<p>It’s natural to have a smile on your face when someone talks about food. Whether it’s about a delicious chocolate cake or a cheesy pizza, you automatically do a happy dance in your head when they are mentioned. But Preethi S dances to the tune of food not because she likes to indulge in them, but to make clay models of the food items and stick them on the refrigerator. Yes, she makes magnets of the ever mouth-watering ‘dosa’, ‘idli’, ‘jalebi’ and more!<br /><br /></p>.<p>Preethi was working as an assistant professor after she completed her Computer Science degree, but she would often find herself obsessed with arts and crafts. She says, “I guess it’s heredity; my grandmother and mother are masters in pastel and acrylic painting, beaded miniatures, embroidery, tailoring and more. That talent got passed on to me and I would whirl around with projects and assignments at work, and work on my creative side after 10 pm. Sometimes I would even go on till 3 am!”<br /><br />Her love and passion to make these miniature models started at a young age. She was amused by the Lilliputs and framed her creations using play dough. Her mini-projects let her to attain perfection, leading her to take hands-on training from experts and start making more clay models. She slowly started to experiment with whatever she thought would look good and found her true calling with food magnets. “I often wonder if anyone in this world doesn’t like food; it doesn’t matter if they love traditional food or the Western ones. So I decided to put my love to the test and make magnets out of them. I love staying up all night creating whatever I can lay my hands on. No matter how tired I am, I make time to create something new, and the final outcome is priceless,” Preethi explains. <br /><br />The fridge magnets are designed using a RS 10 coin — one to two inches in diameter. In order to complete one magnet, it takes a minimum of two days and a great amount of concentration to replicate the original detailing of the product. She also ensures that all of these are made with eco-friendly clay. <br /><br />She says, “Everyone is particular about the food they eat, therefore I have to make sure that the detailing is also specific. To add the intrications such as mustard seeds in the coconut chutney and drumsticks in the ‘sambar’ is a tedious process. Sometimes I customised the ‘dosas’ according to the buyer — some like it roasted, some crispier. However, each product is handmade with love and dedication.” Some of her creations include sweet boxes, savouries, ‘thamboolam’, carrot ‘halwa’, ‘parota’, ‘bhajji’ and ‘dhokla’ magnets. <br /><br />“Each one of them is special because a refrigerator means so much to many of us. It’s not just a cold box to store our fruits, vegetables and leftover food in, but it’s also the space where we stick our favourite photographs, our kids drawings, marks cards, to-do lists and much more. And when few of your favourite food items are stuck on the fridge as a constant reminder of your love for food, it’s special,” she says. <br /><br />During her free time, she also takes interest in reusing products such as newspaper to make corner stands. She also decorates empty glass bottles with woollen threads to create flower vases, makes white flowers from waste plastic carry bags, and recycles health drink cartons to make door stickers. That’s not all — she enjoys quilling ‘jhumkas’ as well! “I’ve been lucky to have Vinoth as my husband who encourages me in all my ventures. It’s not just about creating something for me, but it’s knowing that my work is being appreciated by many. That makes me want to try more things,” she says. <br />Preethi can be contacted <br />at preethi310@gmail.com.<br /><br /></p>
<p>It’s natural to have a smile on your face when someone talks about food. Whether it’s about a delicious chocolate cake or a cheesy pizza, you automatically do a happy dance in your head when they are mentioned. But Preethi S dances to the tune of food not because she likes to indulge in them, but to make clay models of the food items and stick them on the refrigerator. Yes, she makes magnets of the ever mouth-watering ‘dosa’, ‘idli’, ‘jalebi’ and more!<br /><br /></p>.<p>Preethi was working as an assistant professor after she completed her Computer Science degree, but she would often find herself obsessed with arts and crafts. She says, “I guess it’s heredity; my grandmother and mother are masters in pastel and acrylic painting, beaded miniatures, embroidery, tailoring and more. That talent got passed on to me and I would whirl around with projects and assignments at work, and work on my creative side after 10 pm. Sometimes I would even go on till 3 am!”<br /><br />Her love and passion to make these miniature models started at a young age. She was amused by the Lilliputs and framed her creations using play dough. Her mini-projects let her to attain perfection, leading her to take hands-on training from experts and start making more clay models. She slowly started to experiment with whatever she thought would look good and found her true calling with food magnets. “I often wonder if anyone in this world doesn’t like food; it doesn’t matter if they love traditional food or the Western ones. So I decided to put my love to the test and make magnets out of them. I love staying up all night creating whatever I can lay my hands on. No matter how tired I am, I make time to create something new, and the final outcome is priceless,” Preethi explains. <br /><br />The fridge magnets are designed using a RS 10 coin — one to two inches in diameter. In order to complete one magnet, it takes a minimum of two days and a great amount of concentration to replicate the original detailing of the product. She also ensures that all of these are made with eco-friendly clay. <br /><br />She says, “Everyone is particular about the food they eat, therefore I have to make sure that the detailing is also specific. To add the intrications such as mustard seeds in the coconut chutney and drumsticks in the ‘sambar’ is a tedious process. Sometimes I customised the ‘dosas’ according to the buyer — some like it roasted, some crispier. However, each product is handmade with love and dedication.” Some of her creations include sweet boxes, savouries, ‘thamboolam’, carrot ‘halwa’, ‘parota’, ‘bhajji’ and ‘dhokla’ magnets. <br /><br />“Each one of them is special because a refrigerator means so much to many of us. It’s not just a cold box to store our fruits, vegetables and leftover food in, but it’s also the space where we stick our favourite photographs, our kids drawings, marks cards, to-do lists and much more. And when few of your favourite food items are stuck on the fridge as a constant reminder of your love for food, it’s special,” she says. <br /><br />During her free time, she also takes interest in reusing products such as newspaper to make corner stands. She also decorates empty glass bottles with woollen threads to create flower vases, makes white flowers from waste plastic carry bags, and recycles health drink cartons to make door stickers. That’s not all — she enjoys quilling ‘jhumkas’ as well! “I’ve been lucky to have Vinoth as my husband who encourages me in all my ventures. It’s not just about creating something for me, but it’s knowing that my work is being appreciated by many. That makes me want to try more things,” she says. <br />Preethi can be contacted <br />at preethi310@gmail.com.<br /><br /></p>