Warli Painting - Art as an expression!!

Expression is said to be an art. Folk arts dating back hundreds and thousands of years, found carved and painted on trees, walls, and stones tell us a story of art as an expression. The people, their lives, their celebrations and fears are reflected in such rudimentary paintings. They are found everywhere in world where civilizations prevailed, left for us to interpret and bring them to life by giving them words; a journey from art as an expression to expression as an art.

Warli Painting in India is such tribal art dating back several hundred years. The word “Warli” comes from the word “warla” which means a piece of land. The Warli tribe painted the walls of their mud homes with pictures to depict their social life and mark important occasions such as weddings, birth and the harvest. Their extremely rudimentary wall paintings use a very basic graphic vocabulary from their observation of nature: a circle, a triangle and a square.

A circle represents the sun and the moon

A triangle represents mountains and pointed trees

A square represents the piece of land symbolizing fertility.

These geometric figures are joined together to form beautiful patterns. Like, two apex of triangles are joined together to form a human figure.

To make your own Warli painting:

• Choose a design

• Draw pattern with pencil

• Outline with black marker

• Fill in the colors

This art was derived from observation of nature and a limited vocabulary... Simple way to do it is just let go of all you know for few moments. Limit yourself to discover what’s unlimited and…that’s expression

Enjoy the art!!

Explore your artistic self!!

Give yourself the permission to just have fun and play without being judgmental about yourself. There is no right or wrong way to create, so just create!
Explore your artistic self..explore yourself!!

Colormehappyworkshop:)

The story of my life!

I remember when the world broke in,
to rip apart my soul,
for years after that one event,
I thought myself not whole,
my hours were spent with trying,
to fix it up with tape and glue,
until one day I discovered,
everyone else was broken too,
here we were with pieces,
of ourselves in both our hands,
so fragile and so open,
that I began to understand,
Maybe I'd been greedy,
to want my soul all to myself,
when it could be a lot more helpful,
in the palms of someone else,
now every time I go somewhere,
I leave part of me behind,
and collect all of the pieces,
of others' soul that I can find,
So when I'm meeting someone new
it's not just me they get,
but also tiny fragments,
of all the others I've met,
and my life's become much bigger,
now that its home to things so small,
and if this is what "broken" means,
I do not mind at all.
~Erin Hanson

Snip, Snip...Snow! ~ by Nancy poydar

A very well thought, expressive, realistic and colorfully illustrated book.
With no snow in forecast and all the winter fun on hold this book makes a beautiful read with all its sighs and squeals!!

Colormehappyworkshop!

I am in you as you, you are in me as me~ A beautiful poem by Sri Sri!

Words are too small to convey the truth,
Yet they can trigger the flames of wisdom,
Shower comfort on the intense longing,
Raise cheers of joy and make you know
I treasure your love for me.

Like god his creation,
The root its trunk,
Unknown, unheard, unseen,
In the silent chamber of heart
I am in you as you,
You are in me as me!

Beautifully written by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Find your happiness at www.artofliving.org

I promise~A beautiful poem by Sri Sri!

If I had to promise you something, what would it be?
I can’t promise that you would always be comfortable…Because comfort brings boredom and discomfort.
I can’t promise that all your desires will be fulfilled…Because desires whether fulfilled or unfulfilled bring frustration.
I can’t promise that there will always be good times…Because it is the tough times that make us appreciate joy.
I can’t promise that we will be rich or famous or powerful…Because they can all be pathways to misery.
I can’t promise that we will always be together…Because it is separation that makes togetherness so wonderful.
Yet if you are willing to walk with me, if you are willing to value love over everything else
I promise that this will be the most rich and fulfilling life possible.

I promise your life will be an eternal celebration,

I promise you I will cherish you more than a king cherishes his crown,

And I shall love you more than a mother loves her newborn.
If you are willing to walk into my arms,

If you are willing to live in my heart,

You will find the one you have waited forever….

You will meet yourself in my arms…

I promise.

Poem written by H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Find your happiness at www.artofliving.org

For the last 31 days of year I plan to~

Organize myself, my thoughts, my belongings and my mind.

Declutter life physically, mentally and emotionally!

My mantra ~

Own less ~ live more:) ❤️ 
Those activities which you have to do, do them and rest...
Those activities which you don't need to do, leave them and rest!!

Clay Ganesha ~ had a super fun workshop using crayola air dry white clay and beads (Rakhi's recycled)!!

Eggless chocolate/chocolate chip cookies

What you will need

•1 1/3 Cup organic whole wheat/all purpose flour 
•1/2 Cup organic chocolate chips (Sun spire 65% cacao)
•1/2 Tsp organic vanilla extract (optional)
•1/2 Cup organic sweet cream butter melted at room temperature (we leave the butter out overnight)
•Pinch of salt (Skip if you are using salted butter)
•4 Tbsp organic milk
•1/3 Cup organic coconut palm sugar
•2 Tbsp organic cocoa (add for 'chocolate' choco chip cookies only)
•1/2 Tsp pure baking soda
•Pizza stone or cookie sheet

 Here is how to..

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degree F.
2. In a large bowl whisk well dry ingredients (add cocoa for chocolate cookies only) 
3. Whisk together butter, milk and sugar in a large bowl until fluffy
4. Mix wet and dry ingredients and knead well. 
5. Pinch off tablespoon-size pieces of the dough, press them gently and place them on pizza stone.
6. Bake in oven for 10-15 minutes or till they are golden brown. Remove from oven n cool on a rack.
7. Enjoy!!

Eggless/vegan chocolate cake!!

What you will need

• 2 Cups organic whole wheat pastry flour (Bob's Red Mill organic pastry flour) 
• 2 Cups organic coconut palm sugar (Madhava organic coconut sugar)
• 2 Tsp pure baking soda ( Bobs Red Mill pure baking soda)
• 1/2 Tsp freshly grounded organic cardamom ( Frontier organic cardamom)
• 1 Tsp salt (real sea salt)
• 6 Tbsp organic non alkaline cocoa powder(Ahlaska organic baker's cocoa)
• 2 Cups water
• 2 Tsp organic vanilla (Frontier organic vanilla)
• 1 Tsp Fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 10 Tbsp organic canola oil (Spectrum organic canola oil)
• 1 Cup organic walnuts ( 1/2 cup to mix in batter, 1/2 cup to sprinkle on top)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat pan with oil and flour. Add an extra bowl of water to oven to keep cake moist.
2. In a large bowl mix dry ingredients and whisk well.

3. In a separate bowl mix well wet ingredients.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry and mix them together with 1/2 cup nuts

5. Pour batter in pan and sprinkle with leftover nuts.

6. Bake for 35-40 minutes
7. Cool in pan for 15 minutes
8. Loosen edges, and turn out onto wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!

Vasistha's Yoga ~ An ultimate masterpiece for the spiritual seekers!

This world-appearance is a confusion: even as the blueness of the sky is an optical illusion. I think it is better not to let the mind dwell on it, but to ignore it. (1.3.2)

Yatah Sarvani bhutani pratibhanti sthitani ca
Yatrai ‘vo  'pasamam yanti tasmai satyatmane namaha. (1)

Salutations to that reality in which all the elements, and all the animate and inanimate beings shine as if they have an independent existence, and in which they exist for a time and into which they merge.

Jnata jnanam tatha jneyam drasta darsana drsyabuh Karta hetuh kriya yasmat tasmai jnaptyatmane namaha. (2)

Salutations to that consciousness which is the source of apparently distinct threefold divisions of 
knower, knowledge and known.
Seer, sight and seen.
Doer, doing and deed.

Sphuranti sikara yasmad anandasysa ‘mbare ‘vanau 
Sarvesam jivanam tasmai brahmanandatmane namaha.(3)

Salutations to that bliss absolute (the ocean of bliss) which is the life of all beings whose happiness and unfoldment is derived from the shower of spray from that ocean of bliss.

Have a colorful day:)

"LOVE" by Alexandr Milov ~ One of the most powerful art pieces!

The sculpture of two adults after a disagreement with their back to each other. Yet the inner child in both of them simply wants to connect and love the other. Age has taught us much, but what we all can live without is Ego, Pride, Vanity and Grudges that prevent us from forgiving and moving ahead. The free spirit exhibited by children IS OUR TRUE NATURE!

Slow down!! "There is more to life than increasing its speed!" ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Food for thought!

Mantra of peace!

OM!
Asato ma sadgamaya!
Tamso ma jyotirgamaya!
Mrtyorma amrtam gamaya!
Om shanti, shanti, shanti!

OM
Lead me from unreal to the real.
Lead me from darkness to the light.
Lead me from death to immortality.
Let there be peace, peace and peace!

:) findyourhappiness at www.artofliving.org

Aap saab ko Diwali ki bahut bahut shubh kamnaye!

May this Diwali fills your life with loads of happiness, light and love:)
Sharing a note by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar explaining the meaning of Diwali
Have a colorful n joyful day!!

Dream catcher - Colorful world of stories!

Featured in Times-Republican

Being a mother of two lovely daughters is one of the best things ever happened to me in my life. Their colorful and joyful stories, silly grins and giggles, fill my days with so much love and happiness.

I see them cracking silly jokes and laughing till their tummies hurt and wonder why and when in life we grow up and stop living like a child? We get stuck on things and cannot let go, we forget to forgive and start worrying too much. Why does growing up really needs leaving our innocent, beautiful heart and world behind. Even the jokes should make perfect sense:((

Dream Catcher is a joyful artwork from my daughter’s colorful world of stories! I feel blessed that I get to experience through my daughters what I left far behind in the life and even forgot how it felt.... to be a child!

To create your own masterpiece, take mundane materials from your life, run them through your imagination and let your personality shine through your work following these simple steps.

• Choose a design

• Draw pattern with pencil

• Outline with markers

• Fill in with crayons

Revisit your lives through your art work... it's so much fun:)) Thanks for stopping by and have a colorful day!!

Duck on a bike - A book with prespective that teaches to have fun in what you do and don't worry about what others think! The last page is a favorite in my home:)

Starfish - A thoughtful art project!

Featured in Times-Republican

I am surrounded with friends and family who do not share the same passion of green and organic living as me. I tell you, it can be very difficult to be able to live your way as others are either trying to question your thinking or justifying their actions.


Often the question get raised, what can a single person do? Or what difference it will make?

It’s not an easy conversation especially when people have preconceived minds.

I feel so blessed that I am raising the kids who share my passion towards the happier and healthier world. Few days back my daughter got a lovely gift for me and she told me” mommy thanks for making us the throwers of starfish”. I wondered what it meant.

When I opened the gift, it was a beautiful story titled ‘Starfish’.

I got so touched with the story. It’s a beautiful read so I thought of sharing with you all.

A man saw a boy throwing starfish into the ocean, he asked the boy why he was doing this and the boy said, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”

The man looked at the miles and miles of beach and saw starfish everywhere. “You just saved one starfish. You can never save them all. What difference will it make?”

The boy picked up another starfish and threw it in. He smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one.”

As we become throwers of starfish, we too have the power to change the world!

This month’s art project is also inspired by this story.

For this project what you will need

• Cardstock
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue
• Paints or markers
• Paintbrush

Draw starfish on cardstock. Cut using scissors. Dip paintbrush in paints and dab it gently on the paper for polka dot impressions. Write the story or print for the base. When dry, stick starfishes using glue to the base.

Be colorful, joyful and the change you wish to see in the world!

You are what you think!

Pic from- The Resonance Project

If you think you are free...
you are free!
If you think you are bound...
you are bound!!

Your happiness is not lying somewhere outside, Its all in your mind and how you think.
Give yourself the freedom to live, love n laugh!
Change your thoughts and you change your world!

Thanks giving art and craft idea for large group of kids - Each child decorates their own feather!

Q-tip Skeleton - Happy Halloween!

Fall Fun - Fishes using dried leaves!

Proud Mommy! Colormehappy:))

Published and won 2012 award

Published and won 2013 award

Published and won 2014 award

Super cool and fun monster treat bags!

What you will need

• Brown paper bags
• Construction paper
• Pipe cleaners
• Markers
• Scissors
• Pencil n eraser
• Wiggly eyes(optional)
• Glue

Measure the side of bag
Cut colorful construction paper to cover one side of the bag. Glue n stick. Draw, cut eyes n teeth from leftover scraps of construction paper. Monsters are fun and  have no set expressions and number of eyes. Let your creativity soar!

I did a project like this for Halloween treat bags with kindergartners last year. They had loads of fun! If you are doing this project with a big group of small children, its HIGHLY recommended that you cut scraps for the facial expressions before hand and let kids choose. They can decorate using crayons, markers, wiggly eyes and other crafting supplies available. They loved it!

This project is done by book fair volunteers:) Thank You!

Pom Pom Monsters - A simple and creative eco-friendly alternative for balloons!

For tissue paper pom-poms monsters what you will need

• Colorful tissue paper
• Scissors
• String/pipe cleaner/florist wire
• Construction paper
• Pencil n eraser
• Scissors
• Glue
• Your creativity:)

Layer 6-10 sheets of tissue paper on a flat surface.
Fold widthwise in an accordion-fold pattern.
Fold in half and cut ends using scissors.
Tie a string in the center and fluff the tissue by gently pulling apart the layers of tissue for floral effect.
Draw monster faces on construction paper, cut n glue!

Please reuse or recycle them! We did at our book fair:)) They will be reused for the next event:)

This project is done by book fair volunteers:) Thank you!

Thanks for visiting and have a colorful day!

 

No plastic please! - DIY cotton tote bags using fabric markers.

What you will need

Cotton Tote bag

Pencil n eraser

Cardboard (you can also use a big book)

Fabric markers

Rhinestones, sequins, glitter, puff paint (optional)

1.Insert cardboard in the bag to help prevent leaking color through to the other side.

2. Smoothen the top by stretching and folding the sides of bag under the cardboard. 

3. You can also use tape to keep it intact for the younger kids. 

4. Draw the design using pencil.

5. Outline and fill in using fabric markers.

Thanks for visiting and have a colorful day:)

Fingerprint Flag!!

A recipe for a very dear mother!

Thank you so much girls!! 

.

Thank you for your helping hands - Such a thoughtful idea!

Received this thankful note today...
Love what you do and do what you love.
I am blessed I have both:)
What more can I say...Color me happy:)
Thank you!!

Autobiography of a yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda

The most profound, inspiring, and beautiful spiritual classic!!
Loved it....I will have to read it a few times to keep revealing the deeper n subtler meaning to life.
An absolute gem!

Wanna read it NOW..

www.ananda.org  has a free ebook available:)

Thanks for visiting and have a joyful day! 

Now or Never - A thoughtful art project for new year with endless possiblities!!

Featured in Times-Republican!

Have you ever noticed that thinking of past no matter pleasant or unpleasant only brings regret and misery? The beautiful moments we lived in the past fill us with misery for not having them now and the thoughts of what we could have and should have done fills us with regret.

Similarly, thinking of future leaves us with anxiety of what is going to happen and how we will deal with it while we can do nothing about it.

Life is what is happening to us right now and we can only be happy living in the present moment.

This New Year take resolve to be happy and spread happiness by living in the moment…NOW!

It’s beautifully said that if you feel free you are free. If you feel bound you are bound.

This month’s art project is a scrabble art.

What you will need is

• Letters for message from scrabble
• Glue
• handmade paper

Using glue, stick the letters onto the handmade paper. It’s a simple and creative art project with endless possibilities. You can use it for wall art, greetings and picture frames.

Wish you all a very colorful and joyful new year ahead!

Well Said!