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Sunday, August 11, 2013

Hollywood and more

It was a fun trip to see Hollywood homes, last week,  and relate to them.
The huge sign atop the mountain was good to see too.

The following poster does explain about the city site.




Just at the foot of the hills we could see bustling activity ..


There were n number of stars of famous people. Took a few pictures ,,
One of my favorites..you can read more about him HERE..Zubin Mehta








Here I was waiting for the little tour bus that stopped by each Hollywood home. I was most excited when I saw Lucille Bals's home ,,she would have been a 102 years old as on date ..as a child I have watched her programs and enjoyed them!! More about Lucille HERE.


The tour guide did take around all the celebrity homes..There was sadness when I saw the bedroom where Michael Jackson had died, and the home where his body was brought out from. I have watched his programs as well.


I came back inspired by many a structures, and color and designs and landscape..In my art they all do inform and get integrated in some way or the other. I can write plenty but this will suffice for now!!
Until we meet again
Lots of love
Shanti

Friday, August 9, 2013

Broomstick Lace Neck Tie - Free pattern

There are a wide variety of scarves. But a neck tie certainly is  sophisticated and draws  that quantum of focus to the face, framing it with the goodness of the necktie, whilst it offers  many  more benefits. It adds interest to what it defines.
I have designed this neck tie, in a way that
1.  The tie has a neat fall,  that secures the tie in place.
2. The tie gives a  reversible option to  be worn either with the pink  highlights around the neck or the variegated portion around the neck.
3. The tie has two different stitches incorporated into it, that gives it a natural break, for the tie portion and the neck part.  The three floral highlights  also bring definition to the face. Varying the choice of colors will give you a wide range of choice in effects.
4. The tie  can double up as a trouser/ skirt. or jean sash,  around the hip.
5. The design is open light and airy and certainly does not add discomfort or weight  to the wearer.

I designed this two days ago and just completed it. I have written my   pattern  for you. Request you to link back to my blog with your creations that you have been inspired to make,  even if you have made  any variations of what I have made. Please also leave a comment for me. It is so good to know how you have been inspired,

Name of the Project: 
Floral burst Necktie

Designed and made by:  
Dr Shanti Mary Samuel (your's truly)

Materials needed
One skein soft yarn solid color, one skein variegated yarn with a complementary shade. I have used Bernat Baby coordinates yarn.

Knitting needle for casting on the broomstick lace, size 5.50 mm crochet hook. Tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Skill Level
Intermediate

Getting the flowers ready. Make a slip knot with the variegated yarn. Start with 5 chains and join with a slip stitch. Work * three chains to count as one dc work two triple crochet into the ring,   chain 3. Slip stitch inside the ring. (These three chains and two triple crochet stitches make one petal).  Continue from * to make 5 petals all together. Fasten off and weave in ends. Make three such flowers ..you will find that in one flower I have added 6 petals ..you could do that too, although the petals tend to curl up when they are too dense.
Keep the flowers aside and start working on the scarf now.


The scarf is basically made with rows of broomstick crochet. You will need basic knowledge of how to make broomstick lace.


As you will notice one portion of the scarf is with  pink yarn whilst the other part is made  with a variegated yarn. The pink  serves as the larger portion that goes around the neck, and the variegated portion is the tie and the focal piece. Please also  notice the change in design.

 Start with a slip knot using pink  yarn.
Chain 20.
Chain two to count as first dc.
Turn work
dc into the third chain from hook
dc into the rest of the 18 chains. (from now on you will not turn the work)
Without turning work draw loops through all the 20 chains, one by one,  and loop them, casting them  onto a knitting needle or wooden dowel. You will have 20 loops. ** Now gather the first five loops and insert hook into this 5 group of loops, , work five sc into them. One broomstick lace cluster is thus  formed. Make four more clusters. 

   

You will have a total of 20 scs now. Now draw through all 20 chains, one by one again without turning the work,  casting them again on to the knitting needle. Work from ** for 21 more rows and until  you have a total of 22 rows.
Now turn work and dc across the entire row, and fasten off.


 Make a slip knot with the variegated yarn. With the right side facing join you yarn and draw through and cast on 20 loops on to the knitting needle. (from now on you will not turn work) Without turning work, make one turning chain and then work one sc into each loop (no gathering of 5 loops together, each loop is worked on independently) Draw through all 20 chains and repeat rows until you get a total of 8 rows.


Edging: chain 3, work two dc and one slip stitch into the next space. Continue until end. (make a similar edging on the dc row that you started with).



Sew on the three flowers on the last row of dcs where the new rows of broomstick lace start.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Wear your neck tie by wrapping the longer portion around the neck and the draw the other end through and flip it over with the tie portion shorter and in front. Well......... the options to wear it are as per your choice!!





















Hope you enjoyed the pictures.
Until we meet again
Lots of love
Shanti

***************************



Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Broomstick Lace: The white water lily/ lotus

Hello friends,

I created this  one hour ago. The meditation on the whiteness of the lotus/ the water lily inspired me. About  the term whiteness......
"The Hebrew name shushan or shoshan i.e.,   'whiteness', was used as the general name of several plants common to Syria, such as the tulip, iris, anemore, gladiolus, ranunculus, etc. Some interpret it, with much probablity as denoting in the Old testament the water-lily (nymphoea lotus of Linn) or lotus.." White has a deep spiritual meaning for me. While in the flow of the beauty of white, I designed and created this white water lily/lotus. It resembles an explosion of light and is enlightening to me, with its burst of joy. Certainly there is joy in my heart!!



In the background you see a broomstick lace scarf with variegated denim yarn.


The more I see this the more I am loving it. I have a long list of patterns that I will be releasing soon, of all my latest designs and so please do keep coming back to check.  I am so thankful for your visit and all your encouragement. God Bless you.


Until next time lots of love.
Shanti. 

Broomstick lace Autumn Scarf

Hello everyone,
Hope you are enjoying your visits to my blog. I love white and the spiritual significance of white is central to my interest in the color. Seasons change as quick as the drop of a curtain, and  I love the vibrant colors of the fall ..the change from green to fiery orange is a feast for the eyes. Capturing this vibrancy and weaving them into this scarf has been my enjoyable journey... Made this with my favorite weave..the broomstick lace also called the Peacock eye lace.






Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did.
Until we meet again, with lots of love
Shanti



Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Broomstick Lace Peacock doily

I visit the farm  3 weeks ago. Click here to see what I did there, and the peacock that inspired me.
Click HERE to see my other  peacock creations. See my peacock work HERE too, and read more about my  serenading peacocks  HERE .
As you can see I like the peacock. Here is a peacock doily, that can also be used as a mug mat that I designed last week and started on it.....with Caron simply soft autumn red and red heart metallic yarn and green...Although my choice of peacock colors are not there certainly it looks like a peacock that changed its costume!!  So it does not adhere to the typical stereo typed peacock colors!!



 Finished the whole piece  two hours ago.


I made this doily with the peacock eye or the broomstick lace technique of working on the round. You can find tips on the internet on how to work the broomstick on the round.


I designed my peacock to look to the left or the right by just flipping the direction of  the neck !! to give it some variety.




These are some of my other peacock work.




Hope to meet more peacocks along the way in my journey. 
Until we meet again lots of love to you and please do leave a comment. I love to hear from my readers.
Shanti

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Sand Art

This is the Hermosa beach. The smell of the sea,  the sight of the birds, the sound of the waves the feel of the sand. and cool water under the feet and  water lapping over my feet was so invigorating. Left my shoes on the shore...such a delight to be so bare and barefoot!!


Walked with the  sea green waves..


The waves brought in some strings akin garlands of seaweeds for me, and the birds left me some of their feathers...I picked up one feather and made myself a small tiny sand castle with sand that was judiciously moistened just right by friendly waves.....


Watched each wave compete with each other to reach the sand castle...Some came as near but was not enough.....


Finally they did reach, and when they did....my castle was all washed away....I had company, the sea gulls busy fishing and somewatching me too..

Read more about the Hermosa beach by clicking HERE 
The waves never get tired is it not to come back to the shore again and again and again...they are indeed so persevering... .

Reminded me of the Marina Beach in my hometown. Read more about the Marina Beach HERE
The beach was a mile away from the home where I grew up. The smell of the sea brings me so much comfort, meaning  and warm memories.

The sunset today was not marked, as the clouds were quite heavy, yet it was a beautiful experience. There were quite a few people fishing from the pier. And I did watch a large fish that was caught. The birds were quite well fed with the bounty of fish here.


Simply loved the deep aqua color of the sea. The white foam resembled the edging of a crisp pure white crochet lace. It was akin a natural God made pretty and huge sea green doily with a white edging that was trying to spread itself on the table of fine sand. 



Left my signature with child like glee and as I walked back I took back a part of the sea back in my heart, thanking God for my journey and all the people I have met, and all the joy and love shared with each. Thank you dear visitor for have walked in and left your foot print on my blog too. Should you feel at anytime drawn to leave a comment for me, please do so and I love to hear from you. Until then with every grain of sand and every wave the relentlessly embraces the shore, I wish you all the very best in everything you so and success in everything your hands set to do. Many Blessings.


Until we meet again
With lots of love
Shanti