My Domestic Art

I have been cooking with lentils a lot lately. They are so incredibly delicious, nutritious, healthy and filling. They are also quick and simple to prepare. I am obsessed. This leek and lentils soup has become another one of my family's favourite. Not only does it taste so good, it is also ridiculously healthy! Leek, lentils, onions, and loads of flavourful spices. It is very thick and creamy, more like a stew, and very hearty on its own. The addition of vinegar at the end of cooking gives this soup a lovely tartness that brings out the rest of the flavours of the soup. Serve with some roti prata or naan, and you have a perfect vegetarian dinner. Full of proteins, fiber and cozy flavours. Leek and Lentils Soup Ingredients: 100g green lentils - washed and drained 1 onion - chopped 4 garlic - minced 3 leeks, white parts only - chopped 3 celery - chopped 2 carrots - chopped 2 tbsp. butter 1 tsp salt 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp grou

There are monsters everywhere..... I loved this window display when I saw it - I just knew my kids would find it amusing, especially the little one. He's been fascinated with all things monsters since he discovered that Halloween is round the corner and there are all sorts of scary masks, weapons, spiders, scary toys and decorations on sale everywhere we go lately. I just had to make something similar to amuse him . Added some simple tangles to make it more fun and mysterious. A few minutes a day is all I need to doodle and unwind. Finally. Zentangle Doodle Halloween Monster Eyes Doodling and tangling are just so incredibly fun and relaxing. My kids like to watch me doodle and give comments or suggestions along the way. What makes it even more exciting is we never know what the end result will look like as I don't like to rush the picture but rather let it progress over a few doodling sessions. Another one - just for fun. Hall

It has been fun discovering about Zentangle. I have always enjoyed doodling , so it's sort of natural to go on to doing Zentangle art or Zentangle inspired art . This is inspired by a Tangle Pattern I saw online - called "Nymph". I started off with a light border then divide them into triangles randomly. Then retraced the triangles with curved borders. Followed by lines coming out from each "centre". Done.

Zentangle inspired flower art Zentangle is an abstract drawing method created using repetitive patterns (called "tangles"). These structured and repetitive patterns are easy-to-learn, hence accessible to all, whether you are a beginner or an expert. This art form provides a fun and relaxing way to unwind while creating beautiful art pieces. It is meant to be pleasurable and meditative. I love the fact that it is abstract and supposed to be relaxing. It is also said to increase focus and mindfulness, all of which I need right now ! The Zentangle art images I saw online have been nothing short of intriguing and I was itching to try it out. All it requires is a white piece of paper and pencil or black ink. There is no rule to it, and the creation of each piece of art is completely organic. NO eraser should be used to erase any mistakes. Here's how it went with my first Zentangle. Start with a border or a shape - in my case I started with a simple f

Butterfly doodle Doodling is not only a great way to pass the time, but also fantastic as a stress reliever. I used to doodle a lot when I was in school and also before I had kids. But kids just take up so much of my time that I have not been able to put aside time to do the things that I used to enjoy. Like crafting.... and doodling. Since the older kids are revising for their exams now, I try to keep the little one quiet by getting him to do quiet activities . The annoying thing is if I were to give him a piece of paper and ask him to draw, he would simply refuse. BUT... I have found that if I were to take a piece of paper and start doodling myself, he would join me. Every SINGLE time!  It has been amazing to see the effect of doodling on him - it calms him down almost immediately and the house is peaceful and conducive for the older boys to revise. And to be honest, doodling calms me down too! Exam period is a time when the stress level all around is at an all t

Giving someone special a handmade greeting card is not only fun and more personal, but also more meaningful to both the recipient and the giver. Isn't it wonderful to give someone something that you have made yourself and to show them how much you care! Making your own beautiful greeting cards doesn't have to be hard, there are many tools out there to get started, such as rubber stamps, ink pads, ribbons, laces, stickers, washi tapes, embossers and many more. But seriously, as fantastic as it is to have all the latest fun gadgets to make beautiful cards, sometimes all you need is a few basic stuff, some creativity, patience and time. Yup, I fell for it too and bought a whole bunch of pretty little toys that I hardly use now. Today, I am going to show you my doodle birthday cards, which I made together with my son for his friend's birthday. This is all you need: a nice piece of thick paper or card stock coloured marker, pen or pencil and let your imaginat