Every one of us at some point of time visit a greeting gallery to buy a card for our loved ones. Be it a friend's Birthday, Valentine's day, or just a Thank You card. Archie's, Hallmark and a few local artists who make hand-made cards are our prime contenders in the sector of cards in various shapes and sizes. Some of the cards stand apart for their message and some for their sheer brilliance in concept and design.

How many times has it happened that after much contemplation, you decide on a card for a special occasion, somebody else selects the very next moment the same card? The cards are produced on a large scale and are marketed globally. If you are one among the crowd, then go ahead and pick one up from the shelf of a card shop.

If you wish for something unique, hand made with a personal touch and your own thoughts penned in, then look for a series of 'Mini' cards by Kamini.It all started,

when Kamini saw a small card brought by her friend from Dubai. She went about experimenting to create a card as tiny as she could. Voila! she managed to create a card 25 millimetres wide and an appropriate cover that fits the card like a glove. The smallest of her cards measure 8 x 6 millimeters. She has a collection of cards for every occasion, from 'Happy Birthday" to 'Thinking of You'. There is a card 15 x 24 millimeters. She also has a personalised bar code on the back of her cards ( I did try reading them with a barcode scanner, but they are so small, the scanner could not even perceive the cards, let alone read the barcode). What is the concept behind making them small? "I have a habit of collecting small things - anything tiny and attractive catches my eyes. I believe that good things come in small packages

."What is the practical use of these cards? "It is a great advantage to people who have to hide the cards in their homes. If it is given by your sweetheart, you can keep them anywhere without it getting noticed by your parents," she remarks breaking into laughter.

Where do you get the ideas from? "Sometimes the bigger cards inspire me and I try to make them as small as I can, but if I'm giving them to someone then they have my own creativity.

"What is the material you use? "I make use of the card paper from other greetings, invitations or any kind of cards that I can recycle. I tell everyone I know to give me the cards that they are going to throw." How much time do you need to make one of these?"Usually it takes me about half an hour to make one card."

What are your other interests? "I am also into designing clothes and terracotta jewellery. Some time later I have plans to open a boutique of my own"
(If the clothes are as small as her cards, then...?)

For more e-mail her at: mini15th@usa.net