Product story

Star Holidays Wool Felt Christmas Ornament (Set of 6)

The maker, materials and process behind the finished object.

Star Holidays Wool Felt Christmas Ornament (Set of 6)

Object

Why it exists

These precious stars dress as a cheerful Christmas ensemble, adding an adorable touch to your interiors and bringing the magic of the holidays to life. Indian artisan Rajesh Gehlot works with wool felt and glass beads to adorn each little star of this set of six, all featuring the classic Christmas colors and dangling from handy cords. In addition, the set has a polyester bag for storage.

Process

How it is made

First, we procure wool from Bikaner and Jaisalmer. It undergoes an initial cleaning process where burrs and black wool are removed; it is then fed into a 'bilo' machine to separate out dirt and thorns. Next, it passes through an opener machine—a process known locally as *pindai*—followed by a carding machine that forms the wool into rolls. These rolls are then processed in a hardening machine, where they are beaten for two to three minutes while steam is applied to set the material. Subsequently, the material undergoes milling with the addition of soap; it is beaten for two hours until fully prepared. If coloring is required, four sheets are placed together in a large vessel and boiled for 10 minutes, after which they are dried in a hydro-extraction machine. Finally, the material is cut into pieces— either by machine or by hand—according to the required size and sent for stitching.

Origin

India

HANDICRAFT RAJASTHAN JAIPUR INDIA