Little Ribston WI Produce and Handicrafts Show

AFTER a week of rain, the sun made a rare appearance for Little Ribston WI Produce and Handicrafts Show. Despite slightly lower flower entries than usual after the bad weather, there were plenty of participants in the other classes, particularly baking.
Among the most popular categories was the knitted jacket for a premature baby, with the 11 entrie. The Best in Show award went to M Taylor for a pencil drawing, while B Oxley took the reserve with a flower arrangement in a picture frame

HP to promote its art, handicraft in international market

In a bid to promote its art and handicraft in the international market, Himanchal Pradesh Government will participate in two global trade fairs in the UK and Canada next year. Addressing a meeting of the State Handicraft and Handlooms Corporation Ltd here, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Saturday said "the state has rich variety of handicrafts and handlooms which could find a good market internationally. While Birmingham fair is scheduled to be organised from February 1 to 5, the gift show at Toronto will be held from January 25-28 next year," Dhumal said.

He said that the state government would gift a Chamba handkerchief to Queen Elizabeth who is likely to inaugurate the Common Wealth games at New Delhi in 2010. The Chief Minister said exquisite handicrafts and handloom items manufactured in the state would get an exposure in the foreign markets as a brand in a big way in the proposed fairs, where orders of foreign nationals would also be booked.

Shawl wins UNESCO handicrafts award

Karma Yangchen, a mother of three and owner of a handicraft shop in Bhutan, recently won the South Asia UNESCO award for excellence in handicrafts. Karma had submitted a shawl among thirteen other handicraft items of Bhutanese origin. The award recognises quality products that combine innovation in design, beauty and traditional skills. A total of 167 entries were received from countries like India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal and were evaluated by an international panel of judges.
India won 27 awards, the highest number, followed by Pakistan with five, Sri Lanka three, Nepal two and Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan one each. The cotton shawl presented by Karma scored for carrying appeal, vibrant colour, beautiful motifs and good pricing, averred, the judges.
The shawl was also admired for its authenticity and quality by the jury and considered fit enough for marketability at international levels. Karma in the past has also designed uniforms for the national airline of Bhutan along with running the handicrafts store and also has learnt weaving.
Currently, she has a team of twelve weavers for whom, she now provides patterns and designs for the shawls they weave. The general consensus among the jury on Bhutanese handicraft products was that they excelled in quality, authenticity and techniques, but lacked in innovation, finishing and market appeal.