Kiran Sandhu

I come from the beautiful town of Rudhrapur in Uttrakhand, best known for its scenic beauty. I translate creative ideas into works of art and handicrafts, thus adding beauty to the ordinary.

I am self taught by my upbringing as I come from a textile designing background. As a young child, I learned embroidery, knitting and sewing. With these skills, I have been able to work with the local women and men.

"It seemed to come naturally to me. I've been involved in handicrafts and working with weavers since 1978. It gives me great pleasure to be able to create work for people who need it.

"In the early 1990s, I started a workshop with local women from Bangladesh. After the 1971 war with East Pakistan, these refugees came to live in our area and I was able to involve them in quilting, an art they traditionally practice. I have brought employment to many men and women, especially women who would otherwise not be able to earn money.

"I work on my own. I design and also create what I design. I look out for the best quality in the work that we do from my workshop.

"I find inspiration in my surroundings. I live on a farm with nature all around me, the changing seasons and the different kind of plants that grow at different times of the year.

"Along with embroidery work in fabrics and textiles, we work on quilting using cotton and wool. I've been able to teach many women the technique. Making stuffed toys and Christmas ornaments has been of great interest for me and we enjoy doing this the most.

"It was a very natural transition after I came to live here from East Uttar Pradesh where I was involved with weavers and pottery. Artisans their traditionally made clay elephants and horses, pots and mugs used for drinking tea especially at railway stations.

"I enjoy working with the craftspeople, creating a pleasant work environment. It's a pleasure to see how the work I do impacts the lives of so many women and young girls who would not otherwise be able to have a formal income.

"I wish to set up an arts and crafts platform for local children. I feel they don't get any fun or creative activity in their schools.

"Now after all these years, our workshop is well known for quilting and is visited by many people from all over India. I hope to grow more in the future and thank Novica for helping us exhibit our talent worldwide."