why is what im doing important to me?

Looking for relevant information based on mehndi seemed to be so difficult to find.It seems as though its ignored as an art or field of study that there not much books or articles about it.This was said by Dr Stella Krarisch more than 20 years ago he said,"the hurried mechanized life of the present has little time for such a ritual,visual celebrations. The practise off mehndi will not survive,however the knowledgeof it form should become widespread as taht of the great mountains of India......".So I know that the practise of mehndi has survived but the knowledge about it is very scarce.

I met people that have been doing traditional mehndi patterns for years and they do not know that these patterns have a particular meaning,therefore it was difficult for me to find writing on this topic.Its obvious that its the traditional woman that are keeping the tradition of mehndi alive but they dont know what it means niether can they explain.The only way I know about these is by trying to find information that is out there.

Jogendra Saksena from art of Rajasthan in 1940s said there is a lack of awarness,he says that varous lines and dots are put together to compose a design tell alot about it but woman of today are forgetting all about the details of the design,they probably think theres no perpose in the designs ar they just dont understand them.They just use it because its religion that taught them it brings goodluck to marriage ad house hold.So I believe many people create things that they cannot explain.

act1

okay so ive tried using the wax in the plastic tube.I kept a tub of boiling water so that the wax will be kept warm and soft.The piping bag idea sort of works.

Just a few problems I encounted.One was the boiling water was seeping into the cone and mixing with the wax,two the tip was soft so when I applied pressure it squirts out a blob.

My intension now is to find a new tool that I could use to make the technique work. I need some sort of metal tip if I want to use this applicator.Loretta Roome uses a jacquard bottle with a metal tip to apply mehndi she says its found in craft shops,they are dye bottles prbably used for batiking fabric and she says they are also available in dispensers of your choice.

making mehndi cones

I need to find some way of using the henna application method using a cone in my jewellery.Ive thought about materials that will be sutible for casting that will be a thick liquid when heated enabling me to create mehndi patterns and when left to cool it will harden so that I will be able to invest the element to start the wax burnout process.

I thought about using different waxes,chocolate,icing,clay but if I use clay I will need to make a silicone mould afterwards then pour wax into those moulds.

so Ive decided to try use wax first.

I started by making my cones with thicl plastic,acording to the instructions in the book called the Timeless art of henna painting by Loretta Roome.

I made a few sizes so I could see which size is more comfortable and easier to use,also getting different hole sizes for differnts thickness for the wax mehndi.

Mehndi designs and what they mean

Mehndi is a secret language,a language of symbol through meaning and specific signs and patterns, the use of symbols are universal as Loretta Roome describes as "voice of unconcious and ancient".Patterns have been created by different people with different personalities with differnt goals in life.They have been created with the influence of maths,science,art and religion been the main infleuence with the use of tantric signs.these are signs used as apart of rituals or prayer,etc.Loretta discribes patterns as a decorativeart that reflects nature,so are the different styles of mehndi greatly influenced by geography and places that it is practiced".

According to Loretta all symbols begin with "bija"meaning kennel and seed with added geometric forms,she says the "bindu" meaning point,is the starting pint from which everything emanates and merges.

symbols common in mehndi are sun,moon,stars,which refers to the deep,lonlasting love between husband and wife.
Flowers,sweets,games,gameboards,vines,waves,scorpions,peacocks,parrots,pickles,people,sweetmeats,pots,musical instruments,elephants,fans,feathers,fabric and flames are symbols that I have noticed in mehndi designs.I think these symbols have significance and relative meaning to life,earth, individual and the community,like discribed by loretta, "symbols are the nature of human emotion".

fruits flowers and vines are joyous symbols,the lotus and roses are commonly used aswel as the mango shape mostly in bridal mehndi,this represents virginity.Whilst vines and creepers are known to grow towards the light so they symbol devotion,evoking tenderness.

Animal motifs that are usually used are birds especially peacocks because of its beauty its considered the companion of the wife longing for her husband in time of seperation.It is said thet the beauty of the peacock will distract the woman of her grief.

Loretta speaks about a style of mehndi called " New Mehndi", its a style where focus is on using positive and negative spaces in a creative manner almost like a white wall behind a painting.

The art of mehndi

Loretta Roome states, in order to understand the art of mehndi, you have to understand the role of body adornment, meaning the places where mehndi is placed. As Oppi Untract says,"by adorning the visible,material body,they also seek to satisfy a universal longing for embellishment of its intangible counterpart: the human spirit". Its through spiritual teachings that the invention of ornamentation and designs are used to celebrate the human form.This being both celebration and superstition,according to Lotetta the patterns in Hindu tradition are offerings to spirits,gods,goddesses to appease them .It is belived to be sacred invites grace and good fortune into the home,marriage and family thats why its an integral part of bridal odornment.

Shringar is a Hindi term decribing the beauty of womans creativity,Mehndi displays a act os creative expression,great work of art.A lady can reveal her Shringar by adorning herself or another as Loretta says "power of beauty beneath the surface". Mehndi is a language,not just a beautiful art form,its a womans voice with the universe.

what is mehndi?

Reading the book The timeless art of henna painting by authour Loretta Roome she defines Mehndi which is a Hindi word used to describe Henna,Henna painting and resulting designs. Henna is a plant, a natural product used to saftly colour and stain hair and skin whilst conditioning them. Henna leaves are crushed into powder mixed with different oils that accelerate the staining process. according to Loretta Mehndi is an ancient cosmetic healing art,it is done using elaborate patterns and deigns,that are tradionally done on the hands and feet.The process of Mehndi is painless and in no way harmful to the skin in fact it conditionsthe skin and beautifies the body,its like a temporay tattoo,stains a redish colour that can last on the skin between several days to several weeks depending on the Henna mixture and the duration of it on the skin.

definitions of theme

Im exploring aspects of mehndi, its patterns and designs,techniques,significance,function and historical background. I incorporate patterns that are either modern and traditional,Indian or Arabic into contemporary jewellery

im taking existing mehndi patterns from books and relevant mehndi artists and trying to find ways of turning those patterns into jewellery.

Im searching for recipes for making "wax mehndi" by this I mean I want to create jewellery using the same techniques used for mehndi application. From looking at mehndi cones all are made from plastic and foil with a small opening that is cut before use and the diametere of opening will determine on the pattern that is going to be created or the texture of the material inside the cone.

in order to make jewellery using the mehndi application technique and being able to cast the designs in metal, the material being used has to be soft in order for it to be sqeezed from the cone,it also needs to harden when cooled and degradable when put into the kiln for the burnout process so that it can be cast into metal.

precious patterns

I used a simple mehndi pattern in a repititional manner.I did a few variations of how the neclace would work best. Just like mehndi you keep applying it till it fills up the spaces.

cut all my wires the same lenghts so that they will look similar,bending wire into petal shapes needs quite abit of patience especially if you have to make about 10 of them.The process soon becomes faster and neater after a few trys and mess ups.Getting just the right flame for soldering makes the process alot smoother
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arranging the elements to see which looks better,sets better,feels better when being worn.

pretty,polished.wearable and looks very indian