Extraordinary artist of ribbon work – Mrs Poornima
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Hand Embroidery is one of the most beautiful artworks. There are variety of Embroideries which uses beads or threads on Fabrics and makes the work elegant and attractive. We have come across a lot of embroideries mainly that uses some of the basic techniques or stitches like chain stitch, running stitch, cross stitch etc. Hand Embroidery with Ribbon is something unique and it gives basic embroidery stitches an elegant, dimensional look. It's great for decoration as well as fashion. IndiansinKuwait.com had a chance to chat with extraordinary artist of Ribbon Embroidery artwork, Mrs Poornima Jayathilaka Wickramaarachchi
IIK: How did it all start? Had you been for any Embroidery Classes or learnt by yourself?
Poornima - It all started in 2006 and was a complete self-learning process. I came to know of Ribbon Embroidery through a TV Program and found it very interesting. As it was something unique I got attracted to it, started researching on it and practiced. During that time, I was not working as my daughter was too small so had time for learning something new.
IIK: What motivated you to create your very first design?
Poornima - On the TV program, the creative designer presented one beautiful design made by her. It was a house with a flower garden in a calm and quite place with a river besides it. But somehow I was not able to see the full program which showed the complete process step by step. Later I tried to illustrate my imagination on a piece of cloth with silk colours. I was impressed with what I had designed. That was when I realized that I had some inborn talent. With the very limited free time I found on those days with my little daughter, I tried to test my talents also tried to learn new techniques by myself.
Then after many days, I was able to complete my first ever design with the very limited techniques I had learnt so far.
IIK: What inspires and sparks ideas for your creative process?
Poornima: Beautiful images, nature, flower gardens or scenery are my inspirations and gives me ideas to create my next embroidery project. I add my own creative ideas to get an attractive design or picture. I believe that ribbon embroidery designs are totally unique master pieces. I cannot make the same design again which I once made. I love to use themes like flowers, gardens, calm and quite sceneries etc, as in a place like Kuwait we cannot see those.
IIK: How many art works have you done so far and which is your favorite among them.
Poornima: I have done around 20 Artworks so far and currently 4 under processing stage. My favorites artwork is the Rose Embroidery. It took only 2 weeks for me to complete but I found it very attractive. All other artworks take me around 1 to 2 Months to complete.
IIK: Other than Ribbon Embroidery have you done any other hand embroidery?
Poornima: In Embroidery, I’m very good in Brazilian embroidery, Cross-stitch, Hand Embroidery and punch needle embroidery. Other than embroidery I’m very interested in paper quelling and making Tote bags with ribbon embroidery works.
IIK: We do not find ribbons of all colors. How do you get the colors on your art work?
Poornima: Yes, this is a major issue I face, since my embroidery is natural sceneries. It is necessary to have 100 percent natural colors. But the ribbons available in the market are not of natural colors. So I found a solution for it. I use silk colors and make my required colors by re-mixing and coloring the ribbons by it. I get the color I want in my artwork by this technique. This is one of the secrets behind my creations.
IIK: Do you produce your designs by hand or digitally by using computer ?
Poornima: Mostly, I use my own imagination and design my embroideries. We can find many designs in the Internet, but I never copy those designs. I always add my own imagination to make my image unique. As I told you earlier my art works are unique master pieces. You will never find it anywhere.
IIK: How long does it take to create a work of art?
Poornima: It depends on the design I select. If it has a background drawing with less ribbon works it takes lesser time, but the designs that have more ribbon work takes many days. As I am a working woman now, I get less time to spend on my projects. This makes me take more days to complete my artworks.
IIK: Can you tell us something about yourself?
Poornima: I am from Sri Lanka, and currently in Kuwait working as a receptionist cum secretary. My husband is working as a senior IT Professional. We have two lovely daughters and they are studying in IES - Bhavans grade 6 & 4.
I’m a self and quick learner and do not like to stick on to one thing only. In addition to ribbon embroidery works, I also try my hands in Paper quelling craft designs, make Tote bags with embroidery designs on it and Theme cake designs. After finishing my office work and spend quality time with my family, I utilize my spare time for these hobbies.
IIK: Have you conducted any exhibition of your works?
Poornima: Conducting an exhibition is one of my dream. I am planning to do it soon.
IIK: What kind of support you received from your family/ friends / colleagues in Kuwait?
Poornima: First of all, I have to mention about my lovely husband, without him I will never succeed like this. My husband is the person, whom I expect the first feedback for any of my project. He is the person who always encourages me positively and guides all my works. Not only that once I’m in a project, he helps me in house chores.
Also, I’m getting many positive comments and feedbacks from my friends and colleagues. They are always with me on my social media channels which are facebook.com/blossomcraftsq8 & facebook.com/cakeworksQ8
IIK: Do you have any plans to sell these items commercially? If anyone wants to buy this master piece, how they can get in touch with you?
Poornima: Actually, I started this as a hobby, but now through my social media pages, people found it interesting and is contacting me to buy some of my art works.
IIK: Thank you very much for spending your time with us and explaning about this new concept of ribbon embroidary. We wish you all the best
Thank you
s
Deepika Nambiar is part of the IIK team and IWIK core team. She does regular contributions to the news portal IndiansinKuwait.com and also for Timesofindia.com.
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