Varalakshmi Pooja

Every year we celebrate Varalakshmi pooja just by placing the kalash, coconut and ornaments. But this year we planned to drape a saree to kalash after watching a video at internet. It was a show in TV9 Kannada where they have shown different syles on how to drape a saree to kalash. So this was my first try for this year's Varalakshmi pooja :)

Sankranthi rangoli-design 3

We had rangoli competition on Sankranthi eve at office in 2008. Myself and two other friends of mine have kept this rangoli. Thanks to Rupa and Srihari for helping me :)

Ganesha hanging using spray paint

I got a spray paint in gold color recently. So prepared another ganesha wall hanging to our door on a cardboard.

Procedure to paint:

1. First I made the design on the paper and cut the paper so that only the outline is visible and you can fill the color in between. 
2. Attach the paper to the cardboard with the help of cello tape.
3. Now spray the paint on the cardboard. carefully.
4. After spray is done for the whole painting remove the outline paper.
5. Now the outline will be empty and design will be visible clearly.
6. You can leave as it is or paint the outline with the color of your choice.
7. Here I have covered the outline using a permanent black marker.
8. And made some extra decorations using the fabric colors.

Ganesha painting

Take away gift to my friend Veena. I was feeling bad that I couldn't give her on the same day as I was not able to complete the painting after a hectic week of doing paintings and crochet that week. I was happy that atleast I could complete it in the weekend and give her at office on next day.

This painting I have done a cardboard using Pearl fabric colors and sparkle tubes.

Village girl - Emboss painting

Take away gift to my friend Chaitra after dinner party at our home.

Ganesha emboss painting

Take away gift to my friend Lavanya after dinner party at our home.

Emboss painting

For budding painters as well as anyone who likes to see their painting live up the canvas, emboss painting is an excellent art to chart a new path. Not only does it stimulates the creativity but it also excites the visual senses. Embossing gives a partial 3D character to the image which is achieved by raising or depressing the surface.

You can do your own design and use emboss gum or powder to emboss your own designs. Emboss gum/powder is easily available in markets.

The below emboss painting kit I got it from India. The kit includes the design already printed on a velvet cloth along with colors to paint it and photo of the design. As I bought these emboss paintings long back so all the colors were dried which was of no use. So I used Pearl Fabric colors of my own choice.

Procedure to paint:

1. Place a thick bed sheet on a table and heat the iron box.
2. Keep the velvet cloth on the table where the design should be down and plain side should be on top.
3. Now press it from back side. See that iron should be hot so that the design will emboss nicely.
4. Remove the cloth when the whole design is embossed.
5. Now start painting it with the color combinations shown on the top of the box.
6. Once done allow it for drying and later frame it.

We have invited our friends for dinner to our home. So I made these emboss paintings for them and gave it as take away gifts. This was given to my friend Tulasi :)

Puff stitch cap and baby booties

This Feb 29th my friend Ajju has been blessed with a baby boy. Actually we were expecting a baby girl and I made this cap and booties with combination of pink color :P But anyways children look beautiful in any color so I sent this to her. Hope it will reach soon to you Ajju.

As this wool was a multi-color wool so the booties have come up in two different shades. I couldn't manage to do both in same color combination as I didn't had sufficient wool available.

Darling Crochet Hat

This cap I gifted to my friend Sushma when I left Finland last year.

Crochet puff stitch cap with ear flaps

This is the same puff stitch pattern but it has ear flaps which secures the ears from cold.

I gifted this cap to my friend's daughter. Finally I could take a snap of the cap along with her. I was very happy to see her with my creation. Thanks Rishika for the snap :)

Crochet puff stitch cap and rib cuff baby bootie

I gifted this cap and bootie to my friend in last June as they were expecting a baby. From all the patterns I prepared until now I like this pattern a lot and the wool color combination too.

Beanie crochet cap

This beanie crochet cap I gave it to my Sister-in-law's daughter who will be 2 years old by this April :) Her name is Nitya. I couldn't take a snap along with her.

Crochet

Crochet is a process of creating fabric from yarn, thread, or other material strands using a crochet hook. The word is derived from the French word "crochet", meaning hook. Hooks can be made of materials such as metals, woods or plastic and are commercially manufactured as well as produced by artisans. Crocheting, like knitting, consists of pulling loops through other loops, but additionally incorporates wrapping the working material around the hook one or more times. Crochet differs from knitting in that only one stitch is active at one time (exceptions being Tunisian crochet and Broomstick lace), stitches made with the same diameter of yarn are comparably taller, and a single crochet hook is used instead of two knitting needles. Additionally, crochet has its own system of symbols to represent stitch types.

Lis Paludan theorizes that crochet evolved from traditional practices in Arabia, South America, or China, but there is no decisive evidence of the craft being performed before its popularity in Europe during the 19th century. The earliest written reference to crochet refers to shepherd's knitting from The Memoirs of a Highland Lady by Elizabeth Grant (1797–1830) in the 19th century. The first published crochet patterns appeared in the Dutch magazine Pénélopé in 1824. Other indicators that crochet was new in the 19th century include the 1847 publication A Winter's Gift, which provides detailed instructions for performing crochet stitches, although it presumes that readers understand the basics of other needlecrafts. Early references to the craft in Godey's Lady's Book in 1846 and 1847 refer to crotchet before the spelling standardized in 1848.

Last year when I was in Finland I started learning crochet through internet. My Mom used to do crochet when I was in school. She used to prepare door hangings, covers for sofa set etc. So along with my Mom I used to prepare rubberbands and friendship bands with crochet.

I'll post few of my patterns which I have tried out.

Sankranthi rangoli-design 2

Tippudu muggu design

Tippudu muggu

Geetala muggu

Sankranthi rangoli-design 1

This was at my home. As our home is nearby main road we don't have much space in front of our house so I made a small design.

Sankranthi rangoli

Rangoli

Rangoli is a folk art from India. These are decorative designs made on floors of living rooms and courtyards during Hindu festivals and are meant as sacred welcoming areas for the Hindu deities. The ancient symbols have been passed on through the ages, from each generation to the next, thus keeping both the art form and the tradition alive. The patterns are typically created with materials, including colored rice, dry flour, (colored) sand or even flower petals. Rangoli and similar practices are often followed in different Indian states; in Tamil Nadu, one has Kolam, Madanae in Rajasthan, Chowkpurna in Northern India, Alpana in Bengal, Aripana in Bihar, etc.

The purpose of Rangoli is decoration, and it is thought to bring good luck. Design-depictions may also vary as they reflect traditions, folklore and practices that are unique to each area. It is traditionally done by women, but over the years modern additions have been adapted. Generally, this practice is showcased during occasions such as festivals, auspicious observances, celebrations of marriages and other similar milestones and gatherings.

I like to make rangoli on festivals with the dry colors. Whenever there was rangoli competition at college or office I would participate and I used to definitely win in that competition :P 

Few rangoli designs which I made on this year's sankranthi.

Arabic design

Arabic design on my friend Nandita's hand.

Mehndi on arm

My friend Nandita wanted the mehndi design on her arm.

Hello kitty design

My friend's daughter wanted hello kitty design on her hand with mehndi. So I tried this out :)

Mehndi

Mehndi is the application of henna as a temporary form of skin decoration in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh as well as by expatriate communities from those countries. The word mehndi is derived from the Sanskrit word mendhikā. The use of mehndi and turmeric is described in the earliest Vedic ritual books. Haldi (Staining oneself with turmeric paste) as well as mehndi are important Vedic customs as a symbolic representation of the Outer and the Inner Sun. Vedic customs are meant to awaken the "inner light" and so the gold of the inner Sun has an important symbolic function.

Traditional mehndi designs draw the sun on the palm, which in this context represents the mind. Mehndi decorations became fashionable in the West in the late 1990s, where they are sometimes called henna tattoos. Henna is typically applied during special occasions like weddings and Hindu festivals like Karva Chauth, Diwali, Bhaidooj and Teej. In some Hindu festivals, every woman tries to have Henna done on her hands and feet. It is usually drawn on the palms and feet, where the color will be darkest because the skin contains higher levels of keratin which binds temporarily to lawsone, the colorant of henna. Henna was originally used as a form of decoration mainly for brides.

I love to keep mehndi for my hands. But i feel sad when the mehndi color starts to disappear. These days we get mehndi packed in cones. So its very easy to keep the design. Mostly in villages you have henna trees. So women used to grind henna leaves on grinding stone and apply on palm and feet. But during my childhood we use to prepare the mehndi paste with the powder along with little water and lemon juice. Keep it aside for 30 mins and later apply the design on hands with a toothpick.

So friends I'll be posting mehndi designs which I applied. I hope you'll like them :)