These women are discovering a brand-new dimension to their work and their selfHer mode of self-expression shines bright. With basic tools, and on her kitchen table, Namita Sharma finds inspiration from life's minutest details and casts them in silver. Her creations, like fingerprints, can't be replicated and so her studio which was launched last month is called Fingerprints. The jewellery designer has a varied work experience, having taught jewellery design in institutes, executing extensive projects for leading companies, designing for jewellery houses, travelling extensively for research till she decided to unleash her creative instincts at home, at her own pace, as per her mood. The freedom to fashion what's in her head and heart makes up for the jitters of not getting a secure pay-check on the first of every month. "You're your own chief and what you do is aesthetic and superlative, for there are not any conciliations to carry,'' Namita does everything from scratch. And it's this exclusive self-dependency that makes the process so precious and self-liberating and her pieces original, with attractive use of precious and semi-precious stones. "Silver is such a versatile metal to work with and I prefer enhancing it with colour. Working with my bare hands and without any pressure is pure joy. This is my inner calling,'' Namita looks for more ideas around her. The energies in the city are just right for attempts that are not superficial, but have a soul, philosophizes Kanchan Raina, a product and textile designer, whose heart is set on reviving traditional crafts. Kanchan has launched her own design pad recently and apart from designing cards, logos, custom-made things for people and companies according to their personality, she's working on ways to help craftspersons earn a living. Giving up a full-time job, agrees Kanchan, made her a wee bit nervous initially, "But now Do, my studio seems to be just perfect,'' Raina believes in work that's simple, which does not defy aesthetics and creativity. When effort becomes a pain, she believes, it should be stopped and in her case, this was just the perfect time to follow her instincts. "Do gives me time to work on craft revival, make it functional by teaching craftspersons finishing techniques and how to sell their products and in the process, I feel complete.'' Back to the basics, Paramjeet at her design den, strives to create eco-friendly products like pin-boards, pots, lamps, earthy decoratives that not only appeal to the outside world, but her first. "That's the beauty of being your own boss,'' the lady who runs Manthan Creations gave up her job to follow her heart. Paramjeet conceptualizes each of the designs herself and take weeks to give it the feel and finish she has in her head, and as there's no pressure of following ideas and time frame of someone, it all translates into a labour of love. Exactly why Sonia Singh has taken a break from her strenuous job as a graphic designer and is now working on launching a website for children, "one that will give them a chance to explore and have fun and me, the freedom to improvise and time to think what I want from life."
