Getting to Know Me Blog Hop

At Malaysia Aviary

Dear friends Thank you so much for the wonderful comments on my Fairy land pop up card and all the congratulatory messages about my blog crossing 3 million views!
Jaya of My Craft World invited me on a "Getting to know me blog Hop". Jaya makes the most stunning creations...she plays with texture and inks and sprays and literally weaves magic in her creations. I love her layouts , her cards , her altered projects...ooh I could go on and on!! Do pay her a visit...I promise you wont be disappointed!
I am supposed to tell a few things about myself....

Why do I craft and blog ?

I had never realised I was a creative person till I started making school projects for my little girl[she was 2 then] and I actually started this blog [in 2010]to chronicle the kiddy cards and school projects we made.

With my daughter in 2010

Our school projects became a hit in her school as well as on this blog and I started getting emails from all over the world asking for guidance on making particular school projects!

Taj Mahal School Project

And why do I blog.....I guess the euphoria generated by the comments to a blog post[akin to what I felt when this cutie elephant patted me!] and the friendships formed in blogland keeps me blogging!

In Karnataka Elephant Camp

We all have stresses and problems in life and for me crafting seems to be a wonderful distraction.I firmly believe that whether you are a housewife , a computer engineer or a doctor like myself ...everyone needs a hobby , a little bit of special " me time" to unwind!! Dont you agree?

How does my work differ from others?

I like to experiment in all kinds of crafts  using different media like foam, styrofoam, ceramic,corrugated paper, mseal , felt...[give me some new material and I will try to at least make a flower out of it!!] And I like to dabble in lots of stuff like recycling crafts, jewelry making, 3 D paper crafts, etc

Foam Rose Jewelry set

And I guess I love to share how I made something even though I am not an expert! And what makes my projects really special is when they have input from the little one in the picture!

With my daughter in Coorg

How long does it take to create a project ?

Well the question I get the most from my readers is "how do you get time to craft ?"

Yes time is an issue especially since I am a practising doctor + surgeon and a mom to a demanding little 8 year old! I don't have full time maids or cooks or drivers and yes I have to do the shopping too!! Ha Ha yes I am your average busy bee[ handling myriad fluttering birds !].

With my mom, daughter and hubby- Malaysia

On an average I take at least a week to make a single card and that too using flowers and embellies I must have made earlier and with die cuts I must have cut long back! But I do craft a little bit each day  [sometimes just ten minutes!] as it relaxes me ...it may be just punching or die cutting a few leaves or making a single flower!  And I hardly watch TV---- big time saver!

I often can't craft to a deadline due to time constraints [hence I don't accept regular DT posts] and ha ha this post was supposed to go live yesterday so you know I  often do get into serious time crunches !

Lemme pass the baton on to 2 super talented blogger friends

Lisa of A Mermaid Crafts

I am sure most of my readers are familiar with Lisa as her presence in our crafty blogland is hard to miss. She makes such beautiful projects using dies , inks and media.

Lisa's tag

Crafty Blogging is all about sharing and supporting each other and Lisa to me is one of the most wonderful friends a crafty blogger could wish for!
Her work is unique and inspiring and her presence in blog land is such a morale boost to her crafty friends and especially to me as never a blog post goes uncommented by her.
Do vist Lisa  and follow her...you  will have made a friend for life!

Radhika of Hobby Crafts

Radhika started her blog only in 2013 but from her very first blog post she had me intrigued. She combines traditional Indian crafts and modern crafting with such enviable ease and shares step by step tutorials to many many projects.

Radhika's antique lock

She can turn an ordinary lock and key into a work of art , convert a coconut shell into a jewelry box , make an aquarium in a phone case, make earrings out of pista shells....oooh this lady's mind is a crafty wonderland !! And she has become such a supportive blogger friend too...Thank you Radhika for inspiring and being a wonderful blogger pal. Do drop by Radhika's blog....this lady has a big cauldron of creativity you wouldn't want to miss!