Handmade paper journals (Pair), "Serenity"

"I was born in 1948 to a conservative family in Delhi. It was necessary for a girl to know cooking, stitching and embroidery apart from all the other household chores. Necessity became passion, and I started teaching sewing and embroidery to younger generations, including my two daughters.

"When my husband shifted our residence to a village far from the city, I found myself teaching stitching and embroidery to new admirers — my neighbors. I started teaching them free of cost.

"I began with dresses and slowly moved to home décor and utilitarian designs like cushion covers, floor mats, handbags, belts, and more. As the number of students grew, so did the demand for our work. Our first customers were our many relatives and friends, then gradually we began offering our designs to shops.

"Little by little, I found I was no longer only a housewife but also a working woman with seven to nine ladies assisting me. My main concentration was always on quality.

"I am very much excited to work with Novica, as I think the concept is unique and I'm excited to be able to sell our designs directly to shoppers overseas."