America's Largest Christmas Bazaar!!!

With over 900 booths, America’s Largest Christmas Bazaar is held in Portland, Oregon.  Come find gifts for your loved ones.

Where: Portland Expo Center

Time: Two big weekends!

November 26-27-28, 2010

December 3-4-5, 2010

Friday and Saturday 10am-6pm

Sunday 10am-5pm

Come do your holiday shopping!

Holiday Food and Gift Show

Thought I'd share some pictures from the Holiday Food and Gift Show in Eugene. This was my first Food and Gift Show, but I hear they do have a great one in Portland and Redmond, so next year I'll try those ones.

Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing

The Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing is located in the UNESCO award-winning Anokhi Haveli in the city of Amer, just outside Jaipur. Owned by the Anokhi Foundation, the museum houses examples of the rich tradition of hand-printing or block-printing fabrics found in Rajasthan.

The staff of Anokhi decided to document the current state of block printing, the old with the new and the Anokhi Museum opened in 2005.  They listened to the craftsmen and their stories about the world of printing and textiles.

Today Block Printing has exploded with the demand in market. Historically, Royal patronage fuelled this domestic trade.  The extraordinary prints were highly prized and eventually grew internationally.  By the late 1950’s block printing became stagnant, but interest from hippies from around the world re-introduced it to the markets. India has resumed this old tradition, with an increase in demand from domestic as well as international markets.  Indian designers have re-created old traditional motifs and given them a new ‘edge’. Many fashion designers have re- introduced these designs and one can see them on the catwalks in New York and London as well as in Bombay.

The Museum is a little gem in the middle of practically nowhere and is a must see.  This old restored “haveli” has a café outside in the courtyard where one can cool down with some refreshing drinks.  Architecturally, this was a very beautiful building to see as well.

Block Printing in India

I was pleased to learn so much about the history of block printing as well as about the techniques.   India has been renowned for its printed and dyed cotton cloth since the 12th century and the creative processes flourished as the fabric received royal patronage. Different styles of designs have evolved in different parts of the country.  Rajasthan and Gujarat became the important trading centers of printed textiles particular in Block Printing Art. Today Block Printing has gained new height by reaching in the different corners of the world. The artisans try hard on developing the art completely through natural means using vegetable dyes and natural colors for printing and preserving their workmanship by passing it over to the coming generations.

Today, India is major hub  and places  such as Sanganer and Bagru are the flourishing trade centers for Hand Block printing. These two centers have different  styles of hand block printing and the main difference  between the two is the background on which the printing is done. Bagru Prints are done on black or red background and Sanganeri is done on white or off white backgrounds. To do this type of printing, wooden blocks are carved and dipped into a dye for applying a print onto the cloth. Carved out of Teakwood by skilled craftsman, these wooden blocks are works of art by themselves.

Jaipur the Pink City

Earlier this year, I spent two weeks in the old city of Jaipur, India, also known as the “Pink City” for it was painted this color to imitate the red sandstone architecture of Mughal cities.  Well known for its tourist attractions and part of the Golden Triangle, Jaipur is the oldest city in the state of Rajasthan. It brings in many tourists from all around the world to see its many old beautiful Palaces and Forts, Temples, Museums and Monuments.  I thought I’d share some photos of the city from my trip.

Amriva at the Holiday Food and Gift Show

The Holiday Season is just around the corner and with it comes Christmas Festivals and Bazaars.  This year Amriva will be at The Annual Holiday Food and Gift Show.  With its joyful choir, Santa’s jolly ho-ho-ho, let your holidays begin here at the festival. The show is a celebration of arts and crafts, wine tasting and samplings of gourmet food, Christmas trees and music.  You will find unique Holiday Gifts and Home Décor products. Admission is free!

Lane County Convention Center/Fairgrounds
796 W 13th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97402

Friday, Nov. 12th, 12pm to 7pm
Saturday, Nov. 13th, 10am to 6pm
Sunday, Nov. 14th, 10am to 5pm 

Come share laughter with your family and friends!

Check out our Facebook page and please add to your favorites J

How it all started

I thought I would share how this vision of combining art and textiles came into being. My passion for patterns, designs and motifs stemmed from my days in high school. I was inspired by the arts and cultures from around the world.  This led me to delve deeper into the meanings of designs and symbols. Later on in life I studied textiles and fiber arts and for my terminal project I created a large silk painting functional piece. The project was titled “Conversations”. The idea came into being from a personal event that happened and through this difficult time, I decided to set the stage for my idea of designing a creating an environment around the dining table. I designed a tablecloth, napkins and cushions. I thought of choosing eight diverse international personalities who had touched the lives of people through their personal gifts of courage, honesty and humanity.  These eight imaginary people “sat” at my table and the conversations flew. The show was a huge success and for the first time I felt that I really had a future in the world of home décor. I felt grateful that I was able to turn an idea and vision into something concrete. I thought I would share a few pictures of my terminal project.

                  

My Story

My dream of owning a home décor shop came to life in 2008. As an artist by nature, I always wanted to combine my passion for art with my love for textiles.  These twin passions have given me an outlet for creativity.

I was born in India.  As a little girl, I spent a great deal of time drawing and painting as well as meddling in other types of crafts. From an early age, I knew my calling in life would be in the arts field. As I grew older, my interests spawned to other areas such as home décor. It was during my time in high school that I decided to open a shop in home décor one day.  I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the University of Oregon, specializing in fiber arts.

My interests in patterns and designs have given me a way to express my own art through the exposure of different cultures and traditions.  My travels around the world have enriched my knowledge and appreciation of art.  As a result, I was able to bridge the gap of my love for patterns, designs and motifs with my love for textiles by opening Amriva.

All our products come from India. Each and every textile uses a variety of different types of printing: Kalamkari/Hand printing, Hand Block printing, Dabu/Mud Resist printing or Screen printing. India is known for the different types of printing and the vast array of textiles she has to offer.

Amrita Dutia - Owner