Cloisonne is a famous traditional enamel ware, known as the “Blue of Jingtai” in China, with a history of over 500 years. it was so called “blue” was the typical colour used for enamelling and “Jingtai” was the reign title of the 7th Ming Emperor. Enamel ware became very popular during the Emperor’s reign. There is a great variety of products, such as vase, jar, bowl, plate, box and ash-tray. They are brilliant in colours and splendid in design. 

Cloisonne is one of the famous arts and crafts of Beijing. The making of cloisonne requires rather elaborate and complicated processes; base-hammering, copper-strip inlay, soldering, enamel-filling, enamel-firing, polishing and gilding. The products are featured by excellent quality. The skill and workmanship have been handed down from the Ming Dynasty. Quite a number of new varieties have been created. it enjoys a high reputation both at home and abroad. They are mostly for export. CLOISONNE-MAKING

The first step is body making. The material used for making the body is copper, because copper is easily hammered and stretched. This step requires a sound judgement in shaping and uniformity of thickness and weight. It is in fact the work of the copper smith. The only difference is that when an article is well shaped, the copper smith’s work is finished, whereas the cloisonne craftsman’s work is just on the the start.

The second step is filigree soldering. This step requires great care and high creativeness. The artisan adheres copper strips onto the body. These strips are of 1/16 inch in diameter and of lengths as the artisan desires. The strips or filigree thus adhered make up a complicated but complete pattern. The artisan has a blueprint in mind and he can make full use of his experience, imagination and aesthetic view in setting the copper strips on the body.

The third step is to apply the colour which is known as enamel filling. The colour or enamel is like the glaze on ceramics. It is called falang. Its basic elements are boric acid, saltpetre and alkaline. Due to the difference in the minerals added, the colour differs accordingly. Usually one with much iron will turn grey, with uranium, yellow, with chromium, green, with zinc, white, with bronze, blue, with gold or iodine, red. In time of filling, all the colours, ground beforehand into minute powder and contained in plates, are placed in front of the workers and are then applied to the little compartments separated by filigree.

The fourth step is enamel firing. This is done by putting the article, with its enamel fillings, to the crucible. After a short moment, the copper body will turn red. But after firing, the enamel in the little compartment will sink down a bit. That will require a refilling. This process will go on repeatedly until the little compartments are finally filled.

The fifth step is polishing. The first polish is with energy. Its aim is to make the filigree and the filled compartments even. The whole piece is again put to fire. Polish once more with a whet stone. Finally, use a piece of hard carbon to polish again so as to obtain some lustre on the surface of the article.

The sixth step is gilding. This is done by placing the article in fluid of gold or silver. Add electric current. The exposed parts of the filigree and the metal fringes of the article will be smoothly and evenly gilded. After that, the metal part of the article will not get rusty. Then the article will again undergo another electroplating and a slight polish.

You share your birthday forecast with the following celebrities

Aries (Mar 20 - Apr 18)
Socially you will be on a high. You will be involved in entertaining friends and family, and being entertained. A week to rejoice, in short. All the hard work you have put in these past few weeks are culminating in one big celebration. You are likely to meet a special person, who will make a difference to your life.

Taurus (Apr 19 – May 19)
You will be a bank of ideas this week. People will come borrowing your ideas. You will be in help-mode during the period, trying to solve problems not related to you. Communications will be your forte, as you will be operating at different levels simultaneously. The richness of your contacts will benefit you later.

Gemini (May 20  - Jun 20)
A time to guard against risky deals, be it a business deal or a financial one. Make sure that you are well informed about all aspects of the deal. Travel is on the cards, where you are likely to strengthen business contacts. You could suffer minor ailments related to the digestive tract. Avoid eating foods your system is not compatible with.

Cancer (Jun 21 – Jul 21)
You could be on a buying spree. Your home could see some renovation work, and you will add some interesting artifacts to enhance your status. Sports is an outdoor activity you will associate with. However, there are chances of receiving a minor injury. Love is in the air, so make the most of it. 

Leo (Jul 22 – Aug 21)
Time to party after an extended emotionally charged period. You may celebrate your own success, that of your partner or children. The weeks gone by had been tough and demanding, keeping you occupied. The coming time will bring you relief. Money matters may need some looking into. Health too might require attention, as niggling issues keep you occupied.

Virgo (Aug 22 – Sep 20)
The week augurs fresh contacts and new relationships. It could be both professionally and personally. Take care not to jump to good-looking deals. You will need to read between the lines to avoid being hoodwinked. On the personal front, you are likely to meet a special person, who will make a substantial difference to the way you live life.

Libra (Sep 21 – Oct 22)
Change is the keyword this week. A lot will be happening around you, affecting you directly or indirectly. Keep your eyes open to the changes. Avoid being sucked into something you want to keep away from. Many new ventures or business proposals come your way. Take professional help before finalizing a deal. Be on guard at all times.

Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21)
Time for you to take a major decision regarding your career and home. You may have to shift to a new home or place in pursuance of your work. The week will see you working hard, relying on your experience and skills. You will be appreciated for your efforts and may see rewards and accolades coming your way.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 22)
Time to seriously pursue your interests, whether you are a professional or a student. Goal setting is what you need to stress upon. Work hard to achieve the goals you set. Financially, it will be a mixed week, where you will be spending a substantial share of what you earn. Communications is the key that will keep you going.

Capricorn (Dec 23 – Jan 19)
Work will keep you occupied. Time to consolidate what you have achieved so far. Money will continue to flow for a while keeping you busy on the financial front. Maintain a balance between work and finances. Your health will be a cause for worry. Stress too will be on an all time high. Yoga and meditation will keep you going, though.

Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 18)
You will be completely tuned to your profession. Professional help is on the way in the form of a senior or boss working to help you achieve your interests and goals. Tact and diplomacy will take you a long way. This week will see some hurdles in money inflow, though temporary. Don’t trust anyone in money matters.

Pisces (Feb 19 – Mar 19)
You will be on an intellectual overdrive. Your enlightenment in certain areas will have people flocking to you for advice. You will not disappoint them. Your focus this week will be on lending a helping hand to all who approach you. You could be a victim of machinations of some jealous elements at office. Be on guard against them.

Help to complete a Love story
This is a sad but real story of how a rich parents denies their only daughter love.
I shon and love had a affair for 6years and we got married with my parents permission but her parents were against the marriage. They don’t know that we got married. She stayed with her parents and when they came to about this they tortured and harassed her and use their money to bribe police and with the use of local goons they forcefull took divorce from me and her.
They even bribe my lawyer and turn the court verdict against us.
We can’t live without each other and we are trying to remarry from taking away her from her home she don’t want to live with her parents and will die or commit suicide rather this daily harassment.
Can anyone with powerful influence or Women’s right organisation help me.
She is indeed need for help which she has descirbe in her letters to me.
Her uncle who has a fraud case against him and CBI is after him use false idenity as a custom official and steals goods from docks and sales in his shops.
I don’t believe that any of the law or political person can help me. I want this to be know to the world what we are suffering is falling in love a crime.
Kindly help me to fight this corrupt system. I want this to appear in media.

Marble Inlay Art

The Marble Stone is first traced with the Pattern of brass sheet. The Pattern may be of any shape, Design or size. Different colored Stone, Precious and Semi Precious Stone are cut as per the Design/size of the Pattern. Grooves are created on the Marble Stone base so that the cut Stone are a perfect fit in Marble Stone. Then Inlays item are stuck, dried, polished and finished. The whole Inlay Art is done by skilled artisans in three stages. Inlay Art is a very Precious, minute and time consuming work. One inch square of Inlay Art takes a whole day of the artisans.

The Artisans Inlays Art may be more explained in stages as under:-

• First of all the planning and programming for Inlay Art is done for Making the process comfortable and easy.
• Then the designing of Inlay Art is done.
• Once the designing of Inlay Art is finalized then the brass sheet is cut according to the Pattern/Design finalized.
• Then the tracing of the Pattern/Design of Inlay Art is done on the Marble Stone.
• Then the selection of using Variety/Color/Material of Precious and Semi Precious Stone for Inlay Art is done depending upon its Design, Pattern, Material and Color scheme.
• Then the Precious and Semi Precious Stone are cut and sliced into different Pattern/Design.
• Then these cut Precious and Semi Precious Stone are shaped by the artisans accordingly by using a tool known as emery wheel.
• Then by using a tool known as chisel the Pattern/Grooves/Design are make in the Marble Stone where to be Inlays.
• Then these Precious and Semi Precious Stone/colored Stone is ingredient carefully by the adhesive into the Pattern/Grooves/Design created on Marble Stone.
• Then the Inlays process needs time to dry the pasting of Stone.
• After drying the Inlays Marble is grinded and polished by the artisans to give it elegant, shiny and impressive look and prepare it for sale in market.

A large number of artisans are available in Agra who are Making Marble Inlays Art Table top, vases, plates, trinket boxes, lamps, ash tray, coaster, statues, pen card stand, jewellery box, cigar case, napkin holder, candy jars and many such others products with Inlays Art. Now days Inlay Art is also becoming very popular on wooden, black Marble Stone or soap Stone items.

Inlay Art is very popular on small boxes of Marble Stone, Soap Stone, Granite, Sand Stone and on many other Stone. These boxes are used as jewellery box, napkin holder, candy jars or cigar case etc. These boxes are also used for Home Decor purpose in homes as showpiece.

Mehndi or Henna Mottif

Henna or Mehndi is an art form, which is widely in practice in India. It is applied on the body parts creating intricate patterns and designs. Henna or Mehndi, as it is locally called, is a derivative of a plant, Lawsonia inermis. This plant is mostly found in areas where the climate is hot and dry. In India, applying henna to the hands is considered auspicious, and women can be seen applying mehndi on their hands on festive occasions. No marriage takes place without the bride being adorned by traditional designs formed by mehndi.

Henna is also known for its healing and therapeutic effects. Since time immemorial, henna is being applied by women in their hair to enhance its quality and lustre. It acts as a great hair conditioner and is also considered good for the scalp. Henna is available in the market in powdered form. A paste is formed before it is applied to the hair or to the hands creating artistically rich designs. Though green in color, as the paste dries and is brushed of, it leaves behind an orange-red color. 

Today, henna is being experimented with by the new generation. In addition to the traditional designs contemporary design making is also being resorted to. Henna being temporary in nature is preferred to by the youngsters over tattooing, which is sort of permanent and a painful process for some. 

Marble Inlay Art

Inlay Art is one of the very unique qualities of craftsmanship done by the artisans on Marble Stone to give a Marble Stone a rich and marvelous look. Inlay Art is one of the most complicated Art which are done on the Marble Stone to give the Marble Stone rich, elegant and impressive look. The Inlays Art is very minute Art so every precaution is taken by artisans to avoid damages to Stone. Inlays Art requires patience, endurance and hard working of artisans to create a good piece of Art. The Inlay Art got birth in Florence in Italy in 16^th century that is why Inlay Art was named on the name of Italy.

The Art of Inlay is brought to India by the Mughals in the 17^th century especially in Agra city. Thus, Inlays Art first introduced in India by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan during his regime which had become very popular in architecture as well as in sculpture at that time. They constructed monuments in white Marble and huge Inlay Art were got done on these monuments. From that time Inlays Art has become a very popular Art in India.

The construction of Taj Mahal by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan on the bank of river Jamuna in the city Agra is one of the great examples for Inlays Art. This great Art of Inlay depicts in exterior and interior part on the monument Taj Mahal constructed by thousands of skilled artisans during the period of Mughal dynasty in 17^th century. From that time it has been a god gift to Agra that till now the Inlay Art artisans earn their livelihood from this wonderful Art. The next generations of many artisans, created wonderful piece of Art (Taj Mahal) during Mughal period, are still involved in this Art in the city of Taj, Agra. That is why Agra still holds its name for best Quality Inlays Art products.

Taj Emporium, situated in AGRA city of India providing this service to bring these wonderful pieces of Art (Inlays Art items) from artisan to art lovers from past many years.

In Inlays Art, the Precious and Semi-Precious Gem Stone and other colorful Stone like (Jade Stone, Onyx Stone, Sea shell Stone, Lapis Stone, Malachite Stone, Mother of pearl Stone, Lazuli Stone, Agnate Stone, Italian Stone and Jasper Stone etc.) are set in the Marble Stone in such a way that these Stone shine in Marble Stone like gems set in a ring. The Stone used in Inlays Art may be Precious, Semi-Precious Gem Stone and other colored Marble Stone. Inlays Art is also done on other Marble Stone and on wood also. In Hindi language the Inlay Art is known as “Pacchi kari“.

Welcome to Namaste Blog.

2005 Has sped by		Now, we need to face 2006
There may be risks involved		We may need to face roadblocks
So stay alert		Share time with friends
Jump over obstacles		With care
And caution		Face challenges
Remember to laugh		Cooperate
Discover		Make new friends
Above all…be ready for adventure		Stick together
And you will be able to go far		Very far….
Well, not quite that far….		Always take time to smell the flowers
Don’t forget to relax and enjoy