Hi there,

Today's  post is some more pieces of jewels...
              This is almost a continuation of the earlier post. In here will be the pieces I made for my sister, and one that was designed for my princess.

               This first photo has a simple flat glass bead in a golden colour headpin attached to fish hook ear wires. The other pair is actually antique gold triangular pendant bails or hangers. Just attached ear hooks to them in matching colours.

            This one here has two small, flat light brown glass beads in each piece, hung one below the other using separate eye pins. The earrings are hung on fish hooks again. These three pairs of earrings were made for my sister.

             This is the third one of the pendants of the same type I had purchased from Bangalore. (The other two were used for the jewels posted in the earlier post). Initially, I wanted to use two for a pair of earrings, but later I thought they were too big for that. So, used all three as pendants. In this piece, that I made for my dear girlie, are alternate white pearl and sandstone beads, with golden metal beads as spacers. From the pendant again are five hangings of a sandstone and a pearl each. There is an antique finish endchain for length, with a lobster clasp at the end.

So, that's for now. 

See you later.

Regards,

- Chitra.

Hi...

                            The time of the year I enjoy the most (kids too) is December. Not just because it is the time for Christmas break, but because that's when my sister and family come down for vacation... The kids have a great time, but me and my sis too get to spend some time together. Eventhough we have video chats and there is the routine catching up that we do regularly, nothing beats real presence..

                I love these days of December vacation also because then is when sis and I sit together with my stash of beads and rummage through it to see what all pieces to make for her.... She is just like my girlie... Both of them love jewellery, and I love making pieces for them.. Most of the times, their tastes differ.. So, here are two pieces I made with the same  pendants and beads, but with some small variation as per their individual tastes...

                   The one above is for my daughter. My sister didn't like the hangings on the pendant, so made one (given below) without those for her. The first one has shorter end chains than the one for my sis. The first one has tiny golden beads as spacers between the pearl beads.

                   I bought these simple pendants with an antique finish on a trip to Bangalore. I loved them for their simple design, so bought not one, not two, but three pieces.. The beads used are faux pearl round ones light golden brown in colour. Bith the chains have metal hooks at their ends.

     This one was made few years back with the same type of beads- faux pearl round ones light golden brown in colour. This set of neck piece and a pair of matching earrings were gifted to a cousin. In this, I had wire- wrapped each pearl with two seed beads at each end. 

       That's all for now. 

Bye. Take care.

Regards,

- Chitra.

Hi,

        " Jewellery has the power to be the one little thing that makes you feel unique."- Elizabeth Taylor.
           And, as they say, a girl can never have enough jewellery...

          There was this string of natural ruby as faceted rondelle beads that I bought from a jewellery house... Just a string of them.. this was when my little lady was, well, quite little.. Back then, I had plans to turn it into a proper gold necklace with matching earrings... Didn't work out then, and I just forgot about it... Just a couple of years back, when my mom found this in the locker, she asked why not put it to a good use, now that the little girl also would love to wear it... That was it... my girlie suggested that instead of going for a real gold piece, which then wouldn't be worn so casually, why not make two necklaces out of it... as she said- 'mom and me' necklaces...
       Searched a lot for good pendants to go with it, but found none.. Finally, it was during my trip to Chennai that I got some antique finish pendants, that I found good.
        Finalised two of those pendants for the pieces, and here is the end result- The first one was designed for my princess. The shorter piece among the two, there are smaller size ruby beads hanging from the pendant... Looked pretty on her when she wore it with traditional pavada blouse.

The second one is what I made for myself (though i have worn it just twice...) with a large pendant in traditional design.. This is a longer neck piece than the first one, and the ruby beads too are larger than those in the other piece. Goes well with saree as well as salwar kameez.

     In both these pieces, I have used antique finish golden beads and bead caps as spacers between the ruby rondelle beads. End chain in the shorter piece, and more smaller antique finish beads in the longer one add to the length.

          I am not very crazy as far as jewellery is concerned, but this one set is very special for me... this is the first 'mom and me' set I have made... and it felt very special when we wore it together to a temple.

Bye.
See you.
Regards,

- Chitra.

        

Hi,

            Today's post will be some more dresses... but these are for my little prince.
The pretty lady gets a lots of dresses designed, stitched, remodelled and altered for her, and that too quite frequently.. It is comparatively rare that the little guy gets such an attention.. Not intentional, but it sure is more interesting to design dresses for girls than for little boys...But that doesn't mean I haven't done any dresses for him at all...
            This was among the first ones that i stitched for him... His pants were once the sleeves of his dad's t- shirt.

       Once he grew a bit, there were a lot of t-shirts that were made into pants for him.. A friend of mine wanted to know how it is done. So, I took pictures of one such t- shirt upcycling...

        It is actually much easier to make dresses for little boys, than for girls... The work gets done in no time... You have no ruffles to be added, nor is there any need for embroidery or any such embellishment... So, in the same time that you would require to make a girl's dress, you can make multiple number of dresses for little boys. And, here I got ready a loadful of pants for my tiny tot.. all from t-shirts.. You need just around 10-15 minutes, and an elastic band for each of these.. And the bonus is the sweet kisses I got for these.. that's guaranteed...

Be back with more posts..
Bye. Take care.

Regards,
-Chitra.

Hello,

            Some years back, bought a long skirt in lime yellow, with black thread and antique gold colour zari in the borders. A t-shirt wouldn't match with it, nor would a plain black top. So, designed a sleeveless round neck top with antique gold colour material and added black piping to the neck and sleeves. Now that she has grown, she can no longer wear it. But it still is kept safe in her cupboard. Now that she has grown, she can no longer wear it. But it still is kept safe in her cupboard.

             Last year, during the summer vacation, I bought dark green silk material to stitch a pavada- blouse set for my daughter.. She didn't like it that both the pieces would be of the same colour... the blouse had to be of golden colour. I had a one- metre  bit with me, but my mom said it won't be sufficient for a long blouse. And, the young lady wouldn't compromise on the length of the blouse even a bit...    

             I pasted together some brown paper to the dimensions of the golden fabric I had, and cut out a pattern for the blouse using just that one metre of the clothing... Thought it would work, and it did...  There is a finely pleated band of the fabric along the length of the blouse at the centre, both in the front and at the back. That was the adjustment I had to make so as to make do with the material in hand.. After the work was completed, mom said the adjustment in fact added some beauty to the blouse that would have otherwise been plain... Added a bit of golden lace to the neck line, the sleeves and the bottom edge of the blouse.. 

            One work that is still pending is a matching set of necklace and earrings using air- dry clay.. That's a project I had planned to do this vacation, but couldn't buy clay... should do that some day soon....

Bye for now.

Regards,

-Chitra,

Hi

    Today's post will be some simple pieces of jewellery made with air- dry clay. It is easy to work with, and you needn't bake it..

            The first one was designed for my daughter, to match with a long silk frock in soft orange colour. Since she already had bangles and earrings to go with the dress, she didn't feel it exciting enough to go just to buy a neck piece. So I thought of making it myself. There was a problem with that, I discovered later....  there wasn't anything in my stash of beads that could be used. There was no option left other than to start with air- dry clay, which, luckily, I had an unopened pack of.... There was hardly time to come up with a good design and make it too... The beads and the pendant were all made in less than half an hour, and just the next day, they got the first coat of paint. I used orange and maroon acrylic colours with pearl finish and some golden paint for an added glitter. Added seed beads to give it some length, and attached a metallic hook at the back... That's it..

          These two short length pieces were custom made for my sister.. the pieces should go with traditional wear- both saree, and salwar kameez, and, shouldn't be too large... these were made to fit this description.. 

          One in dark green and gold combination, and the other in maroon and gold. In both, the clay beads are spaced with small golden metallic beads that add to the length, and also show off the clay beads separately. The green one has a pair of earring with it. In all the 3 pieces posted today, over two coats of acrylic paint, I applied a coat of clear nail polish... It gives some shine, and maintains the pieces in good condition for a longer time.

Thats it for today..

See you..

Regards,
Chitra.

Hi

            Today's post is some stitching projects, this time, for a change, for myself... 

I don't like my dresses to have too much work on them.. My tastes in dresses for me are simple...

           This is a kurta stitched in brown khadi sort of a fabric... short sleeves and a pentagon neckline that isn't deep.. To add a little bit of detailing to it, stitched some copper colour seed beads in a random manner near the neck line and the shoulders... The neck pattern at the back is just a plain round one. Paired this kurta with a light brown printed patiala pant and matching dupatta.

          This next one is a mint green colour high collar readymade kameez. Took too long to decide on a matching colour for the salwar to go with it.  My friends suggested bright pink, but it is too bright a combination for my rather too plain and simple taste... So, finally decided on dark green colour for the salwar and dupatta. Stitched the semi- patiala salwar with a 2 metre cloth. To the top, at the left side bottom corner, added some simple circular design with hand embroidery. The threads used were dark green and olive green. (too much crease on the dress... should remember to iron the dresses next time before taking pictures.... )

               And this one was a pretty saree in another time.... one of my favourite... the print on it is lovely. It is just very very rarely that I wear saree. Saree showcases femininity, beauty and grace like no other traditional wear... but, I find it not so comfortable to walk around in, especially if it is for a long period of time... There had to be another way that I transform my favourite saree so that I could use it much more frequently... For that, I stitched a patiala salwar out of it... What was left was designed into a dupatta with a length of lace added to it as a border.. 

            It isn't very frequently that I take up some stitching project for dresses for myself. It is much more exciting for me to design dresses for my princess.. But just once in a while, it feels nice to make something for oneself too..

Bye.

Regards,

-Chitra.

Hi,

  It is some wool work that I am  posting today.

                Wool work, especially crocheting, is so very convenient... You aren't tied to a place as is the case when you stitch, or do beading, or any other work... While crocheting, you can sit anywhere, comfortably... you can even crochet on the move... and it is not like you have to keep your eyes stuck on the work you are doing... Just when you start a new stitch, or a new row, you may have to pay good attention... after that, it almost becomes sort of automatic... You have to be focussed, but then again, you don't have to be...  Crocheting is creativity + relaxation... almost meditative...

              Well, I need just one more thing to go with a ball of yarn and a crochet hook.... A cup (make it a larrrrrge one, please) of hot coffee..... that's just a perfect combination.... made in heaven.... :-)
Actually, for me, any work I love (including reading) + coffee would spell 'divine'...

              Now for the wool works....
       This is the sweater, more of an overcoat without sleeves, made for my brother's little princess... her second one I crocheted (have posted earlier the first one, of orange and white yarn, complete with a beanie to match).
       The yarn is the same I used earlier for a poncho for my daughter when she was little...This is soft wool in beautiful, soft pastel shades (Red Heart Soft Baby Steps multicoloured yarn)...  Made 26 granny squareswith it, and added a single row edging to each with pale baby pink yarn.

                                      
 
   The granny squares were crocheted together with the same pink yarn. For a right and a left hand side piece, used 5 pieces for the front +5 squares for the back, each. And then there are 3 pieces at the side, joining the front to the back. That made it 13 pieces on each side.The picture given below will make it easy to understand... the back of the sweater is a single large rectangle connecting the right and left side pieces. In the front, added two flaps, and gave a pink edging to the neckline then.

      There was something missing. My pretty lady said it looked too simple and needed some embellishment... So, decided on a crocheted flower in pink.... made a simple one for the sweater. With the multicoloured yarn, made an ear warmer to match, and added a flower to that as well....

The set was complete... and I was satisfied with the end product... But there was some more yarn left... not too little, not too much... Just enough for a small scarf... So made one for my sister and added tassles with the pink yarn to its ends...  

Perfect... Another work completed.... The little one was so very happy that she was all smiles.... jumping and dancing with joy when she tried it on... What more can one ask for...   :-)

Bye, then...

Take care.

Regards,

- Chitra

Hi..

It is beadwork again today....
Some random projects...

        This is a long chain of black crystal beads and golden ones of the same size. The gold beads have a fine design over them that catch the light beautifully. Since I couldn't find a pendant to match, I made one with golden beads strung on a metal wire shaped into a circle. Attached golden end chains for adjusting the length... This string of beads completes and complements a traditional look in saree...

        This is another piece with black beads, but this time in  combination with silver. Made this piece for my sister- in- law's daughter. Alternating with the black plain beads are flat silver spacer beads or chakris.... This is a short piece to be worn so as to sit at or right below the collarbone, called in jewellery terms as princess length.. There are some black beads hanging on silver head pins at the centre. Perfect to team with long skirts and plain solid coloured tops...

  

       This set of 3 was custom made for my brother's little princess.... There is one with grey pearls and silver spacers with stones.. the second one is of pale blue crystal beads alternating with flat silver spacer beads or chakris.. and the third one has red crystal beads and small size golden beads. Attached end chains to all three so that it is easy to adjust the length as the little one grows..

    There is so much happiness in beading, but there is still greater joy in seeing the pieces of jewellery lovingly adorn your dear ones...

See you.

Take care.

-Chitra

Hi,

          Beaders know this well, and sure would agre that you never know how much you have,  till you attempt to organise your hoard, and for that, sort through it all.... But then, there is no such thing as too many beads... This bead- story always starts with just one bead you feel is special, and before you know, it, there are more such special beads that join, and then you are fully into beading.

         And the special, unique thing about beads is that, you string them one way, and later change the design and string them yet another way, there is never a chance you can go wrong... well, mostly... and each design is unique...
       
          What's more, my pretty princess just gives me her special smile everytime she gets a new dress... and thats the code that she wants me to make the accessories to go with it...

          There are a few simple bead jewels I have made that weren't too time consuming, and also didn't need too much of thought process in designing..  as I said already, Simple pieces...


         This first one was made for my sister- in- law... to go with an off white saree with black border. Just some black crystal beads, small golden ones and some stones for a little charm...... a length of adjustable golden chain at the end made it complete...

             And this one is something special.. There is this friend, a colleague of mine who is super talented at dress designing... and just like that, she stitches a whole dress at one go, mostly just one night..and she comes to school in the newly stitched dress the next day.... Don't know how she does it, but it's really amazing.. Each design is unique too...

             She had this collection of beads that was waiting since forever to be strung into a beautiful piece.. And the time for it came on a rainy day when the classes at our school were suspended and we had some time in our hands... It took just some pieces of golden metal wires to transform the white pearls, ruby beads, emerald green beads into a simple yet pretty necklace with golden end- chains.. and this is the finished chain... It has two layers in different heights..

      No matter how much you grow up, you will surely feel sad when your friend goes away from you.... you feel so bad... My daughter's friend was changing school as her dad got a transfer .. This came all of a sudden and my girlie didn't know what to gift her friend.. What  are mothers for, then?? I made a simple set out of some red crystal beads and some wire.. Each bead is individually wire wrapped and so it did take some time. But my girlie was happy with the result. It was good to be gifted to her dear friend, she said. 

Ok then... shall be back with more stories..

Regards,

-Chitra

Hi again,

         Today is the third successive day I have posted on my blog.... It is a big achievement for someone who has had no blog activity for more than two years at a stretch.... well, some self motivation..

       I believe happiness and crafting are one and the same.... when you craft, you actually let little pieces of your heart go into each of your works.... being an obsessive craftaholic is my way of life.. It gives me my precious 'me'-time, my time and space to just be ME... a chance to express myself... a happiness nothing else can bring...
     
      And there is a special contentment in taking something that is seemingly a waste, and transforming it into something useful...upcycling it... you add not just value to the product, and your hard- earned money, you add your special touch to it...

        There are quite a lot of t-shirt, shirt and other dress upcycle projects I have been managing to do even during the weekdays.... ofcourse, at nights... And the added benefit is, the tiredness of work- at job and at home- just drains off, your body and mind get refreshed when you do something you like.... you feel  energised, revived.... ( alright, some days, you get a headache due to sewing at night.... but, come on, that's not always )

          Let me share some of those projects here...
   

                          These are from a little more than a couple of years ago.... All these dressses are made from t-shirts and shirts that my hubby bought at different times, but found not too good some days later... well, what her father lost, my dear little girlie won... how could she not be thrilled when she got so many dresses, all unique and comfortable ?!! As for my husband, he too was glad that I wouldn't complain much about the money he wasted on his dresses... I anyway feel good designing new dresses for the girlie... So, crafting is creating and spreading happiness, right ?!

That's it for today..
Bye.
- Chitra.

Hi,

            This post is dedicated to my mom, my first teacher, my inspiration and the best critic there can be... She enjoys watching me work, gives suggestions, loves showing to others the works I do,  but minces no words if she feels the final product isn'tworth the effort put in.... Well, she's my very own quality control system....

          In another old post of mine, I had put in pictures of some place mats using some woollen yarn my mother got from water- filters... this is the link to the old story...
https://chitras-creative-corner.blogspot.com/2016/08/hi-friends-posting-another-one-of-my.html

          Well, got more of those yarn... so crocheted a long mat out of it.. The yarn is not smooth and it hurts the fingers when you crochet for a long time. Plus, it is a stiff and thick yarn....  So, it was just normal double crochet stitch all the way.

         

   The whole yarn came out of eight filters and the total length of the finished mat is a little less than a metre and a half. It was a perfect fit for my father's  bamboo lounge chair. 

You can see the different shades of off- white colour on the mat; each from a different filter. Since the whole mat was one colour, it looked dull. So, used some brown wool from my stock to add an edging all around.

    This is final look... My dad usually isn't lavish with words of praise, but the smile on his face said it all....

     

    What else was unexpected was the expresion on my little lad's face.. He started complaining to one and all that amma is never making anything for him :-(

Now, it was my turn to make amends..... Using some yarn left out from this project, I crocheted a small oval mat for him... something he could use when he would be sitting on the floor, playing...

These two projects took me a couple of weeks to get completed as I could crochet only for short periods of time daily, at night, after all work gets done. This is what happens when you are dividing your time between job and home and kids and what not.... 

    But, one thing is for sure.... There is a satisfaction of having completed a job, and then there is happiness in spreading happiness... so who can resist when the benefit is two-fold !!

( No mother would exchange for the whole world, the toothy smile and the sweet kisses her little prince rewards her with.... )

“CROCHET GIVES ME AN INNER PEACE THAT I TREASURE EACH AND EVERY DAY.” – JUDITH FERRETT

Bye. Take care.

- Chitra.

Hi,

           It has been ages since the last post … nearly 2 ½ years.

The break wasn’t from making any piece of art, or creating anything new. Have been taking photographs of all my works too. Part laziness, part paucity of time… and the period of hibernation stretched this long.

       Better late than never, and, better today than tomorrow…. So, thought of starting right now.
So, here we go......

                   This was a beautiful saree my mother (and I) loved the colour of, but she didn't like it that the material was synthetic. This violet saree has small white dots all over it; a perfect flowy material for a long frock. The saree had been there in my mom's cupboard for a long time, and I had been planning on making somthing wearable out of it . So when mom too suggested that I do not let the material go waste, I needed no further push. 

              Made this pretty, long, sleeveless frock with zipper at the back and a silk- cotton band at the waist. Added a cotton lining to make it comfortable for wearing. The colour itself is so pretty, didn't have to add anything to make it look prettier. 

               And this one posted below is a simple cotton frock stitched for the cute little daughter of a friend of mine. This material was from a cotton dupatta with thread work at the ends; that formed the upper part of the frock. Attached the narrow ribbon of thread work on the edges of the dupatta to the hem of the frock.

Someone has said... don't know who, when and where, but I fully agree-'My soul is fed with needle and thread', because so is mine....

' Any day spent sewing, is a good day', because sewing is not just a craft, it is happiness ...  :-)

Shall be back with more posts.
Bye for now.
- Chitra.