A cluster is defined as a geographic concentration(a city/town/few adjacent villages and their adjoining areas)of units producing near similar products and facing common opportunities and threats.An artisan cluster is defined as geographically concentrated (mostly in villages/townships)household units producing handicraft/handloom products.In a typical cluster, such producers often belong to a traditional community, producing the long-established products for generations. Indeed, many artisan clusters are centuries old Artisan.

About Balisapara Cluster:-

Dinu Dubak & Madartola and Cluster falls under Assam State in Kamrup district.

The Dinu Dubak & Madartola cluster is able to form 218 plus Artisans & 19 SHGs supporting the strong work force.The mobilisation gains momentum day by day.

Cane and Bamboo:-

Cane and bamboo are the two most commonly-used materials in daily life in Assam.Products ranging from household implements to construction of dwelling houses to weaving accessories to musical instruments are made in bamboo.No mechanical devices are used in the craft, which is mainly a household industry.Besides basket-weaving, bamboo is used chiefly in the construction of houses and fencing.The craft traditionally provides part-time employment to cultivators in the lean season, although, increasingly, full-time artisans engaged in commercial activity can be found now.

Bamboo products are in evidence everywhere in Assam.There are innumerable types and shapes of the bamboo basket, varying with the use to which they are put.The men of the household usually weave the bamboo baskets.Each district has its own distinctive style.In general, conical baskets are used as carrying baskets and square or round bottomed ones are used for storage.An example is the Assamese bamboo basket from Silchar.This has a square base that is capped inwards so that the corners of the square act as a support and it has a wide mouth.It is used for storing betel nuts.The Bodo bamboo basket is made with the help of a mould, which is used to get the shape of the neck and the mouth.From the neck to the bottom, brown paper is made into a cone and put into the basket so that its tip touches the bottom.Sand is filled inside to retain the shape of the cone and the weaving follows the shape of the cone.

The japi, the traditional sun-shade continues to be the most well-known of bamboo items.It has been in use since the days when the great Chinese traveller, Hiuen Tsang came to Assam.Visitors were welcomed with japi(s), decorated with colourful designs and motifs.

Dolls and toys are also made with cane and bamboo.Apart from human and animal figures, toy shotguns and musical instruments are crafted.Umbrella handles made of bamboo are a speciality and have designs of leaves, creepers, plants, rings, and crosses etched on them.A special variety of bamboo known as the muli is used for the handles.

Raw materials:-

Assam being rich in raw materials has a large variety of beautiful products.The hill and the plain people, each have their own styles & designs.Apart from making baskets, cane & bamboo are also turned into furniture items, comparatively more modern innovation.Materials made of Cane and Bamboo are one of the very oldest of men creations, done by joining grass with grass and interlacing leaves with the minimum tools.It was considered clean for religious purposes.One of the finest examples of craft skills in Assam is its cane work.The raw material, profusely available in its lush forests, provides the industry with its strength and sustenance.Every district in Assam is rich in cane products.Independent entrepreneurs have explored new markets for the development and boosting of exports using cane for creating more contemporaneous craft products.

Process:-

The whole stem of cane and bamboo is cut with a hacksaw and split longitudinally into various sizes by a billhook.The cane is heated on a slow fire, generally with a kerosene lamp for flexibility.The objects can be made in two different forms: coiling for baskets; and weaving for mats.In coiled basketry, foundation of the basket is built first by coiling a cane round a central core.It is built up spirally and gradually the width is increased until desired height is attained.The coils are joined together by sewing strips which can be attached in two ways: each stitch passed over the new portion of the foundation coil.Figure of eight is made i.e., the stitch passes behind up, over and under the preceding coil and right over the new coil.Thus coil material is sewn with the strips and a basket is made.The ornamentation of the baskets can be done with attaining lace, paper and shells.

The craftsmen cut the bamboo into sizes of desired length with the help of cutting tools called Dao.Bamboo length cut as per thickness with the help of different kinds of knives.The material thus ready is used for making frame of an article or furniture where as pencil cane is used for designing and binding purpose.The thick cane is used for making frame of an article or furniture where as pencil cane is used for designing and binding purpose.The cane is bend in the desired shape for a furniture or article by process of heating with blow lamp.The ends are joined with adhesive and nail and the joints are binded with strips of pencil cane. The items produced in cane & bamboo are cleaned with sand-paper and polished with varnish.

The production of cane and bamboo articles involves the cutting of whole stems with a hack saw and slicing them into splits of various sizes using a bill hook or dao.Slicing is done longitudinally along the length of the densely packed fibres and a fairly smooth operation, requiring only the requisite amount of moisture in the culm.A kerosene lamp is used to heat the cane before it can be bent into shape.

Techniques:-

There are various stages that go in the production of cane products, beginning with the collection of raw material from the forests.To obtain a smooth surface, the upper layer of raw cane is scraped off.The long cane sticks are cut into smaller pieces that are followed by splitting the cane to obtain thin strips.Cane can be further split, making it as thin as required.The split cane is now bent using a blowlamp that may cause some burns on the surface; these are removed by rubbing with sandpaper.Following this, the cane can be woven based on the design of the articles being fashioned from it. After the finishing touches have been provided, the products may be dabbed with a coat of varnish before being dispatched to the market.

How to reach:-

Guwahati has an international airport at Borjhar, 25 km west of city centre.The Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport of Guwahati is well connected by air to most of the metros in the country.Indian Airlines and private airlines operate regular flights to/from Guwahati.Guwahati is well connected by rail with rest parts of the country.There are direct trains from Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and other important cities of the country.A network of national highways and other state roads connect Guwahati with rest parts of the country.

Dolls and Toys:-

A soft toy is a soft, furry, stuffed toy. They are made in the form of cute animal usually an animal and human.

Raw Materials Used :-

These are manufactured from different raw materials such as fur, felt, polyester fiber, artificial buttons, ribbons and threads to provide in them flawless finish standards.We also offer them in customized finishes as per client’s given specifications.

Process:-

Broaden the Templates:-

You can enlarge the templates by using printer but if it is not possible you can make a paper grid. And then draw the designs on the larger grid while having the pattern on your computer screen.

Prepare the Template:-

One can use Bristol broad to prepare a template.You can paste the paper template to the card and then cut it off.It is better to mark the template with colorful dots to make facial features. Cut out the eyes and other embroidery areas carefully.

Trace the Template onto your fabric:-

You can use tailors chalk, tracing paper or expensive pencils, markers, pencil and crayons for this purpose.Try to sew inside the template line so that the pencil mark is on the seam allowance.

To cut the Pattern pieces:-

You need to cut two of each pattern piece for each toy.Fold the fabric so that the wrong side of the fabric is opposite.Trace the pattern templates on the incorrect side of the fabric.Use a few straight pins to unite the two layers of fabric. Cut out 1/4 inch outside the tracing line.

Sewing:-

You should always sew with the right sides of the fabric facing each other.

Sewing by machine:-

Stitch to the inside of trace line. Stitch all through leaving the opening. Go for an automatic tie off stitch at the beginning and ending. Use a needle to increase the loop then pull the bottom thread end to the top.Tie the two pieces of thread to create a knot flush with the fabric.

Sewing by hand:-

Take a thread of about 3 feet (90cm) and then double your thread and tie a loop at the end.Sew the pieces together using a strong back stitch.Clip the seam allowance on the inside curves Clip close to the stitch line without cutting the seam line threads.

To Turn and to fill:-

You can use a knobbed end of a knitting needle or a pencil as filling stick and then smooth the ends.

Prior to stuffing:-

Mark the facial features and other embroidery marks using template.Press the seam allowance with an iron or by creasing it between your fingernails.

Filling:-

Pull off small pieces of stuffing and push them into the opening Fill the areas like feet, hands, ears.Stuff till you have the softness and fullness you want.Close the opening with a blind stitch.

Features for embroidering:-

You can use a satin stitch or basic back stitch for making eyes, nose mouth and eyebrows.

Techniques:-

1.Broaden the Templates

2.Trace the Template onto your fabric

3.To cut the Pattern pieces

4.Sewing

5.Sewing by machine

6.Sewing by hand

7.To Turn and to fill

8.Prior to stuffing

9.Filling

10.Features for embroidering