Block-Printed Floral Cotton Cushion Covers from India (Pair), "Festive Blossoms"

"I come from the beautiful city of Jaipur, which is known as the Pink City of India. I am very hardworking and dedicated and I'm very passionate about my work.

"As a child, I was very interested in block printing after seeing other people create prints by hand with such accuracy. My father taught me how to block print and I spent months in his workshop learning.

"At first, it was difficult but, with hard work and dedication, I mastered this art. Now, my father and I work together in the workshop with the talented artisans who assist us. I love how this art positively impacts our team members and their families. We help make it possible for their children can go to school and help them with other needs.

"There was a time when I used to go to shops to show pictures of the designs I'd made to sell. These retailers used to make me wait for hours, but I did not give up. Later on, when I things were better, a buyer placed a very, very large order. When we completed it and were preparing to ship it, he refused to pay, as his company was losing money. We were left with no other option. But we continued to work hard and started over.

"We can print anything by hand, but the most difficult part is getting the colors right. We recycle wood scraps to make the stamps, and use natural and artificial colors for printing. We use cotton and process raw fabrics before printing on them. Creating new designs every day is quite challenging. I find my greatest inspiration in nature and tradition, and this is reflected in my designs.

"We teach the art of Indian block printing to those who want to learn. I want to provide a source of work to the people in my community and help preserve this traditional craft."