Chennapatna in Karnataka  is  known  where  artisans have been crafting toys using their  traditional woodcraft and colouring them with natural vegetable dyes that are lacquered onto the surfaces as a finishing touch. The wood used for making these colourful toys is usually the hale wood, which is cut to the basic size required and kept aside for seasoning for a period of four to six weeks. Lac is applied in a dry state. The lac stick mixed with natural earth and vegetable colours are pressed against the wooden pieces to be lacquered. When the wood keeps revolving on a lathe, the heat generated by friction softens the lac, making the colour stick on the surface. It is with a remarkable skill that the craftsman manipulates the stick so that the colours spread uniformly, especially where several colours are used. A final polish is done using palm leaves. Over some of the lacquered pieces designs are painted with a brush.