Creating wonders from waste

At a time, when people around us are busy dumping waste in each and every corner of the city, here is a unique exception.

Creating wonders with waste, Nalini Nagaraj has crafted her skills to make beautiful designs across the world. Though we have many engaging in recycling of waste materials, rare are those who think of crafting something beautiful out of the same. Nalini Nagaraj, resident of Malleshwaram, has come out with something out of the box to create beautiful designs from waste clothes.
Having learnt the art from Japan, where her husband had gone for an official visit for few months, patchwork quilting comes naturally to her. Creating beautiful designs from tiny to tiniest pieces of cloth, her wonderful creations are beyond words. Even though she got professional training in the art form from Japan, she claims that it is her mother, from whom she learnt the basics of stitching.

All began in childhood
"I was interested in stitching right from the age of 12. My mother, Shama Sundaramma, was my first teacher and I must say even now I have done nothing much in front of her creations. She used to teach me how to stitch using sewing machines and the interest developed later on," said Nalini Nagaraj, who has till now created thousands of designs on different clothings.
Right from purses, cushion covers, bags, bed sheets, wall hangings, there remains nothing which has not been crafted by this genius. Working on different tiny pieces of clothes of different colours, the designs which she crafts out of them is beyond imagination. Even with half an inch piece of cloth of each colour, she stitches them together with other tiny pieces to make it a beautiful design. Right from the ones with 50 pieces, she has created an amazing wall hanging made up of 196 small bits of cloth. Mismatching the colours, the different designs come naturally to her with experience.

Her Japan experience
"In Japan, even during the training, they used to give us a design and ask us to complete and bring. They were no regular classes as such. Hence, now seeing different wonderful things at various places, we relate to it and come up with our own new designs. Actually, this form of art was prevalent since ancient times in our country; it's only that those in Western countries thought of making it an art form and promoting it to such an extent. Now, this form of art is also a hit among many here. The only problem is the strain involved in stitching these tiny pieces together that too while having three layers to combine together to make it compact and strong," she added. Even while being a grandmother of three, she still keeps herself active with art.

An expert in embroidery
Not just in quilting, she is also an expert in all forms of embroidery. Kasuti work, Kutch work, mirror work, all these are few of the works she engages in. There is nothing in stitching which she misses out to learn. Even crafting out different beautiful shapes out of sea shells is another hobby for her. Depending upon the materials available, Nalini tries to bring out her own beautiful creations out of it.
She has till now participated in two exhibitions, one in Japan and another in Malleshwaram, where she was also declared as the winner. Running away from recognition, she does not want her talent to be made use for commercial purposes. Volunteering her service at Chaitanya, home for the mentally challenged at Malleshwaram, she utilises her skills to help them. "I don't believe in making money from my skills. Till earlier, I have done lots of work for myself and my family. Now, I want to utilize my skills for those in need and hence helping the ladies at the school since three years," added the humble lady.
Keeping her doors open for anyone who wants to learn the art form, the talented lady is completely down to earth. With such wonderful creations to her credit, the magic in her hands to build on using such tiny pieces with so much concentration is commendable. Straining herself even at such an age for a social cause, she still remains a wonder to many.

Beyond imagination
Right from purses, cushion covers, bags, bed sheets, wall hangings, there remains nothing which has not been crafted by this genius. Working on different tiny pieces of clothes of different colours, the designs which she crafts out of them is beyond imagination.

--SUCHITHRA PILLAI