The process of Ajrak block printing

The Phoenix Company

Traditionally, in Rajasthan, Ajrak printing required various stages of dyeing with the help of natural material-based dyes. The most common colours used for Ajrak printing are Indigos and blues. These dyes are painted on carved wooden blocks which contain intricate designs and patterns. Earlier, this process required professional wood carvers, but over time and due to a larger demand for the product, a lot of men and women artisans have acquired the skill of wood carving and block printing.

• Step 1:

The cotton cloth is thoroughly washed to rid it of starch, by soaking it in a solution of camel dung, soda ash and castor oil. It is then spread out and kept overnight. By the next morning, the cloth is semi-dry and the process is repeated once again. The process takes place about 7-8 times until the cloth foams when rubbed. After this for a final time, it is…

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Know your fabric: Ajrak block printing

The Phoenix Company

Ajrak printing is a unique form of woodblock printing technique that originated from Pakistan and neighbouring Indian districts of Kutch in Gujarat and Barmer in Rajasthan. Ajrak printing is embedded into the culture of Sindhi people owing to the traditions of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation. Just as block printing, the process of Ajrak printing begins with designs expertly hand-carved into wooden blocks before being dipped in dye and printed on fabrics primarily of cotton and silk.

Source: Secrets to creating the perfect Ajrak print

The term Ajrak is derived from the Arabic word ‘Azrak’ which means Indigo or blue. This reflects Sindh’s historic reputation as a dominant producer of indigo dye and illustrates the extensive use of the indigo shade of blue in traditional Ajrak print, which is still common to this day. The essence of Ajrak printing comes out with its intricate designs of motifs which mainly symbolise…

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A doodled mug for Mother’s day!

The Phoenix Company

Ever thought of surprising your mom with breakfast in bed?

Your mom, who takes care of all your silly tantrums, bribes you into doing work with an extra piece of cake, cooks your special meals and pampers you when you’re having a rough day. She’ll laugh at all your silly jokes and support you, always vouching for your innocence!

You’re in luck, because The Phoenix Company is here to save you this Mother’s Day. Gift your mother a cute doodled mug, celebrating your beautiful relationship with her and making it as personal and as useful as possible.

Transforming this mug into her special needs: 

1. A good old coffee mug: 

 

This Mother’s Day, a little breakfast-in-bed pampering is a must. Luckily, we have just the right mug for you to make a steaming hot cup of coffee for you mom. This mug will instantly remind her of that little secret…

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10 things to get your Mom this Mother’s day

If you’re looking for a lovely present to get for your mom, then we have a curated list of things that she’s bound to love. From quirky doodled mugs to doodled photo frames, handmade beaded jewellery to some striking accessories – we’ve got you covered. It could be her birthday, her big day at work, mother’s day or just a normal day when you feel like gifting her something special, we promise you, you’ll find not just one but many unique presents at The Phoenix Company.  We share 10 things that you can shop for this Mother’s Day.

1. DOODLED PHOTO FRAMES

Our newest product is now here! An adorable photo frame with doodles all around that captures all the fun memories & moments we share and will continue to share with our mom. The original designs make you reminisce the good times. We promise you this is a gift she will cherish!

RANGE: Rs. 600/- onwards (Excl. of GST & Shipping)

2. DOODLED MUGS

We have some really cute doodled mugs that you can get for your mom that celebrate the superwoman that she is! There’s even one with a comic strip that’ll make her giggle. Get them here.

RANGE: Rs. 300/- onwards (Excl. of GST & shipping)

3. HANDBLOCK PRINTED STOLES & DUPATTAS

Handblock printed Ajrakh stoles and dupattas on cotton, mul cotton and modal fabrics coming in earthly hues are the ideal buy for your mom this summer. These soft fabrics with beautiful ethnic motifs which have been carefully and painstakingly handcrafted by artisans make for thoughtful presents.

RANGE: Rs. 650/- onwards (excl. of GST & shipping)

4. ALTERNATE FIBRE SAREES

When a gift is thoughtful, unique and cruelty-free, it’s definitely a winner! The Phoenix Company brings you a range of handloom sarees made from alternate fibres that are cruelty-free and animal friendly. There are cotton, linen, natural fibre and ahimsa silk sarees which are handwoven with exceptional handiwork. These sarees will be a novel addition to her collection.

RANGE: Rs. 1300/- onwards (Excl. of GST & shipping)

5. HANDMADE JEWELLERY

Handmade beaded jewellery with vibrant colour combinations, charms and pendants are something every mom would like. Shop for some lovely anklets, necklaces, earrings, sets & bracelets right away. They are unique as each piece has been handcrafted with love and have striking colour combinations.

RANGE: Rs. 75/- onwards (Excl. of GST & Shipping)

6. KURTA & SALWAR KAMEEZ MATERIALS

If you’re wondering if this is a little boring as a present, you’re missing out on a lovely collection of kanta hand embroidered kurta materials and salwar kameez sets that come in a variety of colours. There is also a limited edition collection of kurta materials in natural fibres with jamdani work.

RANGE: Rs. 850/- onwards (Excl. of GST & shipping)

7. SKIRTS, JACKETS, PALAZZOS & DRESSES

Vacations call for shopping and we bring you some wardrobe specials for this summer. From long, flowy, umbrella skirts to ethnic palazzos, kurtas & pants, contemporary ikat dresses to smart kalamkari jackets – you can choose from a wide range of apparel to gift your mom.

RANGE: Rs. 1150/- onwards (Excl. of GST & Shipping)

8. ACCESSORIES

Ethnic purses, mobile pouches and compact storage kits make for nice, pocket-friendly presents. These purses & pouches made from art silk are useful to take to weddings and can accommodate the cell phone and other basics. The purses are versatile and can also be used to store trinkets or cosmetics, stationery and even your passbook! The storage kits is a compact kit to keep your hard disk, pen drive and cables and carry in your bag. It’s an ideal organiser if you’re looking to have a mess-free handbag!

Rs. 150/- onwards (Excl. of GST & shipping)

9. COMFY TEES

There ain’t nothing like a quirky doodled t-shirt that doubles up as your outfit for workouts, beach hangouts, pajama days and more! Gift your health conscious mom a lovely tee(s) from our quirky bunch. They come with original designs & doodles and are most definitely unlike any other!

RANGE: Rs. 400/- (Excl. of GST & Shipping)

10. SOFT FURNISHINGS, TABLEWARE, HOME DECOR & STATIONERY

We have a variety of hand block printed Ajrakh bedsheet & pillow cover sets that are exquisite and bring an ethnic look to your bedroom. There are also some elegant cushion covers in subtle hues that will add a beautiful look to the living room. As for the kitchen, there is a collection of table napkins and coasters. Art prints, artsy coasters & our famed Madras-themed notebooks are some of the other presents we recommend.

Shop away at www.thephoenixcompany.in 🙂

Would turquoise go better with pink?

Would turquoise go better with pink?

Hmm, I’d have to think

And let that thought sink

Oh, look we’re already heading nowhere

I’ll soon have nothing to share

You see, I’m actually better with prose

That’s the way it goes.

But I’ll still give it a try,

So tell me, where was I?

Slam books

When you’re feeling down,

Turn a few pages

Of that tiny blue book

Run your fingers on the doodles

Laugh at the childish cursive writing

Giggle at your friend’s favorite song

Be amused by your ‘Fond memories’

Oh how naive you both were!

I sat there, looking out of the window

I sat there, looking out of the window.

My head leaning against the wall

The glass pane stretching from the corner of my eye to meet the length of the door, 4 metres away.

Without any effort,

I could see the tops of trees,

Greens of different shades –

Sap, emerald, viridian and olive

Swaying to the song of the gentle breeze.

I couldn’t hear the rustle but I could see the dance,

Feeling like the deaf lad at a performance until

The sound of a blaring car horn

Shifted my gaze to the street beneath.

You could feel the Saturday morning,

No one had to be anywhere by 9,

And no one had to pack lunches before 8.

There were just a couple of cars whizzing past

And an impatient bus driver following behind,

A man on a vintage scooter calmly riding on the wrong side,

A 20-something swiping through his phone while walking on the cemented footpath

Shop shutters were going up somewhere,

A black dog lazily roamed around a parked auto,

Two men were sitting on shabby plastic chairs and talking,

I could see one of them was growing bald from the centre

A lady was holding her bag of groceries and walking past,

A bunch of straws had already piled up near the coconut vendor,

Half the day was almost over for some,

While it had just begun for the others.

I sat there, looking out of the window.

Talk by international author Bea Johnson on Zero Waste Lifestyle

Chennai: A tiny glass jar containing a retainer, bristles from a bamboo toothbrush, laminated trip itineraries, kitchen cabinet bumpers, bits of photo paper and a few other things – this is all the waste that is produced at the house of California-based Bea Johnson. It amounts to a ‘mere pint of trash per year’ (roughly 473 grams). Johnson and her family adopted the Zero Waste lifestyle a decade ago.

It’s a funny world we live in

It’s a funny world we live in,

A sin doesn’t remain a sin,

If it’s all about win-win.

36 days of type – Mosaics

Hello! I know I’ve been irregular in updating my blog. But here’s some good news. I’m doing the @36daysoftype challenge. I’ve chosen mosaic art as my theme. Take a look at my work on my Instagram page www.instagram.com/phoenixinindia/

The challenge (how I can it) involves a visual representation of 26 letters of the alphabet and numbers 0 to 9.

Mosaic art is not easy when made by hand. It requires immense concentration, effort and patience. But the end result makes it worthwhile. Do take a look at some of my work!