(photos of 2010 teen henna workshop on Facebook)
(photos of 2011 teen henna workshop on Facebook)
For those who would like to try doing henna on their own:
Last year I used the “Create” kit from Henna Caravan and purchased a set of applicator bottles, also from Henna Caravan. These jacquard bottles are actually used for other crafts and can also be purchased from other craft sources. The kit had enough henna paste for everyone who attended last year. I had some paste left over, which we froze and used this year.
However, all you really need from the kit is the henna powder and the essential oil. This year I bought the 20 oz. bag of henna powder and a bottle of the essential oil (I used the “Arabian Wind” tea tree oil blend). I mixed the powder with 1/4 cup of lemon juice 24 hours ahead of time and then added in the oil 12 hours ahead of time. I made cone applicators by rolling triangles of plastic cut from quart-sized freezer bags and sealing them with packing tape. These worked better than the jacquard bottles for holding smaller amounts of henna.
Henna Caravan also has good information about applying henna and information about the practice of henna.
My favorite library book about henna is Mehndi: the Timeless Art of Henna Painting by Loretta Roome. She talks about a variety of cultural traditions involving henna, typical patterns from different regions, and has lots of information about mixing and applying henna.
Other books at the Platteville Public Library with great henna designs are
- Henna Designs (30 pages henna designs, plus a CD with all the clip art)
Noble, Marty (391.6 Nob) - Mehndi: The Art of Henna Body Painting
Fabius, Carine (391.6 Fab)
We also have a variety of books at the library with designs from different cultures, including:
- 500 Tattoo Designs
Ferguson, Henry (391.6 Fer) - Traditional Chinese Designs
Appelbaum, Stanley (745.4 App) - Celtic and Old Norse Designs
Davis, Courtney (745.4 Dav) - 5000 Indian Designs and Motifs
Mookerjee, Ajit (745.4 Moo) - Islamic Designs for Artists and Craftspeople
Wilson, Eva (745.4 Wil) - North American Indian Designs for Artists and Craftspeople
Wilson, Eva (745.4 Wil)