I have moved to my own website: www.craftzy.com

YAY Actually I mpved to a new site more than a year back but being my lazy self , I completely forgot to let you all know….Please do pop over to my new site….

Note: I have moved my posts over to www.craftzy.com. I have stopped posting and replying to comments on this blog. Please visit  www.craftzy.com for answers to your craftzy questions Thanks for your patience!!!!
P.S: I will be listing the craft supply shops there too

My main mission this weekend was to find food that is:

• low cal
• tasty
• filling/high protein – milk helps with the acidity
• fruit based

So where else do you need to look- you’re answer is in the smoothie- a meal in a glass! Here it comes…

Chocolate Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothieeeee

Ingredients:

Low Fat yogurt                         – 1/2 cup
(I used Nestle Slim Dahi)

Fresh Strawberries                 -100 grams

Milk                                               – 1/4 cup
(I used toned milk)

Hershey’s Chocolate syrup  – 30 grams or 2 tbsp
(You can add more syrup if you want it to be more chocolatey…I found 2 tbsps to be just right for me)

Oats                                               -20 grams

Honey to taste ( You don’t need this if the strawberries are sweet. The Hershey’s syrup has added sugar anyway. If you really want it sweet then add a spoon and see if you like it- I didn’t add honey in mine.)

Method:

1. Powder the oats in the blender till fine. Remove and keep separately in a small bowl.
2. Wash the strawberries and remove the leaves. Cut into small cubes for easier blending. Run it in the blender till it becomes a pulpy liquid- I like mine with little berry chunks so I didn’t make it too fine.
3. Add the yogurt, chocolate syrup, milk and oatmeal. Add the honey if you want. (I had kept the ingredients in the fridge the previous night, so the smoothie was mildly cold when I made it. If you want it more cold and more liquidy, then now’s the right time to add some ice cubes into the blender!)
4. Blend till smooth.
5. Pour into tall glass, garnish with a cut strawberry on the side of the glass. And you’re done!! Enjoy the shake for breakfast or take it with you as a snack

Calorie breakdown:

(without the honey)

Want to make one (or more) for yourself…here you go!

Family Chocolate Cake

Note: I am really sorry but I forgot to take a pic of the finished cake…I remembered only after all of us at home had eaten our share so it’s a half eaten cake pic *sheepish grin*

FAMILY CHOCOLATE CAKE

Ingredients for the Cake

Softened Butter               125 grams

Sugar                                    2/3 cup

Icing Sugar                         1/2 cup

Self-raising flour               1 and 1/4 cups

Cocoa                                    1/2 cup

Soda Bicarbonate             1 teaspoon

Salt                                          a pinch

Eggs                                        2

Milk                                         1 cup

Vanilla extract                    1 teaspoon

How to Make the Cake

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.
2. Lightly grease and flour a 23-cm cake tin.
3. Cream butter with sugar and icing sugar.
4. Sift flour, cocoa, soda bicarbonate and salt into a separate bowl.
5. Add the flour mixture, spoon-by-spoon to the creamed butter and sugar mix. Add the remaining ingredients and beat well.( I used an electric blender at low speed.)
6. Spoon into the prepared cake tin and bake for 40 to 55 minutes or until cooked.
7. Ice with Chocolate icing when cold.

Plain Chocolate Cake

Ingredients for the Chocolate Icing

Icing Sugar                       150 grams

Cocoa                                  2 tablespoons

Melted butter                  1 teaspoon

Warm water                     1 to 2 teaspoons (I actually used 4)

How to make the Icing

1. Sift icing sugar and cocoa together.
2. Add melted butter to warm water
3. Gradually mix into the sugar and cocoa mix until a smooth paste is formed(It should be spreadable not watery)
4. Spoon it over the cool chocolate cake you made and even it out with the back of the spoon.DONE!!!

Note: This recipe was taken from the Cake Bible from Penguin Books You can see the book in the plain cake pic!

Chocolate Brown towel with Cross Stitch Flower Border

The whole of last week I’ve been digging through old photos of stuff I’ve made and posting it on Facebook…

Some of the stuff I’ve made I should do this more often!!

Green and Gold Origami Boxes

Cream and Gold Origami Box

Orange Towel with Cross Stitch Flower border

Chocolate Brown towel with Cross Stitch Flower Border

Black and Oatmeal Journal

I made the Black and Oatmeal journal only last week…it’s got 50 pages and sewing the pages was tough but I managed it I used Black handmade paper for the covers, oatmeal colored handmade papers for the pages and cover design, and cream colored embroidery thread to bind the book. I cut the black circles using a paper punch bought from Parry’s corner.

Recipe Book for my mom

I just bound up a bunch of my mother’s xeroxes of cook books She was struggling with them falling down everywhere and getting misplaced. I was intending to take it to a shop and getting it bound professionally but changed my mind and thought I’d bind it! I finally got down to it on Saturday! Voila- recipe book ready! The cover design is a bird I traced from a library book. I thought I’d color or paint it but my mom likes it just like this

Hope you all like my creations!

Strawberry Jam Tarts

STRAWBERRY JAM TARTS

Ingredients (makes 12)

Refined Flour (maida)            115 grams

Butter                                            60 grams

Baking Powder                           1/4th teaspoon

Cold Water                                   to mix

Sugar(optional)                         5 grams

Jam(any flavor)                        55 grams

How to Make the Jam Tarts

1. Sift flour and baking powder( there should be no lumps).
2. Rub in the butter lightly with your fingertips until it looks like breadcrumbs (don’t knead like chapathi dough).
3. Add sugar if you want and mix thoroughly.
4. Mix with cold water to form a soft dough.
5. Roll out on a floured slab or cutting board(don’t roll it out too much-should be thicker than a chapathi) and cut as required. ( I use a small katori (bowl) to cut out a round shape from the rolled dough.)
6. Line 12 muffin tins or patty tins with the rolled out shapes.
7. Fill each cup 2/3rds with the jam. Distribute jam evenly in the cups.
8. Bake in a hot oven at 205 degrees C (400 degrees F) for 15 to 20 minutes.
9. When baked ( it should look lighter and will be solid not squishy) remove from patty tins and place on a plate to cool completely. You can pop them in the fridge for about half an hour and they’ll taste even better.

Notes: This recipe is similar to the lemon curd tarts just that you bake these tarts with the jam filling in them The recipe was taken from The Thangam Philip Book of Baking.

I spent the day baking and I have some awesome recipes to share over the week!!

I usually bake at least once a month but somehow I didn’t bake last month and I HAD to compensate with some sweet cake goodness this weekend…I made lemon curd tarts, strawberry jam tarts and a chocolate cake!!

For starters, here’s how to make your own lemon curd tarts….they’re yummy, drool in the mouth, sweet and the tarts are light and buttery….delicious!!

Lemon Curd Tarts

Note: Sorry for the blurry pic I was too busy drooling at the tarts to concentrate on the photos And the tarts taste much better than they look in this pic..They’re already over at home

LEMON CURD TARTS

Ingredients for the Pastry

Refined Flour (maida)            115 grams

Butter                                            60 grams

Baking Powder                           1/4th teaspoon

Cold Water                                   to mix

Sugar(optional)                         5 grams

How to Make the Pastry

1. Sift flour and baking powder( there should be no lumps).
2. Rub in the butter lightly with your fingertips until it looks like breadcrumbs (don’t knead like chapathi dough).
3. Add sugar if you want and mix thoroughly.
4. Mix with cold water to form a soft dough.
5. Roll out on a floured slab or cutting board(don’t roll it out too much-should be thicker than a chapathi) and cut as required. ( I use a small katori (bowl) to cut out a round shape from the rolled dough.)
6. Line 12 muffin tins or patty tins with the rolled out shapes.
7. Prick the centers of the shapes lightly with a fork.
8. Bake in a hot oven at 205 degrees C (400 degrees F) for 15 minutes.
9. When baked ( it should look lighter and will be solid not squishy) remove from patty tins and place on a plate to cool completely.

Ingredients for the Lemon Curd (enough for 12 tarts)

Sugar                                             115 grams

Egg                                                  1

Butter                                             55 grams

Lime                                                1

How to Make Lemon Curd

1. Grate the yellow part of the lime skin and keep aside.
2. Melt butter and sugar.
3. Add the juice of the lime and its rind (grated in step1).
4. Remove from the fire and beat in an egg.
5. Return to the fire and cook in a double boiler or over water until thick.( I don’t have a double boiler- I just fill a big kadai(wok) halfway with water, hold the lemon curd mixture with potholder and place it in the boiling water in the kadai. The lemon curd vessel should not touch the kadai sides directly- just the hot water…It’s sort of delicate cos it has egg and lime-you don’t want it to curdle!)
6. Remove from water and cool before using.
7. Spread into the pre-baked pastry cups (ONLY after both the lemon curd and the pastry cups are cool!!).

Notes: These tarts taste equally good after being chilled in a refrigerator!

The recipe was taken from The Thangam Philip Book of Baking. Any mallu worth her coconut oil should have heard of Thangam Philip! Her recipes are so easy to follow and she gives such sensible cooking advice too!

I spent today mostly browsing around and finally decided to try one of the projects in this book-Oriental Papercrafts by Cheryl Owen. (I was actually supposed to sit and sew- I’ve got some heavily overdue birthday gifts to make..gulp!)

I thought I’d try book binding today and so dug out the book and looked at the Japanese Stab Binding project…I broke into my handmade paper stash(It’s a really good thing that I’m a paper addict- I ALWAYS have some paper or the other just lying around in my stash!)

So, here’s my first hand bound journal…It’s not the best and it could be much better BUT I still  love it anyway and I’ve given it to my mother

My first hand bound Journal

NOTE: The pic’s dark -it was taken from my phone..sorry bout that..

I made the cover from a sheet of black, A4 size,handmade paper folded in half. The inside papers were 6 cream, A4 size handmade papers folded in half. Pierced 4 holes using an old compass. Did the Stab stitching in yellow wool and stuck a strip of handmade wrapping paper as an accent piece along an edge.

I think I might be addicted to handmade books!! I HAVE to make more journals, with more papers from now one and better stitching…Will post future attempts Till then, Happy Crafting!!

It is a little shop but its brimming over with crafty goodness I quite didn’t know which direction I should turn in. I had to restrain myself into not buying and running off with the whole shop’s contents in my bag…lol..

I bought quilling paper (45Rs a pack)+ a quilling tool (30Rs)+ a crochet needle+some jewelry hooks+jewelry eye pins….whole thing came to 150 Rs!

So without further delay..read on for the address and contact details for the shop and also a list of art and craft supplies they stock. ( I collected these details from a pamphlet they handed out to me at the shop.)

TINA

The Art & Craft Shop for Creative Hands

Address:

So what all does this cute little shop have to offer?

Art Materials:

• Fabric Paints
• Glass Paints
• Oil Paints
• Clear Varnish
• 3 D Paints
• Water Colors
• Brushes
• Wooden Blocks

Craft Materials:

Fabric Crafts

• Needles
• Embroidery Hoops
• Stitch Kits
• Embossing Kits
• Zardosi
• Rim Zim Work
• Sequins/chumkee
• Kundan Stones
• Lace
• Threads
• Iron-on Motifs
• Iron on stone

Paper Crafts

• Quilling Needles and Papers
• Colored Papers
• Cutters
• Scissors
• Punches
• Warli Art Kits

Flower Making

• Stocking
• Wire
• Organdy
• Satin
• Net
• Green Flower Tape
• Pollen Strands

Jewelry Making

• Jewelry eye-pins
• Jewelry hooks
• Jewelry jump rings
• Pliers
• Beads
• Hanging beads
• Bells/gunguroo

Miniature Modeling/Figurine Making/Pottery

• Clay
• White Cement
• Plaster of Paris
• Ceramic
• Zinc Oxide
• Unpainted Terracotta Pots

Candle Making

• Gel and Paraffin Wax

Craft Books

• Fashion Designing
• Mehandi Designs
• Gift Wrapping
• Candle Making

If you visit this shop, do let me know of your experience and if there are any more craft supplies that they stock which I should add to this list

//

//

I’ve found a new craft to obsess about- paper quilling..I chanced up on it after a random google…(How I love Google!)…in my search for Indian craft blogs I came up on some lovely blogs…I don’t know how these ladies manage it all-family+work+ crafting+selling…phew…I think I need lessons on time management from them

Presenting:

http://www.craftyjc.com/

This is Jaya’s(also known as J.C.) blog where she shows off her paper crafts especially hand made cards. She is a mom and a Software Architect by profession…She has started what must be India’s only monthly Craft Challenge…Just go here to check it out.

Next you just gotta check out Juhi’s handmade cards. She is from Bangalore and she is a hardware verification engineer by  day! Her cards are very professional and absolutely CUTE!!

Last, my favorite favorite blog…Reshmi Nair from Mumbai has a craft’s blog with a LOT of detailed tutorials, photos and info on virtually almost every craft I have heard of! She’s into calligraphy, art, quilling, flower making, shell figurines…the list is endless..Her bubbly enthusiasm makes every blog post a fun read…

So there’s these 3 blogs on my “To follow” list for now…I’m off for a new adventure of Paper Quilling! Hope to be able to take some pics and share them with you soon.till then – Happy Crafting

First stop- The Home Centric

Urvi, a qualified Fashion and Textile designer, has been designing for 5 years…I have no ‘one’ favorite that I can point out in her shop…all her cushions and pillow cases are unique and beautiful..No one can stop with one, I say!! The metallic ones really tempt me- must be the Indian love of ‘bling’ that’s making me want each one!

Gold Dreams Throw Pillow Cover by The Home Centric on Etsy

Plum Beauty - Throw Pillow Cover by The Home Centric on Etsy

Marigolds - Throw Pillow Covers by The Home Centric on Etsy

The Marigold one is my favorite!!! Such a lovely, bright splash of color…reminds me of saffron and garam masala

Second Shop for the day-Mayaruhi

Pearl Bhasin, a stay-at-home Mom, makes limited design earrings from semi-precious stones, crystal, cut glass, pearls, shell, 925 silver and 24-karat gold-plated 925 silver. (Her shop is based out of her home in Singapore but cos she’s Indian and her pieces are inspired by Mughal paintings she deserves to be in this list!)

Indian agate wrapped hoops by Mayaruhi

Coral wrapped hoops by Mayaruhi

Rainbow of Agates in big gold hoop by Mayaruhi

Now, onto the next shop – HippieKingdom

Devi, an Accessory Designer, makes bright and happy jewelry that’s both eco-friendly and recycled- she uses thread, jute, hemp, cardboard and paper in her creations-playful and fun!

Coconut Shell and Colorful Tassel Earrings by Hippie Kingdom on Etsy

Eco friendly Hemp Bangle by Hippie Kingdom on Etsy

Cute Turtle Couple Earrings by Hippie Kigdom on Etsy

Eco-friendly Paper Weave Earrings by Hippie Kingdom on Etsy

I simply love these earrings!!! They look just right for an afternoon out with friends, while drinking filter kaapi (coffee) Nirvana!

Next shop – Bootika

Shruti hand paints her products – Tees, Tank Tops, Bags, Belts, Headbands  and Cushion Covers!! Her creations use graphics that reflect India- images that every Indian can identify with…Stop by her shop with some chai!

Handpainted Tote Bag with Chai Glasses by Bootika on Etsy

Handpainted Tee with White Auto rickshaw by Bootika on Etsy

Handpainted Tote Bag with Matkas (Indian Pots) by Bootika on Etsy

The Last Shops for the day- Art by susmitha and Veganosaurus

Susmitha from Bangalore makes Art Beads, Miniature Sculptures and exculsive Artisan Jewelry. She also makes cute little creatures to celebrate Veganism on her other shop-Veganosaurus.

Demeter Earrings by Artbysusmitha

LOVE carnelian copper clay pendant by Susmitha

Spiral Dance chunky copper wire necklace by Susmitha

oooohhh…the colors are gorgeous-they remind me of peacock feathers for some reason!

Mommy and Baby Turtleclopses by Veganosaurus on Etsy

(the second turtle item I picked-anyone notice a theme here?)

Miniature Froggy Family -terrarium decor by Veganosaurus on Etsy

Little cyclops monster clay sculpture by Veganosaurus on Etsy

Oh how I’d like a terrarium with these lil monsters on my desk at work!! I specially love the froggies (such an awesome orange) and of course, I love the blue cyclops’ tie (he’s a smartie!).

Which one’s your favorite product?? Which one would you buy? Stop by these shops and share your love…Promote Indian crafters and Indian crafts…

NOTE: All images in this post are the properties of the shop sellers featured in the post.

//

//

//