healing by bringing back all levels into harmony and balancing it.

The following healing technique is very effective in healing all types of eye problems, be it cataract, myopia (short-sight), glaucoma, conjunctivitis, trachoma etc.

What you need to do is heal the eye balls, inner and outer corners of the eyes, and back brow chakra. In addition to this, you may also heal crown chakra, brow chakra, kidneys, liver, womb and ovaries. No matter what, remember to treat both the eyes. Use Reiki symbols to activate and enhance the Reiki energy flow.

For eye-related problems, place your hands parallel to the right and left of the nose, from the forehead to the region of the top teeth. By using the symbols, you can achieve better result. Wearing an energised amethyst crystal specifically charged for healing the eyes and drinking charged water can also help in the healing process.

By practicing Reiki every day, you can tap into your body's natural ability to balance, relieve stress and heighten the senses, including your eyesight. Anyone who has taken Reiki attunement can practise Reiki.

Good eyesight is a gift. It not only helps seeing what is in front of us but also allows for insight and foresight. Experience the magic of Reiki in your life!

Vaastu For June 2018

Majority of a child’s time is spent inside their rooms, be it sleeping or studying. Because of this, the use of specific wall colours actually becomes integral to the child’s progress. Read on to know more about it…

Vaastu For Kid's Room

For a child, it's imperative that the aura created is one that relaxes their mind and improves their thinking, while at the same time surrounding them with positive energy. According to Vaastu, brighter colours have a better place in a child's room. Absolutely avoid darker shades like black or grey as these can impede on the positivity and openness that we are trying to bring into the room. Brighter shades like green, purple, orange, yellow, and light blue are ideal.

And emphasising on one colour, green is the recommended colour for a child's room, especially the study room. A lot of us have memories of sitting in a classroom and looking outside the windows at the trees. Unfortunately, it is usually cut short because you have to focus in the classroom too! But what was so soothing about looking outside was natural green which came off the leaves and the plants. That organic green has a natural soothing effect, probably because our primal minds are tired of the computers and the cars and the skyscrapers.

That's why it makes sense in a child's study room.

And now that you have your colour sorted, you also have to figure out how to show it. If bright colours are your thing, don't get your south-facing or west-facing walls painted in a bright colour. The same applies to even doors and windows. It's even suggested that you keep these doors and windows shut so that light coming in from that side does not exaggerate the bedroom area colours. If you are going with blue, often seen as a calming colour, ensure that you don't have a window in the north direction. And if the room gets a lot of direct sunlight, yellow and orange should be avoided.

So there you have it! These formative years can be integral in a child's life, and it always pays to take care of everything around them.