Friday, 6 June 2014

Flower Dream Catcher, Russian Doll and Fern's Flower on Birthday

Having +40C and above in day time, air feels like hot "milk" if you walk out, it is not possible for me to be without air conditioning and fans on, craving for juicy fruits and milk shakes - all that means that the Indian Summer has put its foot firmly in the city. I have a hope (a tiny one) that by the mid July the weather will get "better", however most probably it is going to be humid then, the monsoon season will be on its way.
Meanwhile I am getting more and more worried for all the things which need to be done in the house - cleaning, rearranging, refurbishing etc. I read somewhere not to try to get all done, not to stress and exhaust yourself - easy to say. When having a baby is no more just a "talk" but a reality you cannot help but keep on thinking how all is going to be. In order to divert that persistent thinking I devote some of my evenings to craft activities.
"Aunt Alexandra was hooking a rug and not watching us, but she was listening. She sat in her chair with her workbasket beside it, her rug spread across her lap.  Why ladies hooked woolen rugs on boiling nights never became clear to me".- a quote from Nelle Harper Lee's "To Kill a  Mockingbird". Okay, so I don't weave any blankets these hot days but on a "lighter" side. I remembered that many years ago I made a crochet wrist band with cross stitch floss which thought gave me another one "why not to use the cotton floss for something other than cross stitch again?". The inspiration for that "something" was also one broken plastic curtain ring. At first I did't know what I was going to do with the emerged flower but then... okay you know how the ideas are born - it turned out to be a flower dream catcher I made almost two weekends ago. I love it! The thread colors make me happy and the colored wooden beads which are actually embellishments from some scrunchy finally found their use. I blocked the flower and now it hangs above our heads on the wall.
           
But where is the Russian Doll? Here she is in her new custom frame, and I shall tell about the experience. 
It was done from a local shop which deals in making of frames for photos and pictures. It seemed natural to me to do the same for a cross stitch picture. My D went with me to the market, we chose a frame and I (fingers crossed) handed over the Russian doll to a shopkeeper. After three days he gave it back: it looked nice, my first ever hand made work under the glass but.. it was tilted! Obviously that the person who executed framing had no idea of how to actually do it. I regretted that I simply didn't customize a frame and didn't do the fitting myself. Well, now it cannot be undone and I like my Russian doll as she is, though slightly constricted.
Yesterday was my D's birthday. Yey! I made something special for him this year - Slavic vedic amulet called in Russian "obereg". The symbol itself is called "Fern's flower". It was my first such kind of cross stitch and I enjoyed creating it. I put it in a hand made frame, and we will be hanging it on the wall in our room so that he can see it every day and get charged with its energy.
I needed to decorate it with oak leaves and acorns and found a very cute cross stitch pattern which I altered a little. Now I really want to cross stitch oak leaves and acorns alone :) Maybe to add some forest berries too?

Have a happy weekend ahead, my dears! 

44 comments:

  1. I think you are "making a nest" with your home. But don't overdo! How long til the baby comes? Very exciting! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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    1. I think so too Teresa :) and i like it! My room looks much better now, thanks to our little one!
      It is in July, very soon!

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  2. What a delightful idea, love they you have created it. Those cross stitch patterns are pretty too.

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    1. Thanks Gaia! I wanted to make more of such wall hangings, but let's see.

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  3. Nesting is what we call it when you are preparing for a baby, cleaning and Ingaborg. It is natural and really helps that things are all ready when the baby comes. Love your dream catcher and the lovely piece you made for your husband.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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    1. Of course it helps! Even if I know that I won't be able to do each and everything, still preparing in advance will help reduce stress :)
      Thanks! I am glad you liked my little projects Meredith.
      Hugs!

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  4. I love the fern flower, it looks very Slavic, indeed! (Kupala Night coming up soon, can't wait! :))
    It seems you are very stressed with the upcoming changes, breathe deeply and relax. You will be a wonderful mum and everything will go just fine, I'm sure of it.

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    1. I know that you would like it Persephone :) Aww, yes! Kupala Night! Last year I made a head wreath though didn't have a chance to let it float in a river.
      Thanks for encoruraging words!

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  5. Love your projects and the quote from TKAM! My fave book EVER! It's hard to frame needlework. I do my own and it takes so long to get it in the right place, pulled taught and even on all sides.

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    1. I liked the book a lot. Very good read, I'd like my children to read it too.
      Yea, it took me some time to pull and frame the cross stitched symbol.However, I will be doing it myself from now on :)

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  6. Do take it easy Anna and don't fret, your health is more important than things that you think needs to be done. I love your flower dream catcher and both of your cross stitch makes are lovely, have a good weekend, :)

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    1. I try to Linda, but you know not in my nature to let things just go... I distribute work accordingly for different weekends.
      Thanks for liking Linda!

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  7. Very nice dream catcher. The cross stitch Russian doll is so cute! when is your baby due? do take care and relax.. everything will be fine.. have a great day! cheers :)

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  8. Haha, yes it must be tricky having "nesting" feelings when it's sweltering :)

    Regarding the cross stitch: Very well done, but I hate how the Nazis stole an old symbol and how I can't stop associating it with them :(

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    1. It is, but pleasant too :)
      Cannot do anything about it now... I prefer not to link it to it anyway, enough of attention given to evil, better find positiveness :)

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    2. Anna - the American Indians also used that symbol LONG before the Nazi's turned it into something evil. The Indian referred to the design as a Twirling Log. XOXO

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    3. This is so interesting! I don't know much about American Indian culture. thanks for letting know Tanya. Twirling log... Well, I have really really mixed cultures at my home. Dream catcher I suppose is one of the most well known Native American artefacts :)) Plus Russian doll and Slavic vedic symbol! I Love it )))baby will love too!

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  9. Try to get as much rest as you can - don't overdo the work. I like the flower hanger and the cross-stitch projects - they are all very nice. :)

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    1. I am resting then again working then again resting, hehe.
      Thanks Debi! I am glad you liked these tiny projects, I am definitely not upto any big ones these days :)

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  10. We will always try to get everything done at once, but just like what you've heard... I, too, believe that it is impossible and detrimental to our health. So let's opt for one thing at a time, and if that can't be finished, well... there is always tomorrow.

    Love the flower!

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    1. That's what we do - one thing today, another - tomorrow. Anyway enjoying the present moment :)
      Thanks for liking it Magaly!

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  11. How do you take the heat and the humidity? I don't think I could do it!
    I love all your creations! Your Russian Doll turned out beautiful in the frame! Your birthday gift to your hubby is very special!!!
    Big Hugs ;o)

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    1. Don't ask me ... it is easy to take it when indoors and with AC.. but as soon as you get out of the house - phew!
      Thanks Stacy, I amn glad you liked them and I am glad I still have some time left to create and blog about it :) Hugs to you too!

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  12. The hanging flower looks so pretty. :-) Di you use vardhman yarn for it ? I miss using vardhman yarn so much you know. Next time I visit India, I'm going to buy loads of it. :-)
    The Russian doll looks pretty and I could not make out the tilt. so don't worry, it looks great.
    Your husband's birthday gift is so beautiful. You've done it really well Anna.
    And take care of yourself, stay indoors till the temperature drops a bit and take rest.
    Hugs!!
    -Ranjitha

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    1. Thanks Ranjitha and no, I used cotton flos for cross stitch to make it :) Wanted something ottally light and bright! Though of course, Vardhamn would suit such project too. Yea, do buy it! Cost wise and quality it is a perfect yarn for any projects!
      My D also said that tilt is not visible..:) I m aglad how that symbol turned out, I was worried it would look not so neat. I am indoors, outdorrs in day time is hardly possible, uless you really need to go put.
      Take care and enjoy your week! Hugs!

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  13. Belated Happy Birthday to your D!! What a nice present you made for him :-). And I like the flower dreamcatcher very much, too, and ooh, naturally the sweet Russian doll ♥. Too bad that they didn't take care when framing, but I think it's not very obvious. I only discovered it at second sight when I read about it! So don't worry :-). Sunny greetings, Nata

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    1. Thanks Nata! And sorry for my late reply...
      I got used to its tilted look now :) She anways looks sweet, thanks for liking!
      Sunny and humid greetings from India, we are on the verge of the monsoon season soon.

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  14. Hi Anna, your cross stitch is beautiful and very neat. Please do relax darling, you are going to need a lot of energy and stamina later on. :) Enjoy small crafty projects and take a lot of rest. The heat can really sap all the energy out of you, I can sympathize with you as we had 46+ degrees last week :(
    Lots of love and a big hug!!

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    1. Hi Sangeetha!Thanks and I try to not to work too much.. my D even scold sme for not resting enough.. but somehow I get that energy running in my body and I can't stop at times :))

      Hope the weather became better in your city, it slightly cooled down in ours :) Take care!

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  15. I love all your handmade pretty things, especially that dream catcher. Wishing you a fabulous week.

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    1. Thanks Donna! I like my colorful dreamcatcher too, it make sme smile )

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  16. The doll and the hanging both look wonderful! Sorry I missed out on visitng your blog lately- I changed my blog url and the bookmarks vanished until I manually added them back. Technology can be strange, huh

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    1. Thanks Medha!
      It is okay! I think I missed your blog too... Will catch as soon as I get time ))

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  17. What a sweet present for your D! You did a wonderful job and I love your flower dream catcher! Hope it cools down for you soon!

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  18. So the nesting phase has begun. This instinct in the last trimester hit me like a hammer. There were n't enough hours in the days... I had to prepare everything. Once i freaked out completely because we had n't found organic calendula oil. I have rewashed all the baby stuff like a million times. Had the room ready from the 6th month and for her first three months she slept in our room. Eventually i realized none of the things i did were necessary. Hunting down deals on baby wipes(we had stocked for several months!). I still have enormous amounts of cotton that apparently i thought babies feed on. Eventually, the breast pump i have bought was completely useless( only rent or buy those "professional ones" to spare your boobies, anything else won't do the same work). At the first three months all you need is a quick sterilizer, and something for the baby to sleep close to you.
    The baby bath, is not necessary at the beginning, you can wash the baby on the sink. Crib is too big for most bedrooms, it is summer so it won't wear much.
    Baby only needs you.
    Mother blessings and Litha magic for you, your husband and your little one.

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    1. Hey that is a great piece of advise from you! Thanks so much!
      We don't buy anything extra as of now, I can say only essentials. I want to see later what I'd need and what I'd not :) I am going to use coconut oil for baby massage )
      I stil have no idea about breastfeeding but didn't buy anything for it yet too.. We still want a cot for a baby as we anyway have no separate room for her/him and I'd like to have at least a separate such space to keep the baby while I am in the bathroom... Let's see how it all works :))) Thanks Greekwitch! Midsummer is merciful to us and bringing more and more joys! Blessings from a future Mother to all of you too!

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  19. Back from a quick trip home, and loving what I am seeing here, Anna...BEAUTIFUL work, as always (and not "tilted" as much as you think). ;-) Hope this finds you feeling well - XOXOXO

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    1. Glad you visitied home Tanya.
      Thanks so much for liking my little things ) I am not able to do any big project now so entertaining myself with the smaller ones ) Hope to make a blog post soon.

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  20. Too much heat when you are pregnant is just awful. I do hope you are managing to find plenty of cool stitching time x

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    1. It is difficult, right. But we have ACs with us... so it is bearable this way. Thanks!

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  21. Convey my belated birthday wishes to Dipin:) that's very thoughtful to make such gift. Your cross stitch looks pretty!! I am always worried of giving it to framers as they would not stretch properly and the fabric might get dirty in the process. What I do is I buy frames. You can see in supermarket or local gift stores, plain black frames with some printed quotes, pictures etc....they will be cheaper compared to the branded shops. I then remove the quote and put my cross stitch after I tightly place it on a cardboard sheet.
    Your crochet wall hanging looks very sweet and colorful:) I have opened my blogger dashboard after more than a month. We shifted to new home....with each one of us falling sick one after another due to this hot weather...no monsoon here either. I am down with mild fever right now....
    You take complete rest. Give all cleaning and arranging task to your D:)

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