Custom Top order by Snithi

"That's a beautiful combination!", exclaimed Snithi pointing at the "leaves"-themed gypsy skirt and a yellow top. Her daughter being a fan of skirts, Snithi felt the skirt fabric.

It is a delight when your stall visitors experience the same feeling as you got while feeling the fabric and looking at the finished apparel. It feels like a replay!

The skirt was soon packed in a bag, ready to be taken! Along with it was an order for a custom-fit yellow top.

Design synopsis

A few days later, I witnessed the skirt-top apparel combination adorned by her daughter. She was smiling with a bright expression in her eyes. A visual to cherish! A journey with fabrics seeming worthwhile!

Ready! How about accessories, matching the theme...?

band of beads would like to thank Snithi and her daughter for taking home a pre-made and a custom-made band of beads product. Looking forward to more!

The Roar And The Squeak @ Vidyanjali Academy for Learning

Gleaming eyes.

A wide mouth smile.

Waving a goodbye!

Gestures sometimes convey more than verbal expressions - felt first hand as I stood outside Vidyanjali Academy for Learning, ready for departure after "The Roar and The Squeak" sessions. The kids, on a pillion ride with their parents, were excited to spot me as I waited with the luggage for my transport. A paper with a sketch, treasured with love in one hand, and a content facial expression, the kids conveyed through visual expression!

The school entrance

A clean, green campus. Warli art on the walls. A beautiful step well. That's a part of the school! It was a delight to step in the campus and see what goes behind the scenes before the students arrive.

It was an honor to meet the Principal, Vice Principal, Montessori Director and teachers - very warm hosts. A few "early-bird" students surveyed the campus, excitedly looking at me and the auditorium. It was time to setup the mini theatrical puppet stage! With the morning assembly as my background companion, we all stood at a pause when the National Anthem was sung.

Thoughtful arrangements, helping hands and a beautiful information board for the session set a wonderful vibe. Inspired by the Panchatantra Story, "The Lion and The Mouse", each session comprises of a puppet show and an art/craft activity - two sessions scheduled for the day.

Information board - isn't it beautiful?

Ready for the session!

"Should we get the kids seated?" I heard the teachers ask as I sat behind the puppet stage. Excited giggles transformed into silence. The kids were a great audience - interacting with prompts whenever the puppets asked! As I interacted with the kids after the show with puppets in my hands, one of them said, "The lion and the mouse looked real!" We all definitely had an imagination ride in the jungle!

Now, it was time for each one of us to get our own, self-made version of the lion and the mouse! The craft/art activity had a blend of math, science and a bit of magic! In a short time, we all had a creation in our hands! The fun was contagious! We soon had a story telling session - this time by the kids expressing - on stage, or in writing and others coloring - in one space! A symphony of diverse personalities expressing their imagination in their own way!

A short interaction session followed...

"How did you make the puppets?"

"Did you make this setup all by yourself?"

"Since how long have you been doing this?"

"How did you start this? Did anyone teach you?"

"How much time did it take to make the lion puppet? And the mouse puppet? And the background? And the whole setup?... "

Questions followed questions!

Curiosity was sparked! A rare sight to witness! A memorable time with a double - two sessions in a day!

band of beads would like to thank Vidyanjali Academy for Learning for the bright day. A heartfelt gratitude to the Principal, Vice Principal, Admin, teachers, Swathi ma'am and Manasa ma'am. And not to forget, the kids - for being the perfect audience! Your imaginative expression is now a treasured memory!

Custom Creation for Akanksha - "Same Pinch"!

Twinning the "look" is a special part of childhood - especially for siblings. A memory cherished for a lifetime!

The best part... a fabric starts the conversation!

"Could two tops be made from this fabric - one for a boy and other for a girl?" 

A question welcome at band of beads. Akanksha was on board the process to create exclusive tops for her kids. Referred to as "Same Pinch" at band of beads, a custom top/skirt themed creation can be made for ladies, girls and boys. After choosing from the pre-set design options, a glimpse of the top comes on paper!

Concept Phase

The creation process was a wonderland ride! And soon... The "Same Pinch" creation:

Same Pinch!

band of beads is this thankful to Akanksha for initiating and being a part of this exclusive creation. Let us keep the organic creation process - starting from a fabric and ending with a theme apparel - ALIVE!

Match the apparels with a handmade bead character accessory (customizable)! The fun goes on!

UV Community Internal Flea Market

Community - a sense of belonging. Adding to it, diversity brings in flavors and perspectives - celebrated together.

The annual UV Community Internal Flea Market provides a platform to the residents who dare to dream and want that one step to make it true. Home-made products ranging from juices, regional snacks, baking and handcrafting; to products sourced exclusively for the upcoming festivals - all under one roof! Well, the rain gods were showering their blessings - so practically the stalls were in the parking, literally under the roof!

Participating again this year, band of beads had a range of home-made products for sale - tops for boys and girls, skirts for girls and ladies, finger puppets, bead jewelry and accessories. It was a delight setting up the stall, as always!

setting up

Buzzing sounds soon filled the parking! Appreciation of fine details by the residents surprised me. A guest admired the stall signs with great interest - right from the banner to the information boards - recognizing the fact that EVERYTHING was handmade! Kids of all ages stopped by and some were humming a tune while observing the puppets, accessories and jewelry - could see them in the wonderland!

In the wonderland!

Music to the ears as well...

"My daughter loves skirts and tops. Not finding it anywhere!"

"Those tops are for boys?? Aww..."

"Do you make all this AT HOME???"

"How much time do you take to make this? My daughter likes doing art as well!"

"These fabrics feel different!"

"Could I give a custom order for twinning my kids' apparel?" - A wonderful question this time - affirming the fact that the stall was exclusively for handmade lovers. Each product created from a limited fabric, has exclusive sizes and designs. A bit unlike what you find in apparel stores. Twinning is also exclusive and order-based - your look cannot be copied! Additionally, you become a part of the handmade process - an organic experience involving most of the senses!

band of beads would like to thank all the moms, dads and kids for stopping by and taking home a part of the handmade creations. A special mention of fellow resident organizers for the thoughtful arrangements. An evening celebrating home made with the family and community!

Colours and Craft @ Makkala Mela, Freedom Habba - Vidhana Soudha

Independence - Freedom from Dependency

What if self-driven acts could be expressed with no boundaries of timelines, space and movement? A conversation not through the ears and mouth - but with eyes and a vivid imagination... bringing surprises and self-explorations! For one and all.

band of beads was excited to bring together an exclusive graphic-only instruction kiosk of origami puppet craft, for Makkala Mela, Freedom Habba. With a hint of band of beads' "Community Art Circle", colours depicting diversity guided the young citizens, "non-verbally". The connect was instant and infectious! A few adults inquired about participation as well! A wonder to witness - mental barriers break and free spirits take self control! 

Silent Converastions

With independent creations in little hands, a bright smile of accomplishment was the highlight - both by the parents and kids. A visual worth a capture!

A capture of emotions!

Exciting preparations beginning a few weeks in advance, each member of the team put in their best foot forward. Thoughtful arrangements along with parallel events at the venue brought vibrance. A single voice by the diverse people - celebration of 80 years of Independent India. That's Freedom Habba, 2026.

band of beads was privileged to pass on the spirit of Independence to the newest generation - the kids! And being accompanied by my family and colleagues added to the celebration! Thank you, children and parents for coming over to the kiosk. A special note of gratitude to the Government of Karnataka, Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and Ravi for providing a community celebration platform in the premises of prestigious Vidhana Soudha, on the significant Indepdence Day. 

A celebration with the community

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Event Poster

Media:

https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/vidhana-soudha-comes-alive-with-freedom-spirit-at-habba-4112742#google_vignette

https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/independence-day-special-all-in-place-for-first-freedom-habba/articleshow/133247696.cms

Custom Creation - Rakhi Charm for Maitri from LCJ

Raksha Bandhan.

An expression of love, trust and good wishes...

A reminder that siblings are there for each other...

...communicated with a thread and a charm!

To make this celebration a memorable expression, Maitri at LCJ creates handcrafted rakhis every year, available to be shipped anywhere - distances definitely not a hindrance for keeping the relationships alive! With preparations starting about a month ahead, excitement is in the air! For one order, Maitri was approached for a rakhi with a tiger charm - what a thoughtful way to express through symbols of nature! It was a pleasure to collaborate for this cute little creation...

Tiger Bead Charm

Spreading the Charm!

band of beads is thankful to Maitri and her customer for this wonderful piece of expression. May the bonds be strong for eternity!

Social Media Post

CAC at Bond Over Bindings, Jakkur

"Hi, BOB!"

"Hi, bob!"

Introducing!

"BOB (Bind Over Bindings)" 

     meets...

"bob (band of beads)"

A beautiful venture, managed by welcoming and passionate people; Bond Over Bindings (BOB) offers a range of children's books and workshops. My first offline interaction with Neha and Sahana was at Bhoomi Santhe (https://adiz-artmania.blogspot.com/2026/06/flea-market-bhoomi-hubba-visthar.html). Pursuing a similar passion of narratives with artistic expressions at band of beads (bob), I was excited to be at their bookstore in Jakkur. This time, for the maiden Community Art Circle session!

The child-friendly bookstore is like a trip to a wonderland. With interesting shelves nestled in varying shapes and in branches of a "tree", the books were equally attractive.

BOB - a wonderland!

The workshop area is a perfect platform for the imagination to be set free - little tables for each kid, floor seating on little cushions, and excited kids coming in! We were all set for the session!

All set!

A bit of game. A bit of paper folding. A bit of drawing with basic shapes... ingredients for creating a base for unique stories! There was a sudden pause to enter the world of imagination. A bit of anxiousness about the new territory. A simple example demonstrating the fact that we all have a world inside our minds, wanting to come out!

Imagination... set free!

Imaginative Expression... set free!

After a deeper dive, each paper had a beautiful drawing. This inspired impromptu stories, narrated with excitement and claps... Yes! We all had reached the wonderland! A documentation of the wonderland story on paper followed to capture a snapshot - still not possible by technology! Some chose to make the drawing more realistic by adding interesting colours in objects! Afterall, we were out-of-the-box! 

Unique stories on paper

As parents came over, the kids wanted to continue their journey and take a part of it home - departing was definitely difficult!

band of beads is thankful to each and every child and their parents to participate in this session. A special mention of BOB for hosting bob in this wonderful space. Looking forward to meet again!

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Event at BOB:

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