" A thing of beauty is a joy forever "- John Keats
For me that thing of beauty which gives me limitless joy is this simple Kusudama . I made it years ago. Actually I recall making it a decade and a half ago for Diwali. It surely gave me joy back then to make it . But even today just looking at it makes me so happy. The more years pass by the lovelier it looks to me. Every Diwali I take it out and display it. After the festive season is over each year I carefully store it away until next Diwali. It has held up through many houses and moving houses over the years. Crafting is a source of eternal pleasure for me.
According to Wikipedia Kusudama is a spherical paper model made by sewing, gluing or interlocking identical modular units based on polyhedra geometry . Sounds complex and it indeed is a complex process. I learnt to make it in my middle school days. But somehow the process stuck with me till date. I enjoy making Diwali lanterns . So one fine Diwali I decided to make a Kusudama. I hardly had any supplies at home, not even basic ones . I clearly remember that I walked miles to gather the supplies as I did not drive back then. Once home I realized I had missed getting glue. So I decided to use a stapler instead which I had handy at home. Then over days as time permitted with studies and household work in addition I made the Kusudama in stages. When I finally assembled it just in time to hang it up for Diwali I was just ecstatic.
I wish to teach my kids to make a Kusudama someday. Perhaps not as a lantern but as an ornament ?
