Rangoli-134

Diwali Rangolis

Diwali is fast approaching. So its time I posted some Rangolis specially for Diwali. The month starting from the next day of Diwali is known as Kartika Maasam-the month of "Kartika" when people keep fast and both in the morning and  evening light lamps just like on Diwali.  At least two lamps are lighted before dawn and after dawn. So these Rangolis can be drawn for the whole month. The full moon during the month is very auspicious and celebrated with great devotion. 

These Diyas(lamps) can be drawn free hand. But for an easy method one can use dots. Blow are the traditional chain or melika Rangolis of lamps. 

Here is a lamp with three wicks. We usually use brass lamps.

This is a lamp with five wicks. This is known as pancha(five) harathi and is used in temples or even our homes to give harathi to Gods.

These designs are very old and have been handed over generations. 

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My Projects

My Garden


I was going through my stash and trying to organising my craft supplies, unfinished projects and yet to be started ones, my ideas jotted down or rather scribbled on various pieces of papers, cuttings from magazines, news papers, invitation cards, greeting, cards and what not  which are the source of my creative ideas. I unearthed some of my half done projects which I could not touch for the past few months. 

Here is one of the projects I started some time back for my niece. Actually I  was just doodling and trying out different sequins and beads I had in my stash. My niece loved it. She asked me how I was going to create a design out of all that doodling.

Just to pull her leg I said I was creating a garden with flowers where a little girl (my niece) is chasing butterflies, a tree with some lovely flowers and so on. She kept on quizzing me and I kept on weaving around the theme. But she was so excited with the idea that she wanted it to be made for her.

So I thought I would improvise on it and make a circular bag for her with the embroidery. Here it is. Have a look..

This is the garden where my niece is running to catch the butterflies. There is the tree laden with flowers, floral shrubs.

Here is a closer look at the tree. it needs to be worked on. I have used a dark brown  thick silk thread (known as cone threads) for the bark. I have used leaf  and flower shaped sequins  with beads.

Here is my niece with her back turned towards us. You can see her plait tied with rubber band and she is wearing a pink frock. May be it not so clear-I have to add more details there, like her hands and so on. You can see the flowers and shrubs.One side is finished. the other side I need to add the greenery to the bushes. I have used feather stitch and stem stitch if I remember it correctly.

Here are the ants-my niece wanted. I have used beads. She also wanted a caterpillar. Any ideas?  Something different I want it to  be.

I still have to work so much to finish this. And this is only one side. The other side it is again same theme but I want to use different material.

Well I don't know when I will complete it. Today I took it up with the intention of working on it. With week end chores, organising, my clothes for the week ahead and long power cuts, I had to give up. It is very hot here.

What do you think of it? I am afraid the pictures are not so clear with the sequins all shiny.

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Watch Out

What a relief. It is really nice to finish off the project I was struggling day and night  for the past four-five months. Thank God finally it is almost over. By the end of the month I will be completely free. But I am now relatively free. It is a great feeling after such a strenuous work to be free. 

I need to rest a lot as I strained myself and was almost on the edge of collapsing. Looking back I don't know how I pulled on. Everything went wrong from the beginning and it was a huge mess. I had to grit my teeth and somehow pull on by sheer will power. Many a time I thought of quitting. But leaving the battle field mid way is not my style. All this had affected me and my health very badly. I could not eat properly or even sleep. Lots of travelling, meeting dead lines...phew! It was a horrible night mare like situation. I feel so burnt out and very tired.

Well all it matters is now I am slowly recovering and gaining my strength bit by bit. I will take it easy in the next few weeks. So friends, I have already picked up my needles, tools or what ever and got back to my passion of Arts N Crafts Projects. I may not be able to do much in the first few days as I still don't have much strength to sit for long or continuously. But my mind is full of creative ideas. I need to note them down and give them shape one by one. Lots of pending projects to finish too as usual.. :)  :)

Well this yellow hibiscus cheered me up this morning. You too enjoy it....

With Diwali the festival of Lights fast approaching, I need to do so much..So be ready for, I am going to share my work with you.....

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