How it's Made - Chai | Wool Felt | Wall Hanging

A couple years ago, without knowing it, Analise and I bought a print of the same painting from Mohan ji. It’s called “Morning.” A simple scene, depicting village life in the early morning. Two women sit beside a “chakki” (hand mill), chatting away while they grind their wheat for the day. Behind them is a “jhopari” (house built from mud and clay) and all around them are the tell tale signs of village life: a meandering goat, a proud rooster and colourful wild birds common to the Rajasthani countryside. Though not quiet, it’s peaceful in its own way. The familiarity, the everyday-ness of it.

What does that have to do with the Chai Collection fine art? Well, in previous collections, the fine art has been created directly inspired by the prints. Displayed in a new medium, color, or size they have all been a variation of the collections prints. This time, Analise wanted something different. Chai is all about connection. Extraordinary connection in an ordinary day. And nothing shouts ordinary like a morning in the village (let's be honest, village life is always extraordinary) or extraordinary like cups of chai stitched in Rajasthani wool felt. 

A scene in wool felt? 

Mohan ji was ready for it. He had watched us dye, cut, stitch and create with felt over a couple years now and he wanted to try something new. Mohan ji is an expert in what’s called “wood cut” art. It’s a style of printmaking using wooden slabs in which each piece of the scene is slowly carved into the wood, carefully applying ink to the wood and pressing it to the paper for each color. Many layers later, a picture emerges full of color, pattern and depth. 

Analise has been playing with felt for years now, pushing the limits of what felt is capable of in curious exploration. Around the studio are samples of her creative process: scraps of felt in different colors and shapes, embroidered in geometric and floral designs, some stitched together with a modern art twist. 

Mohan ji’s expertise with wood cut and Analise’s years of working with felt brought our well loved “morning” scene to life in felt with a sweet and gingery twist. Even more common than a meeting at a hand mill is a conversation over chia. 

And it’s as intricate as it looks. 

Created start to finish in our studio, each art piece began with Rajasthani wool felt, dyed, cut and stitched to finish. Simple to say, incredibly time consuming and challenging to accomplish. 

I’d say it was worth it. Pour yourself a cup of chai and enjoy this sweet and earthy scene from the Rajasthani hills. 

 -Sarah