Simpliciti

That's the name of my new Etsy shop, where I am hawking the products of my crochet addiction. Do drop by and check it out at www.simpliciti.etsy.com.

Kiddy heartwarmers of various bright colour combos - all lovingly handmade, and nicely warm. I'm doing up a couple more colour combos, and also going to start doing matching beanies.

I really like how these are so useful for summer-cool days, as well as winter-cold ones. Worn like a wrap-shrug, it's easy to use and sufficiently cozy. And then when it gets bitterly cold, this can be wrapped around and around as a super-warm, burly scarf. Or tied over the head as a scoodie (scarf/hoodie).

Ruhi is the Simpliciti Poster Girl, so every new colour combo has to be done first in her size. I'm working on making available sizes aged 4/5, 6/7, and 8/9, although I will take on any custom orders of specific colour combos and/or size.

Maybe I should get her to pose in the heartwarmers a la bitter winter. Right now she's just all cutesy in Spring/Summer fashion...

New Commissioned Stuff

Since acquiring a small shipment of agate slices, I have had 2 commissions for these agate slice necklaces, and crafted up a few more for my new ArtFire shop.

This one above belongs to A.G., who chose this striking piece of dark chocolate agate because she wanted something in a more neutral colour so she could wear it with almost anything. She already owns a stunning purple piece.

This here is for A.R., who wanted a bamboo leaf shape with green stones. Dramatic and stunning, this one is of the greener shades of my strands of Indian agate. I love how this has turned out rustic, yet edgy. The shades of green give it a warm, natural feel, while the wirework lends it a contemporary edginess.

My First Lace Shawl

Ah, the satisfaction of completing a fairly intricate lace shawl!

I have been working on this (in between lots of other things) for almost a month. Pattern and instructions courtesy of BernioliesDesigns, the Etsy shop of Bernadette, whose day job is a costume designer for a circus in the Netherlands.

If you're into gorgeous shawls, shrugs and scarves, check out her crafted stuff at Berniolie.

Happy Monday!

(pic via icanread)

Back To Black

Amy Winehouse
(1983 - 2011)

Just Like JLo

Working It

Funny thing: the other day, someone asked me what do I do, and I said "Nothing". When actually I work my goddamned ass off all fricken day.

That's how bad it is. So deeply embedded in our heads that stay-at-home mums have it easy, that even myself as one, bow to that notion in passing conversation.

So yes, other than the laundry, the cooking, the washing up, the occasional cleaning, keeping house, chaperoning, mediating fights, cheerleading, disciplining, and making better little boo-boos, I also make pretty things. Which is what I should say, the next time someone asks.

I'll post proper pics of my pretty things another time. Coz in progress on the worktable is a seafoam green one, a rugged cobalt blue one, and a rawkin' deep purple one, and a few custom orders. Here's a sneak peek...

(pic via Yellow Heart Art)

Eye Candy Art

Are you into print art? I'm sort of learning. And I discovered the work of American artist/illustrator, Yellena James.

Her work has been described as "colorful arrangements of organic shapes and tangled lines (which) are at once floral and alien, organic and sci-fi, crafty and fantastic."

I say, "Hallelujah!"

Enjoy...

"Lush"

"Whisk"

"Relish"

"Season"

Click on the titles to go directly to Etsy links.

New Stuff

Turquoise sticks. Cute, aren't they? Such a striking look, I kept it simple. And I thought it'd be nice to juxtapose the clean, smooth lines of the turquoise with a "mess" of wire at the top. Which actually looks a lot easier than it seems. The random wiring requires a fair deal of judgement to get two sticks to pair off.

I love these. If only you could try them on, seriously. They'd be your every-day go-to.

These are at both my Etsy and ArtFire shops.

Happy Monday!

(pic via icanread)

Artfire

I started a new online platform. MAYA & RUHI at Artfire. Just trying out the things Artfire might be able to do for me.

The main difference from Etsy for buyers would be the fact that you don't have to sign up as a member of Etsy to be able to buy. In fact you can click on anything you see right now and be able to buy it! ;)

mayaruhi

Unique Gifts

Let's see how this goes. Wish me luck! :)

Gratuitous Fabulous Jewelry Pic

This is the Cartier Hindu necklace, also known as the Tutti Frutti necklace.

Commissioned in 1936 by Daisy Fellowes, heiress to the fortunes at Singer sewing machine, the Cartier Tutti Frutti design is inspired by traditional Indian designs.

Taken from a 1935 Cartier commission by the Maharajah of Patna, the piece features over 1000 stones - diamond and sapphire bezels, and carved ruby, sapphire and emerald leaves, all imported from India. It's a design based on Persian and Indian Hindu decorative elements, and was highly popular with the notoriously opulent Mughals.

Price tag? About USD 3 million. Part of Cartier's collection, and not for sale.

(Was) On My Lust List

Yep, that's right. Seeing as how the USD is at an all-time low, I made an impulse buy.

These are just too cute. Lip tints from Hearts and Bows. And they're all handmade from cocoa butter, candelilla wax, avocado oil, shea butter, natural and essential oils. So gotta-have, right?

Happy Monday!

(pic via vol25)

Out of Print

Here's a novel idea: turn iconic book covers into cult T-shirts, and for each item sold, donate a book to Books For Africa.

And then cleverly name your fashion label Out Of Print Clothing.

Now why didn't I think of that?

I Swear It Makes A Difference

An increasing number of Maya's friends are "friend-request"-ing me on Facebook. Honestly, I feel a little uncomfortable accepting them...

See, I swear. Quite a bit. Especially when I have something to say. Even when I don't, my status updates are rarely exemplary:

"Shower, crochet & beer, sleep."

"Enjoying a classic DILLIGAF lunch: Honey Dijon Kettle Chips and Hoegaarden. Woo-hoo! :D"

"I really need to stop faffing about on the computer and get some real work done."

"My alarm clock is going to ring in 5 hours. Bastard."

"I don't care what time it is, but it's time for some Terry's Chocolate Orange and pinotage." (posted on a weekday at 12.20pm)

"I need a good-mood pill, goddammit."

Honestly though, I find swearing, in all its glorious emphatic-ism, bloody therapeutic. And there's no denying it, 'coz it has been proven to reduce pain. I mean, look at what it did for King George VI in the Oscar-winning The King's Speech. It literally took a whole load off his mind.

Besides, swearing gives character to stuff you say. It's a Remark, with a dash of salt; Self-Expression, with a dainty little firework; a Quip, with an added whip (cue sound effect).

As for exposing Maya's friends to such flowery language, and possibly horrifyingly irresponsible activities and lunch suggestions, I can only remain true to myself. I was on the verge of un-friending all of them, in case I get a cutting response from an irate parent. But then I thought, "Hey, tough titties, man."

As such, I leave you with an excerpt in which the great Stephen Fry discusses the finer aspects of swearing. Have a fricken good day everyone! :D

Oh Happy Day(s)

Something has happened to the state of my mind. I don't know what it is. Maybe it's about Turning 40, maybe it's the calm before the storm of Menopause... if there is such a thing...

For some odd reason, I have been unusually clear-headed, at peace, productive, reasonable, kind, sensible - yes, all of those things, and more. O_O?

If anyone knows of any reason, do let up. I won't bother if it's astrological, biological, psychological, theological, or even illogical. I'm just interested in what you might think it is. ;)

(pic via icanread)

Heartwarmers a.k.a. Sontags

I recently discovered that these things are also called "sontags".

Ruhi eventually picked dark purple and bright pink for herself (right), while cousin Saachi, who lives in Dubai, chose a more delicate pale pink and lavender (left). As such, Saachi's set is in a slightly more lightweight, less warm, yarn.

These heartwarmers are so easy to crochet up, and I love doing them coz they're just so cute.

That said, I am going to launch into one for myself. Right after I am done with my black lace shawl project...

Happy Monday!

(limited edition print by Blanca Gomez)

New Stuff

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