Tomato Rose

I love to learn new things, create new things using different media. This gives me a high. I keep on experimenting and flashes of creative thoughts strike me at odd moments. But I note them down and try them out, improvising and innovating. I have learnt many of the arts and crafts on my own, by reading and experimenting a lot.

I am fascinated by colours. That's why I enjoy going around a vegetable market, or flower and fruit market as equally enthusiastic as I wander around a fabric shop.

I love vegetable carving. I keep trying those little things for garnishing the delicacies I experiment; one of passions being cooking. It requires a lot of patience, an eye for detail and creativity. One can do wonders with all those vegetables and fruits, be it tomatoes, carrots, brinjals...the list is endless. One needs very sharp knives of different varieties. I for one use the kitchen knifes I have for the time being as I am still a beginner.

Today I am going to share with you the art of making a tomato rose. All we need is a firm tomato and a sharp knife with a pointed edge or a peeler and a few sprigs of coriander or mint leaves. I have used curry leaves . The colour of the tomato can be red or orange or even an yellow one. The red ones are the ripe ones and being soft, its a bit difficult to peel the skin.

Step I: Wash and wipe the tomato. With the knife put a small cut on the bottom of the tomato. The cut is only for peeling the skin and should not be very deep. Now with the knife or peeler start peeling from the cut. Peel the skin carefully, taking care to keep it as thin as possible, and with out a break as much as you can . But don't worry even if the peel gets cut in between. That can also be used.

Step II: Here I have peeled only three-fourths of the tomato and used it.

Step III: I could not cut longer peel at first. I had cut two small pieces before I got the hang of it and could make a longer one. So I used the first two small ones as base petals. Once you have the required length of peel curl into into a roll and place it on the sprig of leaves or just three leaves of mint or parsley.

I have used the rose to garnish my Biryani. You can use them to garnish or just keep it in a small plate on the dining table. You can make as many as you wish.

Now wasn't that easy? I hope my instructions and pictures were clear and you were able to follow. If not please let me know.So why don't you try and let me know? Your comments and suggestions are always welcome and boost my enthusiasm. I am going to share with you some more veg carvings shortly. So follow my blog.

Crochet

I have lost my maternal Grannie recently. She was quite a lady. She married my Grandpa when she was just seven years old. She had to care for a huge joint family of In-laws, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins and other relatives of my Grandpa. Apart from this friends and other distant relatives used to drop by regularly

My Grandpa's family were and are still highly regarded in the literary and musical circles in this part. He had a good knowledge of Carnatic and Hindustani Music. So when ever there were any concert in the town, the music stalwarts,used to stay in their home. It was a huge palatial home with a big garden. My mother, my aunts and uncles are all well trained in Carnatic or Hindustani music, either vocal or instrumental.

Any way my Grannie had a lot to do day and night. But in spite of that she learnt music, both singing and playing Veena all through raising the family of seven children. She wrote many songs on her own and composed them. She also collected and learned many traditional and folk songs from Sadhus, beggars and Musicians. She also passed BA in those days and was very good in English. Till she died she used to very proudly recall her student days in Girls school run by Christian missionaries. There she learned sewing, embroidery, crochet and many other such handicrafts. She was a very great cook and made the finest of delicacies, snacks, pickles, be it for one or hundred. She was also very well versed in Ayurveda and knew how to make many of the medicines.

Her enthusiasm for learning something new all the time, interacting with people from various regions, cultures and back grounds, learning about their culture, their cuisines, customs, traditions, art and crafts was boundless. This was what she taught me as a child.

Even when she was in bed, whenever someone used to visit her irrespective of the age of the visitor, she used to interact with them, knowing about latest fashions in clothes, jewelery, politics, movie stars, recipes...she was very lively and enthusiastic.
Any way coming to the point, when I was spring cleaning some old trunks, I landed upon some Crochet items she made. They are nearly 50 years old. Can they be called antique?Alas they have that yellowish tinge now and also have some rust marks. I could not remove them despite the best of my efforts or whiten them.

She had made lots of table covers, tray covers, bags, torans (used for decorating door ways), door curtains and many more. Her door curtains I remember were very beautiful. My mom also used to make many items. But again the door curtains were the in thing in those days. They used to depict mythological figures of Rama, Hanuman carrying the Sanjeevani mountain, Radha Krishna, Goddess Lakshmi standing/sitting in lotus, Goddess Saraswathi, floral motives like roses, lotuses, etc, birds like peacocks, swans, parrots and many other motives like deers, elephants etc. Alas I have only very few of my Gran's articles with me now.

I want to share some of the crochet my Grannie, my mom and my sis have made. I am trying to unearth more of my Gran's and mom's creations. Let me try my luck.

This is a circular tray cover. Such covers are used to cover trays when sweets, snacks or condiments are sent to our neighbors, relatives or friends kept in circular silver trays.

The center part of the cover.

This is the design on the edge.

Another circular tray cover

My Grannie used to put her initials in all her creations.

These are collar for blouses-unfinished

This is a square shaped table/tray cover made by Grannie.

See my Grannie's initials. BSM.

Meant to be bag for carrying lunch to school by kids; made by my Grannie.

Another one, note the design. But such an ugly spot. I could not remove it. Any suggestions for removing the ugly spot? Please let me know. I would be very grateful.

Other side of the bag.

Another piece of circular cover.

This is the cover for feeding bottle made by my Grannie or my mom. Later on it was used to carry flask. This looks a bit freash since I washed it with some stain remover hot water.

The Toran or curtain for door ways.
This is yet again a circular tray cover. but made by my sister.

Center of the cover.

This one is made by my sister, with scraps of wool. She is much more proficient in crochet than me. I somehow don't have much interest in this art, though I can create some pieces myself.

This one is again made by my sis. But this is the one which made by using the nails on a frame and knotting the yarn. I don't know what this art is called. Can any one please tell me?

Hope you have enjoyed this. Please do let me know. Your comments and suggestions are welcome and I would be very much interested in knowing please.

Strength of a Man and Beauty of a Woman

I read this somewhere I dont remember but I loved it. So thought I would share it with you too

Strength of a Man

The strength of a man isn't seen in the width of his shoulders.
It is seen in the width of his arms that encircle you.
The strength of a man isn't in the deep tone of his voice.
It is in the gentle words he whispers.
The strength of a man isn't how many buddies he has.
It is how good a buddy he is with his kids.
The strength of a man isn't in how respected he is at work.
It is in how respected he is at home.
The strength of a man isn't in how hard he hits..
It is in how tender he touches.
The strength of a man isn't how many women he's Loved by.
It is in can he be true to one woman.
The strength of a man isn't in the weight he can lift.
It is in the burdens he can understand and overcome.

Beauty of a Woman

The beauty of a woman
Is not in the clothes she wears,
The figure she carries,
Or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman
Must be seen from her eyes,
Because that is the doorway to her heart,
The place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman
Is not in a facial mole,
But true beauty in a woman
Is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives,
The passion that she shows,
The beauty of a woman
With passing years-only grows.

Lucky is the man who is the first love of a woman,
but luckier is the woman who is the last love of a man