Crafturday

Curious with experimenting the crackle medium started a modest attempt to gain the confidence. Kulfi pots were a huge help.  And thus came a confidence with the material and attempted it on canvas.

Has it ever happen to any one when they stumble on a shelf full of ready to make craft projects in a shop and end up buying one? This one was straight out of the Fevicryl candle making kit.Bumping with button wax was one of the good things that jiggled with the making of few more items without the mold from the craft shop. I would say these items were very helpful and was seized from the kitchen. 1.Fork 2.Cups 3.Tumbler

Thanks to my friends Manju and Saranya! Without them this intricate output wouldn't have been possible. Perhaps the crimson colour combination in this art piece is an variety that was once seen in almost all the art workshops.  This 2007 dated work is a Burnt Sienna and Yellow ocher, splashed a bundle of joy that I still retain it. Method: The design can be cut in a plywood of 8mm thickness. Background carries cone work. Templates were created to draw identical shapes and clay pieces were stuck on it. Shilpakar can be used as a substitute for the home made clay

Source: Blueberry Cake Ingredients: Cake Batter All purpose flour-130gms Baking Powder-1tsp Salt-1/4 tsp Unsalted Butter at room temperature-56gms Granulated White Sugar-100gms Egg-2 Vanilla Extract-1/2 tsp Milk-80ml Blueberry crush-240ml(original recipe suggests fresh blueberries 480ml) Streusel Topping All purpose flour-45gms Granulated White Sugar-65gms Ground Cinnamon-1/2tsp Unsalted butter-56gms Method Prep Preheat the Oven at 180 degrees. Grease with Butter or Spray the cooking pan. Streusel Topping In a large bowl  mix together flour, sugar and cinnamon powder. Coarsely blend the cut butter pieces into the flour mixture, until it resembles crumbs. Set aside while you make the cake batter. Cake batter In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. In another bowl beat the butter until smooth with a blender.Add the sugar until light and fluffy.Add the egg and vanilla and beat until incorporated.Add in the flour additio

Serves 4 Ingredients Cowpeas-200gms Tomato-1 Castor Oil -1tsp Turmeric powder-1/8tsp Refined sunflower oil-1/2tbsp Small onions chopped-100gms Curry leaves-5 Green chili-4 Cumin seeds-2tsp Coriander seeds-2tsp Salt to taste Preparation Pressure cook chopped tomato,cowpea,castor oil and turmeric powder. Freshly grind the cumin seeds and coriander seeds and keep aside. Onion mixture-In a separate tawa pop cumin seeds in r.s oil , Add curry leaves,onion, green chili and fry.Switch of the gas and add the grounded ingredients by mixing thoroughly. Let it remain in the tawa. Drain the water from the pressure cooker and keep aside.Whip or smash the cooked cowpeas. Add the fries onion mixture.Bring it to boil once again, adding the collected water. Note: This is generally done in a mud pot avoiding the tawa and the pressure cooker.Tads

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11 Dots Kolam: 8  11 Dots Kolam: 7  11 Dots Kolam: 6  11 Dots Kolam: 5  11 Dots Kolam: 4 11 Dots Kolam: 3 11 Dots Kolam: 2 11 Dots Kolam: 1

Recipe Source:   Buttermilk Berry muffins Variation: The actual recipe suggests different berries fresh or frozen. By choice Malas crushed blueberries available easily in the market was used. Ingredients for 10 muffins: 2 1/2 cups (325 grams) all-purpose flour 3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar 2 tspn baking powder 1/2 tspn baking soda 1/4 tspn salt Zest of one lemon 1 large egg lightly beaten 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk 1/2 cup (120 ml) cooking oil 1 teaspoon vanilla essence 1 1/2 to 2 cups (360-480 ml)blueberry crush Method : Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Position rack in center of oven. Line with paper liners or grease with butter and keep the muffin moulds ready. In a large measuring cup or bowl whisk together the egg, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla essence.  In another large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and zest. Gently fold in the berries. With a rubber spatula fold the wet ingredient

How easy can a reverse glass painting be on a printed glass? , Never had experienced until I found some printed glasses available in the market for use. The ready pieces where too thin so more often logistics was a night mare. Came across a contact person before 10 years who could custom print many designs but to his night mare I chose this calendar art for outline printing. This is the only glass painting that I have repeated many times side lining my thoughts of NO REPETITION POLICY. A few policies can be overruled, when it has a beautiful outcome. Size: 4’ * 1’ Picture Source: Anonymous Materials Used: Fevicryl acrylic colours Camel Oil colour Fevicryl Solvent based glass colours Foil Sheet Thinner Round brushes of different size

Recipe Source: Bake Along      Although have been baking with Bake along recipes for a while,I never pushed myself to post the pictures to the group.Now that this is a old photograph, I still posted it in the Bake along group since this is the first recipe that I tried from Fondbites.     I am waiting to try this this with something instead of the Amul fresh cream that I used. The second time when I baked this I did the cream for the frosting and left it refrigerated overnight to quickly bake and set in the morning.

9-1 dots The small kolams on either sides would have been good as a stand alone border,as people were having a great challenge without stomping the kolam and entering the house. 9-4 dots 9-1 dots 9-1 Now this one was when I was running out of the rice batter.. too diluted.. Source: Mahis Kolam

“ That awesome feeling when someone is making an effort to make you smile ”    Every time I think about it's a pure bliss.I would be selfish if I  don't  learn to drench my loved ones in such joy. So one fine day in 2012 I took a task to surprise aunt Lakshmi Maheswar by resisting my sleep. I still couldn't forget the enigmatic response from her. As years pass by we get comfortable in receiving all that the elders do to us with love.It just takes a moment to show some signs that we cherish being around them.This was the year that my new year resolution was far  different from usual self development agendas.It turned out to be good though.!!!!!! Suprises! are better than Promises!

     This one is one of my material exploration projects. The painting could be still seen in my grandparent’s house. Despite not being from an art background, these lovable grandparents where the ones who motivated me by giving a space and wholeheartedly mentioning “This is where we will put your work up, remember to use the chance to explore new things”. How many of us would be beguiled by an occasion like that where u get the space, money and love to push you higher with your hobbies?. Perhaps this “Explore new things” statement spoiled me a lot. The work did have a glitch, which presumably would have been avoided if I had enough experience with the materials.      Now enough with my memories, moving with just 3 posts so far there has been lot of suggestions from my friends Veena Harish and Mani Meghala about the quality of the pictures, lack of tutorials and many more. I do accept that. So I will be improving the quality of pictures when in tutorials and might I use the old i

There is a lot to remember about this painting. Not so many people have the heart to teach for free when they had painstakingly learnt the art.I need to mention my family friend Ms. Roopa Vijay,who had managed to teach me in 2007 despite the fact that she had spent a huge sum and learnt it when she was carrying her son. Now that years have passed, this is one painting that I can't give away.Some how felt this is the way to show gratitude.

Many more to come from the flower workshop..Here comes my favorite Peony.Just heard from my guru a new variety called " Sorbet Peony" has been attempted by her...Too curious to learn though there are numerous things to keep this blog going...

My first project on Thai clay flowers.Feeling good with the clay on hands.Never expected the clay texture to be so different.Thanks a tone to my guru Ms.Priya Nantha kumar for introducing me to the world of clay flowers. Goes will with a reused drink bottle.

13-1 Kolam: 2 13-1 Kolam: 1