Handcrafted frames

Been wanting to post these frames for sometime.  Again at the craft bazar.  These are handmade handicrafts.  Oh! I love them so much.  

Specially this lone tree

Coloured threads have been so beautifully woven into nature themes.

Fresh flowers always evoke positivity. I love having a bowl of fresh flowers midst all the souvenirs

Craft Bazar

I live in a heritage city which has a history dating back to a couple of centuries.  Vadodara is also known as Baroda.  The city is full of hundreds of Banyan trees, Vad known in hindi and hence the name `Vadodara'.. The land of Banyan trees.

Recently, there was Vad-fest.  International festival of art and culture.  Yanni performed here at this venue that you see below. Laxmi Vilas Palace.

The Baroda Museum that houses a Mummy and loads of interesting artefacts.  Takes not less than three hours for a visit.
Below is Kirti Mandir, a palace built for a queen

All these pictures from this stall. Not the real structures

There was a loom on display

Wooden furnitures on display and sale.  I liked the blue stand.  Could be made use as a plant pot stand

Can you believe... These are hand painted on canvas

Now comes handicrafts using glass beads.  All hand stitched using myriad colours.  Patience, accuracy and speed are required

The ones you see below are also hand woven.  These adorn the doors of a home

Hand woven necklace

Pottery section

Metal artefacts.

So delicate and dainty

Paintings

Sculptures

Intricately carved wooden door

 

I could not do justice to this.  Couldn't see the whole bazar.  Too huge for a single visit.  Nevertheless it was a pleausre.  I have a few pictures of handicrafts woven out of joot which I will share later.
This is real India, a country with rich heritage.

Thread that binds

August 4th was FRIENDSHIP day.  I clicked this picture for posterity.  She was so excited and happy.  My daughter's hand after she returned from school.

A day to remember and tell your friends that you love them and care for them.  We have a festival coming up next week.  Raksha Bandhan.  When a sister ties a `Rakhi',  thread of love around her brother's wrist reminding him to protect her.  A thread that binds them.  The brother inturn gifts her and  vows to look after her.  There is a practice of tying Rakhi to a male cousin, to even an unrelated boy/man who is considered a brother.  Being away, I send them `Rakhi's by post.  To my two brothers and three lovely men to whom I have been tying a `Rakhi' for over two decades.  I thought why not send them handmade Rakhis.  Googled a bit, found a pattern and here's what I created, using  embroidery floss of Madura Coats  

It turned out to be a crafty time with my daughter too.  She too created a few bands using yarn.  I never thought she'd have patience for one!  but she created a few.

Creativity can stem from NOWHERE and become NOW HERE.

@#@##! Merry Christmas ###@!**

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR

It used to be fun decorating the Yule tree in office with my colleagues while I was working..  Here's one that we decorated.  Brought back fond memories.

Had lots of excitement and fun in making this Snowflake with my little one.

And an orange clove Pomander

These two are learnings from Tina and Dr Sonia. The hows' can be found here and here

Have loads of fun this Christmas and may 2013 usher in happiness and  good health.
May peace be with you
Cheers

Twin creations this Diwali

WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY DEEPAVALI

AND

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR

A festival of light, Deepavali, is a New Year too to a large number of people in India.  The biggest festival too amongst the umpteen number of festivals that we celebrate.  I love making Rangolis.  In fact, my profile picture too is a Rangoli that I created a 3 years ago.  Here's what I created this Diwali.

Its made with coloured powder, quite coarse... like sand and this Rangoli style is called Sanskar Bharati rangolis.  Here's what I made over the years during diwali. Have a look.  Let me know if you like them :)

This is what adorns our doorstep today.  I am so excited to show it to you :)

We are having happy times.  Rare occasions where the family get togethers happen.  My brother-in- law and family have come down too.  Kids are having a ball of a time. What with eating sweets and bursting crackers. Nidhi, my sis-in law kept me company last night while making this Rangoli.  Thanks for her patience :).... it took me two hours! 

How can I miss out on my hanging lamp shade, commonly called a  Kandeel.  I blogged about it here. I made a kandeel for the first time.  And am not able to hide my child like happiness, excitement and satisfaction..... It adorns our balcony.  Diwali being a festival of light, there's glitter all over, diyas... candles .......sparkling lights

Ah!  this kandeel took good four days to complete.  I did it at leisure.  Laborious though it was fun making it.  Glimpse of the steps involved

And finally

It inspired my 10 year old Vandita to create a Rangoli too.... :) Her first attempt.

I had planned to put up these Twin Creations today.  Happy, I did'nt put it off for tomorrow.  Its 1.27 am now...am happy over my accomplishment :)

My second anniversary!

Unthinkable earlier.  Now possible.  I was solving Sudoku at 11 am, working on a project for Diwali at noon and a craft adventure post lunch.   Been two years today, since I chose to become a homemaker.  And I have been as busy as I  used to be while working. Enjoyed the earlier stint of a working woman, working easily 12 hours a day! and the present role of a homemaker.  Making up for all those small little pleasures that I missed earlier.  In short, its up to us how and what we make of this sweet life. Reminds me of a quote which I read on the white board displayed in the garden where I go for my morning walks. A man is happy not because he has everything in life but because his attitude towards everything in life is right :)

Here's a glimpse of what I was up to today....

Playing with bamboo sticks :)  It is said that if you want to reach your goals, declare them amongst your family and friends.  It automatically motivates you to work towards them. I'll work towards accomplishing this small little goal.  Promise.  Before Diwali.  Any guesses?

And the best part of the day was post lunch.  My elder daughter  Upasana, had a birthday party to attend.  A good friend of hers.and she wanted to gift a handmade gift.  We were brainstorming what to make and she said a frame?  I said YES. Thanks to Anna.   I had seen a DIY photo frame which my new blog friend Anna crafted.  Have a look .  She had also linked Dr Sonia and Nehas blogs for this DIY Photo frame.  Both of them really crafty.  Believe me, we had lot of fun crafting this photo frame. Here's Dr Sonia's and here's Neha's .

And here's what we crafted

Upasana has picked up crocheting in the last vacations and we crocheted some flowers and leaves to add life to the frame :)

It was really satisfying.....  My second anniversary as a homemaker was wonderful indeed.