Crochet Bag

Me and my husband have always tried reducing the usage of plastics. We take our big-shopper with us while out shopping and try reusing the plastic bags that we already have rather than getting a new one each time. This idea of making a cloth bag originated from this same thought.
Initially I’d thought of making one with fabric but later on had to move to crochet since my sewing machine was under repair. I’ve used the same stitch like the one for the mat, but this one went layer by layer vertically. Once I’d finished with the black crochet, I moved on to maroon for the pocket in the front and back. For the pattern on the pocket, I’ve made use of shiny anchor embroidery threads. When I’d completed the pocket I realized that my bag was a see-through bag! I had to then give a fabric lining to ensure that things don’t spill out of my bag through the gaps between the threads. Once the lining was completed, the only thing remaining was the handles. Since I’d run out of maroon wool, I had to use similar color fabric for the handles. 3 strips of stuffed fabric were plaited to form one handle. When the handles were securely fixed into place, I included 2 press-buttons next to the handles. And there, my eco-friendly handmade bag is done!

Traveler

Anchor quick stitch kits have always tempted me to do one completely for myself. I and my sister had done one each during my school days, but then that was not completed and hence not framed. This one too was completed some months back, but framed only recently! This design is from the Anchor Flash Frame Series and is called "Traveller". Since stitching is always to be done with darker colors first and then the lighter shades, this initially did not look very appealing with black and brown scattered here and there. The stitching part was a little complicated too, especially inside the cart and the bulls, but the final product is so good that I have no words to explain! :D The best compliment I received for this was by my little nephew. He asked,”Chitte (aunty)….did you make it or buy it??!!” Oh…I was so happy!! Though only 5 yrs old, he already has good observation skills and an interest towards arts. Hmmm...following his aunt’s steps, is he??!! :D

Work in progress...

Recycled crafts

These crafts originated from various discarded materials. The 3 African face-masks was originally a glass tumbler that was broken and hence could not serve its purpose. The flower bouquet was made using colored activity papers and tissue papers. I've included (what used to be, but now dried)evergreen leaves and a basket from a bouquet we'd received on our anniversary.

Earthy bells

This craft work began as an inspiration from my sister’s neighbor’s door hanging, a cluster of mud-bells with white beads in between. The bells I’ve done are made using flexi cardboard. It was the making of the South-Indian conical “masala-dosa” in a cookery show that taught me to make these cones! I’ve given them an Indian red acrylic finish and topped each bell with strands of matching crochet thread. The beads are made entirely from newspaper. I’ve wrapped each of them in green tape rather than painting it, since that was easier! Finally I’ve threaded the bells and beads together using a strong long needle and crochet thread.

Om Suryaya Namah!

This time I’ve tried to recreate a very popular, traditional and metal-finish sun god. Though the actual ones done by embossing on a metal are far more attractive and authentic, this isn’t bad too! Neil Buchanan of Art Attack had demonstrated this kind of sun and moon crafts using newspapers. I’ve made use of a circular cake board for the base of the face and then stuck cardboard and later made cones out of newspapers for the sun’s rays. To make the surface slightly hard, I’ve made use of Neil’s technique, his paper-mache comprising of pieces of tissue paper stuck down with a mixture of PVA glue (fevicol) and equal parts of water. The final painting with metal finish acrylic colors is what made my Suryabhagwan “metallic” and varnish added to his “tejas” (luster, brilliance..)! :)

Step-by-step images...

Antique frame

One of my Google searches for a frame design gave me this pattern with newspaper rolls. I have this habit of saving good pictures from the net as and when I see them. It was recently when I found this Ravi Varma painting card at Gangaram’s in M.G.Road, that I remembered the framing idea I’d long back saved.

The first step was to make an octagon base with cardboard. To make the base stronger, I’ve used an idea suggested by Neil Buchanan of Art Attack (I am a regular viewer and a big fan of this show. In fact, I never get tired of watching the same episodes over and over again! :) ). He has this technique of hardening any base with tissue paper and PVA glue + water mixture. Instead of PVA glue, I’ve used normal fevicol. And it really worked! The dried product had just the right thickness and strength that I needed. The plain surface now even had a texture to it. The only time consuming process in this was rolling newspapers and cutting them out to match the edges of the cardboard base underneath. Once all pieces of newspaper roll were stuck into position, painting both sides didn’t take much long. Since I had this Ravi Varma painting in mind, I’ve used a combination of metallic colors that go well with the painting. To make the picture stay in position, I’ve created U-shaped hook-like pieces with cardboard and stuck them behind in such a way that a long newspaper roll runs almost the entire length of the frame through the hooks, thus supporting the picture. And…like always, I’ve given the frame a final coat of varnish for that added glow!

Welcome home!

I’ve been making use of cereal boxes, corrugated packing sheets and other strong cardboards as the base for most of my projects. In fact, now I have so many empty boxes in my utility area that it almost looks like a trash can there! Thanks to my sister too for her contributions :) Anyways, now I was in search of something really strong enough to hold one of my upcoming projects. That is how our Saturday shopping landed me in a stationery shop in Jayanagar. There I found the cardboard I needed and was going to leave when something caught my attention - a bundle of 60 wooden lolly sticks(ice-cream sticks) that were not very expensive! At that moment I had no idea about what to make out of them, but anyways added it to my collection of raw materials.
Every time I took the stairs at our apartment, I would be impressed by the creativity and variety of door hangings available. I wanted to make one for our door too. It didn’t take me long enough to make use of these lolly sticks to create this basic sketch for our door hanging.

After carefully selecting completely straight lolly sticks, I made 7 diamond shapes with them and stuck them firmly onto newspaper. The benzene-like structure below was similarly created. Though initially I thought a single layer of newspaper was sufficient for the base, I had to add more corrugated sheets and newspapers to make the base stronger. Once the skeleton was complete, the only process remaining was painting. I wanted it to be bright and have a traditional feel to it. After sharing my thoughts with my husband we decided on this geometrical pattern and color combination for the top portion. The peacock feather pattern at the bottom portion was a sudden idea that I got while painting the diamonds. Though initially it didn’t go well with the geometry of the top portion, once I adjusted the colors and added more details to the feathers, it looked grand! A final coat of varnish added a glow to it. Glass pipes and beads were threaded together and stuck at every diamond to enhance the traditional feel. This project took longer than expected, but finally when we hung it outside yesterday (with a little difficulty for the structural support), I was happy. “Now, that’s a bright and warm welcome to our guests!” :)

Work in progress...