Few non crocheting moments

So what's going on within the non crocheting moments.... I tossed a few mustard seeds and watched the new life burst forth from within. What a pure delight this was!!!

And...... Took out a well used iron griddle of over 25 years. This was gift by a dear friend. This is used for the traditional rose cookies as they are called in India. I get a batter of sugar rice flour and all purpose flour ready with a beaten egg and pinch of salt, and let it stand. In the meantime I heat  the iron griddle and dip the heated griddle in the batter and dip it again in hot oil. I love to see the batter slowly turning color and leave the griddle blooming into a pretty flower. I use a drop of vanilla and these flowers come out crisp and with an awesome smell. 

So here they are... To brighten up any day when I am not crocheting yarn flowers!!! 

Plarn = Yarn + Plastic!!

A quick post on some of my recent work..

I made this from throw away plastic bags, also known in the crochet world as plarn.. to denote yarn made from plastic.

I must say that it does make a pretty mat that is fairly soft and pliable and washable too.
The possibilities are endless with plarn, and the greatest benefit is the recycling part.. that appeals to me the most.
I simple cut out the strips and rolled them into a ball akin a yarn ball and started crocheting this.
I seem to have collected quite a few bags now.... Hoping to make more ...

 

Ebony and ivory

This is my dear old piano that I learnt piano on since age 7. The harmony and chirpy feeling that it offers me are captured into the chirpy blanket that I made. Yes it is for a baby but something different and bright with uncommon colors. Akin my piano that has got a facelift with new felts and tuning the blanket sings its own new melody. Hope you like the newness in this rather old patterned granny square.
Until next time stay chirpy!!
Love
Shanti

Cherry blossoms and love knots

Cherry blossoms .... Remain my favorite ones that I love.... When I weave love and cherry blossoms together this is what I get!! Love knots in crochet are called the Solomon knot, after the book of Solomon.
Pretty pink woven into an expandable bag that can be carried in one's pocket gets to be very versatile and utilitarian. Hope you like this love knot drawstring shopping bag I designed and made.

Hope you have all been keeping well.
Until my next post stay happy.
Love
Shanti

2013 Christmas cake

Hello dear friends,
I baked the first Christmas cake for the year too early !! This recipe of mine that I hold very dearly tastes better as or ages and so the early the better. Here it is...getting the fruits ready.. And soaked nice and plump.. And Mia watches me bake!!

Elephants

Made some cute elephants that measure a little more than one inch each. How have you all been. My net book was not working too good and blogging from the phone was not too comfortable!! Here they are...

Broomstick lace baby dress with collar - new design

Here is a new design that was on my drawing board and now in a tangible form. Hope you like it. The highlights are the collar that has also been designed with broomstick lace.
I hope to release the pattern for this also. I am thinking of maybe naming the process..."Broomstick made easy"..series, adding tips and helps too. I need more time, as I hope to get the bonnet also to be moved from my drawing board ..so the next one you can expect is the bonnet.

Each of these series, has been patterned after a lot of iterations. Having designed many such, I like this series the best.
The one pattern that is available now is HERE  Do try this when you have some free time.

Broomstick lace remains my favorite stitch.

Thanks so much dear friend for visiting my blog. And until we meet again, wishing you happy crocheting moments, and God Bless.

Shanti

Broomstick Lace Baby gift set- Pattern coming up soon

So here I am designing a new broomstick baby set, comprising of blanket, bootees, Bonnet, Mittens and Cardigan...making progress step by step. All are new patterns, please check again for them, after I have completed the full set.

These are the bootees...

these are the mittens..

this is a partial view of the blanket..yet to take some full view photos..

Bye now and God Bless you

Lots of love

Shanti

On the shores of the Pacific ...

Visit the shores again and got so inspired, each wave seemed like pretty freshly crochet doilies reaching out to my feet!!

I waited for the sun to set. A lone bird was flying past.. Everything turned golden ..

Some were playing with the waves...

Some were walking along the waves..

It was spectacular to see the seaweeds being washed ashore..some looked like crochet woven strands..

The pier and the smell of the sea was so comforting and reminded me of the sea next to which I grew up.

The waves never get tired and come on again and again to touch the shore..

These birds were strolling around too..this birdie was looking at human footprints!!

The mountains beyond...the sound of the waves, people playing, birds flapping by were all so harmoniously beautiful..

There was so much color lighting up the skies..

And food too...

The funnel cake..

The highlight of the visit was watching art ..a painting being done by just using the nails and finger tips. Each piece was exquisite painted on mirrors. There is no end to the world of colors and working with anything that one has. No paint brushes no easel and no fancy studio..with sand at the feet, and fingers as brushes and nails as pen tips, and a few blotches of color, the sky the roof, and the passers by the audience, there was genius etched into every painting, that told a story.
Until we meet again with lots of love
Shanti

Where does my inspiration come from ...

Hello again,
Just a quick blogpost on what inspires my work.

This is a pretty miniature rose...so vibrant and lovely. God's creation forever inspires me and shapes what my hands make.

As each petal unfolds the perfume and beauty and feel and joy of each flower in praise of the creator is captured in m heart and the praise in my heart keeps blooming into all my work..

This  rose handmade by me has been inspired and my heart is joyful indeed!!

I  fashioned them into a eardrop and pendant piece.
Hope you like them.
And until we meet again may you be blessed in every area of your life.
Lots of love
Shanti