HANDICRAFTS

Crafts (handicrafts), is the making of decorative or functional objects, generally by hand. Hand and power tools may be used, however, in making some craft items. The term crafts also refer to the objects made. Generally the crafts are made very creatively and skillfully out of different materials.

Bamboo craftwork is the forming or shaping of bamboo to create, or decorative objects. These crafts are specialized creation, providing a range of products from simple bamboo structures to pleasing domestic article and toys, which in fact, was one of humankind's first skills since the beginning of the human civilization.

FUNCTION OF CRAFT

This article is concerned with crafts as creative hobbies, practiced primarily in the home with a minimum of specialized equipment. Crafts as so defined have certain functions. In a world that is becoming increasingly mechanized and standardized, they give people the opportunity to work with their hands and to express their individuality. Crafts also are often used in occupational therapy; for example, a patient might be taught a craft to develop weakened muscles or to help in gaining use of an artificial limb. An emotionally disturbed person might be taught a craft that would serve as an outlet for feelings. Craftwork also provides the disables with purposeful activity that diverts attention from their handicaps.

Many hobbyists find themselves going into business. A craftsperson who perhaps has at first sold craft items only to friends or at local bazaars may find that increased demand leads to a wider clientele and sales by mail order, at crafts fairs. Day to day people love to have continuous change in their living standard and styles as they are being fed up with common articles around every time. Though the development of interior designing or decoration is being flourished very rapidly everywhere. The hand made bamboo crafts give extraordinary outlook. The stunning and blinding beauty of the bamboo crafts give an immense pleasure to the users and observers as well. All the crafts are functional and they are basically two types; Decorative and useable wares. Though bamboo crafts were being used traditionally but were not systematic and added purposeful beauty skillfully. Mostly the use of crafts is thriving in the city areas as many hobbyists are drawing their attention towards its advantages, beauty and pleasure.

PRODUCTION

The qualitative and mass production of craft for the long term on the low investment is the its main aim. The in spite of the gradual promotion of market, this industry gathers its breath to struggle for the future steps. The production of genuine bamboo product is its unique motto giving excellent finishing for the consumers satisfaction. This industry pays much more attention in all possible diminutions in production as the speed of the production rate directly depends upon the number of skilled manpower and enough handy tools and power tools. The regular and clear instructions as well as graphic designs and the model works play the key role in the speed manufacturing rate. The quality products are not expected unless the good quality of raw materials and better method of sterilization process is applied. Before the making the craft the selected bamboo is sterilized using chemicals to free it from the harmful beetles and eggs then it is dried well to prevent from possible shrinking and bending. Thus, different types of objects are manufactured as per the demands of consumers.

HISTORY OF CRAFTS

Crafts are as old as human history. Originally fulfilling utilitarian purposes, they are now a means of producing objects of intrinsic aesthetic appeal. Among the earliest basic crafts are basketry, weaving, and pottery. Nearly every craft now practiced can be traced back many hundreds or even thousands of years.

Craftwork formed the basis of town and city economies throughout Europe until the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. Once items could be mass-produced, however, individual artisans were no longer needed. In reaction to the effects of industrialization, the Arts and Crafts movement began in England in the late 19th century, led by the designer and social reformer William Morris. The strong interest in crafts throughout the Western world today grew in large part from this movement.

In many parts of the world crafts are still produced as they have been for centuries; Chinese basketry and Indonesian batik are examples. In the southern Appalachian highlands of the United States, basketry and woven goods are made today by much the same methods used by the original settlers of the region; the federal government has made grants to support such traditional work.

Traditional used in every south Asian country since ancestral age in various sectors because of its unlimited advantages. Our houses can grow it near and it gives fast harvest. It can be used for making houses with low cost and also for many house wares. In the rural areas it is used for making water drawing channels, feeding animals, food, musical instruments and house wares traditionally.

OTHER CRAFTS

Many other crafts are practiced today. Among them are work in acrylics and other plastics, bread dough sculpting, knitting and crocheting, making cloth toys and dolls, flower crafts, shell crafts, candle making decorative inlay and parquetry work with wood, stenciling, and making miniatures.

FINISHING

The work of craft is given the last touch to remove the marks left by the various cutting tools and finally, when one or more finishes are applied to the object. The last touch should end the work to make the crafts fine and smooth and good out look. Finishes serve to protect and preserve the bamboo and to bring out the beauty of the grain or, in some cases, to cover up the imperfections of lower quality bamboo. Common finishes include oils, sealers, bleaches, fillers, stains, shine-paper, varnish, and paints, including enamels.

Recently developed polyurethane sealers impart a clear, highly durable finish that provides excellent waterproof protection and brings out the charm and beauty of the grain.

RAW MATERIALS

The term bamboo craft clears some extend of different objects available around us such as bamboo plant and other optional materials like, glue, polish, colors, papers, glass and certain chemicals.

MANPOWER

Craft is a science of art. Art is the feeling of an artist. To create craft very special skilled workmen are needed. They use different tools very dexterously. The workers are categorized in two groups basically, special or skilled and semi-skilled workers. The skilled workers involve in the constructions referring the designs provided them and rest work in trimming, cutting the necessary size of bamboo for the craft. The workers are trained in the different levels; such as basic level, intermediate level and advanced level. The skilled workers can increase the rate of manufacturing and maintain the better quality in craft.

EQUIPMENT

Though the invention of tools is being changed very rapidly as per the different ages and necessities this type of craftworks need no advanced tools but need rich skills.

Even simple tools are used for cutting the trimming edges. The most common hand tools include saws, planes, drill, blades, clips, backsaws, knives and chisels and such miscellaneous tools as hammers, which are used in conjunction with fasteners.

Curves are cut with the coping saw, which consists of a metal frame that keeps a narrow blade under tension. The precise cutting of joints can be doe by hand with the aid of the backsaw, a thin rectangular blade stiffened by a metal bar along its back. Planes are used to smooth and shape bamboo by means of a sharp steel blade set at an angle, to the surface to be planed. The most important hand boring tools include the brace, the hand drill, and the push drill and their various bits. Measuring tools are used to mark and check work for size and alignment. The square and the trisquare are sued to align or test right angles, and the spirit level is used primarily to test horizontal and vertical alignment.

DESIGNS

Design, an initial sketched drawing, creating an object's from and function. Design can involve making products, machines, and structures that serve their intended purpose and are pleasing to the eye as well.

A design based on artistic ability gives the clear conception of the components of the object to be made. The skilled artisans use and follow the designs to create the objects in accuracy.

In the design stage, drafting and computer graphics techniques are combined to produce models of objects. A design should be very clear enough in line, color, proportion, and other essential information for the convenience of the artists while assembling the materials. It is a pattern to guide the operations of skilled persons. Designs are created as per the demands and desires of customers.

BAMBOO CRAFT ITEMS:

The various craft items are made such as decorative and usable objects out of bamboo. Bamboo crafts have no definite limitations, as it varies very extensively as per the designs. The craft items are produced as per the demand of the consumers and the market. The products are very unique and attractive. These products are made even for the foreign export because the products are not delicate and they very in different model and sizes for the convenience of the exporters.

Decorative Crafts :
* Flower Vases
* Frames
* Showpieces
* Models of Traditional houses
* Model of Temples

Usable Objects :
* Trays
* Baskets
* Lamp stand
* Carpets
* Stools
* Racks
* Dustbin

COSTING

The ready made crafts are seemed very skilled fully made. The cost of them varies according to the quality of craft and input. The cost also differs of size and model. The crafts are produced in various items the sizes. The following table may clear the certain extend of cost confusion.

CONSUMER

The crafts are made very skillfully which look very beautiful and natural so that whoever else feels to use them as in the modern days every one is fed up with the use of steel and plastic house wares. The usable crafts are seemed very handy. The consumers are two type; Traditional users and the hobbyist.

Many people use bamboo craft as a hobby, decorative and gift purpose and building houses as well as house wares etc. Though, the use of bamboo craft is not new for the consumers but they have no habit of using new model of articles. The consumers must be given the clears ideas of crafts.

BAMBOO

Scientific classification. Poaceae (formerly Gramineae). Bamboo is the common name for about 45 genera of (about 480 species) a perennial treelike plant, which scientifically falls in the grass family. It grows most abundantly in southeastern Asia in tropical and subtropical areas, from sea level to snow capped mountain peaks, with a few species reaching into temperate areas, with some species in the Americas and Africa and none in Australia. The plants range from stiff reeds about 1 m (about 3 ft) tall to giants reaching 50 m (164 ft) in height and 30 cm (12 in) in diameter near the base. Most bamboos are erect, but some are viny, producing impenetrable thickets in some areas. Where, it has hundreds of practical applications, such as in construction and decoration and as paper or food. The plant's stems, called culms, consist of hollow sections called internodes, which are interrupted by regularly spaced nodes, giving bamboo its jointed appearance.

Bamboos are most widely used by humans. In the tropical regions they are used for constructing houses, rafts, bridges, and scaffolding. Split and flattened culms can be used as flooring and interwoven to make baskets, mats, hats, fish traps, and other articles; culms of large species may be used as containers for liquids. Paper is made from bamboo pulp, and fishing rods, water pipes, musical instruments, and chopsticks from other parts. Many bamboos are planted as ornamentals, and young shoots are eaten as a vegetable. The grain is also a food. Domestic animals are fed on bamboo plants. The bamboo experts express that the bamboo plants play great role in the modern world beating off the extensive use of steels and plastic products. It will be the third world wide natural building resources resource on the earth.