FLOWER BASKET - A NIB PAINTING

HERE IS A NIB PAINTING....DONE LONG BACK

A SIMPLE FLORAL BASKET...AN ALL TIME FAVORITE DESIGN

I PICKED UP THIS DESIGN FROM AN OLD EMBROIDERY DESIGN BOOK...

AND AS A GOOD NIB PAINTING USUALLY GET'S MISTAKEN

FOR A HAND EMBROIDERY,I THOUGHT IT WAS WELL SUITED FOR THIS MEDIUM...

AND SURE...FLOWER BASKET DESIGNS ARE ALWAYS POPULAR UNIVERSALLY TOO..

SOMEHOW ,I LIKED DESIGNING THIS BASKET MORE THAN

THE REGULAR STROKED FLOWERS...

USHASRIKUMAR'S COOKSPACE AND MORE...: LEMON RICE

USHASRIKUMAR'S COOKSPACE AND MORE...: LEMON RICE

USHASRIKUMAR'S COOKSPACE AND MORE...: VEGETABLE FRIED RICE

USHASRIKUMAR'S COOKSPACE AND MORE...: VEGETABLE FRIED RICE

USHASRIKUMAR'S COOKSPACE AND MORE...: DHAL MAKHANWALA

USHASRIKUMAR'S COOKSPACE AND MORE...: DHAL MAKHANWALA

USHASRIKUMAR'S COOKSPACE AND MORE...: DHAL TADKA

USHASRIKUMAR'S COOKSPACE AND MORE...: DHAL TADKA

USHASRIKUMAR'S COOKSPACE AND MORE...: VEGETABLE STEW

USHASRIKUMAR'S COOKSPACE AND MORE...: VEGETABLE STEW

USHASRIKUMAR'S COOKSPACE AND MORE...: AAPPAM

USHASRIKUMAR'S COOKSPACE AND MORE...: AAPPAM

USHASRIKUMAR'S COOKSPACE AND MORE...: SPICY PANEER FRY

USHASRIKUMAR'S COOKSPACE AND MORE...: SPICY PANEER FRY

USHASRIKUMAR'S COOKSPACE AND MORE...: KARA APPAM / KUZHI PANIYARAM

USHASRIKUMAR'S COOKSPACE AND MORE...: KARA APPAM / KUZHI PANIYARAM

RADHE KRISHNA....A METAL EMBOSSING

HERE IS THE CELESTIAL PAIR ...

THE DIVINE LOVERS

RADHA AND KRISHNA...

SWINGING IN GAY ABANDON...

CRAFTED ON AN ALUMINIUM METAL SHEET,

THIS PIECE GIVES ME EXTRA PLEASURE

BECAUSE IT ADORNS A HALL IN A BHAKTA'S HOUSE

WHERE THEY CONDUCT   " RADHA KALYANAM"  EVERY YEAR...

A DIFFERENT GANESHA - CRUSHED FOIL WORK

GUESS WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT HAVE GONE INTO MAKING THIS GANESHA?!?!?

FIRST, I DESIGNED THE VARIOUS PARTS OF THE BODY AND MADE CARDBOARD CUTTINGS...

THEN , I WRAPPED SOME CRUSHED ALUMINIUM FOIL AROUND THEM...

NEXT, I STAINED THEM WITH SOME DARK GLASS COLORS THAT COULD GIVE IT AN ANTIQUE FINISH...

LET THEM DRY FOR A DAY...

THEN ,STUCK THE PREPARED PIECES ON A CLOTH MOUNTED BOARD  ....

AND THE GANESHA IS READY TO BE FRAMED AND DISPLAYED...

ASHTALAKSHMI POT

I HAVE GIVEN A MAKEOVER TO A HUMBLE MUD POT

USUALLY USED TO STORE DRINKING WATER...

I GOT A SET OF  ASHTALAKSHMIS (8 LAKSHMIS)

MADE OUT OF PLASTER OF PARIS...

POSITIONED THEN AROUND THE POT AND STUCK THEM  ...

THEN, I WORKED WITH  MSEAL

AND GAVE THE POT A TEXTURED EFFECT WITH PLASTER OF PARIS

AFTER IT DRIED FOR A DAY,

I PAINTED IT WITH BLACK COLOR 

AND THEN TOUCHED IT UP WITH BRONZE COLORED PAINT

AND THE RESULT IS - THIS ANTIQUE  BRONZE  POT  !!!!!

LITTLE KRISHNA -A METAL EMBOSSING

IN THIS METAL EMBOSSING

 DONE ON AN ALUMINIUM SHEET,

LOOK AT LITTLE KRISHNA...

OUR BELOVED BUTTER THIEF

FEAST ON A HAND  FULL OF 

RICH AND CREAMY BUTTER

FROM A TOPPLED POT 

IN A GOPIKA'S  HOUSE...

NO WONDER  HE IS FONDLY 

CALLED BY ONE AND ALL

MAKAN CHOR

NAVANEETHA CHORA

 VENNAI THIRUDI KRISHNA...

NAVANEETHA KRISHNA...

A BUTTERFLY AND FLOWERS - A STAINED GLASS PAINTING

THIS IS ANOTHER SIMPLE STAINED GLASS PAINTING OF MINE..

.DONE ON A 5" X 7" PIECE OF GLASS...

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE PAINTING BRIGHT AND ATTRACTIVE ,

SO, I SPIKED UP THE  PIECE  WITH MULTI HUED FLOWERS ....

DANCING GANESHA - A METAL EMBOSSING

WATCH GANESHA DANCE AWAY TO GLORY ON HIS MOOSHIKA....

 THIS IS  A METAL EMBOSSING  DONE ON AN ALUMINIUM SHEET...

AFTER DRAWING THE BASIC OUTLINES OF THE DESIGN,

I ETCH OUT THE LINES WITH A TOOL

THEN EMBOSS THE FIGURE FROM THE FRONT AND THE BACK OF THE METAL SHEET

AS THE FIGURE REQUIRED...

THEN TINT IT WITH ANTI RUST PAINT TO GET

 THE DESIRED BRONZE AND BURNISHED SILVER EFFECT...

THREE ROSES - A STAINED GLASS PAINTING

   THIS IS A SIMPLE STAINED GLASS PAINTING THAT I DID LONG BACK...
   AND I LIKE IT BECAUSE I FEEL A ROSE IN ANY FORM IS ATTRACTIVE...


                                                         



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PEACOCK-A STAINED GLASS

                      One morning my friend walked in  with a small piece of leftover glass in her hand...

                      She said she wanted me to do something creative on it -and she wanted to
                      collect it when she was going home back after her shopping spree...and she
                      wanted something simple and cute as it was meant to be a gift to her cousin...

                      I was wondering what to churn out in such a short notice...

                      First I thought of doing a Reverse glass painting,but I knew it will
                      take more time to dry up...

                      So I thought ,a Stained glass painting will fit the bill perfectly well...

                      I bought out my glass painting paints and liners and cleaning materials...

                      And browsed through my design file...

                       Then I came up with this sleek peacock with minimal number of lines
                       and a few colors and very little shadings...

                       I slipped the design sheet under the glass and nozzled out the black
                       glass liner in a matter of minutes...

                       Now , it had to dry up...so I left it under the fan and went for a quick cup of coffee...

                       The glass liner had dried up by the time I finished the drink...

                       after some minimal cleaning,I started filling the colors one by one...

                        I just stuck to cool colors like shades of blues and greens to suit the peacock theme
                        and added a dash of orange and yellow to make the picture stand out...

                       And the coloring job was over within 10 minutes... and it looked stunning...

                       I was pleased with the outcome and happily I let it to dry...

                       And when my friend  was back,she was too thrilled to see this strikingly pretty
                       peacock....and immediately framed it up and gift wrapped it ...

                        And she thanked me profusely next day  and told me the gift -The Peacock
                        was the Star of the evening....

                        And I was glad I had clicked it before it flew away from my hands...

            

PINK LILIES - A GLASS PAINTING

                     USUALLY WHEN WE PAINT ON GLASS ,WE USE GLASS COLORS...

                     BUT I  DECIDED TO EXPERIMENT...

                     I CHOSE THIS STRIKINGLY ATTRACTIVE BUT SIMPLE LOOKING DESIGN

                     AND OUTLINED THE DESIGN WITH COPPER OUTLINER...

                     THEN I FILLED UP THE PAINTING WITH ORDINARY

                     PEARL COLORS USUALLY USED ON FABRICS OR OTHER SURFACES

                     IN CRAFT WORKS..BUT NEVER ON GLASS....

                     AND THE END RESULT WAS COOL...

                     AND WHEN I FRAMED IT UP WITH A BLACK FELT LINING...

                     IT LOOKED  SOFT AND WONDERFUL AND DIFFERENT...

                      (SORRY FOR THE FLASHLIGHT ON THE GLASS)

                             

ANANDA VINAYAKA - A TANJORE PAINTING

SEE HOW HAPPILY MY  "TANJORE "  VINAYAKA IS DANCING IN GAY ABANDON....

NO WONDER GANESHA IN THIS FORM IS CALLED THE ANANDA VINAYAKA...

LET HIM SPREAD ANANDA - CHEER AND HAPPINESS WHERE EVER HE IS...

AND TO ALL THOSE WHO WORSHIP HIM...

TULIPS - A STAINED GLASS PAINTING

HERE IS A SIMPLE AND ATTRACTIVE STAINED GLASS  PAINTING  IN WHICH

I JUST BROUGHT IN A FEW BRIGHT AND ATTRACTIVE TULIPS IN A PLANTER...

SINCE THE FLOWERS AND LEAVES CAN HAVE JUST RED AND GREEN,

I STAINED THE PLANTER  WITH SHADES OF BLUE AND ORANGE...

VITHOBA KRISHNA -A TANJORE PAINTING

                          HERE IS SRI VITHOBHA  KRISHNA (PANDURANGA)
                          DEPICTED BY ME IN TANJORE ART FORM...


                          THE STORY OF PANDURANGA IS A VERY INTERESTING ONE....

Vithal, or Vitthal,  or Vithoba, or Pandurang  (a form of Krishna) is worshipped in some temples in Kerala. Vittala's original temple is at Pandharpur, Maharashtra. It is located 65 km west of Solapur, on the banks of the river Bhimarathi also known as Chandrabhaga. Phandarpur is  referred as Pandaripuram  in Kerala. The name Vithoba means Father Vitthala. Vitthala is said to have been derived from the word Vishnu in Kannada. Panduranga is a sanskritized form of Pandarga, the old name of Pandharpur. It is said that the devotee Pundalik founded Pandharpur. His father Janudeva and mother Satyavati lived in a thick forest called Dandirvan. Pundalik was a devoted son but soon after his marriage he began to ill-treat his parents. To escape from this misery, the parents decided to go on a pilgrimage to Kashi. When Pundalik's wife learnt about this, she also decided to go. She and her husband joined the same group of pilgrims on horseback. While the son and his wife rode on horseback, the old couple walked. Every evening when the party camped for the night, the son forced his parents to groom the horses and do other jobs. The poor parents cursed the day they decided to go on a pilgrimage. Soon the party reached the ashrama of the great sage Kukkutswami. There they decided to spend a couple of nights. They were all tired and soon fell asleep-except Pundalik who could not sleep. Just before daybreak he saw a group of beautiful, young women, dressed in dirty clothes, enter the ashrama, clean the floor, fetch water and wash the swami's clothes. Then they entered the inner room of the ashrama, and came out in beautifully clean clothes and passing near Pundalik, they vanished. Next night he saw the same sight again. Pundalik threw himself at their feet and begged them to tell who they were. They said they were Ganga, Yamuna and other holy rivers of India in which the Pilgrims bathed and washed off sins. Their clothes became dirty by the sins of the bathing pilgrims. "And because of your ill-treatment of your parents," they said, "You are the greatest sinner." This brought about a complete change in him and he became the most devoted son. Now the parents' rode the horses while the son and his wife walked by their side. By their love and affection, the son and his wife urged the parents to give up the pilgrimage and return to Dandirvan. One day it so happened that Lord Krishna, the King of Dwarka, while feeling lonely, was reminded of his early days in Mathura. He particularly remembered his sports with the milkmaids, the cowherd boys, and his love, Radha. Though she was dead, he longed to see her again. By his divine powers he brought her back to life and seated her by his side. Just then his queen, Rukmini, entered the room. When Radha did not rise to pay her respect, Rukmini left Dwarka in anger and hid herself in Dandirvan forest. After some days, Lord Krishna set off in search of Rukmini. He first went to Mathura, then to Gokul. He met the milkmaids and cowherd boys. They too joined in the search. They went to Mount Govardhan in her search. At last they reached the banks of the river Bhima in the Deccan. Krishna left his companions at Goplapura, and he himself entered Dandirvan forest alone in search of her. At last he found her and managed to calm her. Krishna and Rukmini came to Pundalik's ashrama. But at that time Pundalik was busy attending to his parents. Though he knew Lord Krishna had come to see him, he refused to pay his respect to the god before his duty towards his parents was done. He, however, threw a brick outside for lord Krishna to stand upon. Impressed by Pundalik's devotion to his parents, Lord Krishna did not mind the delay. Standing on the brick he waited for Pundalik. When Pundalik came out and begged God's pardon, Lord Krishna replied that far from being displeased, he was pleased with his love for his parents. Lord Krishna then ordered him  to worship Vithoba, or God who stood upon a brick. An imposing temple was built at the place where Krishna and Pundalik had met. Inside the temple stands Krishna's image on a brick. By his side stands the image of Rukmini.This temple covering a vast area has a total of six gates.  The eastern entrance to this temple is known as the Namdev gate (after the great 13th century Vaishnava saint). The sanctum enshrines the standing image of Vithoba also known as Panduranga, Pandhari or Vitthala. Stylistically the image dates back to the 5th century. There are inscriptions in this temple dating back to the 13th century which place origin of this shrine to the 6th century.(courtesy internet) .

SRINGERI SARADHAMBAL - A TANJORE PAINTING...

                                HERE IS AN UNUSUAL TANJORE PAINTING...

                                USUALLY WE SEE DIFFERENT FORMS OF VAISHNAVITE 

                                DEITIES LIKE KRISHNAS ,RAMA,LAKSHMI,MAHAVISHNU ETC...

                                OF COURSE, NUMEROUS FORMS OF LORD GANESHAS 

                                ARE DEPICTED IN TANJORE ART FORMS...

                                 IN THIS PICTURE,I HAVE DEPICTED SRI SARADHAMBAL ...

                                 THE PRESIDING GODDESS IN SRINGERI...

                                 

                                  

CHEESY BAKED BROCCOLI

INGREDIENTS

BROCCOLI FLOWERETS                2 CUPS
CARROT                                            1 CUP
MOZARELLA CHEESE                     3/4 CUP
MAIDA  (FLOUR)                                             1 TBLSPOON
BUTTER                                              1 TBLSPOON
MILK                                                   2 CUPS
SALT AND PEPPER                           TO TASTE

METHOD

1. MICROWAVE THE CUT VEGETABLES WITH LITTLE WATER AND SALT FOR 3 MINUTES IN HI POWER .
2.ADD THE BUTTER IN A MICROSAFE CASSEROLE.
3.MICROWAVE FOR 40 SECONDS.
4.ADD THE MAIDA AND STIR WELL.
5.MICROWAVE FOR 30 SECONDS.
6.STIR WELL AND MAKE A SMOOTH PASTE.
7.ADD THE MILK LITTLE BY LITTLE .STIR WELL. MICROWAVE FOR 2 MINUTES.
8.BEAT WELL.ADD 1/2 OF THE CHEESE AND BOILED AND DRAINED VEGETABLES.ADD SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE.
9.TOP WITH THE REMAINING CHEESE.
10.MICROWAVE FOR 6 MINUTES IN HI POWER OR BAKE IN A CONVECTION OVEN TILL THE CHEESE BEGINS TO TURN COLOR.
11.SERVE HOT WITH TOAST AND KETCHUP.

SRI VENKATESHWARA -A TANJORE PAINTING

                         SHRIYA KANTHAAYA KALYAANA NIDHAYE NIDHAYERTHINAAM

                         SRI VENKATESHAAAYA SREENIVAASAYA MANGALAM....

                         

                         SRI VENKATESHWARA -BALAJI-SRINIVASA- ARE SOME OF THE NAMES

                         WE ADDRESS OUR BELOVED LORD VENKATESHA WHOSE ABODE IS

                          THE CITY OF 7 HILLS-THIRUPATHI...

                          SO WE ALSO CALL HIM EZHUMALAIVAASA...

                           THE ONE WHO DWELLS ON 7 HILLS -

                           AND OFCOURSE - IN THE HEARTS OF HIS MILLIONS OF DEVOTEES...

                           THE FAMOUS VENKATESHA SUPRABAATHAM,IS SUNG IN HIS SHRINE

                           TO AWAKEN HIM EARLY IN THE MORNING...

                           "KOWSALYAAA SUPRAJAAA RAAAMAAA....

                            PURVAA SANDYA PRAVARTHATHE..." IT GOES...

                           AND THE SAME SUPRABATHAM IS SUNG OR HEARD AS THE FIRST

                           DIVINE MELODY IN MILLIONS OF HINDU HOMES...



                           I AM HAPPY TO PRESENT HIM IN HIS GLORIOUS SPLENDOUR

                          IN THIS TANJORE PAINTING...

OONJAL KRISHNA - A TANJORE PAINTING

 


HERE IS MY DEAR KRISHNA-DEPICTED IN TANJORE STYLE.....

.
WATCH HIM SIT IN HIS WELL UPHOLSTERED EMERALD ENCRUSTED GOLDEN SWING

HANGING FROM A GEM ENCRUSTED MANDAPAM...

WITH HIS FAVORITE BUTTER POT BESIDE HIM  AND A SMALL DOLLOP OF BUTTER

HELD WITH HIS THUMB AND INDEX FINGER IN HIS RIGHT HAND...

KRISHNA WITH A POT OF BUTTER IS USUALLY KEPT IN MANY HINDU HOMES

AS IT SYMBOLISES PROSPERITY AND JOY...

GANESHA WITH LITTLE KRISHNA ON HIS LAP- A TANJORE PAINTING

HERE IS AN OFFBEAT GANESHA ... DONE IN TANJORE STYLE...


GANESHA IS SEATED COMFORTABLY WITH LITTLE KRISHNA SEATED ON HIS LAP!

WHEN I FIRST SAW THIS PICTURE ,I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST AN OFFBEAT PORTRAYAL

OF GANESHA AS WE SEE HIM IN SO MANY DIFFERENT AND UNUSUAL FORMS...

BUT, LONG AFTER FINISHING THIS PAINTING ,I CAME TO KNOW THAT  THIS FORM

OF GANAPATHI WITH LITTLE KRISHNA ON HIS LAP GIVES DARSHAN IN THE

SRI MAHAGANAPATHI TEMPLE OF MALLIYOOR, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT,KERALA.

CHANNA SUNDAL

INGREDIENTS

KABULI CHANNA                   -1 CUP

(CHICK PEAS)

GRATED COCONUT                -1/2 CUP

CURRY LEAVES                       - FEW

OIL                                             -2 TEASPOONS

MUSTARD SEEDS                    -1/4 TEASPOON

URAD DHAL                             - 1/2 TEASPOON

GREEN CHILLIES                     - 4-6

ASAFOETIDA POWDER          - A PINCH

 SALT TO TASTE

METHOD

1.SOAK CHANNA OVERNIGHT OT FOR 6-7 HOURS

2.PRESSURE COOK CHANNA TILL DONE .

3.HEAT OIL IN A KADAI.

4.ADD MUSTARD SEEDS,URAD DHAL AND LET THEM  SPLUTTER  WELL.

5.ADD THE CHOPPED CHILLIES,CURRY LEAVES AND ASAFOETIDA AND FRY WELL.

6.ADD CHANNA AND SALT. COOK WELL.

7.WHEN ALMOST DONE ,ADD THE GRATED COCONUT AND STIR WELL AND REMOVE FROM HEAT.

# THIS IS A VERY HEALTHY DISH WITH HIGH PROTIEN AND  A LOW GLYEMIC INDEX ,

IT HELPS  TO KEEP SUGAR LEVELS UNDER CONTROL.

# SEVERE DIABETICS MAY AVOID OR MINIMISE THE COCONUT IN THE DISH.