Thank you

A job, innumerable trips tothe mountains and life is general have overshadowed my quilling endeavours like never before. I am a flustered heap of reports, deadlines, backpacks, journeys and incidents. And then, just when the layers of dust on the paper were becoming obscenely thick, Nive sent me this:

You know she needn't have gone through all the trouble. But did. From being the only ones who read each others' writing (in those faraway days of school) to regular bloggers (complete with jobs, poetry, the works) we have come a long way.

Thank you so much Niv!! I'd trade nothing for the feeling I got when I opened that courier. So here I am, the proud owner of some amazing strips (in all kinds of delicious colours imaginable) and a very happy smile. Yoohoo!!

New design

A new design. On an oblong brown card. Yes definitely not the perfect colour :P (happens to be my least favourite actually, along with peach). So added a fringed flower to perk things up. I know that you get special fringers for doing this but since they aren't available anywhere near where I stay, I make do with a basic scissor.

Just take a 2cm wide strip of paper and give one side very fine cuts, carefully avoiding cutting right through the paper. Then roll it, gluing the uncut edge. Finally fluff out the fringed edge and you're ready with a flower! It baely takes any time and adds character (or so I feel).

take care

Chandni :)

Wedding bells

Another card I made a while ago. I enjoyed making this one (I think it is my favouite) because the people look happy in it (though the credit for painting those sweet faces goes to my Aunt, the fabulous artist). Come to think of it, this piece was very simple to make. A few loose coils for the girl's hair and man's luscious moustache, simple circular ones for the flowers and really small tight circles for the polka dots in her dress. I know no self respecting bride would wear a polka-dotted wedding dress but where's the harm in being humourous? The man looks ridiculous in his hat and bow tie too but he is adorable. Hope this makes you smile, if not quill :)

Take care

Chandni

The instruments I use!

Being a self-taught quiller, I have relied on mix n match equipment to make my quilling cards. This post is for all those of you who don't have access to quilling supplies. Below is a picture of the instruments I use while quilling:

1. Firstly, I use the steel scale and blade to cut the strips of paper. It makes the job fast and minimizes the effort. Do remember to put a sufficient amount of newspaper under the paper you intend to cut so that you don't go cutting through your work table or leave any blade marks (I have learnt this the hard way!).
2. The forceps are used to hold rolls as I apply the glue to them. The forceps (a normal tweezer will do) makes handling the rolls easier. I got mine from my lab equipment I used during my botany practicals! You can buy one from any stationer for Rs. 10.
3. I use the brushes to apply the glue (doing it by hand makes things excessvely messy). Take a thin brush and dip in the glue. Hold the roll with the forcep in one hand and apply the glue with the other.
4. I use Fevicol for all sticking work because it becomes transparent on drying and can't be seen on the paper surface. Any other glue is half as sticky and twice the mess! If you want to really really save on the bucks, you can take a little fevicol and mix it with water and use. It sticks just as well and makes your fevicol work a longer way!
5. Finally, you can use a needle for rolling the strips of paper. I prefer to roll my paper with my index finger and thumb, that way I am in full control of the shape that emerges. Maybe using the needle is more professional, but since I have always quilled without one, I seem to be incapable to use one now!

Hope this helps some budding quillers somewhere. Take care :)

Chandni

I have been upto no good. Read: no quilling since ages. But I did a very smart thiong by deciding to look at my flickr account. I came across the few pages today that made me want to get back to my paper as soon as possible. Some refreshing designs for you to look through:

1. Deepa's amazingly pretty earrings: http://www.flickr.com/photos/adeept/
2. Xu's exquisite quilling: http://www.flickr.com/photos/quilling_xu/ The quilling designs are extremely neat and very pretty.
3. The there is Loopy's work. You will be amazed at the perfection of the quills, the well-balanced designs and ofcourse the very enjoyable quirky sense of humour evident in the designs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/louprime/2527625390/in/pool-quilling

I enjoyed my "virtual" quilling for the day. Take care :)

Chandni

Birds of a feather...

I am posting here after two years! Disgraceful. Anyway, coming to the picture, these are a set of peacock cards I made in January. A batch of five. The only quilling I have done this year. I blame lack of time for my inactivity. Other sources say its lack of will power and excessive lethargy. Now lets look closer at the peacocks. I made tiny blue round quills, followed by 2-3 loose coils of light green paper and then some loose coils of dark blue or purple paper. In the end I pinched the tips to make them look like teardrops. Ten to twelve of such "feathers" were arranged together as the plumage of the peacocks. I put in some specks of yellow and black with sketch pens to add some colour. I added quilled suns in two cards to liven things a bit. Hope you liked them. Hope you are quilling more than me. Take care Chandni :)

feeling blue

Posting something her after a LONG time...just that I've started a new blog.... http://bumblingbanter.blogspot.com .......as is obvious I rant and grumble, moan and sing on it all at once....its kind of my new baby which is taking all my time :D Take care Chandni