Doodle Kreations

Time for a break

2011-07-12T14:44:00.003+10:00

Clearly I have been on a break much before this post ! There is good reason for that..and not just the fact that I have injured my back last weekend. Ouch ! Positive news - morphine = good !!

Doesn't take much to lure me to the dark side , does it ?! ..muahahahaha ...This evil laughter is also celebrating the return of the dark forces this week ..Harry Potter ! oh yay ..I can hardly contain myself . I'll be eagerly waiting & hoping my back heals soon, coz I have plans, baby ! Plans to see the Dark Lord.. !

Well back to what I was originally talking about !

I am taking this time to ponder over what direction I want to take my micro biz and my blog in . I have been giving it some thought over the last couple of months . Before I continue any further, I really need to assess my values and what is it that drove me in this little venture, in the first place.

I will be back with some new ideas and plans. I promise to keep everyone in the loop . But, in the meantime, I am always available via twitter and email .

Take care !

P.S
I should have mentioned earlier that my experience with morphine was just a one time deal at the hospital. The painkillers that I am taking now enable the body's enzymes to convert into morphine..(or something to that effect ).
In my experience, it does not have the same effect as a shot of morphine !!! hehehe

Image credit : leaves of change via nelou

Weekend reading with your Cuppa Joe

2011-05-28T15:09:00.000+10:00

Yesterday, on twitter, I read a tweet on my timeline.. and read the content on it and it infuriated me - just like it did thousands of others..So I re-tweeted it ..

Read for yourself if what Urban Outfitters is doing by ripping off this indie designer's idea .

So anyway, I went to bed , still thinking about how big corps do this every so often , and how the whole issue would unfold .

I woke up this morning and hello ! To my surprise I read this tweet on my timeline :

woah ! I read the article in bed , just as soon as I could rub my eyes and read it clearly . Yes, I am an I-phone junkie !

Yay ! Hallelujah !! I did a little victory dance as best as I could - while in bed - trying not to wake my husband .

I am genuinely happy for the designer truche as the power of social media pressure got to Urban Outfitters.

Do they not have their own designers or are they running out of steam that they now have to blatantly steal ideas from other designers? No, they haven't apologized for anything. They simply took the design off their shelves .

Will they address the issue ? Who knows ? Maybe they will ..wishful thinking ? I think so.

So, silence is golden ?? I don't think so . This kind of silence with no apology is hurting their brand .After committing a mistake, the first step to set it right is to apologize, in my mind. Will someone tell Urban Outfitters that for me ? Surely, they have a PR guy reading all the negative publicity thats going around.

For the record , I love the designs in truche's shop . Something good did come out of this ugly episode. I know there was overwhelming support - what did people do pre- social media days ?! And I hope the negative publicity for Urban Outfitters has translated into tons of sales for truche.

Another one of my recommended reads is from Pikaland - Illustration and Innovation .

Interestingly, this one also addresses the issue of being a copycat ! Honestly, guys, that was not the theme I was going for ! It just happens to be trending topic this week :)

I like to save the best for last !

From the very innovative and intelligent mind of Isa Noisette - Using Branding to reflect what you believe in .

Just in case you aren't familiar with Isa, she's this superwoman who runs 2 businesses , takes care of 2 kids under the age of 3 , blogs often , guest posts often...the list could go on. Her blog - The Academy - is awesome.and she puts out really fantastic information out there. So, hop on over and give her some love.

Have a wonderful weekend ..and don't forget to enter my giveaway here !

Giveaway Time!

2011-05-25T20:52:00.001+10:00

Off late I found myself in a creative rut . Nothing could shake it off. Its one of those times that calls for drastic measures and taking a step back and letting it go . I knew it would come back to me - just not sure how .

It did . And, boy, am I glad it did. Like any mother, I take tons of pictures of my kids . I ended up taking some really beautiful shots. They were inspiration enough. I found myself working on silhouettes of my kids. It is such a beautiful way of capturing images and so artistic. I have always loved silhouettes. But, I like color in them .

Have you figured out what has been the result of this ? Yes, colorful silhouettes have been the outcome. I am rather liking the look . No, I am loving the look !!! Super - duper excited !!

I have a few in the shop , and I am working on a few more. But , I want more ideas to work with. I need a third perspective. I need another impetus to this creative experiment. So thats why I am turning to you for help .

You can see some of the newest silhouettes below that will be making their way to the shop .

So, what do you think ? Yay, nay ?

If you think yay , then have I got a treat for you ... I would like to add more to my colorful silhouette collection . Do you see where I am going with this ?

W h a t d o I n e e d f r o m y o u ?

Photographs , of course ! Kids, spouses, You, you with your spouse , you with your kids, friends, pets , trees - whatever you would like . I am hoping to add more sparkle to the new collection with these images. So give me something that tingles my creative soul . Give me something shiny, baby ! I want to be in a position where I don't want to go to bed until I finish drawing and deliver the magic that your silhouette deserves.

When I clicked these pictures, I wasn't thinking of creating silhouettes .. But if I did..these are few things I would keep in mind ..

1) take pictures at eye level . Experiment with close ups or full length .

2) take pictures with interesting poses or props - something fun for kids/ babies..(I am really itching to draw a superhero , ballerina!! ) Capture them in their most natural moment and element and at play. It brings out the best in them . Or if the kids are really good at posing, you won't have any issues !

Interesting outfits for kids is always fun as I like to color up the outfits too . So , this might be a good chance to get your kids to pose in dress ups. I am not going to hold back on color palettes . I will work with the colors in the photographs , and experiment with the look of the silhouette. So, if you are up for colorful silhouette experimentation , this is for you .

3) Grown up kids - listen up !! I am looking to create silhouettes of families 'in' a 'story'- by that I hope to create a silhouette which can tell a story about you . I also would love to see couples on boats , or with architectural landmarks in the background ( Hey, I gotta feed something to the architect screaming inside me !) . Maybe get a couple of pictures of recent graduates jumping up ... have I given you enough to work with ?
Maybe try different permutations and combinations of all of the above .. why not ?

4) email the pictures ( 2 per submission , no more than 1 MB each ) to doodlekreations@gmail.com

5) I'd appreciate the support if you spread the word !!

W h a t ' s i n i t f o r y o u ?

This is the juicy part . You didn't think this was a giveaway for me, did you ?

I will pick 5 images- yes FIVE winners - to draw up and the each of the winners will get an 8 x 10 print FREE !!! Does that sound enticing ? I sure hope so...

This trade in /giveaway closes next Friday - June 4th , AEST . (That's Australian Eastern Standard time )

So, are you in ? Come , lets create some magic together !

Interesting Reads for this weekend

2011-05-21T17:16:00.000+10:00

Here's my round up for this week . Enjoy !

On the following blogs :

PapernStich - How to Become and Instant Success in Your Niche

Noisette Marketing - Knowledge is Power

This is an awesome thing not to share . For all you illustrators stuck in a rut, here are some ideas to get rolling with !

What to Draw via Pikaland

Pikaland - What to draw : a list

I'll see you next week with more goodness from around the blogosphere !

The beauty of Autumn

2011-05-17T20:56:00.000+10:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again . Autumn / Fall is my favorite season of the year. Enough said..

Project 26 - accomplished !

2011-05-11T14:03:00.002+10:00

Can you believe it , I have been blogging for a over a year now ? I didn't realize it, until I was reading some of my old posts , that I completed a year of blogging in March .. so this is dawning on me a bit late !

You can do it ! via helendardik

Alright I admit , I was pathetic last year keeping up with my blog . I even wrote an apology to my blog ! Yep, I was that bad.

This year, I made a resolution to blog often - Project 26 - approximately 2 posts a month for 2011. A modest goal . But, I had to take baby steps. I am proud to say that I have already accomplished that goal . This is my 27th post for this year. Not bad , huh ? For someone who was aiming for 26 posts in all of 2011 , this is not bad - if I may say so myself.

For that I have to thank you ! All those who read my posts and comment . I love comments. Who doesn't ?!
5 reasons why I love comments and why I am still blogging after a sad display last year :

- Its always nice to hear what others think or add to what I have had to say. I mean it . It adds so much more value to the post. Its nice to know that there is someone out there who has something meaningful to say about it.

- It keeps me inspired to keep at it ! It keeps me motivated to keep writing . It makes me want to keep this blog fresh and interesting.

- It has been such an instrumental tool in forming relationships . Don't you agree, my friends ? :)

- It has helped me to discover new blogs . Wow, there is a ton of talented and exceptionally unique blogs out there. I don't think I would have discovered them, if it weren't for the comments section . Thank you for letting me discover your blogs !

-Most of all, its reassuring that someone actually reads it and I'm not out there all by myself ! Now, that would be kinda lonely, wouldn't it ? Thanks for keeping me company :)

Now , what should my next goal be ....?

Happy Mother's Day !

2011-05-08T18:05:00.000+10:00

I've finally won the battle against my allergies and asthma. I wasn't completely down and out. But it was enough to wear me out during the day and the end of the day. I honestly couldn't bring myself to blog , draw , communicate , breathe .. yeah, the last one kind of was the most difficult !

Anyway, now that I'm feeling better, Happy Mother's Day everyone !

via OMHG

My husband made me breakfast and now he's making dinner for me. Kids were very behaved. The weather was gorgeous today . I managed to squeeze in a workout . Life is good for this mom :)

On that note, I'd like to share a few interesting posts with you . In the spirit of Mother's Day , some of the posts are related to moms and running a business , of course :)

On OMHG - The Fine Art of Mothering & Business & A Manifesto for Motherhood

On The Mogul Mom - Blogging your Brand

On The Merriweather Council - 5 Things That Make a Big Difference to Your Shop

Happy Reading and Happy Mother's Day !

End of the week reads

2011-04-29T14:35:00.000+10:00

I scour the web and read a lot of blog posts often . I subscribe to some of the blogs and get their newsletters. I bookmark these articles/ posts a lot . A LOT .
It got me thinking, that I should probably just share some of my favorites with all you interested . These are posts from this week . They range from advice on business to advice on blogs. You pick your favorites :)

Imagination via dazeychic

smaller box - 4 reasons to get free publicity

Design Sponge - Understanding your competition

The Guardian - Why writers must embrace the social media, no matter the genre
(Although this was published April 14th, I think its a good read )

The Merriweather Council - 4 little things that will make a big difference for your blog

Back from Easter Holiday Getaway

2011-04-28T13:59:00.001+10:00

I'd like you to join me on a mental vacation to a beautiful coastal town called Port Macquarie . North of Sydney away from the hustle bustle, away from our routine and we basked in glorious weather for 4 days during the long weekend for Easter and Anzac Day.

We spent most of Saturday - Earth Day under this grand old tree .. isn't it simply breathtaking ?

No more talking ... Pictures do speak a thousand words...

MMMM..mmmm..Macaroons

2011-04-14T13:57:00.000+10:00

I mentioned recently, about how much my son enjoyed macaroons for an after school snack . So did his mother and sister. My, they melt in the mouth .They really do ... sigh !

We had chocolate flavored macaroons. ..With its crisp/soft outer shell and delicious creamy filling inside, it tasted like a soft cloud in the mouth . As you can tell, we relished them very much .

This delicious trap is also a bit expensive ..tsk tsk tsk ..so I have to learn to make them . I think I might try this recipe one of these days. But, in the meantime, I enjoyed drawing macaroons -and in different colors/ flavors too . That's something that doesn't cost me a lot of money :)

Macaroons via Doodle Kreations

All good things must come to an end..

2011-04-10T18:09:00.000+10:00

I am excited and a bit sad about this week. This is the week of the finals of My Kitchen Rules. This is the first time that I have followed a reality show this far and stuck to it . I am rooting for Sammy and Bella - the sisters from New South Wales (go N.S.W!) .. but I think Kane and Lee will win - simply because they are so innovative and create amazing recipes.

It also means, the show comes to an end . I'll have to wait until next year to see it again. I will miss the pleasant judges - Pete and Manu . I have been so inspired to draw up foodie illustrations just because of this show. I couldn't stop myself . It really got another side of me going, that I never knew existed.

Printable Recipe Cards by DoodleKreations

I have painted still life with fruits and vegetables long ago . I remember the excitement of getting the colors , shade and other details. I just love painting BUT- I don't remember being so excited about painting produce! Maybe, when you are 15 and painting fruits and vegetables, it isn't so exciting !

Anyway, after that brief trip down memory lane, back to the future ... what will happen once the show is over ? Will I continue to draw food or will it be something else ? I have always been influenced by color and what goes on around me ..so I know there will always be inspiration . But what will it be ?

I hear MasterChef is starting soon ... :)

Chocolates & Easter

2011-04-05T14:13:00.002+10:00

My name is Lakshmi and I am a chocoholic. There, its out in the open and I am dealing with it. How so , you ask ?

By combining my love for chocolates with Easter, I am venting all of the craving into my illustrations . Its the best way to avoid over eating them . Its non fattening, its a good place to imagine all the chocolate in different forms , it doesn't make its way to my waistline .

(Confession : Having said all of the above, Sunday morning , we had Chocolate pancakes with chocolates syrup- made from scratch, by yours truly. )

Since I love chocolates so much, I love drawing them up . I am not limited to chocolates , mind you . I love sweet stuff . So, this post is all about sweetness .

The chocolate hot cross bun greeting is already in the shop, by the way . The others will be joining the hot cross bun real soon.

I drew up the Easter bunny on the weekend ..and by the way, the bunny is a chocolate bunny . Would I have it any other way ?

The macaroons or macarons have manifested here simply because we had them a few weeks ago. It was the first time my son ate them . He declared they were yummy . ( Junior chocoholic in the making ) This one deserves a post by itself , I think ..but here is a sneak peek . There's more where that came from ...

And so continues, my love for food and drawing up food .. so help me god !

Skirting Around

2011-03-30T12:48:00.001+11:00

I love skirts..long skirts particularly. I can't seem to get enough of them - literally.

Here are few of my favorites , don't say I didn't warn you ...They are beautiful !

Mermaid Wrap Skirt via thaitee

Fairy Long Skirt via qiujuer

Wilma via vaisto

Wind of Change via aftershowershop

Yes, the last one is a dress, but its so beautiful and dainty , I had to include it !

Rainy day cuteness share

2011-03-21T14:03:00.000+11:00

What's this ? Two posts in one day ? Yes, it is :)
This one is a small one..because the picture definitely speaks a thousand words :)

We've had a rainy wet wet weekend , with the skies threatening a bigger downpour , even as I type this post.
I stumbled upon these cute rainy day themed magnets by Stuck Together. So apt for the wet weather . Enjoy !

Interesting Friday morning

2011-03-21T13:44:00.001+11:00

Couple of interesting things happened last friday . I volunteered to help in my son's school canteen. He had asked if I would help out because he said he would come over and say hi to me ! And thats what he did ... his class passed by the canteen to go to the assembly hall and he waved to me, pointed me out to his friends. It made my day that he would be so excited to see me working in his school canteen.

Since it was my first time helping out , I learnt a lot about what goes on backstage in the canteen. I have the utmost respect for those who volunteer their time to do this on a regular basis. It is a LOT of work , to say the least.

I helped out with cutting ,slicing, washing veggies. Got all the burgers, patties etc in the oven . Filled up lunch orders in the bags. Got a lot done with the 4 other ladies..I felt great ...till the lunch bell rang. The real work began after the bell rang. Getting the lunches out to the class monitors was nothing compared to the real rush after they ate lunch. I was on my toes, literally . I felt like I was on a reality show ! Yes, watching the cooking shows is starting to play tricks on my mind !!

Anyway, kids thronged at the windows to get snacks , jelly snacks, yogurt babies (!) , frozen animals (!!) and stuff with names that I don't remember. The crowd pleaser is clearly frozen animals... the kids are allowed a maximum of 5 at a time. Each costs 20 cents. I kid you not, they love it !! They are crazy for the frozen animals. Its basically some kind of mild sugary solution frozen in a plastic container - shaped like , yes you guessed it - animals. Check the picture of the sugary culprits below ... Not the best shot, but it gives you an idea.

Yes, my son loves it too . He was supposed to get his 20 cents to the canteen to get his frozen animal. He mentioned earlier in the morning, that he wanted me to attend to him at the window ..:) I just find his requests so adorable ! But, as it turns out, I was at the window and I did get him his animal. He came back for more one more time. And then he came back for one more , this time to get one more for a friend, who joined him, by the way ! Apparently , the kids do this if their mom is at the canteen. I was told by one of the other moms that her daughter showed up with her entourage - for the free stuff !! Free stuff , hah ! Volunteering at the canteen is turning out to be expensive !

Would I do it again ? In a heart beat .

Just to see the look on my son's face when he sees me . Just to see his excitement as he proudly shows off to his friends that his mom is in the canteen. Just to see him come running to get ' free stuff ' from me.
Just to have him ask me after school , how my day was in the canteen , what I did in the canteen , did I put stuff in the oven, what was the stuff I put in the bag , who were the other ladies with me , when I would be back in the canteen ., how did I get into the canteen (!) .

No, I don't look forward to my son's entourage each time. But the positives outweigh the one teeny tiny negative.

Alright I am done with this sappy post, but it was so much fun doing it and getting to know the other lovely women who help running the canteen smoothly. And, I loved that I made my son's tiny wish come true , that I had to share this.

Stayed tuned for the following post - about the Disco party later that friday evening at his school ..:)

More food

2011-03-16T14:37:00.001+11:00

On monday I whipped up a classic Mumbai dish . If you have visited Mumbai , there is a fair bit of chance, you would have eaten this dish. Its called Pav Bhaji . In english its simply translated into Bread & Vegetables.
As simple as it sounds, I'll have you know, the dish is simple to cook but is packed with flavour. Its vegetarian and its simply delightful.

The best part of this dish is that, you can use as many vegetables in it or as few as you fancy. There are many versions of it out there , but here is a very simple recipe that I have used. I modified the recipe a bit ..so here is my version ...

Ingredients :

3-4 medium sized potatoes
1/2 cup peas
1/2 cup corn
1 red capsicum
1 -2 carrots
2-3 tablespoons of butter
1 onion
3-4 garlic cloves
1 green chilli
4-5 medium tomatoes

For garnishing :
1 onion - finely chopped
1/2 bunch corriander
Lemon juice

Directions :
1) Chop the potatoes and carrots into small cubes.
2) Boil the vegetables in water . Throw away excess water .
3) Heat a pan , and sautee the onions, chilli, garlic , capsicum in the butter.
4) Add diced tomatoes once the onions and capsicum are cooked.
5) Add the vegetables in the mixture . Add salt, Pav bhaji masala, turmeric powder . Mix it up well and mash the vegetables .
6) Squeeze some lemon juice onto the mashed vegetables and garnish with corriander.

Cooking the bread :
Apply butter on both sides of the bread and cook it on the pan . Any bread is fairly suitable . I used hamburger buns and sliced them into halves for each serving.

Serving Pav Bhaji : Serve some bhaji ( vegetables ) with the bread on individual plates . Garnish the vegetables with some chopped onions and a lemon wedge.

I decided to cook this , since my son enjoyed it so much when he had it a few weeks ago . He's been asking me to cook it and he even invited my sister over, from the U.S to eat it with us ! For the record, he wolfed it down and declared it as his favourite dinner ! yay, I am sooo happy !

While I am on the subject of food- on Monday, on My Kitchen Rules, the contestants had to cook for kids and their parents . As usual, there were some amazing dishes whipped up and the kids loved them . Check out the picture below of my Pav Bhaji .. it looks really colourful , don't you think ? I could've given the MKR contestants a run for their money, me thinks ...;-)

Also, the recipe cards will be showing up in the shop very soon.. I listed one today ..check it out , will ya ?

I have food on my mind ...

2011-03-11T14:10:00.001+11:00

...and My Kitchen Rules or MKR is to be blamed ! I am captivated by that show . I love the challenges and the concept behind the show. Its very intriguing watching the contestants battle it out. I am big fan of Manu and Pete. Maybe more Manu ..the french accent might have something to do with it .

Rhubarb & Roasted Strawberry Cheesecakes via MKR

Since I have been watching the show regularly - it airs Monday thru Wednesday evenings , I am obviously very enraptured by the artistic creations of food . Lo and behold, I have been drawing up illustrations relating to the kitchen . I have been having so much fun with it . Who knew, drawing food could be so much fun ?!
Check out the works in the pipeline ...what do you think ?

Its Autumn !

2011-03-04T22:34:00.001+11:00

It is my favourite season of the year ! Its finally upon us :) I love everything about it. The cool crisp air, the colours of the leaves , grey skies, acorns .... the scarves, the boots!

I don't think I am going to miss summer anytime soon . Maybe I'll miss wearing sundresses and the beautiful blue skies a bit . But like I mentioned this post, I don't like the heat . Period.

Some may think the sky is too boring and dull . But I think, nature has a way of adding colour when it feels like the skies are too dull. Look around and you'll see the riot of colours with the leaves changing colour. I always draw inspiration from this aspect. It fascinates me to no end that leaves change from lush green to orange/ yellow/red.

Image via papermoth

Oh and another thing, as I was typing my post on Autumn yesterday, I read this post by Laura from Moags and Smeet . I just found it a bit funny that we feel completely different about summer and autumn ! Hope you enjoyed the nice warm day today , Laura :)

Cubby House cuteness ..

2011-02-23T10:58:00.000+11:00

..if there is such a phrase ...here it is ! Recycled Wood Cubby House : )) Its not only cute, its recycled . I found this via Penny Eager's blog ...thanks Penny :)

OMG , my kids would go nuts if they had it ..heck I would love to have a go at it :) That's the insane kid in me speaking .

So cute, that I had to share right away . enjoy :)

Images via The happy home

Carrot Cake

2011-02-22T13:55:00.001+11:00

With my little boy in school , I am faced with the dilemma of what give for his lunch/ recess. I try to make it healthy , something that he will eat and he needs that extra pick-me- up, every once in a while. I gave him some sliced cucumbers one day for his snack. He bought it back home, thinking it was zucchini . He bought back water melon the other day , because his friend told him it would make him go to the bathroom a lot ! sheesh .. It irks me that have no control over these things ! Its funny too, but I'd like him to eat well when he is at school.

A sure fire winner is veggie/ fruit infused baked items . He has always loved banana bread . I try and give him different kinds of breads that he can eat for his snack . We have had good luck with zucchini bread earlier. This week's winner is Carrot Cake . I baked in a bread loaf pan . He had a bit for breakfast and announced that its his favorite food in the world :)

Image via allrecipes

I got this recipe from All recipes . We had it without the cream cheese frosting. Even so, it is one of the most moist breads that I have baked. Super soft and delicious. With carrots in there, it makes me happy that it has a healthy touch to it ;-) He is happy because he loves it.

Sure enough, his box was empty yesterday :-)

Time for Hollywood news

2011-02-18T12:48:00.000+11:00

I watch Ellen from time to time. I was glad I caught it while it was on yesterday. She had Jennifer Hudson in her show yesterday - and boy- does she look good ! I have always liked Jennifer Hudson for her singing ability and her confidence. I loved her small but expressive role in Sex and the City as Carrie's assistant - Louise - the girl who believes in love .

Image via Kiss 92.5

I was completely and pleasantly surprised by how much weight she has lost . She went from a US size 16 to US size 6 ! Thats tiny :) And she said she likes it better because the 'clothes are lot more fun' ! Her weight loss journey wasn't overnight .. I believe she did over time and AFTER the birth of her son.

Image via Today

I love it .. the new healthy , suave , svelte Jennifer Hudson is inspirational to me - since I'm still trying to shake off some of the weight from 2 years ago after my daughter was born !

But , this is Jennifer Hudson's moment , don't you agree ?

Valentine's day finds - spin around the world - architecturally speaking .

2011-02-13T15:30:00.004+11:00

Image via TeroldegoAndTomatoesore

Wishing all my readers a very Happy Valentine's day ! Fill your day with joy , hope and love . Enjoy these lovely finds ...well, the first below one is mine ! I like it simply because it reminds me of my husband and me enjoying Paris about 7 years ago . I plan to make a Venice themed illustration , soon . My hubby and I soooo want to go back to Venice as well...

Here are some architectural themed romantic items for Valentine's day ...enjoy !!

Image via Doodle Kreations

Image via Shyama

Image via Borettoart

Image via artsharkdesigns

Many thanks !

2011-02-09T12:51:00.001+11:00

Recently I won a free ad space at Creativity Unmasked . I want to convey my heartfelt thanks to Laura who makes a genuine effort to support handmade businesses .

For those of you , who aren't familiar with Laura, she is super talented - check out her beady creations at
Moags and Smeet . As if one blog wasn't enough, she has spread her wings this year to start two more !
Her first blog is Moags and Smeet documenting her business and beady obsessions ! By the way, this blog is one of my favorites and I had posted about it here

Image via Moags and Smeet

This year , we see her supporting creative endeavors at Creativity Unmasked.

She also has a green side to her and you can read all about it at Green in Real Life .

Its nice how bloggers help one another and it really helps building relationships. I wish Laura continued success and thank her for her support.

Colour Inspiration for this week

2011-02-07T22:51:00.000+11:00

Calling all color lovers :) A few weeks ago, I introduced you to Design Seeds in this post . I know many of you liked it , and why not ?!

I have another inspiring blog to introduce you to ! yay :)

Lauren Whillhite of Color Collective uses photography from designers , artists to curate amazing palettes of color . I think my favorite palettes are the ones which are curated using fashion photography. Fashion and color all in one place ... what more could a girl ask for ?! Enjoy .

Images via Color Collective

Free Printable - Birthday Card

2011-02-02T14:13:00.002+11:00

A few weeks ago , my 5 y.o son was invited to go to a birthday party. We got the birthday gift all packed up ready to go a day earlier. But it was only an hour before the party that I realised , we didn't have a card for the birthday boy.

I could have stopped and picked up a card on the way. But, I decided to make one. Here it is.. it was quick, simple and colourful . It works well for both boys and girls. What do you think ?

So, I would like to SHARE it with anyone who would like to use it . Its one less thing to think about before heading off to a birthday party ! It should work fine for A4 size and 8.5 x 11 paper. Cut along the dotted line and fold in the middle. Its A6 size when folded. Pop it into an envelope and you are on your way :)

This is only for your own personal use - as many times as you like ! As , always, please remember this file should not be used or reproduced for any commercial purpose :) Thanks for understanding !

P.S...this is the first time I have shared a file on my blog ... please let me know if it doesn't cooperate.

Parenting a business

2011-01-31T06:33:00.000+11:00

As a mother, there is no point during the day that I actually stop thinking about my kids. Between my 2 kids, aged 5 and 2 , I go through a whole range of emotions sun up to sun down. Concern, love, pride, joy, patience, impatience, restlessness, fear , patience, impatience, doubts, more love, astonishment, patience, impatience .. the list goes on. Every mother can relate to this one way or another.

Raising a child is no joke, its a responsibility and a big one at that too. Children depend on you for love, protection, nourishment - their future. No one said it would be easy. But in all of this, when your 5 year old hugs you , and says you are the best, you know its gonna be alright.

Starting a business is the same, in my opinion. It is your baby. You create something out of NOTHING ..isn't that amazing ? You do everything to grow it. You make choices to take it to the next level. It doesn't always go according to plan . There are mistakes made, lessons learnt. There are creativity blocks, then there are creativity bursts . There is finance to think about.

But, whoever said that running a business was easy ? It is the same range of emotions - as a parent for a child - that go through you when you start it - fear, joy, anguish, concern, pride , doubts , patience, impatience, love ... I am sure the more experienced folks feel the same - maybe at a different level for different issues. (Feel free to chime in here.. !)

Image via HoneyBoo

This is the best analogy I could come up with for anyone out there who is thinking about starting a business or is new to it. Know that it is something you will think about incessantly. Know that it is not an easy peasy road. Know that it takes a lot of hard work . More importantly, know that it requires a lot patience....just like parenting !

Parenting and my fledgling business are close to my heart.....

The more you invest in quality time with your children, the more dividends you will get, in terms of their welfare and happiness as a family .

The more you invest in your creative biz , be it monetarily or creatively or both, you will see it grow and prosper.

The more you love your children, they will love you right back .

The more you love what you do, it will love you right back -or at least slowly ? Thats what I have been told, thats what I see around me in other people's ventures , and thats what I believe in . I am still learning everyday.

As a new business or one that is trying to take it to the next level, what are your thoughts ? What do you feel is the best way to keep motivated and focussed on your goals ?

A little bit about me

2011-01-26T21:04:00.003+11:00

I promise I won't make this a self glorified post .. It has nothing to do with art, color, my shop. I want to share a quirk or two about myself. All in good humor...coz I can laugh about it too ...

1 ) I don't like the heat . That may seem odd , since I come from a country that has pretty brutal summers . But I never have liked it and I don't think I will in the future. I am happy so long as the temperatures do not rise above 30 deg cel ..! Yea, wishful thinking ! Today on Australia Day, I was scorched ! The heat beat down on me ..and I drip sweat..yeah not a pretty picture.. You'd think I ran a marathon . No, its just me wilting away ... melting like butter.
People around me at Hyde Park looked fresh as tulips and here I am , trying to look cool ... hard to do when all i wanted to do was jump into a pool.

2) I like Ice creams - but I have terrible allergies - eating cold stuff just sets off my sneezing attacks and I l look like I have been crying. So, most days, I have to avoid eating them... I just watch others eat them...and imagine how delish and cool it must be... such as today - people all around me were hogging ice creams in the heat and I just sat there .. without an ice cream trying to beat the heat !

Image via stoopidgerl

3) I have always wanted to take a nap in the park in the shade - don't ask me why ..but its just one of those things. I did it - today ! We got to the park and found a nice shady spot under a tree. The kids wanted to go on the slide ..so my husband took them . It was one of those magical moments.. nice shady spot, no kids, no husband, strangers around ignoring me , cool breeze just whiffed by ..I lay down on the picnic blanket and fell asleep ! It must've been a good fifteen minute nap at least..until I was rudely woken up by my phone ringing... oh well, it was heavenly while it lasted !

Hope you guys found a good way to beat the scorching heat today and had a good Australia Day. I'd love to hear quirky stuff about yourselves ....:)

Honey, have you checked out Honeysuckle yet ?

2011-01-24T14:23:00.002+11:00

Earlier this year, PANTONE released Honeysuckle as the color of the year...what a gorgeous gorgeous color !
Everyone's talking about it ..and why not ?! Here's my two cents on this color ..its feminine yet strong , its subtle yet strong .

Image via Pantone

The flower , Honeysuckle , is divine too. No wonder the bees are buzzing all over it ...

Obviously I couldn't wait to use the color ..I already used the shade on my Valentine's day card..but here is another one ..that I am rather chuffed about ! It's still work in progress.... Any suggestions are welcome :)

I call her Svetlana . The sheer grace of her posture coupled with honeysuckle shades gives her an aura of beauty, style and a sense of obliviousness to the world around her . yes, no , maybe ?? :)

I'm thinking of using some nice quotes on this print ...I found a few on the web.

1. Dance for yourself, if someone understands good.
   If not then no matter, go right on doing what you love.

2. Work like you don't need the money,
   love like your heart has never been broken,
   and dance like no one is watching.

3. Dancing can reveal all the mystery that music conceals.

Which one is your favorite ? Is there any other quote that you think might be appropriate ? Or do you think, Svetlana should dance by herself sans quote - and let the viewer interpret the mood... ?

The thing about color ..

2011-01-15T07:44:00.000+11:00

...is that it is beautiful . What would the world be without any color ? What attracts your eye to an object ? Is it the shape or size or color ? It probably is all of it ..but I'd think color plays a big role.

When I draw, I love it . I let the pencil guide me . I let it flow and talk to the paper. Once it talks to the paper, it talks to me. Does that sound creepy to you ? You should hear me say "talk to me" to a sketch if I am not satisfied with it !

But , seriously, does a chef not want his food to taste just right before he serves it to his customers ? Does a sculptor not finesse his sculpture to perfection before displaying it ? Does a coach not bellow instructions to his team till they actually win something ? You get my point.

Once I have translated whats in my heart to my brain to the paper and once the drawing talks to me, I am happy as a clam. Not because it talked to me ..well that maybe a bit...but the real reason I am happy - it means I can COLOR !!

Image via PrissDesigns

I probably may have mentioned that I like color ... or maybe not. But, just so you know...

Most of the times, I have already envisioned something in a particular color(s) ..so I go for it and usually it makes me happy. Somedays, if I am feeling a bit blue ( pun unintended) , I can't get the creative juices flowing and its best I stay away from what I HAVE to color . Note that I said HAVE and not WANT .

At this point, I step back and I go look for inspiration or many times, it finds me. It comes in the form of color - surprise , surprise . Color of the sky, color of a bird, colors on an outfit , colors of flowers ...you name it. What would I do without color ?

This would be the right time to introduce you to a blog that I came across today . And I can't believe I didn't know about it until today ! - Design Seeds I think this will be my new source of inspiration for color . My go -to place for when I don't have it in me ... Most definitely . It has the most amazing array of color palettes , beautifully curated . Don't you agree ??

What inspires you ? The one thing that helps you unleash all that creativity ... I'd love to hear about it .

Queensland Flood Appeal

2011-01-12T21:09:00.002+11:00

As I write this post , from the comfort of my home, there are countless people in Queensland, who have no home to sleep in tonight. They don't know if their homes exist at all due to the floods. Images of people wading through the waters carrying whatever they can, sitting on rooftops waiting for help , cars being washed away, are on my mind - as is on others .

Image via The Globe and Mail

I would like to do my bit to help out , by donating a percentage of my sales to the flood appeal. 15% of sales profits made from January 12th 2011 thru January 31st 2011, will be donated to the Flood appeal. I would appreciate it very much, if you could spread the word , by grabbing the image below.

Alternatively, if you would like to make a donation please do so through the QLD government website or Etsians Australian Flood-Appeal . I will add more links as I come across them . If anyone would like me to add their links for the QLD flood appeal , please feel free to contact me

Project 26

2011-01-07T21:15:00.005+11:00

Earlier this week I shared with you a few blogs, that I definitely stop by to read up for various reasons. I also mentioned that I wanted to blog more often.

Its not that I don't like to write. I procrastinate. I just don't get around to doing it. So, this year, I am aiming for project 26 . This is an idea that I borrowed from Alycia over at The Curious Pug . She has embarked on project 52 . 52 weeks of photography. Once a week .

Now, I am taking baby steps here...sooooo ... I will aim for blogging 26 times this year.. Bi- weekly is doable , even for me ! I think.

So , thats 2 posts a month , anything above that is just gravy . I don't want to run out of steam and topics to post on and have the Project 26 die even before I reach half way.

Apparently consistency is key, so if I consistently blog twice a month, I will stay motivated.

Of course, I am always available for chit chat over on Facebook and Twitter :)

so, the question is - have I already completed my quota of 2 posts for January ?? I blogged twice this week ! I am a tease, aren't I ...? Or someone simply looking for an easy way out !

anyway, does anyone know how the first week of 2011, just flew by us , already ? Keep up with it, everyone :))
Until next time :)

Happy 2011

2011-01-04T14:05:00.000+11:00

Hello everyone ! Hope everyone is having a great 2011 so far !
I wanted to share a few things with that I have found valuable in 2010 .

New year means new ideas, new resolutions, new goals. A chance to start afresh. No, this post is not about MY goals - not yet anyway... maybe another time ...

I have had a blog longer than I have been on etsy . I have been on etsy longer than I have been twittering . Its safe to say that I am not much of a blogger . I will be the first to admit it.

But, I will also admit, having a blog is a powerful tool . I may not blog that often, but I LOVE reading other people's blogs. I am getting to know some of the amazing people behind those amazing products. Its good to put a face with a name- as is to do the same with the person who stands behind a product. A blog is a great way to know who is instrumental in making those products and what makes them so passionate about what they do.

Some blogs are not associated to online selling, but they are very informative . I enjoy reading them for the sole purpose that they brighten up my day. I learn something new.For obvious reasons, I levitate towards ones that are associated with arts, colors , illustrations, jewelry... If I were big on knitting or sewing, well...thats a different story...and that's not happening anytime soon..

I want to share with you some of the really cool folks and their blogs . Some blogs are really big in the blogging world, and they don't need an introduction. Some have been around for a while and are making a difference. But there are some that are fairly new and are gaining momentum getting noticed.

I don't want to classify my favorites in any of the above . But, I read their blogs and follow their work because I find them interesting, creative and inspirational .

Many of them have their crafty goals for this year on their blog . Its very uplifting... Have a read .. get inspired , create ...and have fun doing it !

Alright, maybe I'll share one goal with you - thats to blog a bit more ...there, I've said it!

Without any further adieu ...in no particular order ..here are my favorites on the web ! Rock on, ladies !

Mayi Carles

Bridget Edwards

Vana Chupp

Helena Tay

Laura

OMHG Giveaway - happening in a couple of hours !!!! Yay !!

2010-12-05T22:00:00.000+11:00

One of my favorite communities- OMHG -is having a giveaway and I am thrilled to be a part of it ! yay !
Its my first giveaway ! yay!
There's at least 30 other businesses that have some gorgeousness to giveaway ! yay !
The proceeds go to charity ...yay !
Please spread the word ! yay to all of you those who spread the word and / or participate !!

Beautiful Jacaranda

2010-12-02T13:28:00.002+11:00

Here in Sydney, we aren't sure if it is winter, spring or summer in hiding. It rains one day, its cold the next day, hot , warm beautiful all in the same week.
The one thing that has been consistent in all of this is the Jacaranda tree. It is in full bloom all over . The most amazing lilac blue / lavender/ purple pops up in the skylines. I am completely smitten by the burst of lilac all over the place. It has put on such a breathtaking show , it leaves me speechless .

All I want to do is purple/ lilac blue/ lavender colored artwork ! At the start of spring, I had daisy fever and now I have Jacaranda fever ! Can you blame me for it ?!
Now the incessant rain over the last week is threatening to dampen my spirits and also washing away the lovely flowers !

Its been a while ...

2010-11-07T23:34:00.001+11:00

Dear Blog,

Forgive me for ignoring you over the last couple of weeks. I have been using you to simply post news about my works in progress. I could have been posting interesting news about my travel ( over a month ago!) , or the weather here in Sydney , write about other fantastic handmade products etc.
But instead, I chose to let you hang out there by yourself. Forgive me for that.
Let me make it up to you . I will add a little sparkle to this post , what better way to do it than discussing Diwali .

Happy Diwali everyone !! We had a lovely time celebrating Diwali . Well, at least the best that we can do outside of India. I took a little bit of extra interest because I wanted my kids to be involved in it. They love festivities and all that goes along with it. I am hoping I can educate them about their Indian heritage through the numerous festivals.

So, for the last couple of days, we lit tea lights outside our house in the front and back entrances. The kids loved it ! They even helped me sweep the porch in the back. I had a broom , my son used a rake and my daughter used a pastry brush ! Yes, a pastry brush . She uses it to clean everything in sight !

My son decided we should arrange the tea lights in a circle . I did have to contain them a bit ! Given that, we do have to be safe when I lit the tea lights.

I prepared a few sweet dishes, which they happily devoured . We met up with some friends for a lunch today. The lunch was a traditional Gujrati meal ..and man, did we pig out ! I practically had a food coma ! We came home, and I walked straight into the bedroom to take a nap ! Left my hubby and kids to fend for themselves! Not that they missed me , because, they watched cartoons !

Wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous Diwali !!!

10 % off for a limited time only !

2010-10-30T13:00:00.000+11:00

You have to be a Facebook fan to avail of this opportunity !! Enter FB fan when you check out an item.
The glorious weather may not last too long !! Take advantage of my good mood ..hehehe

Its in the shop !!

2010-10-26T14:43:00.000+11:00

Santa's little helpers are in shop - Christmas greeting card ! I also added a printable pirate birthday invitation
Check it out !

doodle greeting :)

2010-10-22T14:00:00.000+11:00

I think this is a good start ...It will make its way into the shop next week :) Stay tuned !!

more new stuff...elves at work ...

2010-10-21T13:08:00.001+11:00

Here is another look into what I have been upto. Its not done yet, by any means. But I wanted to share it with anyone interested . What do you think ? I am thinking a greeting card ...

If you are a facebook fan or a twitter follower, leaving a comment, let me know and I will be happy to reward you for taking the time out to comment.

Sneak Peek :)

2010-10-12T14:32:00.000+11:00

I am working on Christmas Items...this is the first of it... Its a mock up..I have a few more ideas to jazz it up a bit... what do you think ?

I am back

2010-10-10T23:39:00.000+11:00

Back on friday morning from our trip to India and the U.A.E. And we are jet lagged. What's worse than being jet lagged ? Kiddos being jet lagged !! We'll get over it soon...been there, done that .Would be better sooner than later !

I am working on some new drawings that may manifest themselves as greeting cards and gift tags. I am also very much available for custom illustrations. Just putting the word out there for anyone who might be interested in my style.

I should try and get some sleep ! If only it were that easy....ho hum..

Holiday , holiday...

2010-09-13T22:11:00.000+10:00

Now that I have given my blog a new look, I have been tweeting, Facebooking , my etsy shop has new stuff, my creative juices are flowing, I have new ideas for the upcoming holidays, working out a packaging look- the time has come ! Yes, I have earned it...its my time !
I am going away on a vacation !
So, thats the reason, I am posting this today. We all love to take a break . Who doesn't like to get away from the everyday routine and travel ? But when is the right time ? Is there ever a right time for taking a break ?
While I am preparing and packing to leave, going over the various things to get done before I leave, my mind is going through a mixed bag of emotions. On the one hand, I am excited about the travel and on the other, I just want to create more ! Is that horrible of me ? My parents and in-laws are excitedly waiting for us. We will get to meet friends after a long time. We will get to show our kids where we grew up and more . We also get to visit a new country and new culture.( Thats a whole different post)
If I were not on a break, I'd be working on new designs and more.Ooh I have all these new ideas that just need to spring to life !
But, I could still do that after I come back , right ?! My ideas will still be there, I probably will be more refreshed after seeing our families and friends. I may even translate all that into my designs. So, I probably should bag up all those other feelings and just enjoy while we are away. I might even be able to blog while I am away to give snippets of the trip. No guarantees there !! hehehe

Twitter

2010-09-11T13:52:00.000+10:00

So, I gave in and joined the bandwagon and started a twitter account. I have yet to understand the force of twitter , as everyone tells me. Apparently it does wonders for businesses and social networking.
I saw something on the television a while ago, ( was it on Oprah?- dunno ) about how a bakery's sales skyrocketed just by tweeting ! SO, I am sure it does add to networking and people have experienced the benefits.

If anyone is interested, follow me :) I have been tweeting for a short period of time. I'll get the hang of it , eventually.

Continuing on Spring's beauty..

2010-09-06T22:11:00.002+10:00

We had a couple of rainy days last week. To add to our woes, I fell prey to my allergies caused by rain, which means sneezing attacks, cold, watery eyes..you name it ! That meant, I had to stay indoors , which meant we cancelled on a weekend rendevous with our friends out at Sydney's Darling Harbor. To make matters worse, we were expected to have a wet rainy Sunday . Is this making you cry , dear reader ?! And you are probably wondering why my post is titled about the beauty of Spring ! Let me assure you, my misery ends here....read on :) Every dark cloud has a silver lining !

So , we woke up to Sunday morning, with the sunshine pouring into our bedroom window...which left us wondering when the rain was supposed to happen...it didn't ! We had a glorious Sunday ..beautiful....I was feeling better ..( the wonders of antihistamines!) . I actually did three loads of laundry ..hung them out in our outdoor airer..WET SUNDAY ...pffttt !!

This time, I didn't have to go too far to take pretty pictures ( remember, I am not supposed to venture out much when I have my allergies !) ..Its all in my front yard and back yard ..kiddos and hubby enjoying the weather....check out the pretty flowers..I don't know their names yet...we moved into this house in Dec '09..and this is my first spring here..so pardon my ignorance ! Did you have a nice weekend ?

Halloween Items in Store

2010-09-06T21:31:00.000+10:00

Hello all :)
I cranked out the first of my Halloween Items in my shop. Did I mention, FREE SHIPPING ?? The first five buyers can avail of this opportunity :) Have you checked out these items ?? Prepare to be spooked !! well, not really....
What do you think ??

Happy Spring!

2010-09-02T13:06:00.001+10:00

It has been getting nice and warm here in Sydney. Although today is a bit cloudy and dreary. Thats okay, I don't mind the ocassional rain if most days are sunny. Fall is my favorite season of the year. Period. But, it would be unfair to ignore the beauty that Spring has to offer. As we walk around our neighborhood, I spot Daisies and cherry blossoms among many other pretty flowers. The barren trees are starting to get tiny green leaves. Its beautiful to watch the transition.

Sending warm thoughts to our friends in the northern hemisphere :)

Here are some pictures I took as and when I could capture Spring at its best . Enjoy !

My exciting life !

2010-08-24T23:30:00.000+10:00

Exciting because at the the end of the day, I am sketching and coloring it up and cutting it up :) Exciting because , I like the way it looks ..its important to love your own work, right ? If you don't, noone else will either ! Go figure !

Since last week, I have been on an overdrive, coming up with new holiday themes. I also introduced mini note cards and gift tags in my shop. I think its shaping up rather well. I only wish, I could take better pictures ! I am trying really hard , guys !

On a personal front, we had a very interesting week. Each day started with loud tantrums from my son . He has learnt the fine art of asking for something by screaming for it . I guess its the same if he doesn't want something ,as well ! I have to master a VERY steep learning curve of how to handle these tantrums ( these are at a different level from the usual ones )

We took the kids to Lane Cove National Park on Sunday. The weather was glorious. The kids were suited up with life jackets when we went boating. Our daughter looked goofy in it ! The jacket was bigger than her...:) She is almost 21 months and couldn't quite make up her mind about the uncomfortable attire !
They loved the day out , especially Om, since he helped dad while boating, with the oars. Made his day !

Did you do something interesting ?

Amu featured :)

2010-08-19T13:45:00.000+10:00

Check out Liga and Janis's blog - Filigreephotos . Its a lovely blog . Liga was kind enough to feature Amu and her feathery friend on her blog . This week, the theme was geometry. And well, Amu fit right in with the circles/ polka dots on her dress :)

Thank you Liga for featuring my work :)

New stuff !

2010-08-17T14:25:00.001+10:00

I got fed up of having to take my drawings to the printers and then waiting for 2 whole days for them to print 2 copies of 5 files. Printing service A had great quality paper ( acid free) but bad and slow turn around time , not to mention, average customer service. I guess lil old me is not as important as the big fancy corporate clients. Note to self and printing service A - if I hit big time and need bulk printing , do not go to printing service A !
Printing service B had good customer service and good turn around time, but not the kind of paper I was looking for.
Yes, I am finicky about the paper I want . My husband thinks I am too picky . I agree .Case closed.

Anyway, he chided me for relying on others and thereby restricting my own flow of work. He got me thinking about printing from home - which meant all I needed was high quality ink and the paper I wanted. With a little bit of research (and hubby's help- read kick in the pants ) , I did both. I now own some fantastic museum grade quality , acid free paper with satin finish.

I have also kept my hands really busy , cutting up promotional handout material . With the amount of paper cutting that I have been doing in the past 2 days, I am thinking of investing in a paper cutter. The intention is also to create some more interesting paper products....I have a few in mind...any suggestions ?

Apart from this, I did something very interesting yesterday, after a long time ...nothing related to all of the above! I want to get pictures lined up before I talk about it...thats a whole different post ! Ciao !

Featured on a blog!

2010-08-13T22:38:00.005+10:00

Let me be that kid who just rode her first bike ! Remember the excitement ?! I feel the same way today...I was in a feature by Cary on her blog . Cary's shop is Cabootique on Etsy.

I'm thrilled because its my first time to be featured on a blog ( and hopefully there will be more !) . Thank you, Cary.

Giveaway by the Twinery

2010-08-12T14:47:00.000+10:00

Do you like Baker's Twine ? If you do, head on over to Le Papier Studio's blog . The lovely Vana, is hosting a giveaway from The Twinery. Lovely colors to choose from :) See for yourself...

Mila's daydreams

2010-08-11T21:13:00.002+10:00

I came across this cute blog and want to share it with you . It is called Mila's Daydreams . You have to see it to believe how CUTE it is. It showcases a new mother's hobby during her maternity leave. Adele imagines what her baby daughter, Mila's , daydreams must be.

My favorite one is the bookworm ! Isn't it adorable ?!

Hobbies like this put a smile on everyone's face, don't they ?

Featured in treasury ...

2010-08-06T14:00:00.000+10:00

What a pleasant surprise it was to find my adorable Trusted Friend - Brachiosaurus print to be included in a treasury this morning. They have some other lovely finds as well.

Its August and the sun seemed to be rise a bit early here this morning. That probably means spring is around the corner..yay ! I can't wait to find inspirations for spring themed sketches....but for the time being, I am working away on some other illustrations.... Father's day is in September here in Australia ...so I want to get something lined up for that.

I will share them very soon...

Work in progress

2010-08-03T13:33:00.000+10:00

Yesterday was a cold and dreary day here in Sydney. Inspired by the cold weather ( yes, that can happen too ! ) , I sketched up a new illustration.

I had already sketched Amu holding the soft toy/ doll ( not sure what the finished product will be ) a few weeks ago. I chose the setting for her yesterday ... I think she looks comfy on the inside when its so cold outside, what do you think ?

Hello, I am finally open for business !

2010-07-31T00:20:00.003+10:00

So, I finally did it. I took the plunge. After all these months of keeping it quiet, I can shout out... I have my own little space on the web with my illustrations ! Check it out on Etsy ...doodlekreations

I have been thinking of starting my own business with my illustrations for a very long time now. I hope my work strikes a chord with the childish at heart. At the moment, I feel childish ..naturally !

I am still working on building it, its a start, and I like it .

Its a big leap of faith...I hope I land on my feet :)

What do you think ?

yes, i am still around

2010-05-10T16:07:00.000+10:00

No, I haven't abandoned my blog. I have been busy with a lot of things, hence , this long break from blogging. I will show what I have been upto ... its all good :)
Take care !

Breath of fresh air

2010-04-22T10:48:00.005+10:00

Earth Plush by necessarynonsense

Happy Earth Day , everyone !! Here we are , Earth day is officially 40 years old. So, on this important day, I thought I could broach on a subject that is very basic in our daily lives. I need it, you do and so does everyone around us. If it weren't for this natural 'resource' - well, we'd all cease to exist - AIR.

What has happened with industrialization and our quest to achieve the unattainable ? Over the years, it so very common to hear people developing respiratory ailments . With all the advancements we have made , we have also contributed to carbon emissions , smoke and other factors leading to the degradation of air quality.

I am not an expert on sustainable living nor do I claim to be. But, I know someone who is :-) My blog needed a fresh breath of air ( pun , intended !) .For Earth Day, I wanted to post something meaningful and informative What better way to do that than to have the most eco-friendly person - that I know personally - share some of her sustainable thoughts with us. My good friend- Mary Ostafi. Before I introduce Mary, I would like to thank her for agreeing to do this for me :-)

Mary and I go long way back. We met at Flad and Associates in Madison, Wisconsin . We worked together on the same project , we became friends. We share a lot in common...to name a few ... we are both vegetarians, love our professions, we love dancing !

Mary graduated from Northern Illinois University with her undergraduate degree in Interior Designer . After adding a couple of years to her work experience, she worked hard and passed the A.R.E exams and became an architect. Clearly, needing to fill a void in her life , she decided to pursue Master's in Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability from Blekinge Tekniska Högskola . Now she works for one of the largest firms in the world as a Sustainable Design Strategist.

Without further adieu... Mary Ostafi ...

What and when is your earliest memory of wanting to lead a sustainable life ? What steps have you taken to lead a sustainable living

It is difficult to recall the exact moment in my life when I started becoming a more conscious human being. I've always had a deep appreciation for nature but I have never considered myself an environmentalist, even to this day. Sure, there are reasons why others would label me as so, but I simply live my life in a way that is most meaningful and rewarding to me, which entails passion and respect for the natural world in which I am a part of.

I stopped eating meat as early as grade school and officially became a vegetarian in high school. In college when I was studying interior architecture I was fortunate to have a professor who helped mentor me in green design. Soon after graduating I became a LEED AP (over 8 years ago now - before most people even knew what LEED was). And after 8 years of struggling to push sustainability to the next level at my work place I decided to move on and pursue a degree in sustainability...which led me to the position in which I am today - Sustainable Specialist for one the of the largest design and planning firms in the world.

What is the biggest problem that we as a human race have inflicted upon our planet and is there a way to reverse the problem ?

It's very simple, there is an increasing demand in our society for natural resources and ecosystem services...but the ability of the planet earth to supply these natural resources and ecosystem services is declining. We are consuming natural resources as if they are in infinite supply, when in fact once they are gone, they are gone forever.

To reverse this problem we simply need to look to nature. The earth has been in existence for 4.6 billion years and life began to exist soon after. Life has found ways to optimize existence and adopt to all climates and conditions around the globe. Humans can look to life's prinicples for inspiration and design guidance for innovation. We currently live in a take-make-waste society, we need to transition to closed loop processes evident in the natural world where one organisms waste is another organisms food. It is not until humans are in balance with the natural world that we will sustain human existence on earth.

Our basic need to lead our lives is AIR . What are your thoughts on pollution and other factors leading to the degradation of the quality of air we breathe. What are the measures we, as individuals, can take to improve the air quality around us ?

SELL YOUR CAR! Start taking public transportation, walk, ride your bike, carpool, and drastically reduce your carbon footprint. "Live where you work and work where you live". As a North American having traveled to 4 continents I have witnessed the drastic lifestyle differences around the world. Americans like space and freedom, which is why so many of us (myself not included) live in oversized homes in the suburbs where we are completely dependent on cars for mobility. Urban dwellers drive less, therefore contributing less to air pollution.

BUY LOCAL and grow your own food! Most of the food and products we purchase are shipped from halfway across the world, not only consuming a tremendous amount of energy but polluting our air along the way. Become a more conscious consumer, research before you buy, support companies that are stewards for the environment and help your local economy prosper.

REDUCE YOUR ENERGY DEPENDENCE from fossil fuel resources and switch to renewables. If you consider the entire life cycle of coal and natural gas (standard energy sources in N America), from mining to transport to manufacture to use, it becomes glaringly obvious that a tremendous amount of carbon emissions are released along the way, hence polluting our air to say the least. And do not get me started on the nuclear energy debate (another topic another time)!

REPLACE THE GRASS LAWN with native plant species that will help filter the air around you. Grass is hugely energy intensive requiring fossil fueled lawn mowers whereas natives require less water and maintence to grow in your region.

I hope this has been an enjoyable yet informative read for you. It certainly makes you think , doesn't it ? Well, thats the point of an informative read ... it should be- well - thought provoking.

le papier studio giveaway !!

2010-04-14T12:22:00.001+10:00

One of my favorite shops on Etsy is having a giveaway !! Le Papierstudio's Vana Chupp creates beautiful artwork and stationery with silhouettes . The timeless elegance and crispness of the work caught my eye as I perused through her shop.

Who doesn't love silhouettes ? I know I do ...and if you do too ..head on over to Le Papier Studio's blog and dive right in to take part in the giveaway. She's got some great stuff lined up for the winners :)

One step at a time

2010-04-11T13:21:00.006+10:00

T-shirt by Muncheys

April is the month that we as citizens of this planet , stop and think about what we are doing - to our planet. We should be thinking about it everyday of every month . So, this month, in our household, we are taking a few small steps to ensure we do our part .

I don't know about you, but we are guilty of going overdrive when we go grocery shopping. We usually end up buying more fresh produce than we actually consume in a week . That results in some of the produce not being consumed and ultimately not good enough to eat - and eventually ends up in the garbage. Our conscious effort , recently, was to buy less than what we needed . So, somewhere in the middle of the week, I go again to the grocery to pick up more fresh produce for the rest of the week. We figured this way , we will buy only what we need and eat all that we buy. Also, we minimize waste along the way..its working better this way. It does involve driving to the grocery store .So, we try to a combine couple of errands , thereby utilizing fuel for more than one task.

I have taken up an eco- challenge for myself and it is proving to be really difficult to keep up to ! (Check out scoutie girl's blog post on April Stash Bust .) No art supplies this month ! I need a printer cartridge, but I am trying to hold off until the end of the month .My son and I always use recycled paper for coloring and other fun activities. Paper airplanes and paper boats rule ! He is learning to recycle paper and not dump it in the garbage bin.

What are you doing to help save our planet ? Share your thoughts and ideas, lets learn from each other !
After all , everyday is a learning process for all of us . We try to instil values in our children . So , when we teach our children the difference between garbage and recyclable material, we are ensuring we are preparing the future citizens of our planet for tomorrow. There is a Kenyan proverb ... Treat the Earth well. It was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children.

Kid's one piece by circles and squares

Paper, plastic OR cloth ?

2010-04-01T12:42:00.037+11:00

Over the weekend, we attended a carnivale in our neighborhood . They had the usual slides ,rides, food and the various booths for local businesses. As usual, I went snooping around checking out the handmade products . There were people selling jewellery , cards , bags - all handmade. I am a bag hounder ! I love bags , especially cloth and jute bags. I got to talking to one of the sellers and she walked me through her collection. One of the bags, she said she made it the night before . Now I can't stitch/sew to save my life, so I am in complete awe of people who stitch/sew stuff up in one night. I wish I had taken pictures of her works . One of her bags was made out of re cycled curtains ! How eco - cool is that ?!

When we go to the supermarket, we have choices - paper, plastic- or cloth. Please spare a thought for the environment and choose paper or better yet cloth bags. It's important to make that choice. I know in this day and age, when plastic products make our lives so much easier, they are here to stay - not necessarily in a good way. Somedays, we do need plastic bags, for the garbage and other needs. Ever taken a look at the bag which stores all your plastic bags ? Maybe there's too many of them there, maybe its time to recycle the bags - at your local grocery store. Many grocery stores give us that option - so please take it up .

On a more fashionable note, I'd like you check out some cool bags ...Who says being eco friendly compromises on style ?

Our Gardens Bag made with vintage linen by ThongbaiTatong

Forsythia Tote Bag by cicadastudio

Simply Tote Bag by bayanhippo

The Jenni Tote by Julip Bags

Its not just being friendly to the environment, its fashion, darling !!

family ties

2010-03-24T23:34:00.004+11:00

I usually try to post something every monday. But today I am posting late wednesday night. I blame this on my sister and husband ! Yes, they are responsible for tearing me away from my blogging and facebooking to partying all week long. My brother in law gives me too much grief about me being addicted to facebook. Now, status updates once a week is hardly an addiction, I argue !

Before I delve into what we argue about, let me slow down and say this - my sister and brother-in- law are visiting us . Welcome to Australia, folks:)

So, anyway, the past couple of days, we have been having too much fun and eating way too much ! Too much chocolate at Max Brenner and at home and everywhere else. We hung out over the weekend at The Entrance at Central Coast, NSW . Bummed around on the beach , soaked up a lot of sun , watched hindi movies and ate too much. I highly recommend Wednesday and Rann . Its been a while since we saw some good hindi movies. Although these movies have been around for a while, anyone looking for a good Hindi movie , these are worth a watch. Did I mention we ate a lot ?

We took a lot of pictures as well - actually my sister did. I should probably slow down a bit more - I have 2 sisters. This one is not the one for whom I did the painting. Its for her twin. Although she will be delivering the painting to her ! I have also earned another commission for a painting from my visiting sister and brother in law :)) The concept is deep ..but so is my brother in law ;-) We will miss you guys ! They leave this weekend :(

So thats what kept me busy in the family front. Other than that, I am starting to get back to keeping my hands busy . I am working on a banner for my business and trying to think of packaging. I am probably getting ahead of myself before I have actual products to sell (!) ...but I want to give some thought to recycled packaging. At the moment, I am leaning towards newspapers and magazines. I think customers appreciate handmade products as well as eco-friendly packaging. And don't we have enough of packaging already that comes with toys ?! Good heavens, I almost need pliers and other tools to pry out the toy from the packaging. The toy is tiny and insignificant by the time the packaging comes off !

I know I haven't talked about what my products/artwork will be . I keep talking about sketching and doodling without giving away what I am doing. But, I am very superstitious when it comes to talking about something before it actually takes form. In fact, my 'visiting' sister and hubby are the only ones in my family who even know this blog exists , since its work in progress ! So,once I perfect what I am working on, I will talk about them !

I love this quote..it sums up what I am feeling these days... “Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.”

soap anyone ?

2010-03-15T22:53:00.022+11:00

So I created something on friday night. SOAP ! I had ordered supplies at least 4-5 weeks ago . I was itching to start making it. But I didn't. I promised myself I wouldn't start a new project until I finished my sister's painting . So yes, I finished the painting for my sister - signed and dated on thursday night!

So Friday night, I fished out my M&P goats milk base and whipped up few bars of soap with lavender oil and rose germanium oil. I was happy with the outcome for the first try. One soap clearly proved I was a novice at soap making . It was supposed to be a layered bar, but it didn't stay that way !

Anyway, the real reason for trying soap making - my son. My little boy was fascinated with the works of art done in soap by the incredibly talented people on Etsy. And ever so innocently asked me if I could make soap for him. How could I deny him this without trying it out first ?So, I started researching and reading hundreds of how to's about soap making . Also, since I had been scouring these websites , I learnt goat's milk was good for the skin. My son has extremely sensitive skin apart from dermatitis. So , that was reason alone to at least try it out.

Back to the present, he tried the soap, he loves it. He picked out a soap for his sister and now bath time, is so much more fun (as if it wasn't fun earlier !) , simply because he loves his soap. I plan on making more soap with the rest of the base over this week sometime. Baking bread, making soap - all this is fueling the creativity for my doodling. Today I picked up some blank coasters (MDF) (read MDF blank rectangle canvases ) and I am hoping to do some outlandish designs on them . I plan to put them in our family room which is slowly becoming my hubby's and my spare dining room while we watch some favorite tv shows after the kids are in bed ...tsk tsk tsk...

Before I conclude, anyone remotely interested in soapmaking I have to give a shout out to this incredible story on ETSY :
http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/quit-your-day-job-kreatedbykarina-7230/

Happy Soaping everyone !

Banana bread rocks !

2010-03-11T13:08:00.009+11:00

..or in yesterday's case Apple Bread.

I thought I would post once every week, but here's one more for this week.

My son has a major sweet tooth. And for the last one month I have indulged him with his request ( read - demand ) for Banana bread. So, anyway, every weekend, I baked him different versions of Banana bread. One week along with bananas we added Zucchini , the other day we added apple. And yesterday, since we ran out out bananas, we baked an apple bread.

What is really funny about this is that, my son hangs onto every word I say when I am baking ! Every instruction is followed, every request is met with, toys are cleaned up and so on :-) Also, he 'assists' me with baking. He helps me with mixing up the ingredients, he has learnt what each ingredient is for the bread, he knows baking 'terminology' and he is learning to tell time by looking at the clock ! I should probably mention my earlier attempts to help him recognize numbers weren't really going anywhere ! So, now he is learning numbers and time since he has to wait for a certain amount of time for the bread to bake and then to cool down . Also, he holds his little sister close to him when I open or close the oven , so she doesn't come close to it ! Its really cute :-)

My husband loves the bread that I bake , so does our baby who makes hmmm hmmm sounds while eating it :-) So, I thought I would share the recipe for those who would like it. It was a recipe that a friend of mine gave me and it is simple and easy to follow.

Banana Bread

Preheat over to 350 deg F/ 180 deg C
2 c. flour
1 tsp. soda, salt
1/2 c. shortening (I used canola oil instead of shortening)
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 c. mashed banana
1 tablespoon vinegar + milk to equal 1/2 c.

Mix dry ingredients together. Cream together shortening and sugar;
Add eggs & beat till fluffy. Add dry ingredients alternately with
bananas and milk. Mix well after each addition. Pour into greased
bread loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degree oven. Check if
toothpick or knife inserted to center comes out clean, when this
happens the bread is ready to come out of the oven:)
Enjoy!!!

Not only do all of enjoy eating the bread, I enjoy the time that I spend with my son during the baking . Because, once he satisfies his appetite and sweet tooth, its all about what do we do next ! But for the one hour or so , we enjoy all that there is about baking the bread !Together we create something fun and edible :-)

Wearing different hats

2010-03-10T14:45:00.000+11:00

As women, we touch lives of people we come across. I was thinking about how different my life has changed over the years.

I dreamed about creating.. I became an architect and that's all I thought about. I admired people I worked with , feverishly trying to emulate some. For as long as I was in the workforce, it was a great experience . Then along came our son , and my world has never been the same. It revolved around him , his naps, his feeds, his diaper changes, his baths and the list goes on. Every new parent goes through this and wonders how a tiny person can have such a profound effect on us.

Once I decided to be a stay- at -home mom , my world changed even more ! It was a weird transition from having a day that included conversing with adults and discussing architecture , my son's antics , world news to a day that was for the most part kid related activities and discussions pertaining only to trucks ! I did learn a lot about trucks, though =)

Our daughter came along a few years later and our world has become a lot busier than I remember ! Bless our princess =) And now, that she is past night wakings ( crossing my fingers!) , I find myself thinking about my career and dreams about creating.

Over the years, I have been blessed to have friends from all different walks in life. At school, at work and not at work. I met moms who like me have stayed home to raise their family. I became thick friends with many and still am making friends with many more. What I find amazing is the resilience that each one of them has. Its not a smooth transition going from work to stay at home. But they do it with grace and style !

And then there are moms who balance work and family . How they do it is beyond me ! To be able to go from working woman mode to mom mode without taking a break and still maintaining sanity, is nothing short of a miracle ! Hats off to you , ladies :)

Here's to all the women out there making a difference in the world. It maybe a little late in the week but, Happy International Women's Day ! Better late than never.

where and how do I begin ?

2010-03-02T20:34:00.007+11:00

My first post on doodlekreations - a little bit of me, a little bit of the ones near and dear to me. That's what I hope I can achieve. Much as I spend my day enjoy being a mommy to a energetic 4 year old boy and a spunky 15month old girl, I wonder how things have changed for me over the last couple of years .

A typical day begins with our little girl waking and demanding milk at the crack of dawn and from then on we are all on the 5th gear. Quiet time allows me to check the email , facebook ( I FB a LOT!) and etsy. My favorite time is when the little munchkins hit the sack and I get 'me time' and 'our' time with my hubby. Off late I have been painting again. I took up the brush and paint after a hiatus - now that our baby sleeps better (thank god !) . I get a good 2-3 hours at night to doodle and paint.

My latest project is a painting for my sister . We have been talking about this since June' 09. Yes, it is well overdue ! Well anyway, my point is, I am thoroughly enjoying creating this for my sister and brother-in-law. I hope they will enjoy it in their home. She was specific about what she wanted.. one painting split into 4 canvases , warm colors and white flowers ! Well, its taking shape and I will post a picture once it is done.

What I hope to actually do is doodle more. I hope to create something that is special to me. Like my husband said once, " When you draw for yourself, thats when your drawings are so full of life". I hope I can unleash all that creativity. I get so inspired and humbled when I see works by all the talented people out there... have you checked out etsy ?

On their Quit your dayjob series, this week is featured a woman named Vana, who is an architect and now has her own business doing what she does best- creating. Check this out http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/quit-your-day-job-lepapierstudio-7167/

A true inspiration for an architect like me who has been wondering how best to utilize my skills while I am at home with my kids.

So, anyway this post is in honor of all the artists out there - people who create something out of nothing, who persevere and create wonders and make it look so easy. Here's hoping I learn from you and muster up the courage to be able to show my work soon.

Take care, people.