Artist Undercover

I haven't been blogging for a few weeks now, and I had to stay away from both the "Focus on Life" series and AJE challenge. But that was for my good. I was overwhelmed, tired and uninspired. The only way to bounce back, was to back off. And I am feeling MUCH better already. Its good to take a break at times. This is not so uncommon of me though. I go undercover many times. But that is how I keep sane, and of course fresh. Okay, I did not sit idle or anything. I enjoy what I do, but things got a bit boring, and I thought of honing some more skills. So, I went ahead with metalworking, a bit more advanced that what College(have I told you I study Jewelry Design?) has introduced me to. I have felt many times, that its when I feel hopeless that I go forth and study new things seriously. Thank God I dont feel like a rotten sack! So, it let me productive and I am so damn happy that I took the break!

Here are the outcomes(?)(Here is the outcome : good English anyone?) of my undercover activities:

Flower Pendant

Riveted Earrings(Need to perfect this technique)

Heart Pendant

Foldformed Earring Components

Stamped "NATURE" Pendant

Stamped "CREATE" Pendant

Foldformed Leaf Pendant

By the way, "NATURE", "CREATE" and the above leaf are listed in my Etsy shop. 

"SUNSHINE" Bracelet

And I thought I would show you a pic of my set up at one of the Craft Fairs!

@ O'Kelly Banquet Hall 

I am seriously hoping to jump back in to both the "Focus On Life" and AJE as soon as I can! 

And, there is some yummy soup brewing on my bead table. Adding some essential Indian herbs to it!! Yay. Hope Lori Bowring Michaud, who sent me the lovely soup elements would'nt mind!

PS: Whatever big thing we do, some people around us always seems to be like "Aaw, Big Deal!!" and some others always make us feel like heroes. I love to surround myself with samples of both creed, but the balance is ultimately crucial! 

One more PS: Every human being, in every given moment, has the capacity to create a miracle or cause a disaster. Check your conscience. (I told)

Okay, this is the last one : So, Last PS : India is known for its alternate medicines. Like Ayurveda, Homeopathy (Homoeopathy is also correct, word, don't give me a spell-check),  Acupuncture(not of Indian origin I guess), Naturopathy, etc. Now, "Aswagandha" is a very very effective medicine in Ayurveda, that fights and prevents Alzheimers. Good to know, dont you think? Why did I write it here? Don't know.

Sumi, stop. No more PSs. Okay, I told that was the last..! (Mumble mumble)

So, what techniques have you guys learned recently? I would love to know!

A blog hop and a memory

As I was doing the blog hop last week as part of Sally Russick's 'Focus on Life' photo challenge, I came across a photo - of Flowers - by StudioWaterstone. (I am so fond of the blog name itself, it reminds me of  "The Fallingwater" by my favorite Architect Frank Lloyd Wright. (Wink) The Interior Designer in me is a fan of Mr.Wright )

I wondered how can somebody totally disconnected from me pluck a sharp memory from my life and represent it in a photo! That photo was all me. And the very few words written about that photo is like making us concentrate completely on the photo itself. Those are wildflowers, flowers alongside a road, as she says, seeing many passers by, many of them not even noticing them. But they still bloom so beautifully, just for sensible observant people like Lori.

The minute I came across this, I contacted Lori to ask permission to tell the world - This is the photo I liked the most in the series - beauty of Flowers - by Sally Russick. She replied with such a sweet message giving me consent to go ahead. Happy I am, like a kid! I wanted to link it somewhere I could always come back to. So, this post.

One visit here and you will understand why I will tell she has magical fingers. Art, Creativity, Photography.. Total Inspiration!

Thankyou Lori.

And, I have another Lori in my mind to whom a huge 'Thankyou' is due. I will save that, for another post! Surprise.

Focus on Life 8/52 : Monochromatic

My life : Week 8 : Photo 8

Monochromatic. That setting which immediately takes us to the mood 'good old days'. I think that feeling of relating lovely old days and memories with monochromatic has ended with my generation! 

The below photo is of a metal work I got from Michaels. It reminded me of shields that warriors used in olden days, and the minute I made it monochromatic, I knew this had some 'time machine' or 'Jumanjee' effect on it that it appeared a 1000 years old.. I liked how it transformed.

 This one in a bluish grey monochrome.

This wall sconce at home makes me feel - well, 'at home'. Doesn't this look kind of serene?

The below two photos, the 'mischief button' in me was turned on somehow, and these are original photos. A silver flower basket on my black coffee table! :) It says : "Dont dare turn me black and white, I wont change". Stubborn. But good. Oh, if you are good enough, there is no issues with you being that stubborn and never agreeing to anyone trying to change you. Dont you agree? Thanks, Lady Flower Basket.

Thanks to Sally Russick to making us experiment so! Lets see some monochromatic pictures here on her blog.

Focus on life 7/52

                                           My Life : Week 7 : Photo 7

I might be the last one to tie myself up here!! (*grin*)

Yeah, you guessed right! "Life took on": An upcoming Craft Fair, last minute stocking up, and setting things up early hoping to avoid the unavoidable stress!

No more long stories, here is the pic that was waiting all these days to smile at the world- the ones which always smile at me, at my creative-nook!

Oh yes, that vase is recycled by me, from a Pringles can! Just sticked adhesive vinyl counter-top protector sheet on it! A neutral base for my flowers!! And that 'White Lady' behind was originally a "Merry Christmas" 'red and green busy pattern' lady. I gave her a wardrobe change - one coat of white acrylic, two coats of pearlizing medium! Voila! (I might paint her red and green again, come next Christmas! But I am sure she will be happy..!)

And these are pics I had taken while I was in India....All from my parents' garden!  Love all these!

I know most of you might have done a bit of hopping around, but come on, roaming places is much more fun, with a friend holding your hand!! Lets go to Sally Russick's!! 

An experiment, a lovely result!

Let me show you something I have done, mischevious! I opened a glass bowl, which had a golden foil as its cover, inside which was a dissert. Dissert went to the place it was supposed to, but the foil dint go to the trash. It came with me, to my work table. My first instinct was to crush it into a 'Heart shape', as I always do. (See a sample on this page) But this one had a paper backing, so I couldnt do that! Instead I ended up making these..

I wanted to give it the look of hammered metal. The beads are my own handmade clay ones - berry and cream. Secured the edges with copper 'stitches'. Yeah, I sealed the sheet with clear glaze on the edges before assembling it..

Focus on life 6/52

                                                    My Life : Week 6 : Photo 6


Feel the LOVE. Sally Russick's prompt for week 6 of Focus on Life.

I can, whenever I see this picture on the wall, at home. I got this drawing(?) from Bangalore, India, from a sidewalk sale. I paid very less for this, but the place it holds in our life is - well, huge! I dont want to go into much detail about this here, mainly because it is a photo of one our Gods(Yes, India is a land of many, many Gods!), and also because I am not mature enough to 'write' about God. This is Lord Krishna- the epitome of love and romance, and his devotee/Lover (lady-love in correct English) Radha.

PS: Lord Krishna has many many names attributing to his handsomeness, his strengths, his mischiefs etc, and my husband's name is one of those. So that again connects my soul to this story!!

Hope you can look into this picture and feel the love too.

This is the first time ever I am clicking a picture of this.. This one is really worn down on the corners, and I really wish to frame it, but not doing so because then it might not be able to travel with me wherever I go. This has taken some long long journeys with us! And also, it stands as tall as my shoulder, so framing and carrying this around is out of question.. Thats the reason why I could not capture the whole pic too..They are surrounded by a peacock, a deer, and flowers and vines all around. How much more romantic can the scene get?

Now, lets go in search of some more romantic places. On the board with me, to Sally Russick's.

AJE

Please go here to see my latest addition to AJE Earring challenge.