Special Coils

These are the latest little projects that I have been working on. Well, not projects , but new ideas. I could hardly wait to share it with my friends. So what do you think? Before I get all the credit for this , let me make it clear that this is not my original idea. I saw it made by Erin Perkins and was totally hooked. I gave it a shot and here is what I came up with. I love my crafts and can keep doing these for hours on end tirelessly....seriously, I can when I enjoy it. But then those are just a few phases, you know , like a particular project or a design or part of a design. I may not make sense to you, but I am sure that at least some of my crafty friends would agree that when we work on a project, there are some parts of it that seem great fun and then there are some that you just find a drag. Loving crafts and making stuff is one thing but repeatedly making the same or similar stuff is a totally different story altogether. This are just my thoughts, I am sure many people feel differently. I prefer to have a little bit of challenge at least in each of my projects. Or at the least something new to me ( a technique or method or idea )to learn. Sometimes , of course , I feel like doing something simple and fimiliar and mind numbingly easy. Of course, I have enjoyed most of my projects completely. But then somewhere along the way , there comes a time when your creative juices are refusing to flow ....you try and try but ...nope, it just does not happen. there is just no motivation. And just when you are about to resign and pick up another usual project hoping that somewhere along the way you will get the right spirit to enjoy it, it happens! Suddenly you come across something really unique and inspiring. Something that gives you a drive to to do more and work better. I saw these beautiful coils done by Erin Perkins and was totally mesmerized. I loved it and just had to make it. It took me a while to figure it out but I did. So here I am sharing my work with you. Thank you Erin for inspiring and motivating me just when I needed it. The idea is simply amazing and shows what a brilliant mind can achieve. I loved the challenge and it felt great to see the end result. Enjoyed making these very much.

I am featured in Oasis Living Magazine

My interview with the Oasis Living Magazine , June issue.

Crochet Halter set

Hi there ! I am back after a long break....only break from blogging (It's not intentional though ,just the lack of time to take pictures basically.) But as always, I am busy working on many projects. Also been busy because I have finally started working again as well. Here is a crocheted halter baby top and a matching crochet scarf/ bandana to go. It is all done in really very colourful and bright ,soft baby yarn and looks absolutely adorable when worn. I promise you it looks 10 times better when you actually see a baby wear it. And here is another one with pastel tones . This one has little flip flop sandals to go with it.

Quilled Tree Of Life

I have always loved trees. Taking pictures of them, drawing, painting, crocheting , quilling and even just looking at them. Each one seems to have a soul, a story ! Here is a quilled tree. This is a very special project to me . I loved making it, every minute of it was fun. It took a long time to make but it was one of those projects that you don't mind spending time on. The trunk of the tree took a long time to make and being a slow worker does not help. The leaves are in 2 or 3 tones of green so that took a good deal of time too. But i feel that end result was all worth the time and effort spent. This piece is A3 size and probably onr of my biggest quilled projects yet.

Popcorns and Hexagons 2

Warm and buttery caramel popcorn! This is what comes to mind when I look at these motifs. The beautiful winter of UAE calls for such treats. Yes, I am finally done with the project and the bag is ready. And here is the reason why it look so long to finish this bag even after the motifs were ready so many days back. I was honestly being a good girl minding my own business and working on my bag when I suddenly happened to glance at this black and grey yarn in my work basket. I could not help but try out the motif pattern with that yarn and then as you know one motif led to another ....and it was so distracting! I had this bag ready and done before the one I started with. I am sure there are many people out there who can relate to this. But I do admire those of you who can really stick it out with the project in hand and finish it before you jump on to a new idea.

Popcorns and hexagons

Welcome into the year 2015! Happy New Year to everyone! A new start ...a new chance! Its been a great year so far ...or lets say a great first week. Hopefully the rest of 2015 will be so all along. I have had this project on my mind for a very long time. With all thats been happening, new projects, work, orders ,craft fairs etc I did not get a chance to work on it until now. Feeling so happy that finally I got around to making it. And it makes me wonder what held me back so long. It is a fairly easy and quick pattern so I am happy that it is moving along fast. Just a sneak peek .... a few done and more to go. And just for fun ...more pics

Welcome 2015 !!

Wishing all my friends and Family .... Beautiful work and inspiration by Yulia Brodakaya!

Little Halter black and red

A little baby halter that I had designed for a very beautiful little girl. I really loved how it turned out. It was made for a custom order. When I had started off , I had a different idea. But then sometime ( a bit often actually , with me ) as you work the ideas begin to change and you end up with a totally different design from what you had originally started. This is one of those projects. I loved how it turned out. I should work on writing a pattern for this in different sizes. Maybe in 2015, I will. I love the way it can be folded to like like a little purse !

A year gone by ......

Sometimes days just go by ...no idea how time flies. And before you know it you are standing at the tail end of the year. I feel like this year too just zoomed past...but looking back I can see that so much has happened, thankfully , most of it has been good. Blessings really ! It has been a very busy crafty year , lots of new friends, new projects, new things to learn, new groups, new craft fairs , new arts and a new job too. It feels so overwhelming when I think about it sometimes , as if there is so much to fit in the little time and space but I have come to realize that better busy that lazy. Of course, I have also come to accept that as long as you dont let stress factor in , all is fine. the key is letting go of a few things that can wait. Unfortunately , blogging has been one of the things that I had to let go in order to let other things fall in place. But I was so surprised and so touched ( and so grateful too ) that so many of my regular blog readers were checking in and asking me why I was not posting anymore. I will try to be more regular now that I know I have some of my blog followers who do visit here and hope to see me posting. Thank you so much for visiting and looking out for me.

Into the year 2014

Invariably every year starts with a bang!! So did this one too. Infact the bang is still echoing....so even after so long life is busy and blogging has taken a backseat. Nevertheless, crafting has not. New year brings new promises hence new projects too for the new ventures.

Pinkilicious Princess Dress

This is my latest baby dress designed for little princess to wear. I fell in love with all the girly pink of it. It is done in soft baby cotton yarn and the flowers are all handmade. Even the little hairband ! Working on thes eon more colours. Do let me know what you think. I displayed this one at the Craft fair in Al Ain Mall and was so happy to see that it was well liked and almost instantly whisked away soon after display.

Crocheted caps and little Ballerina booties

This seems to be a season for babies. We have many little ones joining our families lately and it's been a real joy to welcome these little angels.As those of you who have been reading my blog would know , I love making baby stuff. There is always some or the other baby project on my hooks at all time.so I do not really need a reason...I just cannot resist making them. These are a pair of booties made for a precious little baby doll.

A little baby bonnet for the wee little baby.

And a little baby beanie style cap with a silk crochet flower.

There is a whole bunch of more baby stuff I will be posting soon.

Quilled Maple leaf

I have always loved nature. Beautiful landscapes, plants, trees, leaves, flowers, waterfalls .....etc all mesmerize me. I wish I could paint! Maybe I should give it a shot. Anyways, that is a different train of thought all together :)Right now I want to show my latest ( weel not exactly latest but fairly recent ) work. A quilled maple leaf. Maple leaf is probably one the prettiest of leaves....the colours, the shape, it's somehow magical. Here is my take on it. I've used beehive to play with colors and loved it. I don't know whether you can make it out but the beehiving is really teeny weeny and took forever to complete. The outlining was fast enough. But the filling up with tight beehive was really tough on the hands .I actually ended up spraining my wrist! Until then I didn't even know that it is possible to get such injuries while quilling. Oh well, the things you get to learn!! For some of you who like to know how it is done ...here are a few pictures of the project as it progressed. At first the outline of the leaf: And then when that is done you can see how it looks ..... After that is done, I did the veins of the leaf ..I forget to take the pictures at that point :( , sorry ! So we are at the next step that is the filling in with the beehive in different colors. This is the most time consuming and tiring step. Don't be over zealous and try to rush this ....believe me , sprained wrist hurts like hell ( even brushing your teeth or picking up a spoon gets difficult), so be careful ! Luckily I can manage a lot of work with my left hand as well. So the family did not get left hungry. And finally when all is done take pictures like crazy ....before you get it framed . After framing the pictures don't look all that great and the work is hardly seen in the pictures. And finally after framing .....all set to display.

Little Princess Dress

Little Princess Dress I've been working on this little project for the last few days. I fell in love with it as soon as it was done.So glad it turned out exactly as I had pictured in my head. The bodice is done in soft cotton yarn and the skirt part is sheer soft tulle. As usual the photograph does no justice . I cannot explain it but nothing beats the cuteness of little hand made baby clothes. Or I just LOVE babies and all their cute stuff. I've just put it up on my facebook page too. If you are on FB ,you can check out the page ' Gift A Craft'. All my latest projects are there too.

Giveaway

Giveaway Alert : I've always loved Lin's beautiful work. And now she has a giveaway. It's a tad late for the giveaway but her blog is just amazing and the work is so pretty, I just had to share it.

Rectangular crochet doily

I am in the doily mode right now so here is another doily.This time a rectangle one. Worked by joining squares and a rounded off with a lacy border. There is no pattern just something whipped up. If only I had the patience of writing patterns!! The gold trim gives it a festive look. This is also a tray doily. With Eid approaching Table settings and servings are on my mind :) And hence such projects. Here both the tray doilies together:

Oval Crochet Doily

It has been quite a while since I made doilies.And this one was such fun to make. Its a vintage pattern from the celt's site and was breeze to work through. This is worked in Aunt Lydia's crochet cotton thread. A simple pineapple pattern is always a joy to work. This is going to be a tray doily. Something to pretty up the serving trays.

Crocheted Pouch

A crocheted pouch in cluster stitch made for order. It is worked with Aunt Lydia's crochet cotton thread. Love the strong and sturdy feel of it. And the best part is that it is so light.

Framed Camel

And finally here it is ...all framed and on display at the Rotana Hotel , Al Ain.

Quilled Camel

Live in a desert and you cannot stop thinking about the life in the sands. There are so many beautiful things about a desert Funny , though , when people speak about a desert it is usually in terms of heat, sand, dryness, lack of greenery etc... generally with a very dry and morbid kind of feel. Yes, I agree that deserts are not really easy . But I have seen the serene beauty of the landscape, the absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful sand dunes and spurts of tiny little desert plants here and there.It is so magical at sunset that you cannot look away. Anyways, this particular work is a tribute to the beautiful deserts of UAE - my quilled camel. I have grown up in UAE , been here most of my life and can relate to the traditions here and unique beauty of this country. It's my home away from home. P.S : Yes, this is the project that gave me all those horrible paper cuts. This paper has a very sharp edge but is beautiful to work with.