Fat free chocolates, anyone??? Miniature chocolates - quilled!

 

Summer Basket for Nupur..... my first "happy' 3D quilling attempt

Ikebana - for Liz - with spring Primula flowers

A birthday card for Mum....

The story of the tiger and the tree-of-life!

Traditionally tigers are perceived as predators and yet it is our "national" animal. It is ironic since we have gone on to decimate the population of a species that ideally we ought to be fighting tooth and nail to preserve. So it comes as a breath of fresh air when one comes across someone in your close circle of friends whose love for the animal makes you sit up and take notice of the issue with poachers, the dwindling populace of the species. Mike is such a friend. An intrepid traveller, who chases tigers to click them, goes back year after year to the known tiger reserves to try and track down his favourites! Over the years, we have revelled in his photography. 

Somehow it did not come as a surprise when he wished to incorporate the tiger in the theme of his next book cover! My only hope is he is happy with my interpretation of his vision for this portrayal -  in the traditional folk art style of rural India.  Alongwith the tiger, he wanted to incorporate the tree-of-life - (in the Bible) "the tree in the Garden of Eden bearing fruit which gave Eternal Life (Gen.3:22-24) - a representation of the natural habitat as well as the basis of life and thereby his cuisine dig! 

Here's a sneak peak at how the design evolved - 

This was my first go at the design. But then Mike wanted more colour.... it had to "pop"!!

So back to the drawing board...

And this is how it finally turned out!

I would say I am happy with the result, except that the scans of the original do not capture the vibrancy of the original, but it helps give a fair idea of how I imagined it to be!

Somehow I envisaged the entire montage with the title as quilled - 

So that is what I have been at for the past couple of weeks! 

Onto new adventures with quilling and painting.....

Tada...

Anin

A painting that impressed me .....

                                                (This is a painting by 7yr old Tara)

Tara continues to surprise me. When other 7 yr olds around me seem to have so little passion in pursuing a hobby, she obviously is in touch with her inner self to know where her focus is! It is not merely about "colouring within the lines" (which strangely enough most 7yr olds fail at miserably these days...), it has more to do, atleast in my head, with her concept of shading and control of her brush and paints! 

After all, she is but 7!!

I just had to have this on my blog, to remember the moment of wonder when I first saw the painting.
Over the years, I want to see her grow as an artist..... as well as a "Beatle" :-) 

Way to go... Tara!!!

Love and Light.
Anin

P.S. - With your permission, Andi and Gayatri!

Mahissaasuramardini or Dashabhuja-in-the-kitchen ..... dedicated to my Mum!

Mahissaasuramardini - in the kitchen!

This project began as a concept for a website background for Mike. You see, Mike is a chef extra-ordinanaire ! And a food stylist... and a huge portfolio that is forever expanding with the years! 

And yet, I could not bring myself to make it without the traditional aspect of Maa Durga, !! 

There is something about growing up as a "probashi bangali" or an expat Bengali and being woken up to the strains of the Mahisasuramardini on a LP vinyl in the wee hours of Mahalaya, the first of the ten days that marks the traditions of Durga Puja. 

Ayi Giri Nandini Nandita-medini Vishva-Vinodini Nandini-nute

Giri-Vara-Vindhya-Shiro-Adhi-Nivaasini Vissnu-Vilaasini Jissnu-Nute I

Bhagavati He Shiti-Kannttha - Kutumbini Bhuri-Kuttumbini Bhuri-Krte

Jaya Jaya He Mahissaasura-Mardini-Ramya-Kapardini Shaila-Sute II1II

It was a rite of passage almost! Not sure whether that really imbibed into my psyche as much as remained as a memory! I am not much given to traditions and rituals, but growing away from these traditions which most resident Bengalis take so seriously, is a mixed bag of emotions and a fair share of detachment for me! ?I still love chants and the sound of the "dhaak", the traditional drums associated with the celebrations..... I guess for me that is the essence of the Durga Pujas.

But coming back to the Dashabhuja or Mahisasuramardini in the kitchen project.... the inspiration came from Devjani's Facebook profile pic! A silhouette! The end result is that it reminds of watching Mum in the kitchen, as she rushed about cooking up a veritable storm!!! Time and again! 

Hope I have done it justice!

Love you Maani!

Anin

Swan - Symbol of Inner Grace, Balance, Commitment and Intuition

When I begun to look for the symbolism of the Swan in traditions across the world, the description I loved the most was that which described it as the Soul, our very essence, in the Celtic tradition. That somehow meant I was on the right track in my journey! Both spiritually as well as in my choice of first independent project in Quilling. I loved this sketch of the graceful bird, what remained to be seen was how best could I do justice to it. 

But what I read about it, took my breath away - 

A swan's  wisdom includes awakening the power of self, balance, grace, inner beauty, innocence, self-esteem, understanding dream symbols, seeing into the future, understanding spiritual evolution, developing intuitive abilities, divination, grace in dealing with others and commitment.


A representation of grace and beauty on many levels, a swan is associated with love, poetry and music. The swan was sacred to Venus, the love Goddess in Roman Mythology and depicted as singing to a lyre in the Greek tradition. Grace does not mean only the ability to live a balanced life, it is also being able to be at home in many planes of reality, to see that we are more than we appear to be - both physical and spiritual beings. We are souls having a human experience. It is said that a swan's entry into your life signals a time of altered states of awareness and the development of intuitive abilities, for those with this gift have the inherent ability to see the future and to accept the healing change that is starting in their lives. To accept this, helps to move with the flow. Listen to your inner knowledge and intuitions and the Swan will work through you! The swan's voice teaches the mysteries of song and poetry, for these touch our inner child and also our inner beauty.
Just as a swan does not dive into water like other birds when feeding but skim the water dipping their long necks in and out and water is linked with the feminine intuition and emotion, by following the swan's example we learn how to view our emotions without getting trapped by them. Our intuition helps us comprehend our feelings and the swan helps us process them. 

They are dedicated partners. So by following swans lead, we will begin to respect what we have chosen and to follow things through. 

The large wings of the swan in the sky gather and store knowledge from the Great Spirit. Their white plumage reminds us of the dazzling beauty and innocence found in the purity of the Great Spirit and their long graceful necks act as a bridge between the ordinary and the extra ordinary. This is the bridge of wisdom for spiritual realization.
~~~~~

I do not know what my power animal is and somehow that does not really bother me. I choose to take this project as a sign of the entry of the Swan into my life, compelling me to be happy and grateful of and for the physical body and intuitive mind. 

This piece is dedicated to my dear friend Richa, who suddenly dropped right back into my life, patiently helping me as I struggle to get back "on the wagon", so to speak.


So here's to cherishing the journey....! 

xoxo
Anin

An 18th Century art form transcends time and cultures

Sometimes in the search of some thing more meaningful, your life transforms when you stumble into a simple way to beat the blues...... 

The past years had transformed my time into no longer something I had any control over. I worked, I battled ill-health, I partied ....  I was suddenly a single mum with a teenage son, who had had to give up on her passion of art or creativity simply because there was just never any time. I have always been amused with folks who made their New Year resolutions and never kept at them after the first month! Well, this year I promised myself, I would make time for myself, I would take care of my health and yes, I would certainly get back to indulging myself in the arts. 

As in my last post, I said that I "happily stumbled" into Quilling while looking for a gift for a little tween. Today a month later, I find myself hankering for more and more time to myself to indulge in this amazing art form. It has transformed the way I thought about expressing through art. As again on this journey, I came across this blog with the history of Quilling.....

Quilling-the-new-old-art-form


If someone were to ever track my posts on this blog (there aren't that many any more since I took off all my poetry), it will be so obvious where my life has turned again! 

This is dedicated to my passion for life..... to live it the best that I know how .... and to spirituality, the very essence of my journey!

Love
Anindita

Renewed ...

For some strange reason I have been away from my blog for nearly 2 years. No excuses... just the daily grind that kept my nose down. 

This year, after a very long time I made a small, do-able list of New Year resolutions. The first was to get back to my earlier fitness levels, as far as possible and the second was to take time off daily to do things I love to - be it read, paint, write a little. Amongst these, while looking for inspiration, I chanced upon the amazing world of Quilling. And headlong I fell into the world of colour paper strips in various widths, sourcing out the "right" paper.... what a treat these past weeks have been !

It's early days yet, but these are the first attempts ....

This was for my colleague Saif's new born daughter, Sarah, my inspiration for this new journey.

(Sarah - a few hours old.. 11.01.2014)

 I hemmed and hawed and taught myself "how to" quill.

With a little faith in myself, was my next project. A birthday card for my dearest friend, Nisha.

Ok. So I think I am slowly getting the hang of it !! 

The next ambitious project was a "Sweet Sixteenth" project for my niece, Anaina! I have to admit, I am happy with the progress. 

I guess that is quite enough for the first day back! Don't want to wear out my fingers ....!

Love 
Anin