About the Artisans: Vellore, SHARE artisans

Artisan Profile
Name: Lakshmi 
Hometown: Vellore
Lives in: Vellore 
Family: Husband (Carpenter), two sons in school 
Works with: Mother and sister, SHARE organisation, Community of women in and around Vellore
Sales: Rents out at a shop at the women's centre, gets orders from schools, individuals and organisations. Promotes her designs over whatsapp stories. 

Process: 
- Observation 
- Interview 
- Making together (Exploring different weaves)

Media from the visit

Artisan's process of making:
Calls a guy in ____ to send the palm leaves, cuts the leaves into accurately sized strips using machine (some thick, some thin), stores this until it's time for use, dips it in water for a 5-10 minutes before weaving. Dyes some of the strips using natural colours. (purchased powders, boiled in water and then. Follows some traditional styles, makes up her own patterns and combination (Mostly experiments with colour combinations.) 

Notes: 

• This is not the traditional form of livelihood for this community. It has been introduced to them by an organization in order to provide employment.
• There is a kind of industry like perfection in their weaving. All the baskets available for sale were near perfect. Each strip cut was of equal with no fibers sticking out. There was an almost modern , too-csreful perfection to it.
• Women work on these crafts. The men don't. 
• Has been invited to share her skill at different places. Takes pride in the work that she does and hopes that the skill will get picked up and carried on. Has even tried teaching it to her younger son.
• Enjoys the work that she does and feels like she is constantly learning something new. 
• Does not relate the word intelligence to her own practice. 
• Resistance to plastic and anything that pollutes the environment. 
• Enjoys trying out new designs and styles. 
• Is aware about the ways in which other people are doing similar work, but not dismissive of it. 
• Is very aware of the market and the relationship between her skill and it's monetary value.
• She can describe how while working her mind wanders to other things. 

Action for it's own sake
(my observation of it) 

• Clarity of goals 
• Mimetic learning through watching others performing the same action