I’m Devi Chand, the founder and artist behind Papermelon. I make some exciting jewelry and decor from upcycled paper.
I live in a colorful India. I create from my little home studio in Chennai. I craft so that I don’t have to do other boring things. I’m wife to one and mother to a smaller one.
I’m Devi Chand, the founder and artist behind Papermelon. I make some exciting jewelry and decor from upcycled paper.
I live in a colorful India. I create from my little home studio in Chennai. I craft so that I don’t have to do other boring things. I’m wife to one and mother to a smaller one.
As a tiny little kid, I loved to make things. My favorite things to make were glittery baubles and tiny gift boxes from candy wrappers. I proudly hung them on the Christmas tree, and then it felt like Christmas. My parents were super supportive in my crafty adventures and ignored the mess.
I grew up and studied design at NIFT. College inspired to dream, design and make more things. As a side effect, I met my awesome husband here. After graduation, I worked in a design firm. I yawned most of the time there. It took me only nine months to say goodbye to corporate life. I started Papermelon in 2009, and have since been crafting non-stop.
As a tiny little kid, I loved to make things. My favorite things to make were glittery baubles and tiny gift boxes from candy wrappers. I proudly hung them on the Christmas tree, and then it felt like Christmas. My parents were super supportive in my crafty adventures and ignored the mess.
I grew up and studied design at NIFT. College inspired to dream, design and make more things. As a side effect, I met my awesome husband here. After graduation, I worked in a design firm. I yawned most of the time there. It took me only nine months to say goodbye to corporate life. I started Papermelon in 2009, and have since been crafting non stop.
When I started out, all I had was an enthusiastic me and a colourful stash of paper, thanks to my design education. During one of my experiments, I made my first paper bead by rolling a paper strip over a tooth pick. I loved how unusal and delicate it looked (also messy!). That was the first of the many many hours I spend making paper beads, perfecting the art, and experimenting to make them durable.
Overtime, I’ve fallen in love with working with paper, and the magic it creates.
I obsessively collect all kinds of papers – newspapers, magazines, calendars, gift wraps, paper bags and pamphlets to name a few.
And most amazingly, I have a network of friends, neighbours and well-wishers, who unconditionally pass on the vibrant paper stash they collected for this offbeat artist.
My studio is composed of a table (our dining table in its previous life), several racks (that I managed to conquer) and our balcony (shared space with plants and birds).
The studio time begins as soon as my little 6-year old steps out for school, and comes to an end when I’m mother again.
I use simple hand tools and no machinery in production, because my hands are usually enough.
Paper is cut into strips and meticulously hand rolled into perfectly shaped beads.
I work with papers that have irregular designs and colors, so it’s hard to predict the patterns the beads will decide to have. So when they are finished, I’m as surprised as anybody else. And I love that suspense.
The paper beads are given a coat of sealant to make the products water resistant, so they can be cherished forever. The beads will rest in my balcony until they are thoroughly sun-dried. They are then assembled into jewelry and decor.
Happy and grateful to be featured in some of the most wonderful publications – online and offline.
Happy and grateful to be featured in some of the most wonderful publications – online and offline.
Be the first to hear about new product launches
& special studio happenings – once a month.
Be the first to hear about new product launches & special studio happenings – once a month.
Be the first to hear about new product launches & special studio happenings – once a month.
Be the first to hear about new product launches & special studio happenings – once a month.
Be the first to hear about new product launches & special studio happenings – once a month.
