Sunday 28 September 2014

DURGA PUJA-4: YOU ARE INVITED!

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED

WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

TO CELEBRATED DURGA PUJA WITH US!

This is the official invitation card this year, designed by me.
Feels good...

Thursday 25 September 2014

DURGA PUJA-3: Pre- Puja SHOPPING

SHOPPING!

HAVE YOU DONE YOURS?
STILL PENDING?
LAST MOMENT RUSH?
HECTIC YET EXCITING!

Let me take you out with me
Where?...............................           Taanter Haat

This is a wonderful effort by the Government to promote the weavers, small businessmen and craftsmen to come closer to the consumer. The exhibitions are THE place to go. You get to see a variety and some very off the beat stunning pieces at very reasonable prices.

We reached in the noon, so were saved off the mad rush.
Pretty mannequin in a pretty saree?

Lovely display of different types of handwoven sarees from different parts of Bengal.
All kinds of colours- bright, muted; varying combination...
visual treat...

Don't forget the accessories to go with the sarees.
Am just thrilled by the  variety of tassels here...

Don't miss these craftsmen at work.
The man on left is carving a piece of soft wood, the man on right is painting the carved wooden block.

Must have one of these lovely dolls.
The pretty Lakhi pachaa, Auspicious owl is just right for the table.

This is dokra art of the tribals.
Here thin wire like strips of bee wax are twinned to give a shape; then a mold with clay is made; on heating the wax comes out and a hollow mold  is made. Now the craftsman fills the mold with molten copper. Once cold the mold is broken and a shiny piece of art is produced.

The masks in the making.
The tribal Santhali man and woman, Goddess Kali and Goddess Durga...

Ferocious demon face, just right for the entryway to ward off the evil...

Madhubani painting art
Each piece is a story in itself of folklores, daily life or a small prayer

Rush do your shopping
eat out
chat.....chat.....and chat....
Enjoy!!!

Wednesday 24 September 2014

DURGA PUJA-2: MAHALAYA

Devi paksh begins!

Pitri paksha (15days prior to Mahalaya) ended with paying of homage to our ancesters in form of prayers and food to needy.

Devi paksha is the holy time for begining new things and ventures.

Now the Goddess Durga is invited and requested to come to her paternal home, Earth and live amongst us.

This day the story of Mahisasoor vadh is told (the victory of good upon bad) and Goddess is prayed! 

"Jaago Durga
Jaago Dashpraharan-dharini..."







"Ya devi sarbabhuteshshu, sakti rupena sanksthita
Namasteshwai Namasteshwai Namasteshwai namo namaha."

Saturday 20 September 2014

AUTUMN FOLDER-SAVE THE COLOURED MEMOURS!

Hi! A very big Hi!!
Autumn is here!


 
Let us celebrate by making a paper folder in colours of Autumn. You need one to keep all the beautiful brightly coloured memories in it, or may send some invites.

Here are two lovely handmade papers.

 This is a A3(16.4 inch x11.6inch or 41cm x30cm approximately) size rust coloured handmade paper. Look closer, it has few silk fibers embedded in it.

This is another textured handmade paper.

  
Now I have simply folded the A3 paper along its length to give the shape of folder.

I have used the textured paper to make the pocket inside the folder. For this folder I have cut the paper as 3.4 inch or 9cm height; and 8.5 inch or 22cm approximately (i.e. width of the folded folder and 1cm extra on both sides for the pocket.

It is Autumn, so I sketched few leaves on the back side of the textured cut piece of paper on one long edge (this edge shall form the open edge of pocket). 

With a sharp pair of scissors cut out the motif.
 

See how beautifully the cut out design stands out against the other colour background.

Now I also had a bright orange textured handmade paper (in rather less quantity). Using the same cut out as reference I sketched some more leaves in continuity to previous cutout, but, this time on the front side of orange paper.

Neatly cut out. Using zig-zag edged scissors I also cut the rest of the strip of orange paper which is cut about 8.3inch or19.5cm in length.

Put glue on reverse edge on the textured paper and stick the orange paper.Lovely design! Isn’t it? Fold about 0.3inch or 1cm of textured paper on the other three sides, and the pocket is formed. Stick the pocket inside the folder on the right hand page flush to the lower edge.Pretty!

Front of the folder needs dressing up. This is a lovely thin handmade paper with flower petals embedded in it. Cut it using zig-zag craft scissors to a size of 1inch less on all sides of finish folder. Stick it with glue.

How to keep the folder closed, when not in use? Use a belt. For this I used strips of orange paper and a maroon dotted satin ribbon.

Here is my belt. The length of orange strip is about 0.4 inch more than twice width of folder. The satin ribbon is long enough to tie a bow around the folder.


Tie the belt in middle of folder. If you want to send this as invite, put the contents in the pocket and stick the ends of orange paper of belt and on top of it tie the satin bow. This makes it more personalized. Very dainty!


Enjoy the experiences!
Cherish the memories!
Take care!

I am linking this post with Home Sweet Home party.

Vibrant Mushroom Botanical Watercolor Painting with Printable

  Vibrant Mushroom Botanical Watercolor Painting is a great Artwork to own. Watch me paint Bright Watercolor Mushroom and you can enjoy this...