Little Things Great Happiness

Happy Pongal!!

2012-01-15T13:03:00.002+05:30

Happy Pongal everyone!

Kolams in front of our home...

Another one by side ...

Some of our street kolams at a glance...

Stone work on Silk Skirt

2012-01-10T15:57:00.000+05:30

The flower design for neck...

Jamikki and stonework in hands..

The top as a whole...

The entire set of silk skirt with putta on it...

Peacock & Fish Mehandi -Design 4

2011-12-13T12:31:00.000+05:30

Diwali Rangoli!

2011-10-25T16:36:00.000+05:30

Happy and safe Diwali to everyone :)

Diwali means festival of colorful lights..

And its more fun to have delightful sweets and dishes too!!

Its still more fun to put a colorful rangoli at the entrance of the house...

Yep! just enjoy this colorful painted rangoli which I drew :)

A top view of the rangoli...

Celebrate this festival of lights safely !!

Kids .. seek some elder's help while playing with crackers..

More importantly, just don't pollute the atmosphere !

Crackers at a glance...

Dazzling flower pot !

2011-10-17T12:24:00.002+05:30

Colourful flower pot !

One of my most awaited projects to say...

A step by step daily progress(it really means) at last resulted in a beautiful flowery pot :)

I am very grateful to my husband for his support to finish this :)

We gave this as a gift to one of our relatives' house warming ceremony..

A close up of the flower design with butterflies swarming...

This is a flat brush painting with fabric colours..

How to paint the flower pot:

1.The pot is first rubbed well with salt paper.

2.Then coated twice with primer. After each coating it is dried for a day time.

3.Glossy ivory paint is then coated all over the pot and dried for a day time.

4. Flat brushes of sizes 1,4,6 and 8 are used according to the needs.

5. Fabric colours are used for painting.

6. Metallic gold fabric colour is used on the neck and bottom of the pot to outline.

7. At last, the pot is coated twice with glue and gloss for a glossy look .

Lord Ganesh idol painting!

2010-12-07T07:30:00.002+05:30

Lord Ganesh idols painted with all surface metallic colors!

Top view of the idols..

I enjoyed painting the idols with those bright colors..

One of my favorite collections :)

Cranes in fullmoon light !

2010-12-06T07:34:00.000+05:30

Its an Anchor stitch kit embroidery!

Stone work!

2010-12-01T07:24:00.001+05:30

Stone work on OHP sheet..
Can be kept as an embellishment on Pookalam designs or Aarathi.

Mother and child..

2010-11-30T07:32:00.000+05:30

Its a crayon art!

Neck embroidery!

2010-11-29T07:12:00.001+05:30

Neck embroidery on a chudi top..

I have used chain, magical chain, french knot, zigzag stitch, satin/mirror work..
I learnt this from my sister and still a lot many stitches to explore!

Vegetable Cutlet!

2010-11-27T23:30:00.002+05:30

Ingredients:

Carrot - 2
Beetroot - 1/2
Peas - a handful
Potato - 3 (medium sized)
French beans - 2 (large)
Onion - 1 (large)
Ginger - a little
Garlic - a little
Green chilly - 1
Cashew nuts - a few
Breadcrumbs - a bowl
Maida - 2 tsp.
Corn flour - 2 tsp.
Salt - to taste
Garam masala - 3/4 tsp.
Chilly powder- 3/4 tsp.
Oil - a little

How to prepare the vegetable cutlet:

1. Bake the potatoes, mash them well and keep it aside.
2. Cut carrot, beetroot, french beans into small pieces and steam them with peas.
Cook well and keep them aside.
3. Cut onion, ginger, garlic and green chilly into small pieces.
4. In a frying pan, add two tsp. of oil and fry ginger, garlic, green chilly and onion.
5. Add the steam cooked vegetables and fry the mixture well.
6. Add garam masala, chilly powder and salt to taste and fry well.
7. At last add the mashed potatoes and cashew nuts into it and mix well. Keep it aside until it comes to room temperature.
8. In another bowl, add maida and corn flour and make a thin paste by adding water.
9. Have breadcrumbs ready in a plate.
10.Make the vegetable stuff into small balls and flatten them.
11.Dip them into the maida -cornflour paste and then to the breadcrumbs and keep aside.
12.In a tawa/dosa pan, add a little oil and place the cutlet on it once oil gets heated.
13.Let the cutlet fry on both sides.
14.Get ready to taste the hot, delicious cutlet made in a few minutes.
15.Cutlets are best served with tomato sauce.

Mehandi design -3

2010-11-26T23:33:00.000+05:30

One of my cousins art in my hand..

Sunset - Anchor Stitch Kit

2010-11-25T07:15:00.002+05:30

Thiru Karthigai - Festival of Lamps!

2010-11-21T07:25:00.004+05:30

Sparkling rows of agal vilakkus (oil lit lamps) on the stairs :) ..

Our colorful kolam for Thiru Karthigai..

Kolam with deepam..

Karthikai Deepam is a festival of lights celebrated by Tamil Hindus on the full moon day of Karthikai month. The lighted lamp is considered an auspicious symbol. It is believed to ward off evil forces and usher in prosperity and joy. This festival is also celebrated to commemorate the bonding between brothers and sisters in south India. Sisters pray for the prosperity and success of their brothers and light lamps to mark the occasion.Karthigai festival in Tiruvannamalai hills is very famous. On Karthigai day, a huge fire lamp is lit up on the hill, visible for several kilometers around the hill.

Dhoodh Peda / பால் கோவா

2010-04-07T19:44:00.000+05:30

I was thinking for a long time to prepare a milk-sweet recipe and here I go with

one of my favourite Dhoodh peda/ Paal kova !!

Ingredients :

Milk - 1/2 litre
Sugar - 12 tsp.

Cooking time : 1 hour and 20 minutes

How to do Dhoodh peda/ Paal kova:

Boil the milk in a vessel.
Simmer the flame once the milk gets boiled and then keep stirring for an hour time.
The milk turns yellowish color and gets thickened.
Now add sugar to it and stir well.
Keep stirring till the milk gets thickened as seen in the picture.

I heard this simple to do delicious recipe from one of my friends..
Try this out and enjoy the recipe!

Sweet little home :)

2010-04-05T09:02:00.003+05:30

Pink ..pink.. and pink.. Its the Pink Somethings Challenge from Stamp something!!

I love to participate in this pinkish challenge !

And here is my pretty pink card with a sweet little home, a little girl holding flowers and

a few beautiful flowers at the corner of the card :)

Well!! I used..

Dark pink chart paper for card
Post-it papers for flowers, butterfly, house and "Sweet Home" tag
Match sticks colored with sketch pens for fence
Golden thermacoal balls as an embellishment
Color pencils to color the little girl

I took this snap in sunlight and the shadows have added a punch!
It was fun to do such a card and many thanks to Stamp Something organisers for offering such wonderful opportunities!!

Blessed nature..

2010-04-02T10:32:00.000+05:30

Lovely peacock.. beautiful flowers.. fluttering butterfly.. a kiss of nature indeed!

The golden thermacoal balls added as an embellishment has given a fancy look!
The peacock quilled with shaded feather is simply fabulous!

Quilled birthday card!

2010-03-25T18:06:00.001+05:30

A quilled birthday card for my brother!

Also I have weaved pink and yellow color papers at the base for an extraordinary look..

Inside the card..

My first quilled card :)

World House Sparrow Day!

2010-03-20T18:38:00.007+05:30

I am contributing the below story and the bird feeder to Cute Sparrow Crafts Event '10 by Shama Nagarajan in her blog My Handicrafts this day March 20, World House Sparrow Day.

A bedtime story for kids:

Characters: Sparrow (Chintu)
                   Pigeon (Bantu)

                Once there were two pals Chintu and Bantu. They play, sing, dance and eat together. They stayed together in a tree hole. Bantu often listens to Chintu's songs and they enjoyed their peaceful living.
                One day, a man came with a chainsaw ( a machine used to fell trees) and fell the tree in which Chintu and Bantu stayed. They both flew away from the tree and got separated for long days. Chintu and Bantu searched for each other and finally met one fine day.

Bantu: Hi Chintu, How are you? Glad to see you here after a very long time! Where have you been all these days?

Chintu: I am fine Bantu! Yes, as today is World House Sparrow day, I came here to this city. How are you Bantu?

Bantu: I am doing good Chintu. How did you get an idea to come to this city?

Chintu: I can find some food here only on this day and people will take care on us rather than threatening us. Moreover, I donot like the city traffic sound and pollution. There are no green trees found here for protection. I am scared about the people in cities. Anyways, Bantu I am happy to see you again!

Bantu: Hey Chintu, don't worry ..there are some friendly people too who provide us food and shelter. Come, lets share some grains from this bird-feeder.

Chintu: Nice Bantu.. If our Earth is taken care with trees grown everywhere and given importance to all living beings, it will become a paradise! Hoping to get those days Bantu!

Bantu: Sure Chintu.. Some kind-hearted people will save us and we can become free from traffic and pollution one day! Come on chintu.. Cheer up! Please sing a song for me..

Both Chintu and Bantu happily shared their grains from the bird-feeder and had a nice day with chintu singing and Bantu dancing and all plays!
Save the Earth by growing more trees, give shelter to all living beings and get rid of the pollution.

The Bird -feeder:

Items required to do the bird-feeder:

1. A plastic bottle
2. Two ice -cream sticks
3. Food grains
4. Rope to tie

How to do the Bird-feeder:

1. Make holes in the plastic bottle for the ice-cream sticks to get inserted as in the picture.
The birds can stand on it.

2. Put a hole just above the ice cream stick .
The hole should be big enough for the birds to feed on grains.

3. Fill the bottle with food grains.

4. Tie the bird-feeder with a rope where birds can comfortably feed on the grains.

A feather on my hat!

2010-03-19T10:07:00.002+05:30

My face is filled with smiles :)

Little Things Great Happiness to be the first Indian blog on the Craft Map!!!

Thanks a lot Janet for connecting me to the world crafters!
Tons of thanks to everyone who helped me to update the blog!

A snippet from the Craft Map:

England
Two Hippos London

India
Little Things Great Happiness Pune, Maharashtra

Japan
Abigail's Crafts How to Nagoya, Aichi

Puerto Rico
Norma's Clay Moca

Crafty towel hangers..

2010-02-26T07:15:00.000+05:30

Pretty knots make beautiful towel hangers :)

Hibiscus Ganapathy..

2010-02-26T07:11:00.003+05:30

The drawing has come out well.. this is a poster color art..

Have given this to my mother :)

Sweet Puppy !!!!

2010-02-26T07:05:00.001+05:30

I love puppies..and I like this work very much :)

Its an Anchor stitch kit craft work started by my brother in his school days and ended by me now ;)

Outlines..

2010-02-07T06:40:00.001+05:30

These are some of my pencil sketches which may help in any embroidery designs, glass paintings, etc.

Flower basket with plastic craft wire

2010-01-29T07:13:00.000+05:30

Items Required:

Plastic craft wire of any color
Readymade flowers and leaves
Soap bar
White sheet
Bell pins
Pink beads

How to do the flower basket:

Wrap the white sheet on the soap bar and fix it.
With the plastic craft wire, put 8s as shown in the picture and fix it with bell pins.
Beads are added to the head of bell pins before inserting. It looks more decorative.
Continue till the whole soap bar is covered.
For the basket's handle, tear the wire into two thin wires and keep folding them in such a way that they form 90 degrees for each fold.
Pin them up with bell pins at the ends.

Happy Republic Day!

2010-01-26T17:17:00.000+05:30

Wishing you all a Happy Republic Day!!

My childhood days' works

2010-01-26T08:03:00.002+05:30

A gift given to my brother...

A pencil drawing..

Guru - Sishya painting

Hand embroidery

2010-01-22T06:46:00.001+05:30

Hand embroidery in the border of a saree..

Flower design with beads in petals..

Farmer's Day / பொங்கல் திருநாள் :)

2010-01-14T07:18:00.001+05:30

Wishing you all a very Happy Farmer's Day :)

இனிய பொங்கல் திருநாள் வாழ்த்துக்கள் ..

A colourful rangoli at the entrance !

Rangoli zoomed out..

Pongal is celebrated on first Tamil month "Thai". On that special festival, people offer pongal (prepared with first grain)in a banana leaf to the Sun God in TamilNadu and convey their thanks to the farmers.

Beet root Halwa !

2010-01-09T19:49:00.005+05:30

A sweet to delight :)

Ingredients:

Beet root -3 medium sized
Sugar - 1 cup
Ghee - 2 tsp.
Milk - 1 cup
Cashew nuts - a few
Badam - a few
Besan flour - 2 tsp.

How to prepare beet root halwa:

Cut beet root into small pieces and boil in milk.
Grind the ingredients into paste and pour it in a kadai.
Add sugar, ghee and stir well for 20 - 25 minutes till the beet root is cooked well.
Add besan flour to it and stir for another 5 mins.
Finally, roast cashew nuts and badam in ghee and add to halwa.
The halwa is served hot or cold.

Go Green!

2010-01-04T08:44:00.010+05:30

On December 31, 2009, in my husband's offce was the 'Cubicle Day'. On that special day, they have to convey a message by arranging their cubicle with some theme. After a lot of discussions, they finally decided to "Go Green" :)

Once when he came home, he eagerly involved into it and started searching for valuable messages and theme music. From my part, with help of his ideas, I prepared the chart with a short but very strong message.

And here goes the picture ...

The cubile going green :) ...

A wonderful work to spread the message. Now on, lets follow some simple green ideas like reduce, reuse, recycle plastic, paper and save our earth.

Curd Rice!

2010-01-02T17:46:00.001+05:30

Wishing you all a Happy New Year :)

I am starting this new year with a simple, delicious dish... Curd Rice...

Ingredients:

Mustard - 3/4 tsp.
Urad dal - 1 tsp.
Curry leaves - a few
Grated carrot - 1
Cucumber - 1/2 diced
Ginger - a little grated
Green chillies - 2
Chopped corainder leaves - a few
Curd - 3/4 glass
Milk - 1 glass
Oil - 3 tsp.
Salt to taste
Cooked rice - 3 cups

How to do the Curd Rice:

In a kadai, add oil and heat. When oil gets heated, add mustard, urad dal and curry leaves.
Once mustard starts bursting, add ginger, green chillies, carrot and fry well.
Add salt to taste. Keep it aside.
To the cooked rice, add curd, milk and the fried ingredients immediately before the hot steam from rice disappears and mix well. Add sufficient milk till the rice gets mixed well.
Coriander leaves are added finally.
Serve hot with avakai pickle and enjoy the yummy food and pictures! :)

3D Acrylic Outliners on flower vase !

2009-12-29T18:36:00.008+05:30

The best out of me on the flower vase :)

A close up of the design in the neck portion of the vase ...

And now the main design ...

Design at the side ...

A better view ...

Now, what will I call this art? ;)

A finish with chocolate brown background!!

Should have given this background first...

Enchanting birdies!

2009-12-28T07:21:00.000+05:30

Flat brush painting

2009-12-28T07:09:00.000+05:30

Love hand in hand

2009-12-28T07:03:00.000+05:30

Kolam 3

2009-12-22T13:34:00.000+05:30

For any auspicious functions this kolam can be spread on the floor.

Paper roses!

2009-12-22T08:19:00.003+05:30

Items required:

1. Orange and green colour Crepe papers

2. String

3. Artificial leaves

4. Synthetic gum

5. Scissors

6. Flower vase

How to do paper roses:

Reference pattern: http://foldingtrees.com/2009/04/guest-feature-crepe-paper-roses

Crocheted yarn bag!

2009-12-19T05:00:00.001+05:30

Note: The granny sqaure pattern is taken from http://crochet-mania-grannysquare.blogspot.com/2008/09/crochet-circle-to-square.html
The yarn bag can be decorated with kundans and mirrors to have a fancy look.

Blue and white baby booties

2009-12-10T23:35:00.000+05:30

Kolam 2

2009-12-10T23:32:00.000+05:30

Kolam 1

2009-12-10T23:29:00.000+05:30

Lush green Lonavale !!

2009-10-12T00:08:00.000+05:30

Yesterday we had a short trip in our bullet bike to a lush green place filled with waterfalls, mountains and ponds. Yeah..its none other than Lonavale. It was morning 10.30 a.m we left our home. We carried a backpack filled with juice, water, snacks and lunch and started the journey with great excitement! The travel was good. Yellow flowers and grass lawns passed away on the roadside. We enjoyed the place. Took snaps of the beautiful mountains and waterfalls. Also we visited the scenic nature near Aamby Valley city.

But soon the bright sun above our head made us feel tired. We came down the hills and planned to have lunch at Bushy dam (with a small waterfall). But the crowd and hot sun made us not to stay there for long. So we halted in a park nearby and had lunch. Refreshed ourselves and we started back to home.

More about the place:
Lonavla or Lonavale (Marathi: लोणावळा) is a city and a hill station in Pune district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is about 64 kms away from the city of Pune. It is famous throughout India for the hard candy sweet known as "chikki" or in Tamil what we call it as "kadalai mittai".

Aquarium wall hanger!

2009-09-12T02:53:00.000+05:30

I like to see those colorful, beautiful fishes in water with the sea plants and pebbles. Wow! the wall hanger seems to have a wooden frame right? Lets see how do it.
Items required:

Newspapers (15 cm width 30 cm height)
Brown emulsion paint
White adhesive
A thick white chart
Acrylic colors
Lamination sheet

How to do the frame:

1. Roll the newspapers with hand tightly and paste the end with white adhesive or can be tied with a thread as I did. Allow it to dry.
2. Each newspaper represents a wood piece.
3. Paint them all with brown emulsion paint(lasts forever). Allow to dry.
4.Paste around the chart to make a frame.

How to do the wall hanger:

1. The picture is drawn as shown above in the white chart.
2. Color it with acrylic colors and allow it to dry.
3. Laminate the picture with a lamination sheet.
4.Tie a thread at the top end to make a wall hanger.

Mehandi design -2

2009-09-12T02:39:00.000+05:30

Dora - the explorer!

2009-09-12T02:36:00.000+05:30

Dora is famous among kids. This wall hanging is really cool with pretty colors and pista shell frame. Yeah.. I presented this as a birthday gift to a kid. And sorry for the missing pista shells!

Items required:

A thick cardboard cut into a circle
Pista shells
White chart cut into a circle with same circumference as the cardboard
Acrylic colors
Lamination sheet
White adhesive
Golden thermacoal balls

How to do the wall hanger:

In the white chart, the picture as shown above is drawn and is painted with acrylic colors.
It is fixed on the cardboard with white adhesive and laminated with the lamination sheet.
Pista shells are pasted on its sides to create a frame and colored.
Golden thermacoal balls are pasted in between the shells.
Allow it to dry for a day time.
A thread is tied at the top end for a wall hanger.

Mehandi!

2009-08-28T00:22:00.000+05:30

Henna has been used as a cosmetic, as well as for its supposed healing properties for at least 5000 years. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, southern Asia, and northern Australasia in semi-arid zones. Henna was regarded as having "Barakah," blessings, and was applied for luck as well as joy and beauty.
People keep mehandi in hands and foot as tatoo for its bright red color. Often, mehandi keeping is celebrated as a function in Indian marriages before the day of marriage. Lawsonia Enermis , henna contains lawsone (a chemical molecule), which brings the color after exposed to air and sunlight. Henna excellence and color depends on which country it is grown in, how fresh the powder is and what is added to it.

How to prepare henna paste:

Take a cup of henna powder.
Add 2-3 drops essential oil of eucalyptus
Add 2 teaspoons of strong black tea. Add sufficient water.
Now stir it well in one direction making its consistency like toothpaste.
A polythene sheet is folded into a cone shape with its edge having a tiny hole.
Put the paste into the cone as much as needed and paste the opening with a thick tape.
Pressure is given smoothly and suitable design is drawn on hands.
Sugar water can be applied on the design with a cotton piece once when henna has completely dried.

Medicinal value:
Henna is not only used for decorative purpose, but also as a hair conditioner, treats dandruff , to cool scalp and skin and in reducing temperature , to ease the burn pains and preventing from any infections and on the nails to mummify the pharaohs.

Tulasi - the sacred plant!

2009-08-24T22:40:00.000+05:30

Once we hear the word Tulasi, Holy Basil ,we remember two major things - one its great medicinal value and the other a holy plant kept at home and worshipped. The courtyards of Hindu houses have a special structure to house the tulasi plant. It is called the tulasi maadam. There are many interesting stories about this plant.

It has been said that when the gods and the demons (the Devas and the Asuras) churned the Ocean of Milk, to obtain nectar, the tulasi plant emerged from it.

Once when the King of Gods, Indra, angered Lord Shiva. Shiva's anger fell as a tongue of fire into the sea, and changed into a demon. The King of the Seas, Lord Varuna, adopted this demon and named him Jalandharaa. Jalandharaa proved to be a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. And in due course, married Kalanemi's daughter Brinda. He was also granted a boon that whenever the moment Brinda ceased to be a chaste wife, Jalandharaa would meet his doom. Jalandharaa,true to his demoniac nature, started harassing the Gods.
None could vanquish him, except his Creator, Lord Shiva. One fine day they met on the battlefield and engaged in a fiery battle, but Jalandharaa proved to be very strong. To vanquish him, Lord Vishnu disguised as Jalandharaa, spent the night with Brinda. In this way, the Asura was destroyed.
Brinda was incensed at this deception; she cursed Vishnu that in a future incarnation, he would be cruelly separated from his wife and he would live on earth as a shapeless stone(shaaligraama). Brinda immolated herself on her husband's funeral pyre and was reborn as a tulasi plant. Since she was a staunch devotee of Vishnu, it is said that she became his wife in this birth.

Tulasi also symbolises Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu. Those who wish to be righteous and have a happy family life worship the tulasi.
Tulasi is married to the Lord with all pomp and show as in any wedding.
This is because according to another legend, the Lord blessed her to be His consort. Satyabhama once weighed Lord Krishna against all her legendary wealth. The scales did not balance till Rukmini placed a single tulasi leaf along with the wealth on the scale with devotion. Thus the tulasi played the vital role of demonstrating to the world that even a small object offered with devotion means more to the Lord than all the wealth in the world.

Tulasi, the two varieties famous are the Green leaved (Lakshmi Tulasi) & Purple leaved (Krishna Tulasi) has medicinal and mythological power, as believed.

The four months which span the days of August to November are known as Chathur Masyam or the four months of fasting. It is during this time that the tulasi is specially worshipped.

Medicinal value:
A few Tulasi leaves taken daily keeps us healthy. It cures fever, common cold, coughs, kidney stone, headaches, insect bites, cancer, heart related diseases, helps in good digestion and reduces stress and acidity problem. It also purifies the surrounding environment.

விநாயகர் சதுர்த்தி/Vinayagar chadhurthi special kolukattai!

2009-08-23T23:00:00.000+05:30

It is a custom that we offer Modagam/Kolukattai to Lord Vinayaga on His birthday, "Vinayagar chadhurthi"(விநாயகர் சதுர்த்தி) . Let us see an easy to do, delicious kolukattai here.

Ingredients:

Readymade Idiyappam flour - 2 cups
Salt to taste
Hot water

For Pooranam:

Chana dal - a little (soaked in water for three hours and then boiled)
Karuppatti/Jaggery/Sugar
Coconut grated - 1/2 cup

How to prepare:

Add a little salt to Idiyappam flour and then mix it well with hot water to dough.
Chana dal, karuppatti and coconut are all mixed together to get what we call it the pooranam.
A lemon sized Idiyappam flour is taken and cup shape is given. A little of the pooranam is placed at the centre and then is covered fully with the idiyappam flour.
The shape should look like a bulb of garlic.
Steam the kolukattai as we do for idli and your delicious kolukattai is ready in a few minutes.

May Lord Ganapathi give you success in all that you do! Happy Vinayagar Chadhurthi !

A colorful wedding couple silhouette!

2009-08-20T05:16:00.000+05:30

A wedding couple silhouette with sea shell frame is a perfect wall hanger gift for a wedding couple!

Items required:

A thick cardboard cut into a circle
Sea shells
White chart cut into a circle with same circumference as the cardboard
Acrylic colors
Lamination sheet
White adhesive

How to do the silhouette:

In the white chart, the picture as shown above is drawn and is painted with acrylic colors.
It is fixed on the cardboard with white adhesive and laminated with the lamination sheet.
Sea shells are pasted on its sides to create a frame.
Allow it to dry for a day time.
This can be either used as a wall hanger or as a frame on your desk.
A thread is tied at the top end for a wall hanger/ a stand made with the cardboard is fixed at the back side of the frame for support.

Methi / Fenugreek leaves (வெந்தய கீரை) Chappati!

2009-08-11T06:15:00.001+05:30

A slight variation in preparing methi leaves chappati compared to methi leaves dosa.

Ingredients:

Wheat flour - 1 cup
Methi leaves - a handful amount
Red chillie powder - 1tsp.
Cumin seed powder - 1tsp.
Ginger garlic paste - 1tsp.
Salt to Taste

How to Prepare:

Mix all the ingredients by adding water and knead the dough for a few minutes.
Leave it for an hour.
Make small balls, smear them with dry flour and roll them out on a rolling board.
Put the chappati on the heated pan and turn both the sides every one minute till it gets roasted well.
Enjoy the hot, delicious chappati with pudina chutney or any other gravy that goes fine with chappati.

Methi / Fenugreek leaves (வெந்தய கீரை) Dosa!

2009-08-05T22:24:00.000+05:30

Fenugreek leaves are enriched with minerals like potassium, calcium, and iron. Fresh leaves comprises 3 to 5 % of protein. The Vitamin K from fenugreek greens are comparable to spinach. Though these leaves taste bitter, they boost cooking flavour. Here let us enjoy our dosa prepared with methi leaves.

Ingredients:

Dosa flour - 1 cup
Methi leaves - a handful amount
Asafoetida powder - a pinch
Red chillie powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Cumin seeds powder - 1/2 tsp.
Salt to taste
Chopped tomato and capsicum to garnish (optional)

How to Prepare:

Mix the chopped methi leaves with the dosa flour.
Add asafoetida, red chillie powder, turmeric powder, cumin seeds powder and salt to taste and mix well.
Pour it on dosa pan and spread it out to a dosa.
Tomato and capsicum can be used to garnish finally.
Tasty, healthy dosa is ready in a few minutes.
Serve hot with coconut or pudina(mint leaves) chutney.

Note: Methi leaves and their seeds act as a good appetizer and hair tonic.

Traditional Chukku Coffee!

2009-08-01T02:23:00.000+05:30

When you have head ache and need a sip of brisk flavoured drink to boost up, just try out the traditional Chukku coffee. This herbal coffee has so many health factors like it relieves you from head ache, keeps the kidneys to work efficiently and for good digestion. Also the strong aroma and flavour refreshes your body.

Ingredients:

1. A handful of coriander seeds
2. A lemon size Chukku/ Saunth/ Dry ginger
3. A few black pepper corns
4. A few Tulasi leaves
5. Jaggery/ Karuppatti or sugar

How to prepare:

1. Just grind the coriander seeds, chukku and peppercorns to powder.
2. In 4 cups of water, add the powder and tulasi leaves.
3. Add karuppatti (or sugar) to water and boil with all ingredients.
4. Boil well and filter it.
5. Pour it to a coffee mug and enjoy immediately the aroma rising from the coffee. You will feel refreshed in each sip.

For a healthy hair..

2009-07-29T00:03:00.000+05:30

Trying out the conditioners, shampoos, dandruff lotions for a thick, long, dandruff free silky hair? Ultimately, all efforts going in vain? Fed up with such expensive products? No worries from here on!

Natural remedy:

1. Just dry the gooseberry(amla), the leaves and petals of Hibiscus, rose petals(optional) , Neem leaves and curry leaves. All ingredients are taken in preferred proportions.
2. Once they all are dried thoroughly, grind them to powder.
3. Once in two weeks, in a cup of of curd mix 3 tsp. of this powder and apply on your hair.
4. Keep them for 20 - 30 minutes and rinse it thoroughly.
5. After repeated usage, you can feel the healthy glow of your hair! Even it prevents hair from greying and also effective in treating dandruff and hair fall. The powder is ready made and can be purchased individually in cosmetic shops. I have tried this and found good results.

Note: Gooseberry, Neem, Hibiscus and Curry leaves have their own medicinal value and provides various health benefits.

Beanie caps crocheted so far...

2009-07-28T03:17:00.000+05:30

Wonderful! The beanie caps are looking simply superb in these pleasant color combinations. I have presented these all to my relatives' new borns and my lovable sister. Looking for new color threads to crochet more!

Pipal tree Vinayagar wall hanging!

2009-07-28T01:47:00.000+05:30

Great to see Vinayagar wall hanging especially done in pipal tree (அரச மரம்) leaves itself.

It took quite a long number of days to dry the leaves and pasting. Once that was done, it was fun to color and decorate with ornaments. A very simple and auspicious gift to your friends or relatives.

Items required:

1. A thick cardboard (12 inches side)
2. Poster or Acrylic colours (red,yellow,green,white,black)
3. Golden thermacoal balls
4. Woollen threads (red,white, green)
5. Glue & gloss / a transparent plastic sheet
6. White adhesive
7. Glitters

8.Various sizes of pipal tree leaves (dried)

How to do the wall hanger:

1. The square cardboard of 12 inch side is taken.

2. A white sheet is pasted above it. the pipal tree leaves are allowed to dry and then pasted in the shape of Lord Vinayagar.

3. Suitable poster or acrylic colors are used to paint the picture.

4. The ornaments are given with various color glitters. Allow it to dry.

5. The complete cardboard is finally coated with glue & gloss or a transparent plastic sheet is cut to the needed size and pasted for lasting longer.

6. A bunch of red, green and white color woollen threads are tied to the three corners of the cardboard with some golden thermacoals in it. In the fourth corner left out, a thick thread is tied as a loop so that it could be hung to the wall.

Palak(spinach) Gosht!

2009-07-16T00:32:00.000+05:30

Remember Popeye eating spinach and gaining super energy? Yes, because Palak (Spinach) is an excellent source of many vitamins like K, A, B, E and C, manganese, folate, magnesium, iron, calcium and potassium. Also, it is a very good source of dietary fiber, copper, protein, phosphorus and zinc. Additionally it is known to be a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, niacin and selenium. And mutton is a great source of protein, niacin, vitamin B, and iron. Shall we get ready to prepare a mouth watering dish - Palak Gosht with these nutritious resources?

Ingredients:

1/4 kg of mutton
6 bunches of spinach(palak)
2 tomatoes
2 onions
Ginger (grated)
Fresh coriander leaves
2 black peppercorns
1 tsp. of coriander powder
1 tsp. of red chilli powder
1 1/2 tsp. ginger paste
1 1/2 tsp. garlic paste
4 tsp. cooking oil
salt to taste

How to prepare:

1. Add 2 - 3 tsp. of oil in a pressure pan and heat. Add the grated ginger, black peppercorns and a small part of chopped onions to the oil and fry the onions for a few seconds.
2. Add the meat, a little salt and enough water. Close the pressure pan and allow the meat to cook until soft.
3. Once meat is cooked, drain out the water and keep aside as stock.
4. In another pan, heat the remaining oil. Add the remaining chopped onions and fry till light brown.
5. Add salt, coriander powder, red chilli powder, ginger paste, garlic paste and chopped coriander. Fry this mix thoroughly till oil leaves the sides of the pan.
6. Add tomatoes and spinach and a little of the meat-stock that you had kept aside. Cook until the tomatoes and spinach is done and the water has dried up. If necessary, add more of the stock to get a gravy.
7. Add the cooked meat to this mixture and stir fry till oil leaves the sides of the pan. Simmer for a while and garnish with chopped coriander.

Hmm....yummy! you will hear when it is served hot with chapati or rice. I tried this and had a great lunch!

Little hearts bookmark

2009-07-15T05:07:00.000+05:30

These three little hearts in different colors (pink, yellow,green) with white picot border when joined together has come out as a bookmark! An yellow satin ribbon is tied at the bottom. This can be given as a memorable gift to your lovable ones...

Pattern Reference: http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/01/solid-heart.html

Ice blue beanie cap with flowers

2009-07-04T04:40:00.000+05:30

This beanie cap which I finished today is so colorful and charming! It suits a women's head. Warm up yourselves in the winter season with this cap on your head!

Pattern Reference: cap - http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/11/stripe-crochet-beanie-cap.html ; flowers - http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/06/blog-post_22.html ; leaves -http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/03/blog-post_05.html

Our little buddies..

2009-07-03T21:51:00.000+05:30

The monsoon season has started and it is pouring rain then and there. The flowers have started blooming and they are dancing to the tune of warm sunlight and to this pleasant climate! I spend my leisure time sitting in the balcony and admiring the beauty of nature.

This a view from our balcony and here you can see the cheerful red வாகை மலர் (which in olden days a conqueror wear a chaplet of sirissa flowers and celebrate his victory over royal enemies).

Quick remedy for Diarrhea!

2009-06-29T23:46:00.000+05:30

Last Sunday, as we added a nutritious rich food - goat's liver to our lunch after a very long time, our body rejected it and caused Diarrhea. I felt so tired because of this problem and also dehydrated. Hence, had a cup of black tea and observed a quick remedy in an hour time!

Note: Lemon can be added to the black tea(unsweetened).

Though there are many remedies for Diarrhea, I found this remedy handy and helpful through experience.

Gardener's Bookmark

2009-06-20T23:23:00.000+05:30

This gardener's bookmark is so easy to make and is elegant!

Hook number: I used 11G/ 3.00mm.

Abbreviations:

CH -chain

SL ST -slip stitch

TRC -treble/triple crochet

SP -space

How to Crochet flower:

Row 1: With white, CH 3, SL ST in first chain to form a ring.

Row 2: CH 1, 12 SC in the ring. Join with SL ST in first SC. Fasten off.

Row 3: Join pink with SL ST in any ST, CH4, a TRC in same ST as first SL ST, CH4 and SL ST in the same ST(petal made). CH2, skip next ST. *(SL ST, CH4,TRC,CH4,SL ST in next ST, CH2, Skip next ST)Repeat from * around, join with SL ST in first SL ST and fasten off.

Row 4: Join white with SC in any CH2 SP, CH4, (SC, CH2,SC) in top of next petal, CH4, *SC in next CH2 SP, CH4, (SC,CH2.SC) in top of next petal,CH4. Repeat from * around, join with SL ST in first SC and fasten off.

Three more flowers are made with different colors of petal but same white border and all these flowers are joined together with a white thread and tapestry needle. Fold a satin ribbon of 6 inches in half. Insert fold in CH2 SP at bottom on one end of bookmark, pull ends through fold, pull to tighten.

Pretty Pink Toddler Slippers

2009-06-19T02:11:00.000+05:30

Hurray! I have completed an intermediate skill level project in crocheting! Yes, these toddler slippers have come out wonderfully. Especially, the cheerful pink flowers look great when attached to the slippers.

I used hook number 10G/3.25mm.

Pattern Reference: For slippers - http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/12/crochet-child-toddler-slippers.html and for the flowers - http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/06/blog-post_22.html

Star Stitch Flat Pouch!

2009-06-16T04:00:00.000+05:30

I made two pouches with star stitch. A new kind of stitch which looks pretty good! Also, the brown bead to button up the pouch has given out a simple and neat finish. The hook number I used for this is 9G.
Pattern Reference: http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/05/blog-post_8484.html

Paintings..

2009-06-16T00:44:00.000+05:30

These are some of my paintings which I finished long back with poster colors.

Cute little beanie cap and booties set!

2009-06-10T07:37:00.000+05:30

So cute and I love this set of baby booties and a beanie cap which I finished crocheting today. The baby pink and yellow combination has added a fantastic look! The hook number I used is 9G.

Pattern reference: http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/11/stripe-crochet-beanie-cap.html ; http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2009/05/baby-high-top-booties.html

Poha!

2009-06-09T00:59:00.000+05:30

Poha is famous in Maharashtra a bit similar to our TamilNadu special Idli upma. Low in fats and carbohydrate, and high in fiber and vitamins, this is a perfectly nutritious snack to savour with tea any time of the day.

Ingredients:

Poha (puffed rice flakes) - 2 cups
Onion - 1
Ginger
Green chilly - 1
Lemon - half
Peanuts - 10 nos.
Curry leaves
Coriander leaves
Turmeric powder
Salt to taste

How to prepare:

Soak the poha in water for 15 seconds and drain it.
Take 2 tsp. of oil in a pan and add ginger, green chilly, peanuts, curry leaves, onion and fry well.
After the onion turns to golden brown, add turmeric powder and salt to taste.
Squeeze the lemon and mix.
At last add the poha and coriander leaves, mix well and serve hot.

Lemon Coriander Chicken

2009-06-06T00:41:00.000+05:30

I tried this wonderful dish by viewing one of the television programs and it came out well!!

Ingredients:

Boneless Chicken (20 small pieces)
Cornflour - 1 tsp.
Maida - 1 tsp.
Egg - 1
White pepper
Onion - 1( chopped)
Garlic - 3
Green chillies - 2
Turmeric powder
Lemon juice - 2 tsp.
Coriander leaves - 1 cup
Spring onion (green portion)
Ajno motto and salt to taste

How to prepare:

Heat oil in pan.
To the chicken pieces taken in a vessel, add egg, cornflour, maida, white pepper, salt, ajnomotto and mix well.
Deep fry the chicken in oil till it turns golden brown.
Cut the chicken pieces again into two.
In another pan, add 2 tsp of oil, onion, garlic, green chillies and fry.
Then add a little turmeric powder, lemon juice, salt, white pepper, ajnomotto,coriander leaves and fry well.
At last the cut chicken pieces and spring onions are added and mixed well.
Serve hot in a plate.

Beanie cap!

2009-06-05T02:49:00.000+05:30

Yes! my interest in crocheting is growing day by day! My next small project is the beanie cap. This suits the head of a new born baby. The hook number used is 12G/2.50 mm. Colors: Light green and leaf green. Thanks to http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/11/stripe-crochet-beanie-cap.html for providing free instructions which I followed for this cap. Additionally, I have tied two balls at the top of the cap.
To make the balls, take a thick chart paper and cut into the shape of a ulundu vada/doughnut (a small hole at the centre). Keep winding the yarn into the small hole till the hole is completely filled. Cut the yarn (outer circumference of the circle) with a sharp blade/knife. Tie the whole bunch with a thread at the centre. Cut and take away the chart paper. Now give a smooth roll with hands to the ball.

Cell pouch for my Nokia 6300

2009-06-05T02:04:00.000+05:30

Wow! I like the cell pouch very much which I crocheted two weeks back. I have chosen baby pink and maroon color yarns. The hook number used is 12G/2.50 mm. It is the basic chain stitch I used throughout and changing colors after every 4 rows. At last, to decorate further, I placed a small red rose made out of satin ribbon over the plastic leaves and stitched firmly over the pouch. I have added a small handle too so that the pouch can be put on the wrist fancily. I am very grateful to my mother for teaching how to crochet in my school days!

Note: Velcro can be fixed to cover the top portion of the pouch so that the cell phone is safe from falling.

Appetizer!

2009-06-05T01:29:00.000+05:30

I tried an appetizer which I heard from one my friends. Its really good to have!

Ingredients:

Mintleaves - a handful amount
Lemon juice from one lemon
A little ginger
Salt and sugar (optional)

Grind well the mint leaves and ginger with half a cup of water. Filter and pour it in a vessel. Add lemon juice and 3 cups of water. Finally, salt and sugar is added if needed.

A flower basket with red roses

2009-06-05T00:47:00.000+05:30

Items required:

Ice cream sticks 160 nos.
Red and green color papers
Coconut coir
Green emulsion paint
Floral tape
Thick string
Thread
White adhesive

How to do the flower basket:

1. Some dry coir is taken and is painted with green emulsion paint for a leafy effect. Allow it to dry for 24 hours.

2. * The ice cream sticks are arranged in a hexagonal shape and the ends are pasted so that a hexagonal ring is formed. The next round of hexagon is similarly made and fixed such that the first hexagon ring is in inner side and the second outward. Then the third hexagon ring is made and fixed such that the second ring is in inner side and the third being outward and so on. Continue till eight rounds are completed. Now one third of the basket is done. Similarly, repeat from * for two more. Allow them all to dry.

3. Above the first hexagon part, place the second part upside down and the third one as the first. Fix it firmly.

4.For the base which is hollow should be covered with the icecream sticks placing them next to next and by appying the adhesive.

How to do the red roses:

1.Red color paper is cut into squares of 5cm side.

2.Petal shape is drawn and cut. For the bud at the centre, a small piece of red color paper is wound around the string. Keep a petal on the thick string and wind it with a thread then the next petal and wind. Keep going until 8 petals are kept consecutively and at last knot it. Now cut the green color paper in the shape of calyx and leaves.

3.Tie the calyx after the last row of petals are wound. Wind the string with the floral tape for the stem portion. Above that the leaves are pasted at random.

A Wall Hanger

2009-06-04T04:59:00.000+05:30

Items required:

A thick cardboard (7 inch sides)

Poster or Acrylic colours (red,yellow,orange green)

Golden thermacoal

Woollen thread (pink and maroon)

Glue & gloss / a transparent plastic sheet

White adhesive

Golden glitter

How to do the wall hanger:

1. The square cardboard of 7 inch side is taken.

2. A white sheet is pasted above it and the pattern as shown in the above picture is drawn.

3. Poster or acrylic colors can be used to fill the design pattern. The outlines are given with a golden glitter.

4. Some golden thermacoal (used for decorations) are pasted as shown above. Allow it to dry.

5. The complete cardboard is finally coated with glue & gloss or a transparent plastic sheet is cut to the needed size and pasted for lasting longer.

6. A bunch of pink and maroon color woollen threads are tied to the three corners of the cardboard with some golden thermacoals in it. In the fourth corner left out, a thick thread is tied as a loop so that it could be hung to the wall.

Brown flower vase with five white roses

2009-06-04T03:48:00.000+05:30

This is my very first craft work with waste!

Items required:

A waste plastic bottle with its head part cut and the cylindrical part of 15 cm height

30 newspapers (15 cm width 30 cm height)

Brown emulsion paint

White adhesive

A white cloth -for flower

Green color paper -for leaf and calyx

Floral tape - for stem

5 Thick strings

Thread

How to do the flower vase:

1. Around the plastic bottle of specified height paste a paper.
2. Roll the newspapers with hand tightly and paste the end with white adhesive or can be tied with a thread as I did. Allow it to dry.
3. Each newspaper represents a wood piece.
4. Glue on the paper around bottle and paste those 30 sticks.
5. Paint them all with brown emulsion paint(lasts forever). Allow to dry.
6. The base of the vase can be covered with the newspaper and painted.

How to do the white roses:

1. Cut the white cloth piece into squares of 5cm side.
2. In each square, a petal shape is drawn and cut.
3. For the bud at the centre, a small piece of cloth is wound around the string. Keep a petal on the thick string and wind it with a thread then the next petal and wind. Keep going until 8 petals are kept consecutively and at last knot it. Now cut the green color paper in the shape of calyx and leaves.
4. Tie the calyx after the last row of petals are wound. Wind the string with the floral tape for the stem portion. Above that the leaves are pasted at random.

A cheerful welcome!

2009-06-04T03:25:00.000+05:30

Hi everybody!
This is Vidhya Ganesan, a proud homemaker. I would like to share some of my interests in this blog. I ensure you, my readers that this site will keep your time worthful and helpful. Let me start with the little creations I have made and the learnings at home. This may be an artpiece, a craftwork, cooking, crocheting, etc., I hope you will enjoy learning!

விநாயகர் துதி

2009-06-04T02:46:00.000+05:30

ஐந்து கரத்தனை ஆனை முகத்தனை
இந்தின் இளம்பிறை போலும் எயிற்றனை
நந்தி மகன்தனை ஞான கொழுந்தினை
புந்தியில் வைத்தடி போற்றுகின்றேனே

Little Things Great Happiness

Happy Pongal!!

Stone work on Silk Skirt

Peacock & Fish Mehandi -Design 4

Diwali Rangoli!

Dazzling flower pot !

Lord Ganesh idol painting!

Cranes in fullmoon light !

Stone work!

Mother and child..

Neck embroidery!

Vegetable Cutlet!

Mehandi design -3

Sunset - Anchor Stitch Kit

Thiru Karthigai - Festival of Lamps!

Dhoodh Peda / பால் கோவா

Sweet little home :)

Blessed nature..

Quilled birthday card!

World House Sparrow Day!

A feather on my hat!

EnglandTwo Hippos London

IndiaLittle Things Great Happiness Pune, Maharashtra

Japan Abigail's Crafts How to Nagoya, Aichi

Puerto RicoNorma's Clay Moca

Crafty towel hangers..

Hibiscus Ganapathy..

Sweet Puppy !!!!

Outlines..

Flower basket with plastic craft wire

Happy Republic Day!

My childhood days' works

Hand embroidery

Farmer's Day / பொங்கல் திருநாள் :)

Beet root Halwa !

Go Green!

Curd Rice!

3D Acrylic Outliners on flower vase !

Enchanting birdies!

Flat brush painting

Love hand in hand

Kolam 3

Paper roses!

Crocheted yarn bag!

Blue and white baby booties

Kolam 2

Kolam 1

Lush green Lonavale !!

Aquarium wall hanger!

Mehandi design -2

Dora - the explorer!

Mehandi!

Tulasi - the sacred plant!

விநாயகர் சதுர்த்தி/Vinayagar chadhurthi special kolukattai!

A colorful wedding couple silhouette!

Methi / Fenugreek leaves (வெந்தய கீரை) Chappati!

Methi / Fenugreek leaves (வெந்தய கீரை) Dosa!

Traditional Chukku Coffee!

For a healthy hair..

Beanie caps crocheted so far...

Pipal tree Vinayagar wall hanging!

Palak(spinach) Gosht!

Little hearts bookmark

Ice blue beanie cap with flowers

Our little buddies..

Quick remedy for Diarrhea!

Gardener's Bookmark

Pretty Pink Toddler Slippers

Star Stitch Flat Pouch!

Paintings..

Cute little beanie cap and booties set!

Poha!

Lemon Coriander Chicken

Beanie cap!

Cell pouch for my Nokia 6300

Appetizer!

A flower basket with red roses

A Wall Hanger

Brown flower vase with five white roses

A cheerful welcome!

England
Two Hippos London

India
Little Things Great Happiness Pune, Maharashtra

Japan
Abigail's Crafts How to Nagoya, Aichi

Puerto Rico
Norma's Clay Moca