Deepavali

According to many Hindu Mythological scriptures, during the battle of Maa Durga and Raktabija (Minister of Mahisasura), when Maa Durga tried to pierce him with her trident, his blood would create many more demons like him. In order to kill him, Maa Durga took two forms one is  Maa Chandi and the other which emerged from her head is  Maa MahaKali. Maa Chandi would fight with the Demon Raktabija and Maa Kali took the blood of this Demon in her mouth. Thus, the Demon's that were produced from his blood were immediately killed by Maa MahaKali. Thus, gradually the blood of this demon was taken completely by MahaKali and he was ultimately killed in the hands of Maa Chandi.

Maa Durga and her other incarnations not only killed Raktabija and Mahisasura but also had killed Kantimala, Bidalakhya, Biraghanta and Kaladanda. Thus, these incarnations of Maa had become very ferocious. Earth was filled with Blood by this battle. However, Maa MahaKali was still too violent. She became more and more violent and started to burn the whole world. This made all the deities to come out with a quick solution that could make Maa Mahakali calm down.

All the deities then requested Mahadev Shiva to help them, Shiva then fell in the feet's of Mahakali. When Maa Mahakali's feet landed upon Shiva, she realised her mistake  and she regained her original form.  This violent form of Maa Kali is worshipped in the midnight of Deepavali. This night is also called MahaNisha or Subharatri. Deepvali is considered to be the victory of light over darkness and Knowledge over Ignorance. As in presence of Light, there is no Darkness, same way in presence of Knowledge there cant be Ignorance. Deepavali is marked to celebrate life, happiness and prosperity in each and every house.

This day is also marked as the day when Ram had returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana. The Kingdom of Ayodhya had celebrated this by lighting Diya's. This is also the day when Krishna had defeated Narkasura. That day was also celebrated by Villagers in Birdavan by lighting lamps.


---Happy Deepvali to all, May God fill your heart with peace and love for all---

My first crochet from old clothes

Hi Readers,

I am posting yet another idea to recycle your old clothes. All this started with my artc and craft teacher in Notre Dame Academy. She mostly used to give us assignments that required recycling our used things. She taught an innovative way to knit a rug out of old nylon Saree. My mom still have that rug which I made yrs back in my 7th Std.

Few, days back I thought of making same rug out my left out clothes. Unfortunately, I didn't found knitting pins.Thered, came to my mind about crochet. I saw few videos and leant, how to mfe double crochet, single chrochet, make a round and also tunisian chrochet.

At first, I tried making a pot holder out of the old cloth by Tunisian crochet. However, I made something wrong, I believe for which it was crumbling from sidesd. Then I planned to modify the same in making a desktop organiser. However, finally I landed up making a hand purse out of it.

Below, is a picture of my first crochet project that I made accidentaly, while trying to make a whole different thing out of it.

Lips and Lipstick can create wonders.

Hi Readers,

I am sure many of you might think what wonders can Lips and lipstick make ? The answer is Amazing Paintings. When I read about it, I was surprised, painting with lipstick that too using lips instead of paint brush. Wow! Who could think of such weird things? Well, its Natalie Irish from Houston, Texas. She is known for her amazing art forms. She is a renown painter and sculpture.

Recently, she made a painting of Marylin Monroe with her lipstick. Many videos are available in web, which shows her live performance.

I am just posting the picture of Marylin created by Natalie.

Thanks

Sashiko Placemats

Hi Readers,

I am at first thanking to this internet and Google, which enabled me to learn new techinques and tradition in which stitching has been done in other parts of world. Thank to Google or else I would have never known the running stitch as its commonly said in every part is known as Sashiko in Japan.

Never, had thought before what wonders could be made with just the running stitch and geometrical shapes. I most say I am falling in love with this stitching form. I have tried two different patterns on same set of linen to make placemats.

Now, slowly I am heading towards making more Sashiko patterns in different things. So, let me take the pleasure to show you my very first encounter withh Sashiko. Below are few picture of the same.

I am looking forward to your esteemed feedback.

Thanks
Sharmistha

Empowered Women means Empowered Nation, Empowered Society and Empowered Civilization

Hi Readers,

Today's topic revolves round Women. Women given enough opportunity to develop in governance can make it remarkable. Women are proving themselves time and again in every field from art, science, research and politics. Empowering women has led the society to see a beautiful world.

You must be wondering, Why I am saying so much about Women ? The recent Nobel prize that has been awarded to three Women proves all my statement. Is not it? This time three women from Africa have got the privilege to get the World's highest considered award.

The three Nobel Women namely Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gobwee of Liberia and Tawakel Karmen of Yemen. The three women were recognised for their non-violent struggle for safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace building.The act recognises extraordinary individuals effecting great changes around them.It simultaneously makes another point for peace and development,it is vital women have an equal share in governance and protest for both processes to achieve meaningful progress.

Sirleaf is the first democratically elected female President who took over war torn Liberia in January 2006. She is the only female head of state in Africa. Inheriting a nation ravaged by violation and debts, Sirleaf made enormous efforts and turned Liberia into a much better place. Her efforts to make Liberia peaceful and overcome the debts, has been recognised worldwide. Leymah Roberta Gobwee is a Peace Activist, responsible for organising Peace movements in Liberia that eventually brought an end to the Second Civil War in year 2003. She united Christian and Muslim women against militias using rape to terrorise and humiliate opponents. Tawakel Abdel-Salam Karman is a Yemeni Journalist, Politician and a human rights activist. She has been demanding democracy much before the up rise of Arab Springs.Karman opposed Yemen's repressive regime and demanded democracy in non-violent method. She is the first Yemeni civilian to get Nobel prize.

The Nobel Committees recognition of the internal dynamics of conflicts,introspection about what violence does within societies,and whom it hits the hardest.The committees choice highlights the profound position of women in experiencing and resolving ground-level violence.
The Nobel committee observed that given equal opportunity in governance, women pulls other women, children, families into an expanding circle of benefits that features education, health care, employment and peace. One empowered women empowers many other people functioning as she does in an inter locking system. Women use creative non-violence to prosper and protest. Like Karman adopted in Yemen or Gobwee adopted in Liberia.

Some of my old fabric paintings

Hi Friends,

These are some of my old fabric paintings that I did long back in schooldays. I got so bored today, that I was thinking to start a fresh one, but the saddest part is I need to collect the fabric paints, a good linen and need to find a ultimate design.

I am sure, I won't let myself down. And for sure I will make a few  soon. For now let me share my good old memories of my school time with you all.

Thanks

X-stitch

Hi Readers,

I still remember my sixth std class of art and crafts at Notre Dame Academy, Jamalpur. Our teacher had asked to get the Cross stitch cloth and embroidery threads. I had never seen  before what it looks like the so called cross stitch cloth.

It was my good luck that our landlords daughter knew about it and she helped me in getting it from shop. My mother had no knowledge of cross stitch. I got a beautiful light sea green cloth and few chocolate and sky blue embroidery threads. I hardly had any experience at that time about cross stitch and also the colour combination.

My teacher taught us how to make cross stitch. Though I learnt it, I didn't follow the traditional way to make it. I stitched a simple boarder with three boxes arranged according to their sizes at each corner. I made the boxes with back stitch not the cross stitch. For me my work was good.

But, the day it was time for us to showcase our work in art and craft fest, I was speechless when I saw my friends work. They all had beautiful designs, wonderful colour combination. And as expected, my craft was given the last corner of the room as hardly anyone would take a look at my work after viewing the wonderful work my friends.

I laugh at this incident which had made me sad, though I didn't show anyone my emotion that day. Now, when I learnt from my friend that almost everyone except me had got it done by their Moms. But, literally, I thank my mom for not helping me a single time, when these tasks were given. This helped me a lot in knowing the technique. And, today I thank my teachers and school for teaching me all these wonderful crafts that I don't find time at home to get bored.

These not only keep me busy, but also give me material to write on it. Now, its time for me to write about my cross stitch. I made a table mat with cream colour cross stitch cloth with very vibrant colour combination. The boarder is simple with cupids in all sides blowing love. The middle portion has a diamond with lilac's.

I have also made cushion covers and pot holders with cross stitched top. View them, enjoy and give me your valuable comments.

Thanks

Time to showcase some patch work

Hi Readers,

I made bedsheet with patchwork. The design was a combination of my own design with inputs from web. I was glad to show my work to my mom. Infact, I gifted this bedsheet to my Mom 2 yrs back. She still uses it and loves my work on it.

I used button-hole stitch to stitch in the fabric cut pieces with the main bed linen. Infact, I and my friend Sagathika both made exact alike bed sheets, when we used to stay together in one room at Bangalore. I am sure, the moment she will see her bed-sheet, she would remeber me. I miss her when today I sit back and stitch something. Those were really wonderful days, when we both explored new ideas in sewing.

I will miss you Sagathika and I would like to see your work these days. I am sure, you would not have given up sewing.

Now its time readers, please give in your inputs, so that I could make improvements in my work.

Thanks

Time again for Deepavali and time to give away wonderful gifts.

Hi Readers,

Time is nearing to enjoy yet another wonderful festival, the festival of lights Deepavali. Dewali or Deepavali as its commonly said all over India, is celebrated in every part of India with a different custom and tradition. However, as we say, India has unity in diversity, this festival has a unique common feature that is followed in every corner of India. It is to share our goodies with friends and relatives.

I love to get the awsome gifts, that my parent receive on this occasion. We three sibilling used to divide the chocolates among us and used to enjoy them together. The wonderful gift boxes filled in with chocolates, dry fruits and decorated to give it a awsome look. Last year, I designed a few gift boxes with paper, and acrylic 3D liner paint. I decorated them with beads and designed them in traditional way. The designes mostly resemble the Heena or Mehendi design. This year, I am planning to make such gift boxes again, but not with black colour.

Lets see if I get some awsome idea to decorate these boxes myself and give away the gifts with my personal touch. Anyway, I am posting the images here, to help you in case you are someone who is also planning to give the gifts your personal touch.

Hope you all enjoy the festival of lights and sweets. May god bless you all and make your life filled with lights.

Thanks
Sharmistha

Recycled Old clothes to make a cushion cover

Hi Readers,

Today, I thought to talk about some of my work. Well, we all hear a lot about global warming, plotution, price rise etc. We speak about recycling things, and today I present you with my idea to recycle your old clothes.

I thought about recycling clothes some two years back. As I was having a number of old Salwar Kameez, and had no clue what I could do out of them other than donating them. I came about an idea to create other essential things like pillow cover, cushion cover, table mats etc out of my old belongings.
Oneday, I and my friend Sagathika visited our near by shop @Home in Bangalore, and I found many interestingly simple ideas to creat wonderful articles. You won't believe the cost of these cushion covers that were showcased in the shop.

Well, I just bought a simple cushion cover to get the exact measure of it, and cutted my old Dupatta in that measure. As I love to learn new embroidery skills, this was my first time trial of lazy-dazy stitch. I made few flowers, then thought of putting a thicker thread to give a more modern look. I got a Jute thread, cutted it barely in 10 cm length. Got few strands of such thread and then joined them with botton-hole stitch onto the fabric.


I was really surprised to see the outcome of my experiment. I made two beautiful cushion covers in just a single Dupatta.

Still, today, I experiment with all my old clothes, I make a number of articles varying from Pillow covers, kitchen towels, rugs, crochetterd purses, desktop organiser etc. These are really simple craft ideas that any one with just a little bit skill can make.

I would love to get more ideas on what else we can make out of these clothes.I would love to get your comments.

Thanks

Mahesh- Somesh and their Donkey

Mahesh is a simple soul who believes whatever he is told. The village boys are aware of this and exploit his simplicity for a few laughs. One day, Mahesh is on his way to the market with his son Somesh to sell their donkey. He comes across some village boys out to have fun.

Seeing the father and son duo walking with the donkey, they first suggest that the son Somesh ride on the donkey and save the effort. The son is put on the donkey’s back. The boys then ridicule the boy for riding while the father walks. The father and son switch places. The father rides while the son walks. The boys then taunt the father for making the poor son walk and advise the duo to ride the donkey together.

Thinking it a good idea they comply. The poor donkey collapses from exhaustion. The boys then express their disgust at the duo for ill treating the donkey and advice that they take the donkey to an animal doctor. The duo again follows the advice.

On the way, they come across barking stray dogs. In the confusion that ensues, the donkey falls into the flowing river. The donkey is lost forever. Mahesh loses the donkey because he follows what he is suggested without thinking for himself.

Moral:- He who listens to everybody will only become a laughing stock.

Lazy Donkey Bhola

Ramu owns a donkey called Bhola. Ramu is very tolerant and kind master. Whereas Bhola is very lazy and always keeps on finding ways to avoid work.

Once while returning with loads of salt on his back, Bhola falls in the river. He realizes that the fall has lessened the weights of the sacks as the salt has dissolved in the water.

 

The next few days Bhola purposely falls into the water everyday. Ramu is unhappy at the way Bhola is behaving because he is losing money in the process. He decides to teach Bhola a lesson.

The next day instead of salt bags he loads Bhola with bags of cotton. Bhola is unaware of the change. As planned, he falls into the water and gets the bags wet. He is surprised to find the load unbearable. His otherwise master also starts beating him.

Bhola learns his lesson and starts behaving.

Moral:- 

Work with honesty and sincerity because laziness will ruin you.

Farmer's Donkey

Hi Readers,

Today, I am going to share few stories, that are based on donkey. These stories are infact my favourite moral stories.

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.
Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.
Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
Free your mind from worries - Most never happen
Live simply and appreciate what you have.
Give more.
Expect less

Maa Durga Durgatinashini!!

Hi Readers,

Today, the Saptami(7th day worship)  puja of Maa Durga has started. From this day onwards till Dashami(10th day) the worship of Maa Durga is celebrated with much pump and show in all parts of India. The four day long puja from the Saptami till Dashami is given more importance in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. Though, Gujurat and other state celebrate this as Navaratri from day one to day nine.

MahishasuraMardini Form of Maa Durga

Maa Durga the name itself has got much more deeper insight. The word "Durga" means which cannot be obtained easily. Maa Durga is believed to be the source of energy(Shakti). She is considered to have two forms one is Knowledge or Wisdom and another Ignorance or Illiteracy. Knowledge or Wisdom controls our vision towards truth and enables us the strength to understand the meaning of our existence.Knowledge makes us more kin towards spiritual form of living and detaches us from materialistic objects. Whereas, Ignorance or Illiteracy makes us more kin towards materialistic form of living thus giving rise to greed for wealth and power. Maa Durga is considered to be the creator of life, she preserves and sustains the existence of life and also is the destroyer or end of life.

She is the origin of all source of power and energy. She has many forms. Like wise the name "Durga" has another meaning, that is Durgatinashini meaning one who eradicates all the evils. She is the one who protects her beloved children from all forms of evil and obstacles. We pray to Maa Durga to get truth its victory over evil. Sri Ram is believed to have prayed to Maa in order to get victory over Ravana and Lanka.

If we think spiritually, it shows that we pray to her to get control of all the ignorance that exist inside us, like the greed for wealth and power. Even if, she is one she is worshipped in many forms, namely the nine forms of Maa Durga and also in form of Maa Lakshmi and Saraswati.

Maa Ambika form of Maa Durga

The Durga Pandal's are decorated with many forms of Maa. In various parts of India, she is worshipped in different forms. Especially, she is worshipped in Mahisashura Mardini form i.e. the form when Maa Durga kills the demon king Mahisashura with her Trident. The Durga Pandal's in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa is decorated with this form of Maa generally. Though, now a days theme based Durga Pandals are visible in every place. In Gujurat and Andhra Pradesh, the durga pandals are decorated with Maa Ambika form of Durga where she is depicted to be calm and rides on a tiger.

Durga Pandal at Hyderabad

It is believed that one who prays with much devotion to the goddess gets all the benefits and also gets his/her wish fulfilled. Though now a days, people not only fast on Navaratri days to get benefit out of these austerities but also to get health benefits that this nine day fast would cleanse their digestive system and make it more systematic than before. Some also follow this to get rid of the fat.

Thank you.