Wednesday 30 September 2015

49/100: Earthy toned Cotton Saree

49/100

Once upon a time, we used to look forward to the last day of the month. We called it last working day. It used to be a holiday for the students. We did all the pending work and enjoyed as well. But that was a long long time back. It started with extra classes for X and XII. And one fine day, the mid day meal was started and hence no holiday for any of the students. Now it is a half day for all except class XII. As I teach the same, no break for me. 

Summative Assessments I are going on. It was a no exam day. And no teaching day as well. After a long long time. But.....yes, there is always a but......it was very busy than usual. We have 4400+ girls in our school. Being the Examination In Charge is a big responsibility. I do have a great team who put their best. Pre-planning is very important. That, when the exam is going to be in 50+ rooms. Need I say more? 

My SIL gifted this saree to mom when she was there with them in early 2013. It is earthy pink with greenish blackish pallu and border. It has a checked Ikat pallu. I tried pairing with all kinds of blouses but found plain black goes best with it. My earrings are brass ones from Odisha. 

BTW, we did have a Tikki chaat party. After that stomach infection, I loved eating junk food!




Tuesday 29 September 2015

48/100: Off white Hakoba saree

48/100

Just when one thinks all is going well, life has other designs! Of all things, I got a severe stomach infection. I slept half of Saturday and all of Sunday, in between you know what! My mom is there to take care of me but of course she worries....

Being the one in charge of Examination in school, I couldn't take leave on Monday but the worst was over by then. My colleagues were very helpful in dolling out advise! 

I am always wrapped in Maa's love. More so when I drape of her sarees. Today, I picked this off white saree from her Hakoba collection. Like her , I too am a big fan of Hakoba stuff. Paired this with a magenta handloom blouse from Nalli. Put on my Fabindia silver danglers. 

Got a lot of compliments. Also it seems I have inspired a few others to drape sarees. Yay, yay!

 

Thursday 24 September 2015

47/100: Mustard Yellow South Cotton with thread work border

47/100

#100sareepact 

When one is on her/his feet for the whole day, the mind stops working after a while because of sheer tiredness. When you try to rest, the body is inert but the mind is jumping all over. Such a vicious cycle.

break it or
wrap it around you
the choice is yours
myriad moods, 
a few unchartered 
yet symbolic 

I chose to forge ahead
rest be sent to sleep

What better way to get around it? By draping a mustard yellow handloom cotton saree with a purple handloom blouse, both from Nalli. Saree was gifted to my mom by my youngest SIL. Now mine. Un-starched. Soft. Body hugging. Blouse is newly tailored. 

Accessorized with Silver danglers from Fab India.What more do I need?







Tuesday 22 September 2015

46/100: Half and Half Sambalpuri Cotton

46/100

#100sareepact 

We all have something in our wardrobe which never sees the light of the day. It is a fact that I have many sarees that I have forgotten all about. And suddenly they merge out of the closet. How and why? Because the sarees have decided that they have to worn on that particular day. 

This saree of mine was a gift from my eldest SIL, Sujata Tripathy many years back. It is cotton silk handloom and looks like ikat to me. The purists will tell me more. It is half and half. Seems it has a double pallu. Very unusual. Double shaded with green and brown with a beautiful sheen. I loved it when I got it. I loved it when I draped it today with a brown embroidered khadi blouse. (BTW, I have lost weight and the blouse is loose). 

First terminal exams from today. I was very busy and the saree made it worth it all. No time for accessories.




Thursday 17 September 2015

45/100: Sambalpuri cotton Kargil Saree

45/100

#100sareepact

Ganesha Chaturthi. I took a leave from school and mom and I did the puja. We did it usual way with our metal idol. We don't have to get him home each year as he is already at home. Permanently. 

Post puja, I was trying to write a few poems. My muse was gone and I was trying my best to call him back. I wrote half a poem. Better than nothing...

I and mom decided to go to a Weavers Exhibition in Aga Khan Hall, near Mandi house. I ended up buying more stuff than I wanted.I bought a Kanjeevaram,an Uppada, a Dhakai Jamdaani, an Indigo Chanderi and a bamboo saree. I also bought a few kantha blouses. I would have bought more but mom said I ought leave something for Dussehra/Diwali shopping!!

My mom is very knowledgeable about handloom weaves. She can recognize easily the difference between handloom and powerloom products. I wasn't aware of that! 

I gotta stop buying sarees. I have more than enough now.

By the way, I am draping a greyish-mustardish Kargil saree and mom is draping a Passapali. Both new and without fall. I paired with a red Ikat blouse.


Tuesday 15 September 2015

44/100: Black Cotton Handloom with brown checks

44/100

#100sareepact 

Summative Assessments from next week. Work is hectic. However, one gotta do the photo thing! For the pact!! I have found another saree draping friend in school. We take each others photos. We found the perfect place too!

I don't recall anything about this saree except for that it was gifted by someone. It is from Maharashtra. A black cotton saree with brown checks. The border is bright and look like Silk. It seems to be a handloom as it has those tiny holes and imperfections but I am not sure. I have draped it a few times with different blouses. Today I draped it with an off white blouse with golden border on the sleeves. Next time I plan to wear a Kalamkari blouse with it.




Monday 14 September 2015

43/100: Lavender coloured Organdie

43/100

#100sareepact 

It was some 20 years back. I was gifted an orange Organdie saree with shadow work. I loved that saree even though it had a mind of its own. It did not hug my body and stayed away as much it could. 

One day I set my mind to embroider a saree just like that. Bought the material in pinkish purple along with the embroidery threads and made my younger brother sketch the design on the raw saree. I was all set to do heavy thread work. I did the border, the anchal and lost interest half way through. I forced myself to do the coloured motifs so as to make the saree wearable. I even stitched an Sambalpuri Ikat blouse for it. I draped that saree many many times. One fine day, I told my mom to give it away. That was 10 years ago.

Recently, I was looking out for sarees to drape for the pact and mom gave this back to me. She hadn't given it away as she remembered how I had worked hard for it. I fell in love with it again. 

Today I draped it with a newly stitched Sambalpuri Ikat blouse, coincidentally the same shade as before. I accessorized it with an Amethyst necklace bought from some Emporium. 

I got a lot of compliments for the saree and the Ikat blouse. Such a busy day but everything looked rosy. Like my saree.

Tuesday 8 September 2015

42/100: Lemon shaded Lucknowi Chikan

42/100

#100sareepact 

Draped a saree after more than two weeks. Last night when I was standing in front of my wardrobe, this saree called out to me to drape it. I pulled it out, took out a plain green blouse and voila, my clothes were ready for the morning.

I had bought this very light lemon cotton saree with Luknowi shadow work, for my mom some 12 years back. She draped it only once, and gave it back to me. I have draped it on and off. With a different blouse each time.

There is a story behind this saree but that is for my mom to tell, so I will leave it for now.....

It was one hectic day today but this saree kept me sane.....