More than just a beautiful form of self-expression for millennia, the art of henna body decoration has been used by cultures around the world for magical protection, blessings, celebrations, luck, and love. In this unique book, Philippa Faulks guides you step by step in the creation of magical henna art. Learn to mix henna paste and apply your design, select powerful symbols and the best places for them on the body, and blend in oils and herbs to boost your magic's potency. You'll also find dozens of ready-made henna designs and spells for love, passion, friendship, healing, prosperity, and more, plus correspondences to help you craft your own spells. Includes illustrations and a full-color photo insert.
Lawsonia inermis ver. alba... "henna". How much do you know about this incredible botanical? Was it sensual Mehndi body adornment or Cleopatra's favorite perfume? An aphrodisiac or a treatment for leprosy? An ancient Roman currency or a last right for the dead? This book takes a fascinating look at one of the most popular botanicals of all time. Never before has a book been devoted to henna as a whole. Drawing on botany, archeology, phytomedicine and folkloric history to define the many ambiguities and misconceptions surrounding it, thus presenting for the first time an accurate and complete history of henna. A portion of the proceeds from this book goes to charity and preservation of henna's history. - In extreme depth, henna's medicinal past is revealed. From the papyrus Ebers to the writings of Galen, discover henna's uses in all of the major Old World medicines. -Did you know henna has some of the most fragrant flowers on earth? Learn why women became addicted to them and the shocking basis for their allure. - Think you know the full story concerning henna body art? Think again. Find out how its history was manufactured in the 19th and 20th century to cover its true origins.
No one knows for sure when henna was first used for skin decorating, but traces of henna have been found on mummies in Egypt and on cave painting in India dating back thousands of years. While this tradition is still widely used in India, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, it is now gaining popularity throughout the Western world as well. Rooted in the belief that those whose skin is adorned with henna are blessed with good fortune, henna is often associated with rights of passage—coming of age, marriage, and childbirth. Holidays and festivals are times when women and girls decorate their hands and feet, and henna patterns are sometimes unique to these occasions. In some cultures, a bridegroom may be decorated the night before a wedding as well. It is increasingly common for henna parties to be held in the United States, sometimes at weddings, birthday parties, and baby showers—and sometimes just for fun. Henna patterns are seen adorning pop icons like Madonna, Demi Moore, and Prince, and henna artists are becoming an increasingly common sight at street fairs and shops as a temporary and painless alternative to tattoos. Design motifs are included from many different cultures, with background information provided about the symbolism of the designs and motifs.
With detailed how-tos, evocative stories, and expert advice, this curated collection of 30 beautiful, easily reproducible designs by henna expert Azra Khamissa captures the past, present, and future of henna. Applied intricately to hands before celebrations, spread thickly on the soles of feet to protect the skin, or drawn in loose lines and shapes as a form of creative expression: Henna is all these things and more. Using her deep love for henna and tapping into her years of hosting henna workshops, designer and chiropractor Azra Khamissa fuses her own unique designs with historical and traditional inspiration to create The Henna Archive, a guide with 30 approachable designs that you can create at home. Inside you’ll find historical designs from Libya, Algeria, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and more, as well as designs of Khamissa’s own creation: leopard prints, crescent moons, Japanese knots, and flowers. Touching stories from people around the world sharing their personal connections to henna pair with the designs and illuminate the intimate nature of this ancient body art. Included are detailed how-tos to take your henna practice to the next level and tips, like how to get the perfect stain, what to look for when shopping for the best quality henna products, and how to host your own henna party. UNIQUE DESIGNS: Included among the historical designs are 20 of Azra's own creation, designs that her many followers and fans have loved re-creating on their own and that will inspire you to explore henna for yourself. A CELEBRATION OF HENNA: No other book has explored the stories and people behind the art form of henna in such a beautiful way. The designs inside uniquely capture the diverse applications, places, and people who love henna. BEAUTIFUL GIFT: Filled with striking photography and detailed instructions, this book is the perfect gift for both beginners and henna experts alike or anyone looking to explore this art form. Perfect for: Engagement party, bridal shower, wedding, or Eid al-Fitr gift Fans of henna, mendhi, or temporary tattooing looking for DIY design ideas Great art activity for a girls’ night, bachelorette party, slumber parties, and more Those who enjoy calligraphy, hand lettering, drawing, or anyone looking for a new art practice
The best book for learners of henna (Mehendi) designer. The book is for a beginner, about Mehendi, and all designs right from scratch to expert level are composed with the neat depiction of the drawing techniques so that a learner can understand and become a master in henna designing. If you are a fresher or beginner this book is going to be very helpful for you to be a good designer.
Color your world with the fabulous art of henna tattoo with this book of patterns and instructions for the body and even home decor objects! Learn how to combine the 5 basic henna shapes into a variety of exotic mendhi designs.
A NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK "Captivated me from the first chapter to the final page."—Reese Witherspoon Vivid and compelling in its portrait of one woman’s struggle for fulfillment in a society pivoting between the traditional and the modern, The Henna Artist opens a door into a world that is at once lush and fascinating, stark and cruel. Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist—and confidante—to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own… Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow—a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does. “Eloquent and moving…Joshi masterfully balances a yearning for self-discovery with the need for familial love.”—Publishers Weekly Look for The Secret Keeper of Jaipur and The Perfumist of Paris from New York Times bestselling author Alka Joshi!
"In Yemen in 1920 ... Adela Damari's parents desperately seek a future husband for their young daughter. After passage of the Orphan's Decree, any unbetrothed Jewish child left orphaned will be instantly adopted by the local Muslim community. With her parents' health failing, and no spousal prospects in sight, Adela's situation looks dire until her uncle arrives from a faraway city, bringing with him a cousin and aunt who introduce Adela to the powerful rituals of henna tattooing"--Amazon.com.
Learn how to create beautiful mehendi designs using an entirely-natural, simple paste made from the leaves of the henna plant with this step-by-step guide. The easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions and gorgeous photographs in DIY Henna Tattoos make learning henna art simple and fun. In no time, you will master the basic techniques and designs, including: • Flowers • Leaves • Swirls • Vines • Paisleys • Netting • Petals • Mandalas . . . and more! Whether you want to sport something quick and simple or decorate a large area, you can easily choose how much of your skin to adorn with these stylish motifs. And because the tattoo is from henna, next month you get to try a new and different look!
D is for Data. And Death. Christian Rönnbacka is one of the best-selling crime novelists in Finland. In this thriller his protagonist Henna Björk, a young but hard-boiled agent, hunts down criminals who operate on the dark web for nefarious purposes – including murder. Having grown restless during her training for the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service, Henna Björk is thrilled to finally be out in the field. She soon realises, however, that the assignment was merely a test to see if she’s ready to be thrown into the world of hackers and cybercrime. A list of people appears on the dark web, including one name critical to Finland’s national security. Private information on high-profile people is being sold at a high price. Henna and her hacker partner hunt down the criminals who operate on the dark side of the internet and leave no trace except a list of names written in blood. In the third installment of Christian Rönnbacka’s Henna Björk series of crime novels personal information is an expensive commodity – and used to turn opponents into corpses. Christian Rönnbacka is an author and adventurer with a law enforcement background. Known for his Hautalehto and Henna Björk series, Rönnbacka has been named Finnish crime novelist of the year multiple times by the audiobook service BookBeat. Rönnbacka is also a partner in a distillery.
