Making....

...some progress on my projects and some mundane everyday stuff.

We went on a weekend trip to complete our yearly visit to a pilgrim place. Anshita's exams were over last week but there was some glitch in one of the subjects and students were supposed to take a re-exam for that subject. That was going to be a huge spoiler but since around 2 million students were going to be affected, the examination board decided not to have re-exam for the entire nation but only in the affected areas. That was a big relief for us. This was an important checkpoint exam for her which is conducted at national level. So now she is having fun doing movie marathon and doesn't bother how much her mom shouts at her :) I have given up too :(

Here is my progress on cross stitch card, one of the twelve new projects started this year. I am making for someone who reads my blog, but not that regularly and may not have an idea that I am making it for her :)

After

Before

Few food items I made last week

Chilli Paneer 

I am getting good at making this - that's my daughter's verdict, and she is a big foodie:)

Mixed lentils cutlets

Tried it for the first time. It has 5 different types of lentils and spices.

Bread Margherita pizza 

To make eating store bought bread more appealing :)

Some random craft shopping I did in February. 

laces & trims

frames, tags etc.

Jewelry making materials

I have family travel plans in April and May. Anshita is having summer vacation of two months in April and May so have to make most of it including having her organize her own things and possibly teach her some household work other than just fetching a glass of water and keeping her snacks plate in the sink instead of just on the dining table. Ok, enough of cursing my bad mothering. I hope I can get blogging and crafting time in these two months.

Have a great week!

Preeti

Some stitching progress....

Thanks for your well wishes . I did some stitching on Height chart and then again had to stop due to a hurt on my right hand . It is ok now and I hope I can start stitching again by weekend .

Worked on Toucan and the flower at the top

Few more miscellaneous things to share .....

Ixora in bloom from my balcony garden

Crochet cotton threads from shuttlesandneedles

Chillies from my balcony garden. A single plant gives these many every 3 weeks.

Oven baked potato wedges which I made for the first time

When I am frustrated or overwhelmed with pending tasks , I like organizing things around . Gives me a little feeling of decluttering the mind even if it is an unrelated thing to do . Even watching some home organizing videos/blogs is fine although I am not an organizing maniac . Does that happen to you? What makes you feel better when you get overwhelmed with daily little things ?

Have a nice day!
Preeti :)

Hello again !

Hope you are doing great . I was not keeping well and thanks to my friends who checked on me .
I did not do any crafting for the past one month other than these rakhis that I made for Rakshabandhan - a festival for brothers and sisters . You can see my previous rakhis here and here .

 Got this crochet book for making socks . Also received few fabrics for cross stitch & Hardanger embroidery and stitcher's lotion from 123stitch when Raj went to the US in July .

28 ct Jobelian fabric

Chalk board cross stitch  and Hardanger fabrics

I hope to catch up on blogs this week . I am having a gynecological problem , not uncommon , and will go for a treatment next month . If it doesn't get cured in 3-6 months then I will have to go for a major surgery .

And yes , last week I got my first ever reading glasses :)

Have a great weekend!
Preeti

A feather in my cap and a storm in my head !

Well , the latter part of the title has got nothing to do with my post ...ha ha...just that I could not think of any title and this sounded good so I added it :)

Here is the feather in my cap . My first cross stitch design , Summer cards , got published in the April-June 2017 issue of the ' Anchor Needle n Thread ' magazine , India :)

Life was busy last few weeks .  Anshita's summer vacation started from 21st April . We attended my cousin's wedding last month and met my family and relatives . Anshita wore a lehenga/half-sari . It is similar to a sari with top and long skirt but the wrap around is just two meters instead of  five meters . She was looking very cute !! :) 

Anshita with her cousin , Piyush (my brother's son)

I also made mehendi/henna for her . I am not good at it but I managed to make her happy :)

Also , visited a newly opened craft store and got some random stash . 

Burlap ribbons and hemp ropes

Some assorted things - mini easels , watering can chalkboard 

textured paper and felt sheets , mini chalkboard for my craft room

Few buttons and sewing supplies

Hobby books (purchased online)

I am enjoying Anshita's company at home with ACs and electricity bills running all time high :) We got self-ligating dental braces fitted for her and now, after two weeks, the discomfort has reduced and she can eat regular food instead of soft mashed ones .

Hope you are doing well and enjoying your time :) 

Happy crafting !!

Preeti

Colorful Crochet and Craft books

Thank you for reading my last post and being there for me in my happy and frustrated moments .

Here is what I completed recently , a colorful crochet cushion with the Heirloom cotton yarn that I purchased recently from Australia . This is the fastest ever use of my stash :)

The yarn was very very soft to work with and I used 4 mm hook . The stitch pattern is from here .
This is just the front part , I don't crochet the back and I sew fabric cushion (front -white and back - printed) to attach it onto . I also need to sew regular fabric cushions with some patchwork thrown in which I haven't done before . I am in dire need of good cushions in the drawing room and I am not purchasing new ones as it will deter me from making a new ones . The cushions at my home usually get tossed off to next empty sofa/chair and if made by me then they are given a little care and respect while tossing off . My family doesn't want cushions and I cannot do away with the things that have opportunities to showcase my creativity .

Now the last part of my shopping to envy you all.....the craft books :)

There is a shop named 'Can do Books ' in Melbourne which stocks only craft, cooking and gardening books , I guess all the hobbies. I came to know about it from a blogpost on Melbourne Craft shops that I shared earlier .

Books - I liked this display area :)

Books...

and lots of books 

Here is my loot :)

Designer Crochet by Shannon Mullett - Bowlsby

Blue print Crochet sweaters by Robin Chachula

Origami Master class by various artists and geometric origami papers for Anshita

Reversible color crochet by Laurinda Reddig

Crochet Pillows with Tunisian techniques by Sharon H Silverman

Crocheting on the edge by Nicky Epstein

Old fashioned doilies to crochet by Rita Weiss

Simply Adorable Crochet by Maki Oomaci

Macrame by Kat Hartmann

Pincushion Appeal by Cecile McPeak and Rachel Martin

Sardinian knotted embroidery by Yvette Stanton

I could have purchased these at a less price online but then I rarely get to feel so many craft books in hands and all at one place because we don't get needlework books in stores here . So I indulged myself  :)

I also got Cross stitch magazines from a magazine store (with only magazines on two floors) , they aren't available everywhere but the owner of the Can do books store told us when I asked for Australia's 'Inspirations' embroidery magazine .

Cross Stitch Crazy - June and July issues (I got in May)

The World of cross stitching - issue 240

Unfortunately , I could not find the embroidery magazine there but got some patchwork quilting magazine with offer 3 for 1.

On Sydney airport , I bought another magazine , 'Homespun,' published from Australia .

So this is the end of my vacation related stuff and Yay I did complete this time . Most of the time I lost track after two vacation posts .

I liked Australia trip very much . It was relaxed as at many places we went with my mother's speed and enjoyed places than rushing into to cover everything . People were helpful everywhere -  rangers in the wild life park and penguin parade, guides at the Opera house and lot of other places we visited . Most of our travel was with private cabs and we met two nice and friendly cab service owners who drove us to Blue mountain tour near Sydney and Great ocean road(12 Apostles) near Melbourne . I am telling specifically because we would usually have lot of queries pertaining to lifts , walking distance , special facilities for seniors because of my mother's knee problem and they patiently answered all . I loved the weather as well , it was the beginning of winters and not too cool . You must sure visit once :)

I have signed for Ravellenic games for a group I follow on Ravelry which will begin from 5th August . I need to complete five crochet cushion fronts , out of which , one is done and second is also almost nearing completion . On cross stitch front , I am learning to use the Cross Stitch DP software that I got on my Birthday .

Have a nice day!
Preeti

Baaa in Australia means Merino !! :)

Thank you for your comments on my cross stitch and trip photos !! :) I have been adding my WIP progress along with the vacation pics but I don't have anything to show today .

I have just one more set of trip photos left which I will share later . Right now , I will share some crafty shopping adventures . I had dedicated the last day of vacation for my crafty shopping after collecting a mountain of souvenirs for our extended family and friends .

Baaa......Australian Merino sheep 

Saw lots of these while passing by villages towards Great Ocean road from Melbourne city

My shopping had me visit three places in Melbourne - Lincraft Store , Wondoflex Yarn center and Cando Books . My blogger friends , Lavina and Pam shared information on various shopping destinations and touring places in Sydney and Melbourne . Lavina also gave feedback about Indian restaurants as she had stayed there for years . Thanks Lavina and Pam .

About my yarn shopping , I got information from SnB Melbourne group on Ravelry and they promptly shared info on the stores based on my specific yarn choices . And this blog post on many craft stores in Melbourne also helped a lot .

Lincraft Store

Lots of threads

fabric...not much of choice 

DMC and Sullivan threads 

Lots of yarn and they were having 50% off on many brands on the day I visited

jewelry crafts section 

and this is what I got from there ......

Aida fabric, some random DMC and Sullivans threads, a white aida fabric band and a wooden lap frame . I have no idea if there are any more attachments needed with this frame . I just bought it and need to learn how to use .

random things --- those pebble shaped sticky notes and the thimble were bought from some other place . The 'make- a- zipper' roll is a new thing for me  

Got some bamboo batting for small projects , some more random zippers and flannel fabrics

Lincraft local cotton yarn and Paton's Sorrento synthetic yarn 

Made in Australia Pure wool yarn - Cleckheaton country 8 ply

I will make something for either me or Anshita

Shepherd baby merino wool 4 ply . I hope to make a short jacket for Anshita

A visit to Wondoflex Yarn center 

Lots of yummy yarns :))))

and this is what I got from there ......

Australian Superfine merino 8 ply by Cleckheaton. 

These were a bit expensive , 65gm ball @ 12 . 50 AUD . I guess I can make a short top for me with 3/4th sleeves .

Touch 2 ply pure merino was from Newzealand, very costly, so I got only one skein . 

Made in Australia Heirloom 100% cotton on left and Paton's cotton blend on right .

I was surprised to find that there were many yarns which were made in India and some in China too . There were European yarns also but those I can purchase from Deramores . I wanted to buy Australian yarns mostly made in Australia . My mother sponsored my shopping, looks like my 40th Birthday celebration got extended :)

Last weekend we went to New Delhi to get an award for Anshita :) She got 3rd prize in an International English Olympiad conducted by an organization among schools of south east and middle east Asian countries. Also , I had to visit two of my cousins family there so the three of us had gone .

Hope you had a lovely virtual shopping time with me :)  In next post, I will share about the craft books and magazines I purchased .

Have a great day!

Preeti