Of Bakes and Stitches

I did not even realize that I missed last month's post, till it was time to post progress this month! That's how fast time seems to be flying

It's vacations everywhere but India, and many of my cousins and families are here for vacations. So, a lot of activities and get-togethers happening here

V's college re-opened in the 2nd week of June and she's in her 2nd year now. Amidst all this, we have been baking quite a bit

Here's a mango crumb bar that V baked 

Chocolate Zucchini bread has been on my to-bake list for a long time and ticked that off. I added lemon extract and some spice and topped with walnuts and blueberries. The flavours worked very well together. Here's the recipe link 

Time for a stitchy update

Here's the ORTS from last 2 month's progress. The jar has YTD progress

..and a full view before I move the qsnap. I am done 50% and am really excited how project Amma is coming up

That's from me today dear friends. Till next time.. take care.. be happy.. keep stitching.. Au Revoir!

Crafty May.. ORTs

Hola dear friends, how's everyone doing

My crafting mojo has been on an all time high last month. 

Beading: It all started with making a birthday gift for one of Vs friends. Seeing all the beauties triggered something and there was no stopping me

 

This is a pretty baby pink crystal necklace for which V called dibs even before it was finished. I bought the center portion from Michael's when I went to the US in 2016

 

Another multi color crystal one, for which V called dibs again

This is a turquoise beads necklace. Bought the turquoise beads from Michael's 

Tried a new pattern with this one and love the way this turned out

A multicolor crystal necklace. This is a gift for one of Vs friends

A maroon crystal bracelet and earring set. This also was a gift for Vs friend. Whoaa am impressed with myself 😊

Project Amma

The complete view taken before changing the QSnap

Here's the progress since changing. ORTS from last month's progress on the right

I started using my floor stand actively now. I am much more comfortable using this now than I used to be earlier. Except for the fact that I have to keep taking out the QSnap from the stand each time I start or finish a line, this is much easier. Also, big relief for my wrist and neck

That's the update from me today dear friends. Till next time.. take care.. be happy.. Keep Stitching.. Au Revoir

Stitchy Update

Hola dear friends! Amazing how the months just fly by - we are already at the end of April 

So, here is what has happened the past month since my last post. My parents are getting ready to shift into their new home by the end of April. So, most of the month has gone in helping them with their packing and work

Amidst that, very little crafting has happened. As many of you know, I love fridge magnets and sarees

I found this beautiful addition to my collection. This is a magnet that is made after the Madurai Sungudi saree. Look at how beautiful it is, even the folds look real

Some amount of stitching happened the past month on project Amma

So, this is where I am. I have completed page 8 and onto page 9 now. I cannot believe how this is coming up and can't wait to finish 

So, dear friends, that's from me today. Till next month take care.. be happy.. keep stitching.. Au Revoir

A sweet post

Hola dear friends. It's time for our monthly catch-up. The month started off with a much-awaited visit to see my Guru, my most beloved Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi)

Re-discovering one of my favorite sweets - Churuttu!! This is a sweet from Kottayam, Kerala. Our family friend, who's home town is Kottayam, used to get this for us every time she visited her hometown. Ever since we moved to Chennai (in 1996), I have not been able to have this. We do not get this, even in any other part of Kerala. 

Have you ever heard/realised that if we crave for something with all our heart, we somehow get it. Well, this is exactly that. 

A few weeks back, there was a small news snippet in the paper about a store called Little Kerala. And guess what - they actually had Churuttu!!

I ordered right away - and here it is. It has sweet filling made of Sooji, wrapped in rice pastry, deep fried and soaked in sugar syrup. Sounds sinful right - it totally is

There happened a G20 meet in Chennai on 25 & 26 March at ITC. Yesterday when I went to ITC to meet my cousin, I saw this beautiful display for the event

Over the weekend, I got to do some beading after a long time. Made one necklace for myself (the one in the picture) and one for my friend's sister (could not take a picture unfortunately), who recently celebrated her 50th birthday

And here's where I am with my mystery project. As you can see, the face is clear now - I am stitching a portrait of my beloved Guru - Mata Amritanandamayi. As it takes shape, I cannot wait for it to finish - am that excited. Am loving it every moment. 

You can see all ORTS from all the stitching last month

So, dear friends, that has been quite an active month!! With this I finish the post and we also say bye to March '23 and get ready to welcome April '23!! Till next time friends - take care.. be happy.. keep stitching.. Au Revoir!!

 

Monthly Progress

Hello dear friends.. can you believe that February is almost over! Another new moon is gone and it's time for our monthly catch up

I am on a mission to clear up my pantry of existing baking supplies before buying new ones. First to be used up is coconut flour that's been lying in the freezer.  

 

First one in the series is coconut flour shortbread. I added mint extract and mint chips. Coconut and mint flavours work so well together. Here's the original recipe link - https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/coconut-flour-shortbread-recipe

On the stitchy front, the last month has been a great stitchy one. 

Here are ORTS from the month's progress

This is where my mystery project is. I have finished 6th page and half way through the 7th page. I guess you might have guessed by now that it's a picture to pattern that I am working on. I am thoroughly enjoying working on this

So, dear friends that's the updates from my side of the world today. Until next time.. take care.. be happy.. keep stitching.. Au Revoir

Book Haul & ORTS

 Hola dear friends! Beginning the account for the year with this happy happy post. After almost 4 years V and I visited the annual international book fair this year. 

Can you see rows and rows of books behind me. My agenda was quite clear - I only wanted to buy the English translations of Ponniyin Selvan - if possible the ones by Pavithra Srinivasan

..guess what, I got just that!! Aren't I thrilled

This is our complete haul

On the stitchy front

.. here's where I am on Mystery project. I have completed page 6 and half of page 7. I love the way it's coming along

That's the ORTS from all of mystery project

That's all the updates from me today dear friends. Until next time.. take care.. be happy.. Keep stitching and reading.. Au Revoir

2022 - A Recap

 Wishing you a very Happy 2023 dear friends!! 

My review of 2022 comes a few days later than I would have liked. Here goes..

Quite a lot of memories made last year:

- Travels: 

The year seems to have been one of travelling. I cannot remember travelling so much any other year!!

    UK to attend a wedding, 

    Kerala to visit my most beloved (Amrita) Amma after more than 3 years, 

    Pondy - We had planned a trip to Pondy several times before but would get cancelled due to some reason or another. This year finally the jinx was broken and the trip happened, 

    Finally Coimbatore - to visit my ageing aunts after more than 3 years. 3 of my very close people passed during the last 3 years and due to the lockdown etc we could never go and visit the aunts. Very glad that we could finally travel and spend some time with them. We were also able to visit my paternal village, Puducode, for the first time ever

- Health 

Firstly, on 1st Jan 2022 all of us were sick (down with fever). But the 10 days gave us some great memories as my daughter and brother took complete care of the rest of us and those days were actually a lot of fun

We also ended the year with some health issues - my dad had a mild heart attack. Thankfully, we took him to the hospital on time. He is back home now and is recovering.

- Hobbies

Reading

Here's a snapshot of all books I read during the year

Baking

..all that V and I baked last year. Some amazing new flavors we tried were rasmalai cake and elderflower cake

Web Series:

Another new hobby that I am adding to the hobbies list is the web series that we watched last year
- Crown (latest season)
- Succession

- Schitt's Creek

- Gilmore Girls (now watching)

- The gilded age (now watching)

Cross Stitch

I finished 5 pages on Mystery project and am almost done with the 6th page now

That's the ORTS from the whole year's stitching

Well, it definitely was a very active year with a whole lot of memories made and learnings and experiences to be cherished for life. Here's to a whole new year of making memories, more crafting, more reading 

Wishing you all a wonderful wonderful year again dear friends!! Till next time.. take care.. be happy.. keep stitching.. Au Revoir!!