"Pretty Quilled Cards" - A book review

Hello All,

Anyone who has seen Cecelia Louie's work (on her blog) will probably use these words to describe it: Simple, Airy, Uncomplicated, Effective.......

Thank Heavens, she decided to share her genius with all of us, through her amazing book - Pretty Quilled Cards - 25+ Creative Designs for Greetings and Celebrations.

When asked to review the book, I have to confess, I felt highly flattered. When the book landed in my hands, it was like talking to Cecelia, almost like seeing her working in front of my eyes.

Now, over to the book......

The book opens with a very elaborate introduction to the tools and techniques in quilling. In a typical Cecelia style, the descriptions are elaborate and lucid. She goes on to describe the various techniques, with clear illustrated images. Everything about her works spells simplicity, down to her gluing techniques. Her ingenuity at using simplest of things as quilling tools shines right through! What struck me was that she has "named" techniques which most of us just "do". Nomenclature of techniques definitely did appeal greatly to the scientist in me! :D

All projects start with a crisp list of components, precise instructions as to how to use those and where. These are followed by images of how to put them together AND a template for the card background. It truly can't get any simpler than that.

The cards are so well illustrated that even I could follow the instructions. Though there are 25+ projects described in the book, I absolutely fell head over heels in love with the wine-glass charms and cupcake toppers.

Anyone looking to make cards using quilling and simplest (yet, most effective) ideas, this book is an absolute must-have. And Cecelia, I hope you realize that you've penned a classic, as far as quilling books are concerned :) Thank you for giving me this opportunity to review your book, It's an honour beyond all honours :)

Happy Quilling

Pritesh 

Tutorial - Dimension addition to quilled flowers

Hello All,

I'm sure most of us have seen quilled flowers that are neatly off the base and look like you could pluck them off the board :) There exist methods to make such "dimension added" flowers. One of the methods is to use silicone (it's not silicon peoples, silicon is blackish blue in colour and very hard) glue. I, as a crafter, find it messy. Even as a researcher, I never found it an easy material to work with. Having cured silicone for almost a year for a research project will keep me away from it for life! :D

A sample of how flowers made using the technique demonstrated below can be used to make a frame:

So, I used a technique I had learnt in class II as a replacement, namely, using a paper cone. Here is a photo tutorial to demonstrate how.........this one goes out specially to Manjit Kaur Bhalla, who asked me for the tutorial :)

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Simplicity - Inspiration Manu

Hello All,

Ever since I checked out the simple yet awesome frames Manu (Manuela Koosch) had been making, my hands had been itching to try something simple. This project was made over 2 days (I kept waiting for ideas to strike, hence the delay!).......but it's a fairly simple one otherwise :)

Hope you like it. Thanks Manu, for giving me the much needed break from heavy duty stuff :)

Hugs to you

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Tutorial - Flower using a daisy punch

Hello All,

Here is my video tutorial for making a simple flower using a 8-petal daisy punch. Feel free to use 6 petal flower punches in a similar way. Just nip one petal off and create a gluing region :)

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Indian Crafts Room Challenge - Sum up :)

Hello All,

This is a post filled with my contributions to the Indian Crafts Room Challenge 14 (I am SO sorry Ash, for not having linked back all this while!)......



Here are all my entries (I seem to be addicted heavily) :D

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Addiction Clean and Simple

Hello All,

Here I go, with yet another one :) I have so wanted to make a flower like this for so long but things just never fell in place..........I bought these beautiful BIG half pearls and thought I should put these to use :) So, here I am with an embellishment I have used for the first time - large half pearls :)

I chose the colours according to the challenge theme at Colour Throwdown challenge no. 173, so am obviously entering it for that. Other challenges:

Dutch Dare Card Challenges (New Beginnings)
The Pink ElephantChallenge  #129 (Anything Goes)
Crafts and Me Challenge (# 66, Anything Goes)
Paper Play Challenge (New Year)

Happy Quilling PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Purple Donkey

Hi! All,

I have been so terribly busy so here is a quick post - wishing my husband a quick recovery from a nasty cold that has made him so miserable for past 2 days! This donkey is a reproduction of a purple donkey I was once gifted (from a friend whose father worked in Uzbekistan), that never ceased to make me smile! :)

This one's specially for my husband Ananth, my best friend, my soul-mate........

A close-up look of the donkey :)

And well, it so happens that this fits the theme of ICR challenge 14 (clean and simple)........so submitting it there too :)



Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)