Glue and glitter showstoppers
Fun for grown-ups: Michelle’s Piñatas at Lakme Fruit Blast 2012
Though the sky is overcast the cheerfully yellow pom poms that dangle inside Michelle Wijesinghe’s house lend a festive flavour to the otherwise wet afternoon. Since the launch of her brainchild Piñatas Sri Lanka, life has been a whirlwind of work and creative chaos for Michelle whose animated showstopper pieces have ornamented many a celebratory event from kiddies parties to 21st birthdays, weddings and fashion shows.
A favourite classic party favour, the piñata is seen at many a party. Traditionally it is a papier mache donkey or different animal with hollow pulpy body that is filled with candy or gifts, which bursts open in a shower of goodies when hit correctly. For Michelle the idea to dive into this field was purely incidental- she stumbled on it while looking for ideas for her little son’s birthday.
Making a minion: Michelle works on a new Piñata
Having always had a creative streak in her, she tentatively took it up with nothing but a few instructions off the internet and her own imagination to help her out. The result; a Spiderman figurine won her a so much positive response which prompted her to take it from home to a wider market.
I had a lot of help from my friend Imran Saibo who is an event planner. He even made my facebook page, she smiles. After speaking to a few event planners the angry bird piñata she sent in as a trial garnered a lot of good feedback and launched her into the world of décor and party favours.
Two years later Michelle is still up to her elbows in glue and glitter with the ever increasing orders that come in by the bundle. “It takes about five days to complete one,” she explains, mostly because of the paper pulp that needs to dry on its own. The past month was especially hectic with about four orders that had to be completed in just one week.” But Michelle seems to revel in her growing business which she operates from the comfort of her own home.
Michelle Wijesinghe
Always coming up with new and innovative piñatas she does customised figures as according to her clients’ requirements. From pretty in pink princesses to the ever popular minions Michelle has done it all. Collaborating with a few party and event managers Michelle has even seen her piñatas travel across the waters to Dhaka for Partyilicious; another party planning company that was quite taken up with the different and unique party favours.
Pinatas are not her only product; Michelle is also dabbling with custom designed table decor and decor in general all customised according to her clients’ requirements. Its not just the kids who enjoy the piñatas, she tells us having catered for shows such as the Lakme Fruit Blast in 2012 and adult parties including weddings. From the colourfully crazy, animated to more elegant favours her innovative twine balls offer a more mature and sophisticated decoration in itself. Having experimented with a hen party and recently her cousin’s wedding it wont be long before Michelle brings her brand of fun and sophistication to weddings.
Michelle Wijesinghe can be reached at 0773580125 or log onto her facebook page- Piñatas Sri Lanka.