Elegant masterpiece's

by Lakmal Welabada

Needlecraft is an art that cures mental distress. It needs a lot of patience and attention. So it's quite meditative and tranquillizing, points out Shamali De Silva who took to the glamorous art to withdraw her mental setbacks.

Ribbon Embroidery, hand embroidery, brazilian embroidery, needle point and fabric painting are the areas she has mastered on.

Shamali was a Bio-Science student at St. Paul's, Waragoda, Kelaniya who later became a government pharmacist. "I worked at Wathupitiwala Hospital for about 2 years and then resigned from the service as my husband wanted a full time housewife," she smiles. "The most beautiful eight years of my life was with my husband, Dr. Lalith Thebuwana," she says.

Her husband's death was a big blow to her as she struggled every minute of the three years he was in the sick bed to give him his life back. The medical knowledge failed to diagnose the tumour propped up in his kidneys which spread all over his body shortening his life span up to 39 years. "I did everything I could and even took him to India. He got treatment there for one and half months," she sighs.

In India, his bad condition was the only news Shamali had been getting throughout at the Madras Medical Mission Hospital. Her husband was at the ICU after a series of tests. She was at the glass window staring at him. After staying there for hours, Shamali walked out of the hospital gate thinking of having some fresh air.

Coincidentally she walked in to a book store at the corner of the street. On the shelves of the book store she found some books of embroidery. The colourful prints attracted her. She bought a few of the books available. Later at the hospital Shamali went through the pages of the books she bought as an alternative to kill time beside her husband's sick bed.

Her two sons were 7 and 5 when her husband left the world. Her family was a great assistance to her and her two sons. "I really owe them; my parents, brothers and sisters and their spouses for giving me and my sons the breath to live," she says.

"I was struggling hard to be positive and tranquillize. I felt I was depressed. I really missed Lalith. Due to this I used to get angry often. But one day when I was re-arranging a luggage I found the embroidery books I bought in India during my stay with Lalith. So I went through them and gradually started doing some of them. I didn't follow any particular class, but managed to master the craft, I suppose," she claims.

First she tried her hands on her own clothes and decor. Gradually, even without her knowledge she was getting offers for embroidery and fabric painting. Today Shamali is successfully conducting embroidery classes. "It keeps me occupied and gives an immense relaxation. I help others as possibly as I could. Finally I have found a way to be happy," she smiles.

Shamali hopes to hold an exhibition in March. She hopes to display some of her lovely creations on clothes and wall hangings. "Most of them are my own designs. Whenever I get an opportunity I would scribble a design and later turn it into an elegant masterpiece," she says.

"Beat your depression with courage and determination," she stresses.