Tunic

Here's a tunic worked with Open chain , herringbone and mirror stitch.

Kalamkari Embroidery

       Here are a few captures from Kalamkari Sale at Bangalore. The guy selling this allowed me to click these :) . These sarees were definitely a treat to my eyes. Kalamkari patches are fixed to the saree surface and  embellishments are worked using AAri. I loved the intricate work done on the white saree. I have bought the peacock patches on the white saree. I am planning to get this made from some artisan . I will definitely not be able to do such a wonderful piece of work!! I would like to try my hands on a smaller version though. I have bought  a few smaller peacocks too. Lakshmi had sent a few "Hamsas" to me as  part of a give away in January. I haven't done anything with those yet :(.

   

Fluttering Butterflies on my dress (Aari work)

These fluttering butterflies are done with AAri work.Doing it with AAri was not really difficult but searching for the right sized bead that fit into the needle was definitely a tough job! I am not sure if I was  using the wrong needle for this. Quite possibly I was using the smallest needle available here.

  The material on which I have done these butterflies already had butterfly designs on them. These are in random directions. In places where there are no butterflies there are butterfly prints. These are not visible in the photograph.

  When I gave this piece of work to stitch the tailor stitched it upside down and also goofed up with the design and some part of the work.It looks incomplete now:(. BTW for the borders I have used laced back stitch and colonial knot.

Sunset Splendour !! (Pistil Stitch on Kurta)

 Finally the neckline of my Pistil Stitch Kurta is completed !

I will see how it turns out once it is stitched and then give any further touch ups if required .

Clos-ups taken while WIP can be found here.

WIP : Richelieu

Cross stitch works

Here are a couple of cross stitch works done by my mom.

 

 

Bargello stitch

           

The bargello pattern is also known as Florentine work, Hungarian point, or flame work. It supposedly originated in Hungary during the medieval era then became popular throughout Europe after it was used in 17th century decorations for chairs in the Bargello Palace in Florence, Italy. 

These are simple satin stitches or straight stitches worked in a wavy pattern or zig-zag manner.It is fun to work with different patterns of waves and color shading in each of the rows. Row upon row it looks like gracefully flowing curves.I have worked these on aida or cross-stitch cloth with different threads of different colors.

When worked up and down in a wavy manner it  looks like a flame worked with threads as shown here.

 These kind of stitches are mainly used for quilting. These may also be worked on plastic canvas.

 For the patterns that are done with motifs, begin at the centre first and then move outward. Also, if you plan to do a background, do the motif first and then the background.

Itsy - Bitsy Crochet flower

Here's what I did on the very first day of  2010..

With my Pistil Kurta still pending I cannot do more of these .. But, I just loved it :)

Puff stitch hat

 

This is my first ever project in Crochet .. A disastrous one .. When I started making it , I was intending to make one that fits my head.. But, half way through I realised it may be too small to fit my big head  :). But still wanted to completed it. So, now it sits proudly on my Guldanu's (my teddy) head .

Work In Progress : Pistil Stitch on Kurta

 

Kamal kadai embroidery on salwar

Peacock on Table mat using Herringbone stitch

 

Crochetfication !!!

Crochet is my new found interest. This is my first crochet motif.
When I saw some crochet patterns in "Needle N Thread " Magazine, I just couldn't stop myself from learning to Crochet. When I am good with the basics, I will do some crochet projects from NNT. This simple Motif was easy to start with. I picked this pattern from Teresa's blog. I found very good tutorials by Teresa. Just browsed for the stitches that are used in this Motif and started crocheting. She also has a very good video tutorial.So just followed the tutorial and my crochet motif  was ready.

Many such Motifs can be joined together to make a doily .

Bargello Stitch

        I was not sure what this was called until I saw Sarah's pattern darning instructions. So, now I call this pattern darning. This stuff is used to cover Sofa cushions. It has only running stitches made on a  cross stitch cloth. Seems easy but needs to be done carefully. Missing any count would mean the final pattern will be completely out of shape. Hiding any mistakes is just next to impossible. 
   Thanks to Sarah for letting me know that this is not pattern darning .. it is called "Bargello Stitch "

   

Needle N Thread Magazine

   "Needle N Thread " is the quarterly magazine published by Madhura Coats aka Anchor threads. Every magazine is sure to keep you busy for 3 months !! Every issue has interesting stuff... be it thread embroidery , crochet, tatting with colorful pictures of finished stuff. It also has detailed instructions. Design sheet is also included . To subscribe , mail to coatsindia@coats.com and you will get a prompt response . 

      My sis has sent some old issues of NNT. It has lots of interesting designs and patterns to be tried on kurti and sarees.Yippeeee !!!

Mango motif on salwar

This design is done with french knots on the outermost  line. The inner line is worked with stem stitch.The innermost flower is done with Kamal Kadai stitch. The design outside the kamal kadai flower is done with french knots again. There is a mirror work in between. The flowers outside the motif s done with Zardosi.

French Knot on Salwar

Here is the first dress in the embroidery section. This is my salwar embroidered with double knot. Some call this as French Knot too. Both these stitches are quite similar . Maybe thats why the confusion :)

   At first glance it looks as though some pearls are stitched on the salwar. Thanks to my mom who has stitched this to perfection !!!!

Chain Stitch Ganesha

Om Shri Ganeshaya Namaha !!!

Here is a closer view.

There is no better way to start the embroidery section without seeking blessings from Lord Ganesha. This Ganesha is made with chain stitch.The mirrors stuck in between increase the beauty of this work.

Changed the title again :)

I have changed the title of this blog again .. Now it will be called "Pinch Of this N Dash Of That" .I intend to post a pinch of everything that interests me . I will make this blog public now. So you will no longer have to login to see my blogs :)

The title that wasn't

heyaaaaaaaaaa....

I realised the old title did not sound very positive ... thats the reason changing it now to "life at its best " .. ...
Actually speaking .. looking at the serials and other programmes going on on TV i really dont think the title matters anymore ... the serial called "Bidaai " was expected to end after the bidai of the lead in the story .. but no, "picture abhi baki hai" the director seemed to have other plans .. its like he has just given an intro to the story all these 1.5 yrs.. (not sure abt the statistics though ..) The story is going on n on on on even after the Bidaai ... Next .. coming to all the dance reality shows, where s the dance !!!!! I find then doing circus .. doing all fancy dresses .. i see them playing sports .c them being clowns .. but where is the dance ??
HOMP .. thats Highway On My Plate .. thats my favourite TV show. I have always loved the way Mayur and Rocky have hosted it .. n of late i find them talking more abt the places that they visit and less abt food .. or maybe they are doing more justice to the title .. he he ... they had been showing only the plates all these days ,but now they are showing the High ways as well !!
Haaan .. Maayka .. the Bidaaai counterpart i must say ... is the story about 2 sisters in their sasuraal ... haaa haaaaa :) soooo many programmes on TV !! whooooooaaaaaa !!!! I am watching too many TV serials these days .. all thanks to mommy!! Whether i like it or not i have to watch it!!! Arrre ... not a problem watching it .. but i get confused with the titles ... i just cant match the story lines with the title .. the title that wasn't !!!!
Anyway .. the trend is not just with these programmes on TV .. The newly opened bakery called "Fresh Bread " in my neighbourhood doesn't sell bread !!. they have ice creams ... cold drinks n pastries .. but no bread !!! The ice cream shop doesnt have ice creams ... they have only fruit juices !!I saw a hoarding at some place . It read "Narayana Hrudayalaya Dental clinic". Hrudayalaya means "place where heart problems are treated". Maybe if you go there you will have your heart in your mouth . N the last week end when I had to go to a nearby state and had to hurriedly book tickets at the last minute you know what the name of the bus was ????? It was ..." BAD BOYS"

Now coming to the title of this post ... I couldn't think of any title .. Anyway ... the title doesn't matter any more

Blogging again ... :)

Whoaaaaaa !!! Sooo happy to find my blog here .. Almost 1. 5 years and no posts !! I had almost forgotten that I had started my blog here .. Really happy to find this . The fact that the title "Life cant get better" still holds good just adds to my happiness.. Or must I say... its just getting better and better ... Kisi ki nazar na lage.. :) Welll ... as some one has rightly said .. Its not about having everything perfectly in place .. but its about overlooking imperfections..

Author has deleted parts of this post

Ok ... thats all for now ... rest in the next post !!! (next post haaaan :)

Ok .. to add .. I am not liking blogspot .. i guess I lll change to wordpress .. Lol ... God save my next post :)

First one and hopefully not the last one :)

Whew !! My first blog is here finally .. Just making sure I have my first blog posted in 2007 . :) Theres a biiiiiiiiiig story about my first blog which incidentally dint get posted. Will pen more on this later. Right now I am just making sure I have my first blog posted before the end of this year.

I happened to read this stuff about happiness and thought I ll add it here .. Not many will appreciate this but it resonated with me .“you are climbing a branch to grab a fruit. The part of the branch you are perched on, which is directly above a deep well, breaks and begins to tilt downwards. You are hanging on to dear life. At that time a snake crawls on to the branch and begins to move towards your hand. A hungry lion approaches the well and waits there just in case you try to swing hard, avoid the well and fall to the ground. You can't go up the branch, the snake will bite you. If you fall into the well it is certain death. Swinging and avoiding the well is free lunch for the lion. As the branch slowly breaks and begins to detach from the tree, a drop of honey from a beehive above falls on your face. You lick it and experience sweetness, happiness. For a moment, you forget the snake, the well, and the lion. This is how happiness works in life. In life you go through many troubles, trials and tribulations and in the middle you somehow manage to sneak in happiness in the form of a peaceful moment, a vacation, family, wealth and children.”