6th August 2015

- The Hindu

Of paper, passion and art

Differently-abled paper quilling artiste Gunavathi Chandrasekaran has come a long way from being a simple home-maker to a successful entrepreneur

It all happened fifteen months ago when this 38-year-old Chinnalapatti housewife visited one of her neighbours for the routine evening gossip. “There was a woman teaching paper quilling and I sat for half-an-hour and learnt how to make basic shapes,” recalls Gunavathy Chandrasekaran. She had little idea then that paper quilling would change her life. Today, Gunavathi is a successful entrepreneur with an annual turnover of over Rs.6,00,000 and a clientele spread across the state.

What she started as a hobby gradually became her passion and is now a business. “I set out making little jhumkas and jewellery. Soon, they sold like hotcakes among my friends and family. Women started wearing the paper jewellery to weddings and occasions and the demand went up.” In three months time, Gunavathy designed 3,500 pairs of Jhumkas and sold them across exhibitions. Her supportive husband Chandrasekaran, who runs a printing business in Sivakasi, would sit with her, inserting hooks to the earrings. “Without his motivation and help, I wouldn’t have tasted success.”

Gunavathy makes jewellery, wall-hangings, home-decors, corporate gifts and miniature art pieces out of paper quilling. The prices range from Rs.30 and Rs.4,000. Every day, she neatly cuts strips of papers in various lengths and thickness and rolls them tightly with the help of a quilling needle. “Quilling is a tedious job and consumes much time and energy,” she says. “Even while asleep, I dream of designs and I keep a paper and pen by my bedside, so that I make a sketch right then. All my products are appreciated for the finesse, colour combination and the life. I give them all multiple coatings of adhesive and a special varnish that binds the quilled layers of paper together.” She has showcased her products in various expos and sells through mail and blog.

As a craftsperson certified by the Handicrafts Marketing and Service Extension Centre, Nagercoil, Gunavathy conducts workshops and training session for school and college students, underprivileged and orphan children. She also has plans to teach the art to prisoners, differently-abled and destitute women and start a women Self-help group of her own.

At a recent SIPPO expo in Coimbatore, she made sales worth Rs.80,000. “As a class X drop out, I never dreamt of making so much money in just 10 days,” she says. Born in a business family and married into a household of doctors, Gunavathy never felt the need to earn for herself. However, she was bored with the monotony in life and would often slip into depression. “I used to wallow in self-pity,” she says, revealing that a polio attack crippled her as a two-year-old. “But I didn’t let it bog me down. I have always liked to get counted as ‘normal.”

“I had many inspirations and one among them was Dr. APJ. Abdul Kalam,” says Gunavathy. “I have read all his books and am deeply saddened by his sudden demise. I regret I couldn’t even meet him once. I have decided to make a quilling portrait of him.”

Gunavathy has won women of excellence awards from various clubs and organisations and the Poompuhar award by Tamil Nadu Government. For further details contact gunasquilling@gmail.com