Craft Show Update

Hello....
Here are the much awaited pictures from my winter Craft show, about which I had put up on the blog earlier....The show was a success and people really appreciated my art and crafts.....I hope all of you keep supporting me as always.....Your support and kind compliments always motivate me to push myself even further...Thanks again!!!
There you go...

Craft show table

One stroke painting bags

Handwoven scarfs

Magnets

craft wares

Hope you liked them!!!

A little more Diwali

Hi….I hope you had a lovely Diwali….
In my last post “Diwali Decorations 2013”, I told you about how I made some stuff to make our Diwali a little extra special…..Today I’ll tell you about some articles I made last year for my Diwali workshop…..I had conducted my first Diwali workshop for kids and adults, where we made a bunch of items, about which I’ll tell you now….

Every Diwali begins with the installation of an “Akash-Kandil” or a lantern as we call it…..So, we started by making a lantern…We used handmade paper which was quite translucent…..We cut it according to our template, and then assembled it….We left an opening on top for passing a lightbulb in it…..We also stuck small shiny punched flower on each piece…..This was the final product…..

Paper Lantern

And, this is how it looked when it was lit….

Akash Kandil

We then proceeded to our Rangoli…..Rangoli is traditionally used to adorn the doorstep, as it is considered very auspicious….It was traditionally done with rice flour and some natural dyes…But, with the availability of various commercially available colored powders, rangoli has become an art……What we made in our workshop was a rangoli with a twist…..We made a permanent rangoli using some cardboard, Rainbow/ Iris paper and some rhinestones……We made a 6 piece rangoli which can be used in various ways……This was our fruit of labor…..

Rangoli

Then, we started with our “Toran” aka garland…..We used a gold ribbon, construction paper, rhinestones, 3D glitter and key rings to make our Toran…..We made leaves and flowers and glued them alternately on the ribbon and put key rings on either ends to hang them……This is how our Toran looked…..

Flower Garland

Toran

Finally we moved on to the last item in our workshop, the integral part of Diwali- a “Diya” or the Lamp…..Rows of oil lamps are lit and placed outside the doors and windows during Diwali….How could we forget those….I gave a choice of two designs to my class and each participant made one as per their liking….We used paper, terracotta lamps and acrylic colors to make these….This is how they turned out…..

Terracotta Lamps

Festive Diya

Hand-painted Diya

And, this is the whole package!!

Diwali workshop

Hope you had a good time reading about this…..Don’t forget to let me know your opinions and feel free to contact me through the comment box if you have any questions…..Till then, keep crafting and come back soon for more !!!

Upcoming Craft Fair

Diwali Decorations 2013

Hello again, hope you had fun this Diwali.....
I had my share of fun and happiness this year with my family....
The cleaning, cooking and decorating made me feel at home....The only thing missing were the fireworks!!
I made some things for Diwali this year that I had never made before...a lamp, a lantern and a garland :)
Let me start telling you all about them......I'll start with the lamp first.....
I made a Lotus Lamp by recycling a plastic bottle and some florescent paper....
This is how it looks.....

Lotus Lamp

Paper Lamp

I fitted a blinking LED light under the base and it got transformed into a lamp....
Here's how it looks at night with the light on....

Diwali Lotus Lamp

Hope you liked it...I'll give the details on how to make this lamp very soon.....

Now, let me tell you about the lantern.....We call it "Akash- Kandil" in India.....
I made this lantern with skewer sticks and tissue paper....

Paper Lantern

This is how the lantern looks when it is lit up....

Diwali Lantern

I'll try and put up the instructions for making the lantern at the earliest....so keep checking...

I also made a marigold garland this year....Hanging a marigold garland with mango leaves, on the main door is considered very auspicious....I wasn't going to find any here, in US, so I decided to make one myself......I made the garland using orange and yellow tissue paper, green construction paper, floral wire and some beads......
This is how it looks....

Paper Marigold Flowers

Marigold Lantern

Hope you liked what I made......I would love to hear from you what you did this Diwali.....
Thank you for visiting, and keep coming back for more!!!

Ganpati Decoration 2013

Hi dear reader!!!
I know I’ve been missing from the blogging circuit for quite some time, but I had a very good reason.....
I was on a vacation :D .....to INDIA!!!!!!
I had so much fun there meeting up with my family and my husbands family.......
But, I had the most fun during Ganpati festival that was celebrated from 9th September....
Ganpati Festival is a huge thing in India....
People in India worship Lord Ganesh (Ganpati) as their prime deity....
This festival is celebrated for 10 days, and people bring a Ganpati idol at home and worship it for 1 and a half days, 5 days, 7days or 10 days as per their wish......
After the certain number of days, the idol is immersed in a water body, usually a lake or the sea......
Ganpati festival is one of the most eagerly awaited festivals in India......
Worshipping Ganpati whole heartedly, making “Naivedya”- a platter of assorted home cooked vegeterian meal as an offering, singing aartis and bhajans (hymns and praising songs), welcoming guests who come to seek blessings, meeting up with the family, and the whole pious atmosphere in the house brings immense happiness to me and my family......
And the most fun part of all this is the decor we do around the idol to complement our beautiful God.....And, I am lucky to be the one doing it!!!!
I do the decorations every year, and I am very much a fan of eco-friendly materials....
And, I make new decorations every year.....
I usually pre-determine the theme, but this year I was completely at a loss for ideas.....
I was thinking of many different themes, but nothing was striking a chord!!
At last, just four days before the festival, I finalised on “Roses”......
We have a custom made table on which we place the idol....
It is a five feet wide table with an arch on the back.......
This is what I made......

Ganpati Decoration 

Now let me tell you how my idea came to life....
I began with making red and yellow colored paper roses.....
I made spiral roses which you have seen previously in my post “ DIY Rose Branches”....

Spiral Paper Roses

I made a lot of them...And, I also made approximately four leaves for each flower.....
I spent almost a whole day just cutting and folding  the roses and the leaves.....believe me, my fingers were swollen by the time I finished, with the cutting and folding!!!
The next day, I lined the edges of each flower with golden glitter to add a little pizzaz!!!
By the time they were drying, I got to making the backdrop.....
I glued Red Iris paper on the arch on the back....This paper changes its color in different lights and at different angles.......Its funky!!!!
Then I lined and glued red and yellow roses in a double row, interspersing with the leaves......
I also glued a 6 inch strip of golden cloth along the edge of the arch in a pleated fashion......
It kinda made the roses pop!!!
I also made a circular arrangement of roses to be placed behind Lord Ganpati’s head......

Circular Flower Arrangement

My arch was now complete......

Ganpati Decoration

Then I moved my attention to the table.....
I covered the table base and the table legs with a green sparkly cloth.....
I also glued red and yellow roses alternatively along the border of the table......
Then, I made two circular flower arrangements lined with golden cloth and glued them to the table legs......

The center stairs were covered with green paper.....these stairs are retractable like a drawer....
Finally I added the finishing touch by entwining multicolored LED lights throughout the flowers on the arch and along the table border.......
This was the final result....with Lord Ganpati Proudly sitting on it....

Ganpati Decoration

Ganesh

Ganpati Decoration

I was pretty glad with the outcome.....Let me know what you think of it......
I’ll try to include my previous years decorations in the upcoming posts....
Till then keep crafting and keep visiting.......
See you again soon :)

My Very First Show in the U.S.

I know my friends, this is a bit late, but as the saying goes," Better Late than Never!!"
I recently put up my creations at a local show (exhibition).....
It was my very first exhibition after moving here in the U.S.....
I was very excited and nervous to put up an Indo-western fare, but the response I got was beyond my expectations....
People loved the colors and the fine handwork too....
I even did a pretty good business :D
A big Thank You to my dear customers, and tons of  thanks to my dearest hubby and my friends who stood by me the whole day....Love you guys!!!!
Here are some pictures for you.....

Exhibition Table

 Here are some Magnets that I made......They were a big hit!!

Glass Magnets

These are some of the Thank you cards :)

Thank You Cards

Thank You Cards

These are some of my handmade earrings.....Thanks to my dear sis-in-law for the beads :)

Handmade earrings

This is one of the many hand painted totes (One-stroke Painting) on display.....

One stroke painting Tote

This is one of the Coaster sets I made.....Sold a few :)

Tile Coasters

I even made some handmade Floating Diyas (which people loved and bought), Wooden decoupage trays (my friend bought one and she is loving it!!) , Meenakari mirrors, Decoupaged mirrors, Acrylic on Canvas paintings, paintings on wood and handmade bookmarks too.
I will upload them in the upcoming posts...... 

And this is a sneak preview of my next post coming very soon!!......Keep watching the blog.....

Meenakari- Enamel Work 

If you wish to buy any of this gorgeous stuff, or even just wanna talk about it, leave me a comment below or email me at amber.art@2012.com
I'll be glad to answer!!!
Thanks for visiting :) and come again for more.....

Canvas Painting- Unity

Hi.....
I am on the blog after a really long time....
Was a bit busy studying.....
Remember, some posts earlier, I mentioned that I am revamping my bedroom.
You must have seen my post on DIY Lampshades....
Well, this painting set is my next project....
I call this duo- "Unity"...
These are a set of two canvasses each 16"x 20"....

Canvas Painting- "Unity"

This is how they look after mounting over our headboard.....
You can also see the above- mentioned lampshades on the side tables here....

Canvas Painting

This is one more view.......

Bedroom Art

Do let me know what you think....
Does it look nice??? Comment and 'Like' below to let me know....
Thank you for visiting and see you soon for more!!!

The Little Mermaid

Hi....
I would like you to meet "Ariel- The Little Mermaid".
Here is a 16x20 canvas painting of her, made for a very sweet little 
friend of mine.
Her name is Sammie and she is crazy about Ariel.
This was our birthday gift to our Super Sammie.
Please read about her here:
http://www.awverona.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=1042861&team=5298204
I just love Sammie's spirit and what better gift to a mermaid lover than a 
free spirited Ariel and her buddy Flounder !!!
And here are the pictures.....

Ariel and Flounder

The Little Mermaid

Ariel

Canvas Painting 16x 20

Painting

Sammie loved her gift :)
Hope you liked it too...
You can comment below to let me know what you think of it...
Thanks for visiting!!!

DIY Jam Jar Pen Holder

Hi there!!!

I made this Jam Jar Pen holder that I wanted to share with you.......

As you know, recycling projects are one of my favorites!!!!

And, this was no exception.....

Its a really simple project but it looks really nice......

Pen holder

I used a square glass jam jar for this pen holder......

I first painted it all black, as you can see here.....

Glass jar

Then I made some random Pearl white Polka dots on the bottle all over....

Polka Dots

A nice white ribbon around the neck completed the project......

Recycle craft

See, it was that simple.......

But, I really like the way it turned out.......

Looks really Shabby Chic.....

Hope you liked it too....

So now, hunt out your own glass jars and start painting!!!!

Enjoy!!!