The Roar and The Squeak @ Bangalore International Centre

It all started with a cold, foggy early Sunday morning in the city of Bengaluru... a hill-station-like vibe in an urban setup!

My daughter and I ventured on a road trip towards the heart of the city - Bangalore International Centre (BIC) for hosting "The Roar and The Squeak" puppet show followed by an art activity. The session, inspired by the famous Panchatantra story, "The Lion and The Mouse" was all set to perform!

Lively posters and information boards welcomed us at BIC - thanks to the team behind the scenes!

LCD Display

Session details

As we started setting up the BIC Library for the show, the books around were the perfect companions and gave a foundation for the realm of imagination!

Little curious voices poured in. Their excitement was in the air as the puppet show was about to start!

A part of the footwear line-up!

The room slowly transformed into an imaginative jungle with roars and squeaks! This was visually expressed in an art activity, with an element of fun!

Each kid had their own story version of the Lion and the Mouse characters! I was amazed at the different perspectives of each child and the unique ways of expressing it - a reminder that all of us are special and unique!

A cold foggy day soon turned into a "house full" library room filled with heart-warming stories - a lovely twist!

I would like to thank each and every parent and child for being a part of this session. A special mention of BIC and the whole team behind the session for giving me this platform, once again!

Looking for more!

Event details on the BIC website:

https://bangaloreinternationalcentre.org/event/the-roar-and-the-squeak/

The Community Art Circle

A sea-facing view?

A view with lots of greenery?

A mountain-facing view? Or maybe, a view from the top of a mountain?

Which one would you pick?

Nature is generous. A silent teacher. A timeless preacher.

Every view has its own philosophy. But what remains constant, are your eyes - witnessing the view. Sometimes, a boxed view and sometimes, out-of-the-box! Very few follow the latter. But, all of them understand and enjoy it!

The products at band of beads are inspired by an out-of-the-box view of mundane objects. I got an incredible opportunity to explore this dimension with kids, that too for the Children's Day celebrations!

I was spell-bound by some kids' views (who initially seemed rather silent). A blend of art and game, "The Community Art Circle" was a question: "How do you feel when you break the box?!" Smiling faces. Lighter minds.

@Sreemathi AnnaVasanthi, opposite Sabhablr

@Resident Community Celebrations

Want to give it a shot? Bookings now open!

contact.bandofbeads@gmail.com

Atta Galatta Thirsty Crow!

A cozy auditorium on a sunny Sunday afternoon...

A mini-movie theatre setup with a comfortable floor seating... 

Energetic kids, curious parents...

The Thirsty Crow was excited!

Performing on stage, the crow started with the repetitive sound - "caw... caw..." The kids gave a perfect chorus, synchronizing so well! The inquisitive questions by the crow were answered with apt, to the point answers! This wonderful chemistry asked for more!

Escaping all the barricades, the crow flew off to get a glimpse of the audience - and what a welcome! The kids looked forward to have their own version of the puppet! The puppet art session slowly (un)folded puppets that came to life with a rocking performance! The best part - the kids rocked it too! 

The Thirsty Crow had a memorable time with the enthusiastic audience, on a summer vacation evening! The fun was in an infinite loop, and the parting was hard...

band of beads thanks all the kids and their parents/guardians for coming over! A special mention of THE famous book store, Atta Galatta - for providing the wonderful platform! Stories, definitely are inspiring!

Event details at:

Atta Galatta:

https://attagalatta.com/event_page.php?eventid=EVT1087

Book My Show:

https://in.bookmyshow.com/events/hello-thirsty-crow/ET00439799?webview=true

Promotions of the show at the Atta Galatta Store:

Storefront

Event list - inside the store

Folkluru Santhe - ADI BLR Design Week - Bhartiya experience!

Lush Greenery. Structured Layout. Wide Footpaths. That's Bhartiya City, Bengaluru. Nested in this area, Bhartiya Mall is a shopper's ultimate destination - a big mall, with a huge open area outside.

Excited voices. Pearly white santhe tents. Flowing sarees laid in a pattern for decor... Quite an early morning sight! 

It was band of beads' first experience to be a part of the design community sante - Folkluru, by ADI BLR Design week! Supported by the Government of Karnataka and BBMP, this was a unique platform for artists following various art forms. A two-day paradise for art-lovers.

A fabulous informal jam session made the stall setup lively. Thoughtful food arrangements, especially to combat the weather - heat and wind, made the experience all the more Bharatiya! The three "walls" of the stall with an open entrance seemed like a little cocoon for all my handcrafted bead products! It was a world of fantasy, come to life!

Evenings were an absolute delight - buzzing crowds, artistic performances ranging from music to dance, and a cricket match final on a HUGE screen! Our wonderful customers got to get a peek into the band of beads world, and take some of it home! It was a pleasure to meet little art fans talking about their various interests. Yes, the hand-made tradition is still alive!

band of beads would like to thank all the guests who stopped by to interact, appreciate and participate! Thank you, organizers, volunteers, ground staff and support staff for putting in the best. A special shout out to ADI for this ambitious venture of bring artists together - it did feel to be a part of the design community. And, this would not be possible without the support of the Government of Karnataka, in the vibrant city of Bengaluru!

Looking forward to be a part of another design event... a puppet show performance for sure, the next time!

Event details:

https://www.blrdesignweek.in/

Puppet Show & Art - A Hundred Hands

 A design institute. A handmade crafts festival. A bright, spring day. Felt like heaven for an art-lover!

I landed on the new environment, where the hand-made crow puppet was to perform - an open-air amphitheater! A wider stage, a bigger audience... excitement was crawling in! As I assembled my DIY theater, I had some company on stage - NIFT students rehearsing a dance with classical music! A perfect start!

Soon, it was time! The crowds were set, ready for the show. This time, the young crowd was dancing to the tunes of the songs, and gave a perfect chorus! The crow felt at home, despite the wider theater setup! Afterall, I had my whole family to cheer and support, this time!

With a little hand-made bird puppet in their hands, lots of inquisitive questions followed after I ended the puppet workshop:

"How to make the puppet say 'caw...caw'?"

"Can I make this bird eat?"

The answers turned into actions! The children departed the amphitheater with puppets in their hand, singing "caw...caw..."! One of the birds had a leaf in its beak - to make a nest, I guess! Stories do follow stories!

And that's what band of beads believes in - traditional virtual reality! A re-visit to the ageless entertainment - art and storytelling!

A special "thank you" to A Hundred Hands for supporting art in various forms and giving a platform to showcase.

More details at:

A Hundred Hands facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/share/19ZAJ6CgEu/

band of beads facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/share/19ZAJ6CgEu/

Hello Thirsty Crow! - BIC

The ambience felt so homely - mattress seating, custom mini-theatre in a library, on a rainy Sunday morning!

"Mamma, what is behind the brown curtains?", the first reaction from a 3-year old in the audience. I heard the whispers with answers. Curious children, excited parents... I was all ears sitting behind the curtains. The ambience was captured in camera by another curious member, all grown up... my daughter! Its a wonder of perspectives!

I could hear a range of emotions as I got into the character of the thirsty crow, enacted through a handmade puppet. The audience (including the parents) were great participants. There was a point, when the "caw, caw.." became a favorite chorus! The thirsty crow was now a hero!

A puppet making activity had to follow as everyone wanted to get a handmade puppet, like the thirsty crow! It was a sight worth a capture when the puppet came to life! A world of fantasy!

band of beads would like to thank all the parents and the kids for participating in this traditional experience. Its great to see a community still holding their roots strong!

A special thanks to team BIC (Bangalore International Center) for giving an opportunity to band of beads and being a great host. It made a perfect Sunday morning!

Event details at BIC website:

https://bangaloreinternationalcentre.org/event/hello-thirsty-crow/

The Thirsty Crow Puppet Show - Children's Day

A wonderful line-up of activities for kids on Children's Day - sounded like a childhood re-visit!

band of beads was privileged to be a part of this exciting line-up - The Thirsty Crow Puppet Show!

On a bright Sunday morning, children were all excited, seated in a library. There was a murmur of "caw... caw" as the show started, little eyes awaiting a glimpse of the puppet! A huge round of applause (without prompts/instructions) followed as the crow made an entry! The crow was excited!

Nature is a true inspiration. An instant connect! A world of traditional virtual reality - which is real! The best part - it does not harm!

I was in awe witnessing the connect and the story coming to life in the young minds! A handmade puppet. A traditional story in a modern storytelling set-up. Time changes things. But, the roots remain the same!

band of beads is excited to extend the world of beading to offline puppetry! Those beady eyes bring in a lot of moments worth a capture!

Event at: https://youtu.be/bJkR3RmRAKs

band of beads now live and running on Amazon.in!

Presenting a peek into the world of skirts and tops, exclusively designed and handcrafted at band of beads!

Fabrics tell a story!

Zig-zag pattern - are those waves in the ocean?

Colorful satin stripes - is that a rainbow???

Printed, woven or just plain... We believe that fabrics tell a story!  And its not just the story, its the ambience which makes it more enjoyable.

At band of beads, each fabric is hand-picked having a special imagination element, a theme. What's more, these fabrics are mainly made of cotton - natural, maintainable and very comfortable.

Skirt design - adding a twist!

Blue border on a yellow fabric - Is that a beach?

Maroon frills on a red fabric - Wonderful flower!

Frills, borders, a combination of frills and borders or just plain fabric... these flavors add a twist to the fabric story!

The fabric theme is enhanced with the skirt design. This brings out the theme and makes it more stylish!

The Hero Element

Each story has a Hero - A person who drives the whole story, keeps you asking for more!

The hero of the skirt and top story is the bead accessory. Each bead accessory tells the skirt story, the theme. The beads are matched with the skirt colors and woven together to create a bead dangler. These danglers are detachable from the skirt. At times, it can be worn as a bracelet.

Finishing!

The band of beads theme-based skirts and tops come with a matching cotton lining for the extra comfort. The skirt waistband is elastic to ensure a best fit. What's more, each skirt and top are tailored by expert hands. 

The World of Skirts and Tops.... Proudly designed, sourced and made in India! Are you ready for an imagination ride with the band of beads skirts and tops?!!!

The first sale on amazon.in!

Design-a-theme-based-top for boys - did you try one?

Ever thought of designing an attire for your son? Here's a chance! Fun guaranteed in the whole process!

Step 1: Choose the fabric

Choose a colour which your son would love to wear! We'll send you some pics on request. Just mail us at contact.bandofbeads@gmail.com.

Example of a chosen fabric

Step 2: Choose a theme

Based on the fabric selected, choose the theme which he might love to adore. This involves a selection from various bead charm options which would go well with the chosen fabric.

Example theme for the fabric chosen: Fish in the waters

Step 3: Measure, Measure, Measure!

Send in his comfortable kurta size or just drop in for us to do some math work!

Step 4: Get ready!

The top will be delivered at your doorstep!

A theme-based top designed by you!

That's it! Put on your design hats and lets get started!

Introducing.... Theme-based cotton tops for boys

Band of beads is excited to announce a fresh product range.... Theme-based cotton tops for boys!

Its fun!
Each top is theme-based. Imagination guaranteed to fly!

Its comfortable!
These tops are made of pure cotton. Lining optional.

Its ethnic but chic!
The beaded element definitely brings a twist! Your young one will get noticed for sure!

Theme: Fish in the waters

Want one? Watch out this space for more!

A much awaited surprise....

Motherhood.  A journey, which starts much before you cradle your young one for the first time in your arms. A journey, which continues till eternity, passed on from one generation to another. A journey, that never ends....

It is this journey, which brings in a lot of new experiences. And, it is this journey which would want you to make your younger one get a lot of wonderful experiences....

"My daughter loves Minnie Mouse. I would like to have a skirt with a Minnie Mouse dangler!"

"Can I have skirt in pink? It's my daughter's favourite colour!"

"Do you have something for boys?".... Band of beads is excited to announce the arrival of a much-awaited surprise! A product, which many moms had been asking for!

Any guesses? Check this space for more!

Introducing... Chirpy!

The first rays of Sun touch the horizon. A new beginning dawns.

There is mist all around. As it becomes brighter, you witness a spectrum. A spectrum of spectacular colours. And hey... what's that movement in the sky? Its... a bird! That's CHIRPY!

Chirpy will always be glad to reach you wherever you are! You'll get chirps regarding our latest products, discounts and upcoming sale counters! Just inbox your mail id to get message chirps. You could also send in your phone number to get WhatsApp chirps. For any questions or feedback, feel free to reach Chirpy at contact.bandofbeads@gmail.com.

So this year, be ready to witness our little birdie's visit on your window pane!

We love our planet!

A giant shiny twirling disk in a black background...

In it, is a beautiful blue-green sphere which strikes attention... "MY HOME!"

My home is a heavenly place...

With

Tall mountains and deep gorges;

Small puddles and huge oceans;

With

Pleasant songs by birds in the morning;

And the ever-friendly animals!

The lovely green trees and plants blessing us with wonderful fruits and flowers;

And a motherly shade when its too hot!

Did I mention "heavenly"? I wonder if heaven can be a more beautiful place!

Lets conserve our heavenly planet. Lets get eco-friendly! Think before you use. And, use responsibly.

Hand-made eco-friendly bags from band of beads!

Some additions to the "Go Tribal" Collection

The "Go Tribal" Collection was launched a couple of weeks back with the orange-white "tribal" design theme. Presenting... a few more theme options for the same collection:

Pendant with a pattern (green-white theme)

Triangular pendant (red-dark blue theme)

Go Tribal!

First rays of the sun are lighting up the sky. 
What a sight to see colors come to life! 
Did you hear the bird's song? 
The sleepy world becomes alive! 

Lets be in sync with nature. Time to Go Tribal!

Know more about this collection at:

https://sites.google.com/site/bandofbeadsreborn/home/go-tribal

Like us on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/BoBcomesagain

A visit to the folk art museum

My web research about a local folk art museum said: "It houses a wide array of rural artifacts depicting the essence of folk literature, music, dance, festivals, sculpture and lifestyle." Hmm... interesting!

When we reached this museum, it was deserted. From the entrance, I could see traditional folk paintings on the walls and two colorful sculptures in a lush green premises. Looked quite inviting!

The first exhibit was all about a village lifestyle. It had sculptures demonstrating harvesting, pottery making, fishing, a cow shed, a blacksmith, to name a few. This was mainly an outdoor showcase.

Then, we moved on to an indoor display of folk music and dance. My jaw dropped! It was an amazing exhibit! Puppets (simply loved them), sculptures of folk dance characters, musical instruments... But what grabbed my attention was the jewelry. More importantly, bead jewelry. This art was practiced so many years ago!

I did some web research on tribal jewelry. Tribal jewelry around the world. It was interesting to note that most of the tribal people use beads for their jewelry. This definitely inspired me! It was time for a new band of beads collection!

Childhood Friends collection

"Why not dedicate the second collection to the special friends?", I thought.

The "special" friends may not always be humans... It could be animals, or birds, insects, or even imaginary! There could be a hook attached to these bead creations. It would make them portable - can be attached anywhere!

So here's a creation dedicated to all the people out there who have wonderful friends. A token to express your feelings as its never too late....

Explore more at our website:

https://sites.google.com/site/bandofbeadsreborn/home/childhood-friends

Happy gifting!

Meet our favorite Childhood Friends!

A few months back...

"Now what should I do with these?", popped the question as I created the first few bead art pieces. What next?

Back in school, I used to gift the bands as a token of friendship. Well, that was an expression on the Friendship Day. It said, "thanks for being my wonderful friend"!

"Why not gift my dear friends and family members again?", I thought, "It can be a token of 'thank you'". After all, I had not expressed this since long...

I gifted my first two creations to my very close family members. For always being there for me. I wondered if that sounded more like a definition of a friend? Well, it certainly did...

After a few months, my family members sent me a few pics. One of them was:

 

 I was touched. Moved.

Introducing... The Dawn Collection!

"Its the first design that needs to be launched. What would it be?", was the thought. I had created many bead designs. But which one would be THE ONE for the launch?

Well, the answer was in the question! It would be a beginning. What marks a beginning? The Dawn!

First, came the necklace:

Then, the earring:

And finally, the bracelet/anklet:

Liked the design but not the colors? Customize this collection at:

https://sites.google.com/site/bandofbeadsreborn/home

Do leave a comment below for the design. Looking forward to hear from you!

We now have a logo!

Now that I had practiced many bands, we thought, "Why not have a logo?"

Being a Graphic-cum-User Interface designer, I tried my hand in logo design. 

The first logo was this:

I loved this logo as it seemed to convey the band quite seamlessly. But, it did not have a symbol which could portray the "band of beads". The combination of text and beads in the logo proved to be a hindrance at times in smaller resolutions.

Then, there was this new cycle of brainstorming. This time, we needed a symbol and the text. Also, we needed to convey that:

> The brand is all about beads. Beads of all sizes, colors and shapes. Currently, the product for sale will be jewelry - necklaces, bracelets, anklets and ear-rings. In the future, the product range can be diversified.

> The logo graphic should have a representation of the band which I used to create back in school. The band was woven with beads and had a uniform width.

So finally, we zeroed in on the brand name - "band of beads". After all, it all started from it! The symbol turned out to be a band (like that of a rainbow). It had beads of various colors and sizes. And here's what we got: