The crochet queen

Chanjeev in one of her exquisite creations. Her range of cholis is a big draw at the crafts’ fairs. (Picture courtesy: Chanjeev Kaur)

Charismatic Chanjeev Kaur wears many hats. A trained optometrist and ocularist, when she is not working on prosthetic eyes, she is weaving delightful garments with the crochet hook. She has been crocheting since the age of eight and is largely self-trained. She drew her inspiration from Ondori craft books.

Extremely industrious, she is always on the go. At her office-cum-studio at Whitefield, Chanjeev heads a team of crochet makers. She is the chief designer responsible for visualising, conceptualising and creating the innumerable creations that come out from her studio and are sold under the brand name ‘Crochet & Colours’. Her range of cholis is her USP. It takes Chanjeev and her team of helpers around 15 days to finish a choli. For all her works, Chanjeev uses the Anchor brand of threads. “Trust comes from good products, good threads and good fittings,” says the perfectionist in her.

A nature lover, she often uses elements of nature in her pieces. Among her creations are handloom apparels embellished with crochet patchwork. There was a pretty one with flamingoes. “Flamingoes come to Mumbai every March which is when I visualised the idea of the flamingo motifs”, says the comely lady, her face radiating happiness.

Chanjeev has a strict daily schedule. She starts her day as early as 5.30am and has an exercise regimen in place. She crochets from 9.30am to 6pm with a lunch break in the afternoon. “Posture is very important when we work,” says she. Chanjeev takes great care that all her team members are seated comfortably during the course of an assignment.

Picture courtesy: Chanjeev Kaur

Picture courtesy: Chanjeev Kaur

How does she manage two diverse careers? Making prosthetic eyes is her family business, the family that she is married into and run by her husband. “It helped that I was trained in optometry and also that I studied fine arts,” says Chanjeev with a large smile. Chanjeev graduated in oculoplasty from Arvind Hospital in Madurai. And she did a course in optometry in Bangalore.

For the uninitiated, prosthetic eyes are made from acrylic for people who have lost vision in one or both eyes due to an accident or an illness. A great deal of skill and practice goes into the making of these eyes. No two prosthetic eyes are the same. Prosthetic eyes are customised for each person.

Picture courtesy: Chanjeev Kaur

Chanjeev is a familiar face at popular handicraft fairs like Dastkar, Hundred Hands and at various flea markets and has many regular clients. She is also associated with the Crafts Council of India and its fairs. The next time you are at Dastkar or any of the other fairs, look out for Chanjeev’s stall. Her works are a visual treat and you can consider introducing something new in your wardrobe. Her collection of snug cholis would be a welcome addition to any lady’s winter wear.

Picture courtesy: Chanjeev Kaur

Source:

Chanjeev Kaur

Bangalore

Mob. 9980040520

E-mail: chanjeevkaur@gmail.com

Obit – Simba

Simba was an outdoor cat who often visited my home for grub. I am not sure whether he was owned by someone. Simba had a weather-beaten look. Clearly, he was not neutered because very often he would turn up with injuries especially on his legs. He was a ginger cat with stripes and very plump. Initially, he would eat from my cats’ plates and flee on seeing me or my parents.

I was not sure how old he was. Due to his constant brawls with other tom cats, Simba had scars galore.

In due course, Simba stopped running away on seeing me or my parents. He would mew and purr loudly. I would even pat him gently and he would acknowledge my gestures of affection.

Simba gradually grew friendlier and would beg us for food. He could not do without a bowl of milk. He would not leave before eating to his heart’s content. He had a gargantuan appetite.

Simba had way too many scars. Because of that, he was anything but photogenic. The only pictures I have of him are the ones I took four years back when he started coming into my courtyard. Most of his visits were at night.

Simba would not come indoors. He preferred the outdoors. He would hang around in the courtyard. His favourite way of greeting us was with a milk beard.

After Peppermint’s and Ramses’ disappearances, Simba gradually started coming inside our home. He would cosy up at a corner and leave after resting for a few hours. This practice continued till mid-March.

Simba then started staying for longer hours and sometimes would confine himself indoors for days together. He became more of an indoor cat. His favourite spot was a doormat.

Of late, he started hopping on to my mother’s bed and cuddle alongside her. My mother’s favourite cat Biscuit who till then would sleep alongside her would get annoyed and leave. Biscuit never liked Simba and would growl at him.

Things took a sad turn when Simba started peeing and pooping on mattresses and bedsheets. In the absence of a washing machine and an ongoing water crisis, I was not able to clean up the messy stuff quickly. The mess also started piling up. In between, my mother had a fall and didn’t tell me. She would keep howling in pain. Repeated visits to the doctor didn’t help.

Meanwhile, Simba’s pooping and peeing increased. I though it must be old age. He also started developing pink patches on his body. He also seemed to have lost a lot of weight. Only his appetite remained the same. In fact, his appetite grew.

Around 15 June, Simba suddenly stopped eating like before. There was a noticeable drop in his appetite and he started sleeping more.

Both my mother and Simba were sick. On 16 June, Simba did not eat at all. He looked miserable.

Last picture of Simba taken on 11 June

On 17 June, I planned to take my mother to the doctor again. This was the third visit. Just as we were getting ready to go, Simba who was sleeping let out a scream. I came running towards him only to realise he was dead and had vomitted before he breathed his last. I was too stunned to react.

I had to quickly arrange his burial as I had to take my mother to the doctor. With a heavy heart me and my mother left to see the doctor.

Even as we were leaving, Biscuit who had for the last few days confined himself to the terrace came meowing towards us. Perhaps, he had realised that Simba was gone. I let Biscuit in and we left.

Enroute to the health centre, I kept thinking of Simba and what became of him. His health deteriorated so rapidly. He was so active and full of beans. Death spares no one! I had no time to mourn Simba’s death even.