One of my fav blogs...

The first of March. The first of any month holds so many possibilities. A chance to have another go at that list of resolutions. Make more resolutions. Try a new things. Cook and craft more. Work..umm…more or less, depending upon what you want right now from your life. Exercise a LOT more. Loose a few pounds and maybe, fit into that pair of corduroys that’s still new.

I hope this month, I’ll blog more. Paint, sew and craft. Read. And study more.

Well, since I mentioned posting more on Cookie Jar, let me tell you about a blog I enjoy reading. It’s called Cotton Strudel, and it’s written by, umm, Cotton Strudel  – a crafter, web developer, English teacher, wife and new mum. Its one interesting blog for all those out there who like to cook, craft and know how to savour every moment of this life. I like to cruise over to her online sketchbook and scrapbook, to see what she’s up to these days. Reading her posts is like catching up with a friend who shares the same interests. Mine being crafting, cooking and sewing. 

Cotton Strudel's creation - a little girl giraffe names Aurora

Image: Cotton Strudel

Dithi's Art

The first time I stumbled upon Deez Den, I was totally hooked. Dithi’s art, vibrancy and passion for what she created were as much reason to read her blog as were the paintings she worked on and posted regularly. It’s been a couple of years now. I still visit her blog regularly, and her paintings continue to mesmerize me.

Beautiful, wholesome Indian women with burnished skin and doe eyes peek out from her canvases. From richly-adorned goddesses to the cotton sari-clad woman-next-door, her art portrays the essence of India and the spirit of the Indian woman.

I interviewed and wrote an article about her last year, in Femina.in and described what she does as “She paints like a dream, and with joy in her heart. Rich earthy colours, spicy flavours and memories of India fuse together into pictures that are anything but ordinary. Bronze-skinned and doe-eyed Indian women waltz through her canvases, whispering secrets for the onlooker to interpret.”

Here, in my blogzine today, I’d like her art to do the talking. So go on, meet the goddesses and girls that Dithi brings to life.

One of her latest paintings...

Saraswati - the Goddess of Learning

A Bengali lady with her batua (string purse)

Maa Durga

q & a with Madhumita Gopalan

Her photographs are like dreams. Ethereal and enchanting. Enigmatic and interesting. Take a look yourself to see how Madhumita works magic with her camera.

q. Please tell us about yourself – where are you based, your growing up years, education, professional background, talents, interests.

a. I grew up in Hyderabad, soaking up the city's unique culture and heritage. My parents are originally from Tamil Nadu, and settled in Hyderabad when I was a few months old. I have post-graduate degrees in Physics and Computational Techniques, and work on algorithms and mathematical modelling. I also love music - I was trained in classical music as a kid, and I love gardening. But Photography, is my biggest passion. I met my husband through our shared interest in photography, and we’ve been married for a year.

q. What is your blog about?

a. My blog Aadab Hyderabad is all about capturing everything I love about Hyderabad. I do a bit of research to find more things that I can love about Hyderabad, and go hunting for little known remnants of its past that still exist.

q. Would you like to tell us about your photography - how you got started and your growth as a photographer?

a. I developed an interest in photography quite late - just about 3 years ago. But it had to happen sooner or later, considering that my dad loves photography and so did his dad. So it probably was in the genes! We spent a bit of time in Calcutta, and playing assistant to my dad as he shot pictures of life there must have played it's part in unconsciously inspiring me. I started playing around with a small point-and-shoot camera, and when I realized how much I enjoyed it, I decided it was time for a DSLR. My husband has played a huge role in my journey since then - sometimes a mentor, sometimes a partner in crime :)

q. What kind of projects and compositions do enjoy working on?

a. While I enjoy all kinds of photography and do portraits/event photography assignments, street and travel photography excite me the most. I enjoy outdoor photography in natural light, and love capturing everything on the streets including the people, the buildings, the art and the toil - everything that goes into making "the way of life". Aadab Hyderabad, in which I photodocument Hyderabad is very close to my heart, and I hope to continue to do it for years.