Rangoli-59

Friends here are some simple Rangolis. I am posting one today. It is a Rangoli square in shape-5 X 5. Further it can be extended as we like.

This is Ashtadala Padmam or eight petalled  Lotus. Single motif. This is how I developed it 

So try these designs. These are easy and simple. You can try something new with the same motif.

Rangoli-58

Ready made Rangolis

Technology has reached nook and corners of our lives. Sometimes we cannot imagine how much its influence on our lives is. So many things have been made easy for us. Rangoli is also  one of them. Ready to use or ready made Rangolis or sticker Rangolis are much in use. Those who cannot draw Rangolis or when there is no time to draw Rangolis like for some special Pooja or Marriages or ceremonies and we want to decorate our houses for some special occasions but don't have much time or energy, then Sticker Rangolis are the  answer. They are cheap and easy to use.

Just take a look.

These are available in square and round shapes and various sizes. We also have long ones that can be used as borders. Various designs like the one above which is Chain Rangoli or known as Melika Muggu in Telugu  is complicated and very intricate, other traditional designs like Kalash (Holy Pot), Swastika, Lotus, Shankh (Conch Shells), Peacocks, other birds, animals, floral designs and free hand designs are available. Some are very colourful.

If you look at the above design it is very big one if we actually draw it with hand. It looks so small here-that is compressed. Try drawing it on paper or floor and see. It will come out as a big design no matter how carefully we draw it. 

Any way to use it all we have to do is clean the surface where we want to stick it. Then remove the paper at the back and just stick it carefully with out any wrinkles. The yellow colour you see is the colour of the paper at the back which has to be removed before use. Actually when we remove it, it is see through or transparent. So when we stick it, it looks as if we have drawn it, unless one looks at it carefully. 

The advantages of this are:

• They look beautiful and colourful
• Its cheap. The price depends on the size-starting from Rs 5
• Its easy to use does not take much time or effort.
• Because of its transparent background, it looks as if drawn/painted on the surface unless one looks at it very closely
• It keeps for long
• One can clean it with a cloth or wash it gently but should not be scrubbed

However it has disadvantages too:

• One has to be careful while sticking it. Any wrinkles or sticking it askew cannot be corrected
• Dirt gets collect around and under its edges which is difficult to clean. So after some time it looks dirty. 
• After some time the edges come off the surface and cannot be again stuck. It starts peeling of in places. Specially if it is used in heavy traffic areas.
• It is very difficult to remove. At least I have not been successful in removing it. When we try to remove it, it will come of in strips leaving some parts behind. Its real hard work to remove it off completely

This is how it looks after some time. But don't worry, it keeps good for a considerable period of time.

But all in all, people use it because its easy to use.

Oh by the way those who are using it, can tell me how to remove it easily. Any tips in this regard are welcome please. I have a problem in removing them cleanly and completely off the surface. I would be thankful to you if you can kindly share some tips with me.

They are back ...

Aha! My mom says that fashion is cyclical in nature. That is what was once a fashion some time back may go out of fashion. But it will again come back. For example the puffed sleeves for blouses were very much in fashion during late 60s. It came back into fashion after a gap. When the movie Devdas was released again puff sleeves became a rage since our beauty queen Aishwarya wore it in that movie.

Any way my mom's theory is correct. Remember the Velvet blouses? They were in fashion some time back-10 years or 15 years/ I don't remember. But now they are back with a bang. They are easy to wear ready-made, easy to wash and quite soft. They are available in all dark colours of pink, red blue green etc. But now they are also available in light shades of pink, Henna green, Sky blue etc. Apart from that they are also available in prints. 

They can be teamed with many a sari as they are plain. If we are bored with the plain look we can always stitch, beads, gold thread, sequins, mirrors, silk or metallic threads. I brought a plain black one. Let us see i plan to use gold thread and gold sequins for embroidering on it.

Here is a glimpse of the plain blouse.

It was very difficult for me to photograph it because of its shine. So perhaps you cannot see the cut properly. I will try to take one more shot and post. I chose black since it goes well with many coloured saris.

Keep watching my blog..going to post more on latest ...

I am busy

Hi friends, I am very busy again. Travelling as usual and at a hectic phase. I am so tired but there is no way out. Actually I am not happy about my other two blogs where I am not able to post anything despite so much I want to. But that takes lot of time. Any way I can't do much now. With the continuous rains and all this I am tired. Weather forecast says, there would be yet another cyclone. Oh God! This year its raining like anything. But the water table, all our rivers, ponds lakes and other water bodies  do require water. However, these rains and wet weather does put a damper on our daily chores like washing, cleaning and shopping. Well let us see what happens.

Its very difficult for a working person like me to maintain a blog. Apart from that, I have this urge for creativity in various media. Hmmm but that's what satisfies my soul.

So bear with me. When I am back I would like share with you all my Diwali celebrations, some lovely torans and much more. So keep an eye on my blog.

Rangoli-57

Here is one more Rangoli pattern on Diyas or lamps. This is a small design and easy to draw.  These are good where we don't have big spaces for drawing big designs.

This is 11 to 1 dots placed like this.

           *

       *   *   *

   *   *   *   *   *

       *   *   *

            *

Hope you like this.

Pink N Gold Sari-2

My Pink N Gold Sari to which I attached an embroidered border is here.

http://summersofindia.blogspot.com/2010/11/pink-n-gold-sari.html

I shopped for blouse for this sari and look what I found. It looks as if it is made for it. I don't think I could have got a better one than this.

The border I have attached has a Maroon colour (dark red) back ground with green and Zari(gold) thread work. The blouse has gold, green and red stripes which exactly match it. The cloth is Benarasi. It has a rich look which goes well with the richness of the tissue sari and its Zari border. I think its a perfect match.

Whats your opinion?

Still have some work to do on the sari. Will keep you posted. Keep watching.....

Rangoli-56

Well I could not post any of my Rangolis for Diwali-the festival of lights. The month that follows Diwali is known as Karthik and through out the month we light the earthen lamps, at least two of them and placed outside on either side of our door ways, or on the outer walls.

The full moon day known Karthika Pournima is celebrated through out India. The whole month is an auspicious time for spiritually interested people. So the Rangoli patterns with Diyas(lamps) will be apt for this month. But these can be used for any occassion. Fill it with colours and place some small candles or diyas to enhance the beauty of the Rangoli. Here is one of them:

This is 21 to 1 dots placed like this:

     

           *

       *   *   *

   *   *   *   *   *

       *   *   *

            *

That is straight dots, leaving one on either side on each row. This is easy. I am going to post some more in my coming posts. So keep an eye.

Update:
I have corrected the swastika for this Rangoli. This is the correct way to draw Swastika.Where ever I have drawn other wise please correct it. I am trying to update the rest of the designs too.

Diwali Greetings

A belated Diwali greetings to all of you friends.

Wishing You all A very Happy Healthy Wealthy, Prosperous Diwali .....

Actually I wanted to post so much. My net was down. Till the D-day I was travelling. The weather here was and still is quite wet and cold. we were not too sure that we would have a dry Diwali. It was very difficult for me. I could not shop earlier because of my hectic schedule and had to post pone it till the last moment. New clothes, flowers, provisions required for the special dishes prepared on the day, other things required for the pooja(prayers) and what not. 

Every year my sister and her family, some of my relatives and friends come over to our house for the celebrations. The festive lunch, dinner and pooja everything has to be taken care of for around twenty to twenty five people. Its not like I can cook before hand and keep it in my fridge. Everything has to be fresh as we offer it to the Goddess Lakshmi. Some of the sweets and salty snacks are made a day or two in advance after our traditional bath and kept separately till they are required for the pooja. These are not touched till Diwali.

Boy its very difficult to go shopping as the festival nears. The roads are chocked with vehicles and people. The vendors occupy half of the roads and obstruct traffic. Where it takes half an hour to reach, it takes you at least two to three hours because this heavy jams. Well I had to buy the earthen ware lamps. Every year we buy new ones. Then i had to buy other things like crackers and many such things. I some how finished my shopping and went back home very late and tired.

It was back breaking Diwali as usual  :)  :)... But it went of smoothly except for some minor things.  Oh got to go now. Time for me to cook the dinner. I will share details of my celebrations and lots and lots of other things in my next posts. So stay tuned....

Rangoli-55

Rangolis for Diwali

Well Diwali is very near now. This is a very important festival for us. Since we take much care to clean our houses and decorate, Rangoli also forms an integral part of it. here are some simple designs which signify the auspiciousness of the festival. I will try to post as many as I can for Diwali.

Here is one of them CONCH SHELL. A Conch shell known as Shankh(Hindi) or Shanku (Telugu) is considered to be an auspicious symbol and is supposed to bring, luck happiness and prosperity if placed in our Pooja(prayer) room and worshipped. So how about drawing one this Diwali to bring in lots of Good Luck? There are many Rangolis on Conch Shells. Here I am starting with a very simple one.

You can see the single motif first. That is 4 to 1 dots placed like this

                             *

                        *          *

                   *          *          *

              *          *         *          *

                    *          *         *

                         *          *         

                               *

See the way I have drawn the single motif using these dots. I have developed on this single motif and drew the Rangoli with 12 to 1 dots. You can extend it further according to the availability of space.

In my next posts I will post some more of Conch Shell Rangolis and other Rangolis specially for Diwali. But I will keep them small and sweet-no complicated ones.  :) 

  

Pink N Gold Sari

I promised you that I would post pictures of my sari after attaching the lace so here it is. Actually I bought a new sewing machine some time back. But with me being so busy, I just could not get acquainted with it. 

This week end since it was raining heavily, me and my mom wanted to enjoy watching some good old black and white movies. The I thought I should try some sewing too. So I got to acquaint my self with my new machine while watching two of the oldies. Well it will take me some time to get perfection, as I don't get the time to sew quite often.

Anyway here it is. 

I have one pink and gold tissue sari. To that I attached a frilled lace as edge and also stitched on an embroidered lace as border.

This is the pink and gold frilled lace matching my sari. Actually now I think I should have used a contrasting coloured lace instead.

Here I am attaching the lace to the top side (the last two meters of the sari near the pallu which shows when we wear it), on the edge of pallu and also on the other side (bottom) of the sari. I used the entire nine meters for it. 

This is a yellow green embroidered lace on maroon back ground. It also had zari (gold thread) work as well as mirror work(no the glass mirrors). I used almost most of the nine meters.

Here is a closer look.

Well I attached this lace as a border. This how it looked.

The sari looks like this.

I still have to stitch something else on it. Just wait and see I will post again. Please do let me know how it looks.

Storing and Carrying Jewellery

We women love jewellery. May be some love more than others. Some of us may have just a few selected pieces. But some may have many. This may include, those made of gold, silver, platinum, gem stones and many pieces of imitation jewellery. No mater what all these pieces require care, in storing, carrying with us when we go out and also while cleaning them. 

Well I am going to post some of the storage solutions for jewellery. Here is one - a medium sized one. This is a bangle cum jewellery kit. This is made of leather out side. Its covered with see through plastic material. Inside it is lined with felt. 

This is how it looks when closed. The see through cover enables you to see the contents with out opening. The small bins can accommodate, ear studs, rings, small boxes containing chains, pendants etc. The other side is for bangles. One can remove the bar fill it up with bangles and again set it back.

This is not only good for storing but also carrying when we travel. Its light weight and easy to carry. Cost is also OK. This also makes a good gift for any lady of any age. We can also keep one for our own use.


So how do you like it?

Beautiful Borders/Laces-3

Frilled Laces

Here is one more type of lace- frilled laces. These are very small in width and available in many colours, including, gold, silver, white, black and other shades. One variety is plain and simple, one has a line of gold or silver running in the middle as well on the edge and another type is mixture of colour and gold or silver.

They are being used for edging saris, dupattas(scarves/stoles) and also dresses. They are sold either as 9 meters bundle- the length required for a sari and blouse or by meter as required by us.

Here are some...

This one is yellow -bright colour with a silver line running through the middle and also on the edge.

 This one is gold

 This is silver

 This is green and gold

 This one is blue and silver-I love this one

 These are some colours put together

 White, yellow and pink with silver thread running through the lace.

This one is pinkish orange with gold.

You can see the elastic band at the bottom of the lace. This is stitched on to the underside of the cloth. I have stitched on one of these to my sari. I will post it shortly. these laces are not expensive and are quite popular these days. If you watch the soaps many an actress is wearing a sari that has been decorated with these laces. 

Why don't you try one of these?

Beautiful Borders/Laces-2

Velvet Laces

My previous post on this topic is here. 

http://summersofindia.blogspot.com/2010/08/beautiful-borderslaces-1.html

I have so much to show you in laces but did not have much time. OK now here is one more of the laces used as borders for saris, dresses and odhnis or chunris. These days we find a lot of variety. One of them is the velvet lace or velvet borders.  These are available in two or three widths. I think one inch to three inches. They are just plain and available in many colours. 

The laces are available in 9meter bundles, which is required for one sari and blouse. The wholesalers buy in huge quantities and package it like that. So we need not bother how much to buy for a sari. But some of them are also available  in lesser quantities, cut according to our requirements. 

Here is the plain pink one. they are available in such beautiful and unbelievable shades of, pinks, lilacs, black, cream, blues greens etc.This would look good as a border(edge) to plain contrast coloured sari -cream, black, blue shades or even printed one which coordinates well with this colour. 

Here are two laces- thinner in width and with gold stripes. They do look pretty. There are different shades available.

I heard that fringed laces in velvet are also available. But I have not yet come across any in my daily beat. But then it has been some time since I visited my suppliers. May be this week if I visit I will see what else is new in the market.

I bought these so that I can stitch on to some of my saris or dupattas or my niece's frocks. I dint buy the wider one.  One can use the thinner lace (same or different colours) on either side with some other lace in between as a border to sari. 

Well I have not found any suitable sari for these laces. But do have a look at these. Explore and enjoy. Just give it a thought. We can also use these on cushion covers or kitchen linen, kids clothes etc. But one thing is they may not stand heavy washes and wear and tear. Gentle hand wash in mild liquid soap or dry wash may be best. I have not tried to wash it yet. 

So ? How do you like them? do let me know please.

Blouses In Fashion-Benarasi-2

I have one Cotton sari- a very fine cotton, hand woven with zari border- a broader one at the bottom and a very thin line on the top for three fourths length and then broad border for the pallu. Its pallu is also very simple. But its colour is unusual. I loved it the moment I saw it. We call this as Kankambaram colour or Crossandra (flowers) colour.  

This is from a place called Venkatagiri in my state. That is why this is called as Venkatagiri sari. The place is famous for hand woven, very fine, cotton and Seiko(cotton and silk mixed) saris with thread or zari motifs.

I prefer hand looms as each piece is unique and beautiful as also natural.

Generally blouse in matching colour is worn with many saris. If it has a border in contrasting colour, blouse of that colour looks good. But here I did not want to wear a gold coloured blouse.

Wearing a matching blouse would have been perhaps too simple. So I searched for something different or unique. Then I saw this brocade blouse in contrasting colours.

This is the actual colour. In  the other pictures i could not get the colour right. This is the pallu with two zari stripes. At the bottom you can see the big border of zari.

This is the blouse I thought would be very beautiful with it. I am sorry I am not able to capture the real colours of the blouse or the sari  in these pictures. The blouse is shiny because of the silk thread. So getting it right was not possible. The blouse looks more brighter than what it appears here.

Have closer look. See the stripes in gold, red and purple-it is looking like blue here. See the different designs-flowers, paisley. 

So by choosing some thing a bit different we can make the entire dress very unique and different. Had I teamed this with ordinary same coloured blouse, it would have looked boring and monotonous. 

These blouses are available in different colours-single multi, stripes etc. you can team it up with plain saris. So why don't you try one?

Learn With Me- Making of Necklace-3

I did not post much on making of jewellery. I have made many and gifted to my friends and relatives. I have lots of friends and relatives with Birthdays in September and October -Virgos and Librans.  :) :) :).... Well they appreciated a lot and when told them I made it and asked for their critical comments. But they assured me my jewellery was very good and looking like as if made by a professional.

Any way I have a long way to go. I am only trying out simple things. But I have lots of ideas on complicated designs too. I am also making bangles, ear rings, bracelets, anklets etc. to go with them. I will be posting tutorials in my coming posts.

The problem is many a time I have to make them at a very short notice- like some one's birthday engagement or some occasion and in all my hurry I forget to photo graph them. Well I will be making many more.

Here it is


Required:


Red beads
Gold (Matte finished) beads
String or wire
Clasp
Pendant set


Before Starting...


The Red beads are I think Garnet- not of very costly variety. I am not so sure because I have bought some different types in red colour and I am not too familiar with the names yet. I have used 24 on one side-total of 48 numbers.


Gold beads which I have used in between the beads are available in various sizes and varieties; mostly round or somewhat oval. They are available in plain, matte finish, cutting designs etc. In this necklace I have used matte finish. They do look dull but then they are in now. I have used 25 on one side- a total of 50 beads.


The pendant is pomegranate shaped with seed beads and matching ear rings. I have posted about it in my last post. I chose this because the white of the beds stands out in contrast to the red beads. It also has matching red beads dangling at the bottom both for the pendant and the ear rings.


I have used 0.45 mm wire. You can use any string that will hold the weight. Strictly speaking using same coloured silk thread is most prevalent practise.


Method:

• Decide the length of the necklace you want and cut the string accordingly after allowing an extra five inches or so for attaching the clasp. I prefer to string the beads first without cutting the wire or string. This way we can cut off the required length after attaching the clasp without any wastage. 
• The length of my necklace is 27 inches in total. 28 inches is considered to be ideal.
• First string in a gold bead then red coloured bead followed by a gold bead and so on...till we reach half way through.
• Then string in the pendant. Actually the hook of the pendant was too big. So I had wind the wire (to the back side of the hook) to keep it place, or else it would slide along the beads.
• Now string in the rest of the beads and attach the clasp.

Here it is.

This red coloured beads are very popular here. It goes well with many a silk sari-white, yellow, green as contrast and matches maroon shade saris.  But these days contrast coloured beads and jewellery are much in preference than matching ones. Red colour signifies, auspiciousness, prosperity. So Indians prefer red coloured saris or jewellery. 

I have used a very simple design. But one can use more gold beads. Similarly, I have used both gold and red beads of the same size. Actually both are available in different sizes and shapes too. Red beads are of different shades too. Suitable pendants can also be used-made of gold (polished if not of real gold), pearls, kundan, meenakari, glass, fibre etc-either contrasting coloured ones or matching ones.  

Hope you like it.