X’mas Market
Everything X’massy and handmade with love
Saturday, November 24, 2018 at Araliya Lounge, Galadari Hotel from 9.00am – 8.00pm.
I wanted to revive the designs this time. After my O/LS I did the Lady Irwin’s Diploma and we learned everything from cookery to chemistry, physics and needlework”
As we walked into Kamini Witharana’s house, we were truly awed by her rich interiors. In fact it’s no surprise that she has been a renowned interior designer, training many youngsters to have an interest in the field. Everything from the vases to cushion covers on her sofas to the paintings hanging on the walls made any guest look twice and admire the entire setting. During our visit, Kamini was getting ready for X’mas Market - her upcoming patchwork and handicrafts exhibition.
“I used to learn from my mother and
I got carried away with her books,” Kamini recalled while having a chat with the Daily Mirror Life. “I wanted to revive the designs this time. After my O/ Ls I did the Lady Irwin’s Diploma and we learned everything from cookery to chemistry, physics and needlework.” Having had over 25 exhibitions, Kamini is looking forward to sell more of her handmade Christmas items at this year’s sale. Witharana is famous for her rich patchwork designs, adorning everything from adults and baby quilts to table runners, serviettes and Christmas décor including stockings, wreaths and tree skirts. Patchwork and handicrafts was her go-to pastime after the sudden demise of her daughter and she believes it took her out of those depressing times.“it has been five years since my daughter passed away and ever since that day I have had sales and donated school books to school children at Ladies’ College. Last year we gave books for 17 children and this year also it will be for that cause. During the war I helped the Army and I remember donating an ECG machine as well.”
Speaking about her designs, Witharana said that she does the embroidery first which is followed by the patchwork. “I don’t finish everything together. It takes a while.” One could clearly see the amount of concentration that she had put into one piece. Rich colour combinations with reds, greens and blues will definitely make you pick at least one of those items to make your Christmas a colourful one. Kamini also had been teaching young girls at the Ladies’ College vocational training centre but now she has taken a break.“however, they are all helping me out by doing the Christmas and New Year cards. I teach card making, interior design and patchwork."
Currently Kamini has four girls helping her with the designs at home. “I do the drawing and cut the pieces and they attach them to complete the designs. Most materials are bought from abroad but some of them are locally sourced.”as Kamini showed us more of her designs, some to be sent abroad for her friends and well-wishers we realised the amount of work that had been going on behind the scenes.
Over the years she has been raising funds to get school books for underprivileged children and Kamini hopes to continue this cause till time permits.
If you are looking for some bright Christmas décor to decorate your house this Christmas, do drop into X’mas Market this Saturday, November 24, 2018 at Araliya Lounge, Galadari Hotel from 9.00am – 8.00pm.