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Earthy matters
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This store brings together paper and terracotta, two very natural gifting options
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EARTHY GIFTS Leena shows off some of her terracotta creations Photo by Sampath Kumar G.P
Earthy stuff both. Terracotta and handmade paper. And bringing them together under a single roof is a wise idea two young women have come up with: creating Craft Corner.
Designed really for those with a gifting instinct, and for corporates for whom gifting is high on the list, the store customises products and adds on logos and the works for specific orders.
Leena and Mala each had their own businesses in terracotta and paper products respectively for over 11 years before a chance meeting brought them together, when Leena went to Mala to get her business cards printed. "Then we decided to go together. Terracotta appeals to everybody and paper has a niche audience," explains Leena.
So a section of Craft Corner is each dedicated to the two crafts and a common section gives a quick peek into the variety of products available.
Ganesha collectors will be quite intrigued with reclining Ganeshas who look like they are on the beach. Ganeshas resting under umbrellas, Ganeshas with colourful robes and markings are a large part of the terracotta line branded Kshiti. Their masks are very striking too. Mala and Leena themselves do all the paintings with bright watercolours and other embellishing for all the terracotta figures. This time, the li'l cats and camels, pigs and other animals they made were hot sellouts during Navaratri.
Paper Nothings, their handmade paper brand, stocks a whole lot of paper sources from all over India, that is designed and converted into products by Mala. They take the form of origami paperweights, diaries, envelopes, photo frames, occasion reminders, paper bags, wrapping paper and much more. "HR companies often come to us to pick up paper give-aways at seminars and conferences. Folders and files are also quite sought after. We want to avoid plastic and believe me paper is as durable as plastic," says Mala.
Ideal gift
If you or your employees are the kind who scatter paper pins, pencils, pens, notelets across the desk, an ideal option would be a desk organiser that keeps it all shut under a gorgeous paper box that looks like a book. Corporate gifting has come a long was and a nice (and easily packable) gift to give the visiting firang boss is the miniature pack that throws in miniature versions of all the Paper Nothings stationery into a compact pack. Wedding albums, art paper with deckle edge that's well treated for watercolours, coasters made from leftover paper — the options are endless.
Another hot seller is the brilliant recipe book has five different sections for different cuisines. It comes with sections on measures, methods, preparation that you can neatly fill in, maintain and hand down generations. Little figures of veggies and kitchen knick-knacks form the background for the paper. Paper is sourced from Pondicherry, Mumbai, Jaipur, Pune and even Nepal (for the famed rice paper). Now they are getting innovative and making colourful blinds from hand-made paper!
Mala and Leena also stock their products at Kahawa, Gangarams and William Penn. "Twice a year we also hold shows. During Diwali we do an exhaustive lamp collection in terracotta and we're seldom able to meet the demand," says Leena. They also take orders for bulk wedding return gifts and corporate gifts.
Ganeshas start at Rs. 40 and can go up to Rs. 600. Masks come at between Rs. 80 to Rs. 600. Books and letter paper start at Rs. 50. Corporate gift packs come in various ranges.
Craft Corner is located at 10/1, First Floor, 6th Cross, near Vijaya Bank, Victoria Layout, Bangalore 560 047. Contact 57630255.
BHUMIKA K.
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