Buying flowers from the market or artificial venis from a flower shop always seems to be a convenient option. But what if you could customise your veni to match your wedding saree? N R Bhuvaneswari, a documentation officer in a private firm by day, is a venis maker by evening. She makes flat and round venis, tiaras and your traditional, jadai.
“Making a veni with jasmine flowers, a golden tread and artificial tubes in just 10-minute work for us,” says Bhuvana. “I started ‘Bhuvana Floral Venis’ as a side business, a year ago. I had never advertised, but my work was slowly recognised through my Facebook page. I got orders from local people for natural venis, and also for artificial venis by people from other states and even abroad. I am extremely satisfied with my choice of work.” Bhuvana was always intrigued by the different venis worn by women on occasions. She found a woman who taught her the basics in two days and since then she has been experimenting and loving her flowers.
“I use jasmine, violets, Bangalore roses, tube roses and orchids. When I cannot locate a flower of the chosen colour by my client, I use spray cans. I can spray the jasmine ends on a veni to have a gold finish to it or spray the insides of a white rose with a light blue colour,” she explains. Sitting on the floor, with the golden thread looped around her toe, she skilfully arranges three different petals together. The unmarried 38-year-old, though has no intention to become a bride herself.
“I need to take care of my mother. My father passed away five years back and I have two younger brothers too. I’m not interested in marrying anyone,” she chuckles. “What I want to do someday is to set up an arts and crafts institution where I can train more women to become independent entrepreneurs.”
Immersed in her passion with flowers and her daily pay job, Bhuvana has also started conducting veni-making workshops. “I have month-long workshops as well as one day intense workshops for non-localities. Every 15 days, I conduct them on Sundays. Most people who attend them are home makers, beauticians, and mothers who want to make venis for their daughters’ marriages,” she adds.
The cost of the venis range from `250 to `2,500. The next one-day workshop will be conducted on November 1. The cost is `3,500 inclusive of materials. For details, call 09710290965.