Being Creative is a Way

Hello Everyone! Finally I have managed to reach a computer and get  some 'me' time to  write this post. It's been really busy year. Since my last post, we had a new addition to our family - a beautiful baby girl. And so that's what has kept me busy since then. That doesn't mean I have not been cooking, it just has been not possible to update my posts. The year has been full of new cooking experiments. The pictures speak for themselves. Would soon share some more recipes. Meanwhile I recently received a pleasant gift from Readers Digest. It is really handy as I have just completed filing all my recipes into it. I am dedicating myself to cooking all recipes from the book at least once. Lets see how that goes. Will keep you posted. Have a good night! 

Hi Everyone, Like I said in last post, I will tell you about the new cards I made combining one of my watercolour painting and photoshop techniques. This was my original watercolour. Then I scanned it and treated in photoshop. First step was to change the brightness and contrast. Second changed colour range using colour balance tool. Then picking the background greens, applied a filter- angled brush strokes. This gave the following result. Now it is possible to print multiple copies of this card. All seasonal greeting cards are ready to print. Have a good week ahead! Cheers, Namrata

Good Morning Everyone, There is always a time when we look back on things we enjoyed doing.  Back in school and college days, I was very regular in doing drawing/ painting. Long gone are those days, when I would spend vacations taking different painting classes, learning new techniques and then making my own drawings. Come Diwali, and I would get busy making greeting cards with watercolour, poster colour and even pencil sketching at times. No two cards would be similar. I miss those golden days. Just recently I did some watercolour painting again. Revising my knowledge and skill was a hard job. But I managed as you can see the result is not so bad. Stage 1: Pencil Sketch Stage 2: Adding Grey and pink tones- one petal at a time Final Product  In my next post will show how I have turned this painting into digital greeting card. Till then have a good day ! Cheers, Namrata

Greetings to all food lovers! Masterchef 2012 season is on again, and I am not missing a single episode. There are so many wonderful recipes shown on the show, that I want to try cooking most of them myself. The list just keeps growing. To start with I tried making Maggie Beer's Upside down grape cake (challenge set up for one of the ellimination rounds). Although it had other two components namely Verjuice and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Ice Cream, with Vino Cotto Raisin and Ginger Wafer, I decided just to go with the Cake. So check out the recipe on this link and give it a go http://www.masterchef.com.au/recipes/upside-down-grape-cake-verjuice-and-extra-virgin-olive-oil-ice-cream-with-vino-cotto-raisin-and-ginger-wafer.htm These are the photos I took at various stages, hopefully they will be helpful. Step 1: Verjuice syrup in the cake pan Step 2: Grapes lining the base over the syrup  Oops I forgot to take the step 3 photos: Cake batter and meringue making ..... :( Step 4: Mixture in

Hi Everyone, Returning to write this blog after long time.........almost 6 months. Here I was telling all about plans for new year and now already 6 months down the track, without much progress. But can't complain. Work load at other jobs has kept me busy and away from most of my art activities. Still have tried to keep up with few things. I have been regular in updating my Facebook page but could not find to time to blog. So what I have been doing for all this time? Well all the Campbelltown Moonlight Markets in February, March and April were a great success. Huge response and met some wonderful people. Didn't even get time to take some photos of all those Henna tattoos I made. What a shame........ but still I had fun and I hope even all the kids, girls, women and even men liked their tattoo. Hope to see them soon!! My Stall in April....Dear Husband was there full time to help me out!! As I said I have been regular in updating my Facebook page 'Shri Creations'

Good Morning !! Writing after a long time. After a friend's request for the recipe of Pudachi Vadi (Coriander Pastry). I had to ask mother for it and typed it.  While doing it, I went into childhood, when mother used to make them. On a Winter sunday morning Baba would get lots of coriander from the market. Then we sisters would spend time cleaning it. Aai would then get busy whole of the afternoon to get the masala ready, pastry preparation. Then in the eveining she will serve us the delicious pudachi vadi.  Gone are those days now. Now I have to cook it myself and eat it. Probably its more fun, to cook and serve others. Here is the recipe for you. Hope you enjoy it too!!! For the Masala: 1.       Need 2 bundles of Coriander (approximately 2 cups after cleaning, sorting and cutting). 2.      F ry the following individually in heated pan:          Til (Seasame seeds)- ½ cup          Dane (Peanuts)- ¾ cup          Khaskhas (Poppy seeds)- ¼ cup          Khobra (Grated coco