Head to Central Park to enjoy one last fair before the weather gets unbearable. State Swayangsiddha Mela shall continue there till February 23, 2pm to 8.30pm.

The fair has 285 stalls representing over 900 self help groups (SHG). An initiative of the State Urban Development Agency, the fair was earlier held at Acropolis Mall before the Pujas. When it received good response, more were held across the state to support the members of the SHGs.

Here is a glimpse of the items the women have brought to the fair —

1. Coconut dolls

What: These cute dolls, made to resemble the character Chutki from Chhota Bheem, are made of three halves of coconut shells — one each for the head, torso and skirt. Wool and fabric paint complete the look. “We also have Chhota Bheem dolls made similarly which will come in soon,” says Sanchita Shaw of Baidyabati.

Where: Stall 22

Price: Rs 55

2. Floral paper weights

What: Anupama Nandi freezes the beauty of roses, chrysanthemums and even some leaves in cube-shaped adhesives like resin. Besides paper weights, they also have these in pendants and earrings.

Where: Stall 80

Price: Rs 50 to 100 for paper weights, Rs 60 for earrings and pendants

3. Burnt clay pen stands

What: These attractive pen stands are made of burnt clay, painted and then polished with lacre for that glossy look. “We have them in cartoon motifs like Doraemon as well as Ganeshas,” says stall-keeper Anupama Nandi.

Where: Stall 80

Price: Rs 130

4. Brass telephone

What: Not only is this a beautiful showpiece reminiscent of the bygone era but it is fixed with wires and contraptions, making it useable. “We have brass gramophones, irons and cars too but they are all showpieces. The phones can be used as landlines,” smiles Anwara Begum of Joynagar.

Where: Stall 163

Price: Rs 4,000

5. Durga wall hanging

What: Tanusree Sarkar has brought eye-catching wall hangings of Durga, made of clay, adorned in shola and plastered on powder blue or yellow backgrounds. The 1.5ft pieces are three dimensional and secured with glass. “We have similar artwork for veenas, boats and roses. Response is great and we have even got some orders at this fair,” says the artisan from Murshidabad.

Where: Stall 206

Price: Rs 1,000

6. Black polish jhumkas

What: The problem with oxidised jewellery, says stall keeper Silpi Karmakar, is that they turn dark or even rusty with age. “But black polish metals will not change colour,” she says, adding that her jhumkas are inspired by heavy Afghani designs.

Where: Stall 35

Price: Rs 180

7. Buffalo horn sculptures

What: Buffalo horns have been molten and flattened to create showpieces such as this. “The black portions of this piece are buffalo horns; the white are Australian cow horns. It takes me a week to make something of this size,” says Subhas Jana of Kolaghat. He also has smaller items like combs and key chains.

Where: Stall 220

Price: Rs 4,000

8. Eggshell lampshades

What: These glass bottle lampshades look beautiful from afar but no one will guess that they are covered with broken eggshells. “We wash, spray paint and then break the eggshells into different shapes and sizes. Once glued to the bottle, the diffused light from within looks beautiful,” says Anita Gon.

Where: Stall 32

Price: Rs 275

9. Stone-dust Ganeshas

What: Some of these idols will fit — not just the palm but — a finger. “They are made of stone dust, mixed with water to create a clay-like substance. We then use the scalpel on it to carve out designs,” says Soma Karmakar, who specialises in Ganeshas. She has them in meditative postures as well as on swings and boats.

Where: Stall 126

Price: Rs 200

10. Juice pouches

What: Asmina Ahmed has packed home-made orange, mango, pineapple, litchi, guava and jeera juice into cute pencil-like pouches. “Children are especially loving these because of the cute packaging with cartoons,” says the resident of Tamluk. “The pineapple, orange and jeera flavours are getting many repeat customers.”

Where: Food stall 24

Price: Rs 10

Recycled clothes at Rs 50

The fair also has Zero Shop, which is selling recycled clothes — children’s ones at Rs 20 and shirts, jeans and kurtis for adults at Rs 50. “The clothes have all been donated to us, which we wash and iron before selling,” says Joy Basak of New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA). The original Zero Shop is located opposite the bus terminus in New Town.