One of the best hints I can share for sewing deity garments is hemming using the rolled foot!
You can buy an attachment for your sewing machine, if it hasn’t already come with one. I use it on nearly every set of deity clothes that I make – the teeny tiny seams are a dream!
There ARE tricks to using it, and a lot of my friends over the years have asked me to show them to use it, and I would LOVE to do that, but sociable as I am I rarely get out, and it’s hard to find the time – plus, how am I going to help my New York, Vrindavan, or Polish friends? So, this is how my friends, this is how.
One note that I would add, is that you can hold your fabric up and slightly over. You will learn to do this naturally to solve the frustration of unpicking your seams, but hey I’d love to save you from that frustration entirely.
Now that I have just revisited that tutorial I realise that it can actually be used as a trick for curved seams, which someone asked me about today (here, this tip’s for you!)
Ok so you have an EXQUISITE fabric that is ridiculously slippery to sew. One fabric like that is this STUNNING Devore Velvet Silk with peacock pattern that I bought in a fit of enthusiasm, in 3 colors. Seriously, it was almost impossible to sew these into pretty shawls.
So after ruining half my fabric & a lot of research on how to stiffen fabrics which are prone to slide like this beautiful silk I found a LOT of information on using a gelatin bath to temporarily stiffen. Ok- so not going to happen! So While I did have ideas of using Agar-agar I still haven’t tried that. What I used was starch. I starched the fabric heavily, and ironed it dry, and THEN stitched it.
It worked pretty well! Stabilized the fabric enough to get relatively straight seams out of it.
This is a great DIY tip on understanding your thread tension on sewing maching. I can’t tell you how often I have been puzzled by this and just fiddled and hoped… But especially if you are trying to stitch using gold thread or switching between sewing heavy weight fabrics and light floaty fabrics, this is essential. I always wreck my tension when I sew deity turbans (because I sew right through stabilising xrays and fabric and quilt wadding!)
I am so happy that my 8yr old has begun requesting them again – for awhile there, it was no mum, not a Krishna story (break my heart!).
Now tho, we do everything and the final request of the night is a Krishna story, or JUST ONE MORE!
So, as the Krishna story request is usually accompanied by a demand for a NEW story mum, I have been delightfully pushed into reading and hearing more, to keep up with this insatiable thirst for the treasure house of Krsna story nectar (that we both love).
One source of joy has been the new treasure trove of Krishna lore from instagram account @KrishnaEveryday (Oh Hari! What a perfect name!)
Krishna instagram account with nice stories of Krsna everyday and beautiful images of Vrindavan and the cowherd boys and other inhabitants. Lots of quotes from various bonafide scriptural sources.
As a sidenote, somebody please name their child Hara! I heard a beautiful lecture from the wonderful speaker Acharaya das where he talks about the potency of Hara, as a name for Radharani. Hari and Hara? Oh the beauty. Check out more wonderful lectures from Acharya das, an authority on Vedic wisdom, on The Journey of Life.
Ok back to original thread here, one joy was re-reading the Krishna stories as an adult. Yes I was very fortunate to be born into a nice Vaishnava family (my parents are disciples of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad), and my dad was keen on reading us the Ramayan nightly. I’m pretty sure I learnt to read at 5 just to start reading those stories myself! Anyway it’s amazing how much more you can note and soak up as an adult re-reading Krishna’s pastimes from the Krishna book.
Mostly we switch out the light and cozy up on my daughters bed and I tell her the story as I remember it. I don’t have the worlds greatest memory (it’s wretched), so sometimes I say we are going to have to fact check that in the morning!
I love simple stories, and I love complicated stories! Sometimes you hear snippets studded with wonder from venerable Vaishnava devotees that you haven’t heard elsewhere and we hoard those up like jewels and take them out and marvel at them in story time.
My favorite part of our Krishna playdays is the story telling section. I just love it, and all the kids do too.
Because really, Krishna is for every day! Yay! Visit @doddyart on instagram for a beautiful stream of Krishna art and all things Krishna related!
What pastime of Krishna do you remember back to front and can tell as you are falling asleep? Me, I like to tell these faves right now: Lord Chaitanya discovers Toto Gopinath in the garden of Gadadhar, and also Mother Yasoda & Rohini call Krishna & Balaram home. My daughter loves to hear how Krishna and Balaram are naughty, and their friends threatening them not to play next time!
As it has just been the appearance day of Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya we have been talking all the stories I can remember of little Gaura – again so much appreciated!
So if you want to enjoy beautiful pastimes of Krishna then I urge you to start reading and hearing, and you will have so many just ready to flow from your lips when your little ones request Just One More at bedtime.
See post on the fun had during the reenactment activity here
Setting up the activity table with all the required paints, papers, cutting tools and precut fish shapes makes the craft go smoothlyAn assortment of fish shapes, cut out from brown (natural) paper plates and turtles, ready for kids to decorate and IMPORTANTLY some examples so they have an idea to springboard their imaginations offGoogly eyes, precut baby turtle shapes from green cardboard, twine, a carved wooden turtle inspiration and some cut off egg carton cardboard are the perfect tools to create some marvellous sea creatures.Making turtles, cut out the silhouette from paper plates first and decorate with “scales” from bits of mini muffin linersPreparing in advance is key to quick and easy craft activities for kids, easy for them to grab the materials and away they go!
These fun fish have a destination! Were made using brown paper plates and little “boats” dishes for food.Creatively decorated with glitter, big and little turtles – and adorable googly eyesLetting the kids DIY craft is most of the fun. See how creatively adorned with shiny metallic foil wrappers this turtle is? The paper plate base makes nice texture on his flippers and finsAn assortment of fish created using eco-disposable serving ware, these fish are made with little wood paper boats, and covered in silver and gold foil cupcake wrappers for a fish scale effect that catches the light and is shiny
A little stage was set using the fish craft. A throne was made for Varuna, and paper streamers and balloons were hung to give the underwater world effect, as well as all the crafted fish the kids had made during the activity section of the Krishna playday.
Every so often we are welcomed into a world of delight! This beautiful play day was organised by some homeschooling wonderwomen & shared with me. It’s got craft, dress ups, and role playing – what an adventure!
The schedule for activities is one which I have found generally works, and you can shake up the order as needed, to keep kids attention and make sure they are well fed & happy:
Offering: Have a romp around and play while the guests drift in, and once all are assembled have an offering to Krishna and all chant. It’s very encouraging to round up all the little ones for this, and give them different instruments to shake bash bang or play. Even the youngest can take part if they can shake a tamborine.
offering to Krishna with Love and kirtan
Storytime:After a kirtan, relaxed and fun, tell or read a Krishna story. Kids relate much better to something which is a lively and animated retelling, and enjoy a group story-telling session where the storyteller interacts with them and gets them involved by asking questions. We don’t have a video of this part, but we are working on a collection of Krishna storytelling videos! Stay posted.
set up activity area ready for bombardment of mini people and their enthusiastic minders.
Lunch: While the craft is drying is the ideal time for a lunch break.
Lunchtime with some freshly offered banana muffins prasadam from Lord Krishna
Story re-enactment: Dressing up and decorating themselves and each other the kids have a lot of fun retelling the story they have learnt.
A little stage was set using the fish craft, and a muslin bed canopy suspended from the overhead mango trees. A throne was made for Varuna, and paper streamers and balloons were hung to give the underwater world effect, as well as all the crafted fish the kids had made during the activity section of the Krishna playday. This can work just as nicely inside a house don’t worry!A full cast of actors for our Krishna drama
Wild playtime: the culmination of the day time to bond with each other and relax in their environment and free play.
Free play time in the wonderland of the outdoors and a rustic homemade treehouse/ sandpit complete with a wobbly walking bridge
Some jewellery ideas you can buy ready made and use or adapt to ornament your sweet Lords.
There are lots of differently sized deities, my Lord Chaitanya & Lord Nityananda deities are a glorious 53cm base to tip of arms, and I admit I was eager for this size, after years of making fiddly garments for my parents Gaura Nitai deities, who are only around 20cm.
Stick on bindi earrings – if your deities do not have pierced earholes
Earrings with the plastic earring holder as the stud back are perfect for your deities
Bracelets as crowns – two types which work, stretchy elastic or soft friendship band style bracelets
Ornamental braid crowns (small DIY required in joining the ends together, can be done with a stitch or two, or even sticky tape!)
Bracelets & Anklets necklaces – small fine chains work nicely for this, check the kids section
Adjustable Rings as crowns – particularly lovely around a bun, or for Radha deity
Clippon earrings are darling to adorn belts, ends of shawls or fix turbans in place
Buy beads by the strand & simply tie the ends of the thread – instant deity necklace
Ribbon can make easy shawls – Lace works particularly nicely & rarely needs hem
bracelets as necklaces, a selection of our favesNecklaces – fancy ornamental style – you can buy these filigree style necklaces anywhere, perfect for deities necklacesExpandable rings perfect bangles for deitiessoft plastic backs make perfect earring backs for studsAnklebells/ Anklets as necklaces or beltsElastic bracelets as crownsClippon earrings can be used charmingly attached to turbans, headbands or beltsBuy beads by the open strand and tie the ends for an instant necklace our favorite pearl necklaces are a simple pre-threaded strand of tiny pearlsBindi for earrings, rings, jewellery, toe rings are so pretty and easyKrsna wears a soft tied cowherd-boy style bandanna, and using a stretchy bangle to ornament the shawl which is tied with ends out, cowherd boy style. Easy to find these stretchy bracelets at big cheap jewellery places like Lovisa, Dotti, and so on. He wears amber earrings which are secured using the little plastic stud backs which are easy to mold up to the backs of his ears.Smaller 9″ Krishna & Balaram deities wear charming strawberry earrings (childrens section of jewellery store) & little bracelets as necklaces. The gold one Lord Balaram wears is a bracelet, as is the silver diamonte one Krsna wears. The extra pearl and silver one draped over Lord Balaram is another special delicate bracelet. These are my 8yr olds play deities. I try and let her develop her bond with them whilst only gently guiding!Lace Shawls deity DIY, and ring crowns.Krishna’s crown is made from a braided/beaded wristband, with a little tassel attached. He also wears an anklet as a belt. His earrings are amber & his necklace is vintage Indian murti jewellery.
