Friday-Free Patterns

Its Friday once again and I am late in posting the Free Pattern. Here it is:

It is Peacock once again. This time it is a folk motif from India. As you can see the artist has designed it stylishly. We don't know the artist as many a times many artists from old times, might have carved this in stone on temple walls. That might have inspired the weavers or other artists. I guess this has been made into a wooden printing block as I found it on one of my saris. 

                Peacock Motif

This looks very simple and easy and can be used for fabric painting as well as embroidery. Chain stitch would look good. This can be used on saris, blouses, dresses to give that ethnic and unique look.

Hope you like this. So watch for more motifs and patterns.......

Crossandra Flowers

Crossandra- Kankambaram

          Kankambaram

Crossandra flowers bloom in shades of orange, yellow and a mixture of these two colours. In Telugu they are known as Kanakambaram. In fact the colour- mixture of orange and yellow and pink itself is called as Kankambaram colour. These are also known as Firecracker flowers . In some places in India, these flowers are also known as Priyadarsha or Priyadarshini. These flowers have different names in different regions of India.These are native to India, Srilanka and Nepal.


It is believed that these are favourite flowers of Lord Hanuma, Lord Subrahmanya Goddess Laksmi and Goddess  Lalitha and offering them these flowers will please them. They are used for religious ceremonies as offerings to Gods and Goddesses and are also worn by our Indian women in their hair. They are strung together to form Gajras (Hindi) or Mala in (Telugu)-that is lenghts of woven flowers- woven together using yarn made out of cotton, or plant fiber like jute, banana etc..These are worn in the hair by the women. Garlands are also made for offering to Gods and Goddesses or for use in festive occasions like marriages etc.  Other flowers like Jasmine and fragrant leaves of Maruvam and Dawanam are also used for making these Malas.


Here take a look at the flowers blooming in my garden...

     Yellow Kankambaram


This is the yellow shade. It is bright in colour. 

      Green Kankambaram


Though the most common and popular colours are orange, yellow and a mixture of these colours known as Kankambaram shade, we have green and blue shades too. Unfortunately, I lost blue shaded one last Summjer and I could not photograph them. 

          Maruvam


This is Maruvam-the fragrant stems with leaves are used in garland along with flowers like Jasmine, Crossandra etc.


One good thing about these flowers is that they keep for a couple of days without wilting even if worn in hair- provided we have not applied oil to our hair. We wear it in hair with the help of a hair clip, then remove it and keep in cloth drenched in water or refrigerator. If they come in contact with oiled hair they wilt quickly.


Here is one place where you can see how they are worn in hair by Indian women:


http://gardentenders.com/projects/553

Here is a Kankambarm shade sari I have:

This is one of my favourite shades...

Pray for Japan

All of us are shocked at the disaster in Japan. We have been praying for Japan and all those suffering there. May God give them strength and courage to face this difficult situation and find courage, peace and happiness.

My request to you all is please pray for their safety and hope that the country and people bounce back. Whether you believe in God or not, please pray..the more the better. As more and more join and pray sincerely God will help them.

One more thing is, due to certain planetary positions, we may have to face difficult times, natural calamities, unrest etc in the coming months. So please keep on praying. However there is no need to fear or panic as God is always benevolent and will always come to our help.

This is a call to my fellow Indians:

Those of you who give Arghya to Sun God daily, please keep doing so and pray for this world, people and the universe. Many learned Pundits, Gurus and astrologers have recommended regular recitation of Rudra Kavacham, Navagraha Stotras and those living near sea shore should recite Bhu Suktam and Chandra graha Mantras. 

Even if one cannot do these things, keep praying to God in what ever way you can asking for Samsta loka Sukhino Bhavantu;meaning all the worlds or the universe should be happy and peaceful.

My intention is not to frighten you or scare you. My intention is to alert you that is all. Those who believe in prayers can follow. Those who don't can laugh it off.....