Award, Anthology and Judge

Started my year with grace from the Omnipresent Light and paying forward the gratitude to the Universe and the few people in my life who have always supported and stood by me in my journey. Creative field is a tricky one where it’s so difficult to get a good foothold. Fortunately, it is times like this when our efforts are acknowledged that one feels fulfilled and reminds others that arts do have a purpose. Not everyone concedes to it though. I guess they find it hard to do so. Arts mean something (while Arts mean everything to some)!

The first mention is the OrangeFlower Awards by Women’s Web, a well-known platform for women and the other genders who have been tirelessly promoting women’s welfare issues across every segment of life. I received the prestigious “Artgram” Award 2021 from this very established platform! Except that, it had been an online event if not for Covid! It was a well-thought out and extremely well-organized occasion with some amazing speakers and discussions in between. Extremely thankful to the entire team of Women’s Web and the Orange Flower Awards. Kudos to all the powerful souls who were nominated, shortlisted and won!

Received this badge as memento for display on this blog! 

Picture clicked by my dad as this trophy reached my home back in India while I am in Dubai right now.

The second is “The Kali Project: Invoking the Goddess within” where two of my works were selected from amid 1000 submissions. One of my poems and an artwork found home here. Honoured and overwhelmed to be part of this International Anthology – The Kali Project, published by Indie Blu(e) Publishing, USA conceptualized by Candice Louisa and Megha Sood. The Kali Project is the #1 new release in Asian Poetry. It’s a power-packed anthology of fierce and passionate Indian voices from around the world. It’s an amazing experience to be part of a badass multilayered expressions, interpretations, assertions, narrations and renditions summoned from within the depths. Can’t thank you enough Candice and Megha for putting this together! Kudos to you, your team and all the incredible authors and artists in this project for the power-loaded, abundant anthology. The stunning cover is designed by Mitch Green!

"The Kali Project: Invoking the Goddess Within"

Sharing Stories, a splendid online magazine entrusted me with the job of shortlisting the poets for their upcoming Poetry Awards. It was a unique experience to go through a delightful range of subjects and an enjoyable familiarity to share the amazing poets’ experiences and journeys, thoughts and feelings. It made me wonder at the caliber and talent spread across and around us! In case you are interested, you can download the magazine HERE. You can find previous issues too.

Sharing Stories - Book Awards 2021 - Panel of Judges 

Finally, Thanks to everyone who has faith in me and my work, who have been constantly following my works here on my blog and elsewhere for years and who have constantly showered me with love and encouragement. Deeply in gratitude!  

So how is life treating you, my friends?

Gifts, Awards and Event

I received a pack during Xmas/New Year. It was from Yoon See of Greener Pastures. She is one of my oldest friends in bloggyland. She's a genuine and a loving artist from Malaysia. She's one of my loyal readers who inspires me everytime she leaves a comment or message. Her words have always made me to strive to do better. I was extremely excited... Have a look at her sweet and cute gifts which added to the festive mood.

In came another surprise with The Versatile Blogger Awards from Nisha of Random Thoughts and Krishnapriya of Scribbling Pad. Both are my new found friends, the former being one of my bosom buddy's sister. Talented and promising writers! Thank you very much Nisha and Krishna:)

Last Friday was the Federation of Kerala College Alumni's(FECKA) Christmas and New Year Celebration. It was a dazzling night with some cooking competition and melodious & thumping numbers. Thanks to ARROWS band for the memorable night. The band consists of Arun, Roshan, Williams and Sudarshan of  the Star Singer (2007). Mrs. Lakshmi Nair, Magic Oven fame, was the chief guest.

All together it was a gala night. Thanks to FECKA!

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 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!

L'tl A Has Won!

L'tl A won the Finger Painting contest, in two categories, conducted by Shruti Bhat, Mindful Meandering. Thanks to all of you my dear friends who voted for her and those who admired her art. Thanks a zillion!

Congrats to Smitha, Div, Shalini and TPL...the other winners.

Thank you Shruti for this wonderful contest of which L'tl A is honored to be a part of.

Good Luck to MM!

You can visit L'tl A to see more of her art.

Blooming Tuesday and a BIG HEART

Happy Blooming Tuesday!!

I made this in a sheet and coloured it with glass paint, cut it out and pasted it on a card. Very simple one, yet I love it!

Here's an award that I received from dear Soul. I am so honoured to receive it...Love you Soul! Indeed you are The One with a BIG Heart!!! I am so glad to have found you as my bloggy friend:) And here again I pass it out to all my regular readers and friends without whom I am nobody...So feel free to help yourself with this BIG HEART AWARD; for I really think that each one of my blogger friends own ONE:)

Thank you friends for all your support and kind words in this new found land - bloggy world:) (Hope to receive it all times.....)

Have an Exciting and Wonderful Day!

Another Award & Blooming Tuesday

Pea of PeazCreationz has given me this Lovely Award. Thanks a Zillion Pea!

Thank you all my dear blogger friends for the love and affection that you shower on me.

I mean it from the bottom of my heart:)

This award is meant for 15 new blogger friends who inspire you...and I would like to pass it on to one & all coz all are special and all have something new everytime I visit them...

I am totally lost here...So feel free to take it dear friends.

But don't forget to pass it on.

Link it back to the one who gave.

And leave a mesg for the ones you gave:)

These are the rules for your info.

Enjoy Buddies...Enjoy!

This is a sketch with color pencils. I loved the shape of it and the lovely colors so decided to sketch it. Hope you all like it.

Happy Blooming Tuesday!

ps: Almost all my photos are taken with my mobile, pls excuse the pic quality.

Raining Awards..

I have been presented with these awards by Soulbrush. The first one she passed me with & the second one she asked us to help ourselves with:).

Thank you so much Soul for being extremely generous.

'The Uplifting Blogger Award' was designed by Lolo.

'This award goes to fellow bloggers who visit frequently and raise my spirits with their kind words of encouragement, their beautiful images and their wonderful outlook on life. They make blogging a positive experience and continue to make my life richer. '

The 'Makes My Heart Smile' Award is supposed to be for the fav 10 & I am finding it hard to come up with the TEN so I am passing it on to all of them...(I sincerely hope that its ok!!!:))

The rules:
Please feel free to pass this award along to your friends.
I ask that you do name them but you don't have to link to them.
Just stop by their blogs and let them know you've given them this award.

I am passing this one on (in no specific order) to:

Aniket of Melody Of Dissonance

Manoj of CT In All His Might

Lynn of Getting My Feet Wet

Amritorupa of Rivers I Have Known

Artist Unplugged

Renee of Circling My Head

Catvibe of Witnessing A World of People & Places

Bella of Bella Sinclair Doodlespot

Teri of Teri's Painted Daisies

Mahesh of Anubhav

Kriti of Kreation

Lisa of Artsy Endeavors

Yoon See of Greaner Pastures

Sue of A Brush With Color

Victoria of Artist Victoria O Neil

Laura of Laura's Watercolors

Harshita of Harshita's Chill out zone

Cori of Sacred Atrist

Calli of Garahstah-Picture Maker

ENJOY coz its raining awards:)

Is it AWARD SEASON Yet?

It's been exactly a month since I created my blog(heeyyyy!). And to receive an award from a sweet L'tl Girl is something I hadnot imagined(pause...pondering). As I wrote to her(in honor of receiving this award) I don't consider this a silly feat(very earnest). Everyone loves to be appreciated!(universal truth...even Hitler wanted to be appreciated #*@#... Have I gone nuts???)

I am truly delighted & thank you for considering me worthy of it:) Hugs.

Now this is quite a tough job...to give away this award to 7 wonderful people. (Like Pay It Foward...hmmm)

#1. Manoj.C.T(CT) for he is the one who brought me to blogging. His blog inspired me to create my own blog. For being a spirited, conscientious & lively person; who has always been a brother in need(during my Victorian days...A-Zones & Interzones...nostalgic).

#2. Soulbrush is rightly termed so! She's the soul of art. An versatile artist, an excellent motivator, a true human being and a lovely friend. She's one of my new blogger friends who keeps in touch with me through mails too;always motivating. I have ne'er found anyone so lively, versatile & active at this age too. You are role model!(I knw you've received so many awards...This is the first from me:))

#3. Teri- if soul is the soul of art, Teri is the body...embodiment of art! I have never seen anyone as good as Teri in watercolors. She's the proud founder of Cactus Monday. Soul & Teri are my greatest motivators in art here in bloggyland. To speak on all these great personalities is not speaking enough(sigh).

#4. Scrawler is one of my friends from College(good ol' Victorian days). She, apart from CT, is another inspiration for my blogging. She induces goodwill. I was surprised to find her writing brilliantly(of which I was unaware of...a new dimension!).

#5. Lynn for her simplicity and the wonderful quilts of which she is the proud owner of. I have just started getting to know her & I think we'll have a wonderful time together.

#6. Studio Lolo - I always feel wonderful at your door with crow for my company:) I love your artworks and photos. A new friend again!

#7. Aniket for being a humorous, poetic & a great commenting companion. I know you have already received this award but my award list willnot be complete without your name:) So please bear with me.

From what I understand you've to copy the awards to your blog & then give it to 7 others...all this depends on whether you want to(as the l'tl girl says)

Love ya folks!
Have a Happy Award Nite!

C ya...n Take care.