I am, A Teacher!

Hi Guys

Let me first tell you, I AM MISSING YOU ALL!!!

I have taken up a teacher's job in my daughter's school and thats consuming all my time. Loads of work and deadlines to meet.... But am enjoying it since I am dealing with l'tl ones. My daughter, L'tl A, is in Grade 2. I am taking classes for Grade 2 and 4. Their's is a Primary school...KG1 to Grade 4. This is the first time I am teaching small kids'...JUST LOVE IT!!! L'tl A is too excited...

Aunt Julie, your SUPER DUPER SURPRISE mail blew us off... L'tl was seen jumping around all over the place the whole day... That was very thoughtful and sweet of you!!!

Will post the pics later :))

Though my presence here has reduced, will try to make it up now and then.

Will keep posting once the initial 'tremor' is over :)

Thinking of you all,
Deepa.

THE WINNERS ARE...

Thanks dear friends for your participation and all your encouraging, morale boosting words...

We've finally got the winners...Lucky ones...

Hope you will be excited to receive it as much as I am excited to send it...

Anoushka aka L'tl A giving a nice shake to her Princess Box...

And the Winner of the Calendar is....

MOHAN

Naadanpennu goes to MAGALI

Celebration of Nature is for JOSHI DANIEL

The winners please mail me your snail mail/postal address. My email address is given in the sidebar.

Once again THANK YOU Guys!!!

HAVE A FANTABULOUS DAY!!!

First GiveAway For You My Friends!

First of all, I was on a break not out of choice but out of necessity. L'tl A wasn't well...viral flu... "its in the air," the doc said. And then I wasn't well... Hope to catch up with every one of you friends soon...

Thank you my dear friends for your overwhelming responses and all your kind and appreciative words...I am deeply honored and humbled:)))

Anyways, on the happiest note, here's my First Ever Giveway... as part of my first bloganniversary.

Number One:

Calendar 2010, 5*7 inches

Calendar 2010 with my artworks. That which you see here is the foremost page. It is spirally bound and has 7 pages. It has a simple design and is designed by me:) The days are according to the UAE format. Though I had mentioned it to the printer not to do that, they took it for granted that its for the UAE inhibitants:) I made this especially for my yet-unkown-blogger-friend. Hope whoever receives it will like it!

Number Two:

 Naadanpennu, 5*7 inches, photo print of acrylic painting

(parineeta series)

 A traditional Kerala girl attired in kasavu mundu veshti (the dress traditionally called so is handwoven in offwhite with golden thread at the border) with palakkamala (the necklace) and jhimki (eardrops). The cream line on top of the bindi (red dot on the forehead) is made of sandalwood paste and is a sign of auspicion. It is also said to cool ones brain...

Number Three:

Celebration of Nature, 5*7 inches, photo print of acrylic painting

Warli painting, a folk art from Maharashtra, India. To know more about Warli paiting, read THIS. Its a post on Indian art in ATCs. I've painted the same one in 2.5''*3.5'', ATC.

Now, whoever comments to this particular post until the weekend - since a timing is utterly essential to keep track...I'll set the time to be 12 am on Friday (26.10.03) UAE time; their names will go for a draw. The names of each commentor will be written in a piece of paper and the lucky names will be picked by L'tl A. The winners will be announced in the weekend which is FRI and SAT here...UAE weekend - any of these days:) Obviously there'll be three recipients.

I am enjoying all this...Are you???

Anniversary And Awards!

Each and every friend I made here in the bloggyland is dear to me. These awards are dedicated to the past year of friendship, inspiration, art and creativity of all sorts. I have learnt many things new after entering this new found land... Every friend has taught me something new and I cherish it. Thanks a zillion to all my friends who have stood by me this past year. Today my blog, DWOA, completes its one year of blogging. I started with THIS post :)

I would like to start with the mention of Renee, a dear inspiring soul who is no more with us. She lost her life to cancer. She has been a source of support and inspiration for many. I am deeply moved. We love you, Renee:) I had posted this in my side bar but I thought I should mention it here...

Here's few awards that I designed and created for those special friends who deeply inspired and stood by me...

Drumroll pls...

This award is for Soulbrush. She is one of my earliest blogger friends who inspires me each day with her art and creativity. She is the one who put me to ATC art and sent me some blank cards to work on. Thank you Soul for being there and inspiring me. You know how much I value you :)

Teri, as you all know (my regular readers), is our chief cactuteer who started the Cactus Monday group. She is a prolific artist too who tries almost everything thats art. I love that spirit as I too try it but not as much as her:) She loves daisies immensely. Here's The Cactuteer Award saluting to your artistic spirit of honoring the cacti.

Lynn is a Quilting Queen in the real sense. She has that ne'er-get-tired spirit!!! She's always on the go... Gorgeous artistic quilts are the result:))

Bella is the belle whose art just makes you swoon!!! I have almost everytime, sat in awe looking at her art. She's a fantabulous artist whose girls make us go gaga. So here's the Award for the Master (feminine gender doesn't sound good) Doodler!

This award is for Yoon See, Julie, Artist Unplugged, Gloria, Cris, Evelyn, Patricia, Deepa Raman, Harishita,  Marianne, Studio Lolo, Margaret, Rachana, Sayli, Catherine, Shruti, Lakshmi and Peter. Each one is a GEM. You have to visit all these blogs to know their worth. They are colorful, interesting, full of life and makes my heart flutter each time I visit them. Do check them out.

Super Supporter Award is for my recent friends who have been a source of immense support. I am truly thankful to each and everyone... This award goes to 

 Vishal, Mohan, Shrinath Vashishtha, Meghana, magiceye, Nalini, Joshi, Farida, Kalpesh, Karan, Gyanban, Madhu, Netra, Raymond, Pooja Doshi, Ankit, Ceveni, Anulal, and Pallav

And I feel some names have slipped from my mind, in that case pls pls help yourself with it.

This may not be Big Deal for many but this is my humble way of showing my appreciation and sharing my celebration with you all blogger friends.

I would also like to mention my Hubby, my friends - Seema, Maru and above all my l'tl one, Anoushka aka L'tl A, who are a Huge source of inspiration.

These awards are for the extremely talented trio...Aniket, Mahesh and Amritorupa. I have been blown off by their writing skills many a times. I love their writings and would start missing them from time to time like Bella's art. I am now missing Amritorupa and Mahesh's writing. Amritorupa aka Little Girl Lost is really lost! She hasn't posted for a very long time now. Mahesh, where are you??? Post something soon...

Now help yourselves with these Awards and share my pleasure and celebration. I will be coming to your blogs and will leave a message, incase you reach here earlier...you can grab it:)))

Hope I haven't left out any of my dear friends' names:)) If so, you can pls let me know...

There will be a giveaway in my next post, so pls stay tuned:)))

Cactus Celebration

First of all, Thanks to my recent blogger friend, Lakshmi Arvind (Horticulturist based in Delhi, India) of Celebrations Decor for letting me share with you her cactus pictures here in my blog. I saw them a couple of days back, loved it immensely for its 'smallness' and simplicity and asked Lakshmi's permission to post it in my blog on Cactus Monday.  

These succulents look so cute and Lakshmi's photos are fabulous too...

Thanks a ton, Lakshmi, for these beautiful succulent pics.

For more, visit Teri's Painted Daisies

Happy Cactus Monday, Everyone :)

Mom N Me

8*8 inches streched canvas, Acrylic painting

I wanted to try something I haven't tried yet (have done one or two drawings not a serious try...) and thats elephants. I love them as any Keralite would...they are part and parcel of our culture. I love the feeling that exists between the mother and the baby. They so adore each other.

Its a simple painting on canvas...a tribute to temple elephants!

PS: Its about to be a year since I started blogging. There's going to be a give away soon. So do check out DWOA (Deepaz World Of Artz) for some 'Happenings', in a few more days...

Cactus in 20 minutes

Close

Closer

Closest :)

Happy Cactus Monday!

This piece is done within 20 minutes...to be exact, 15 minutes...but it hasn't come the way I wanted it :(

I saw about 20 mins challenge in Teri's blog and wanted to try it...so here it goes.

I am not an official member though.

You could visit Kathrine Cartwright to see more of 20 minutes paintings.

Some of my friends' have a query...why am I so attached to cactus?

Lakshmi and others who feel the same...its just that I am doing it along with my cactus monday group who post pictures, sketches, drawings and anything pertaining to cactus on Mondays whose chief is Teri. If anyone is interested do join us. You can see the link on the rightside of my blog.

For more cactus pictures, visit Teri.

This came all of a sudden and I am so HAPPY.... After all its an Award...!!!

Thanks a lot Shruti for these two inspiring, morale boosting Awards...

I would inturn request all my followers, commentors, promoters, passers-by and each and everyone who drop here to inspire me, to take this Award along with them.

Have a Gala Week!

Being Tagged!

Hi friends

Before I begin, Sorry for not being here for the past week, wasn't very well. Will visit you all and check your blogs soon.

And now, I am tagged for the first time! My blogger friend, Nalini, has tagged me and here's my answers to the queries...Thanks if you read it patiently :)

1. What is your current obsession?
 A. Photography (besides all things art).


2. What are you wearing today?
A. White cotton kurti and blue jeans.


3. What's for dinner today?
A. Dining out on Thursday nites (weekend starts today!)


4. What's the last thing you bought?
A. Kohl


5. What are you listening to right now?
A. I am listening to the music of wind thru chime hanging in the balcony.


6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?
A. My recent virtual friend… would love to know more about Nalini.


7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
A. Some coastal region with natural beauty in bounty…


8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?
A. Cotton dresses, AC and sun screen! (I get tanned instantly!!!)


9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
A. Home (Kerala)


10. Which language do you want to learn?
A. I love all languages and would love to learn them all. For now, trying to learn Arabic.


11. What’s your favourite quote?
A. Hmmm… “Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.”


12. Who do you want to meet right now?
A. Mom (at any point that would be my answer…she’s the one who’s always there in my mind!)


13. What is your favourite color?
A. Tough! Each and every colour! (ppl who know me will know that)


14. Give us 3 styling tips that work for you.
A. 1. Wear your style, what’s comfy for you.

2. Wear minimum accessories unless it’s a wedding.

3. Minimum makeup

In short, Careful carelessness 


15. What is your dream job?
A. Professional Artist (in every medium I know…hehe…is it too much to ask for?)


16. What’s your favorite magazine?
A. Friday,Gulf News (just glance thru it...love the texture and colours and of course some articles)


17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
A. Art materials


18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
A. Revealing dresses as a statement of being Modern


19. Who according to you is the most over-rated style icon?
A. Paris Hilton


20. What kind of haircut do you prefer?
A. Long  hair

21. What are you going to do after this?
A. Complete my 20 cm * 20 cm painting


22. What are your favorite movies?
A. Lots! King and I, Sound of Music, Manichitrathazhu (Malayalam), oops! List will go on…


23. What inspires you?
A. Nature, people, music and books.


24. What do your friends call you most commonly?
A. Deepu


25. Would you prefer coffee or tea?
A. Tea



26. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
A. Spend sometime with my buddy(ies), my daughter, and when none is around…listen to some soulful music, read something inspiring or sometimes even writing or engage in art.

Lots of options 


27. What makes you go wild?
A. Memories make me go wild in the positive sense and negative…any mishap pertaining to India…my husband avoids such topics. He says “you’ll become hyper”



28. Which other blogs do you love visiting?
A. Each and every blog I am following is a treasure house and so are many others I occasionally come across…every blog has something new and innovative to offer.


29. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?
A. Chocolate mousse with some vanilla ice cream and some thin finger biscuits. Yummy (I love almost all desserts!)


30. How many tabs are turned on in ur browser right now?
A. Three


31. Favorite Season?
A. Summer (season to go home )


32. If I come to your house now, what would u cook for me?
A. Lemon rice, Lady’s finger fry, Curd, pappadam and pickle. (Today’s lunch!)


33. What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you?
A. Ignore them !(How I wish I could do that!!! ) I do feel hurt but then I don't hold a grudge against them.

34. What are you afraid of the most?
A. Dark!!!


35. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
A. O dear, you look tired! (wasn’t well for the past few days)


36. What brings a smile on your face instantly?
A. My daughter’s joy! (the very sight of her )


37. A word that you say a lot?
A. ‘That’s right!’ (in my mother tongue) and ‘You know’ in English.
That’s what occurs to me right now.


38. When was the last time you did something nice?
A. I feel it should not be disclosed, the effect of doing something nice evaporates


39. What would you do if you were made President of India for one day?
A. Reduce the prices, dismiss all corrupt bureaucrat, close down all illegal holdings, make some constitutional changes and close loopholes, recruit energetic and loyal youngsters at all levels, boost up all social organizations,….lots to be done….by then the day would’ve come to an end and I would be rejuvenated into a new Hindustan.

*dreams, dreams,….may come true…sometime, someday, by somebody*


40. Do you Know who Master SHIFU is?
A. I absolutely adore him


I inturn tag these 6 friends

Bella Sinclair

StudioLolo

Sayli

Patricia

Evelyn

Gloria

Collage and Fingerpaint Cactus ATCs

Cactus ATCs (Artist Trading Cards - 3.5 inches * 2.5 inches) made exclusively for Cactus Monday;

in a haste:))

Happy Cactus Monday, Cactuteers!

For more cactus pics, Visit Teri

Valentine's Day!

Fo the Part one, Click HERE

First of all Thanks a zillion for the response which truly was overwhelming...

As promised here's my next list of simple art that could add colour to your romance...

The picture took time to load and then wen it happened it looks like this:(

Anyways, these are the self-ink stamps, roller and the single hole puncher apt for bookmarks.

You could make these bookmarks easily by cutting strips of paper of your choice.

I've used textured chart paper again, cut them into 4cm * 13cm size and then glued nice lovable quotes, stamped them with heart and roses and finally looped a satin thread.

Do you like it???

You could even take your glass candle holder and stick it with heart stickers and light it up in to add glow to your love.You could even cook some fav dishes of his or hers and then have a tea light candle dinner :))

Draw some hearts on a glass using glass liner and fill it with glass colours and glue some shiny, sparkling stones

This is out and out a kids' craft...

Make a heart with dough and let it dry, you can even bake it.

Here,I've not...I just let it dry and then painted it with acrylic colour;

let it dry again and then added the satin ribbon.

I made this for my daughter, L'tl A!

She was too pleased to receive it:)))

*image courtesy Google*

Apart from these, you could even gift some fav knick-knacks of your partner...

arrange it in a small basket say of bamboo or wood or anything that can hold the stuff.

Place His/Her fav chocolates, drink, candies, chips etc. anything that'll please your sweetheart:)

Hope you have a nice time with your Valentine...

Wishing you all a

A HIPPY YIPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Simple Valentine Ideas

Its Valentine time and I thought of making some sweet stuff for people looking for some simple ideas to gift to their sweethearts. Its really easy to make...

First of all you need some stationary...chart papers, stickers, some self ink stamps, wrapping paper etc etc.

Heart Fridge Magnet

Cut out heart shape from OHP sheet (thats what I've done here) and colour it. I've used glass colour and black liner to outline the shape. Instead of OHP sheet, you can use any material that stands steady. Btw, you can cut with scissors too.

Take a magnet

Glue it underneath

You can add a heart sticker in the center like I did as I wanted to keep it simple. You can bead it or decorate it with semi precious stones or even a stamp size photo of your beloved one :)

Place it on the fridge and admire it whenever you have a look at your/beloved's creation...

CUPID'S ARROWS

Take a chart...cut it to your desired size

Fold it to half so that you can write your thoughts inside

I had these textured papers (somewhat like chart...not as thin as normal paper)

Chose the pink and selected these stickers

Glued the pink paper on top of the white and picked the stickers and arranged it as being arrowed...see thats so easy to make :)

Sorry for the self ink stamp roller(which I was trying for the first time and so misd the direction...!!!) that went astray...

Anyways I think its not bad...what do you think???

Flying Hearts

Here again repeat the first two steps of folding the paper. I have chosen a handmade paper on which to do art. I have already cut and kept few heart shapes in red textured paper.

  

I beaded up the heart shapes and stuck some stickers of ladybugs at the edges... 

I took some red velvet ribbon to spice up the card...

Stamped few flying heart patterns...

The second card is reay too to be gifted with your lovely thoughts :)

Now you know its so easy to make some simple, lovable things for your loved ones with all your heart rather than buy a high priced gift with no feelings attached....Completely my personal view...

Some more things are yet to come...in the next edition of Simple Valentine Ideas!

Until then, Have a Lovely time Creating and Ciao :)