A story behind a quilled card

Time and again I have posted pictures of the cards I make. The cards I make have been so widely appreciated and I have been flooded with so many orders now that I have to now refuse some orders!
The thing is I make these cards in between the breaks I take from writing my fourth book.

The book-writing pays me one thousand times (yes--really a thousand times) more than card-making does. But the joy that the card making brings is unmatched, because it is a joy which is shared by the giver (the person who ordered the card) and the recipient.

Some days back I had posted a picture on FB of a personalised card (which said 'dodda'). Someone named Astha had ordered it and I have interacted with her only on mail. I wondered what kind of a name 'Dodda' was. But since I did not know Astha at all, I kept the writer in me, in check and made the card and sent it to her.

She was overjoyed with the card. She absolutely loved it.




Later she shared the story with me. The card was for her dad's brother ('bade papa' whom she calls 'dodda') . This is what Astha wrote. (Yes, she does not mind me sharing on this blog. Have taken her permission to do so.)

My dodda (bade papa) loved the card.. He has been ill since a long time, so when I went to meet him after a long time with this card, he was delighted! He loved the design & the message that I'd written inside.
Will never forget that sign of joy on his face...Thank you so much! :) :)



I felt elated that my work brought so much joy to someone. When I asked her if I could share her mail on my blog, she said she did not mind at all, and asked if I wanted to know what she wrote inside. She said she wanted the message inside to match the beauty of the card. Of course I wanted to know.
She was kind enough to share that as well. It really brought a lump to my throat when I read it. This is what she had written inside.

My Dearest Dodda,
Has anyone ever told you what a wonderful person you are?
I hope so! I hope you've been told dozens of times...
Because you are really amazing!
And, just in case you haven't heard those words in a while,
I want you to hear them now.
You deserve to know that.


It takes someone special to do what you do.. It takes someone rare and remarkable around them.. Nicer, brighter and more beautiful.. It takes someone who has a big heart and a caring soul.. It takes someone who's a living proof of how precious a person can be.. It takes someone...just like You!
Thank you for being so wonderful ! I feel blessed to have you in my life!


Your presence in my life brings wonderful smiles and loving thoughts within my heart.

You have inspired me to a degree which can't be expressed in words. You've taught me to enjoy the little things in life and live every moment to the fullest.


You are the most joyful and determined person I've ever come across.Your will-power and zest for life serves as my guiding light and helps me get back up even if I keep falling at every hurdle!


Inspite of everything that has happened, you've got to believe that you can handle it.. You've got what it takes! Keep fighting back and keep smiling so that life gets tired of upsetting you...Let the difficulty also know how difficult you are!


And, always remember, the will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you!

Love you loads,
Yours Rani Maa
"




What a magnificent message!
For me, being a part of something like this through my work, is truly beyond belief. I feel  so wonderful to be a part of someone's life, in such a close and positive way.

Here is another personalised card I made for a friend's wife. He too LOVED the card and he said his wife is going to love it too. :)




A close up showing how raised the quilled letters are.

A close up of the roses. Each rose was made individually by hand.




Bessie Stanley had said (and this is often wrongly attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson)


To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.



For me, I touch people's lives though my work which I totally love doing. I am passionate about it.
And I feel so darn fortunate and blessed to have succeeded. 

_________________________________________________________________


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Comments

  1. Even I wondered what does "Dodda" stand for, when I saw the card on facebook....thanks you shared the story...
    And u have touched many hearts through ur blog & books ofcourse & now u r doing it through ur cards......keep going!!
    Soon I'l order a card too....

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  2. A lovely post and a lovely story behind a card. Yes, u r truly a aprt of this awesome story and have u succeeded!

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  3. Touching yet lovely :)

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  4. i was one of the person who bought the cards,I gave these to my sisters..They were enthralled...They were too happy to see the personalised cards..i was also truly happy that i was able to light up their faces..

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  5. You are indeed a very good person from within!!! :-) I feel really happy to read your blogs.Very few people have the quality to be a part of some1 's happiness.you are one of them. Wish u all the sucess n happiness! :-)

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  6. Anonymous7:40 AM

    Beautiful cards! You touch so many lives with your writing and so much more that you do. God Bless You!

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  7. Given a choice you could have just made these cards for yourself and never sold them .. but the fact that you decided to take orders inspite of being busy just because you feel it will make someone happy speaks volumes on the kind of person you are !
    And since whatever you give comes back I am sure spreading so much love is going to fill your life with sunshine and happiness always. Hugs to you !

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  8. you have INDEED SUCCEEDED PREETI!! INDEED!! That pretty much summarizes everything!!

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  9. Wow, the cards look really nice. Might request for some soon. Can I?

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  10. Sukku: Sure. Mail me for pricing and other details. ps(at)preetishenoy(dot)com

    Bhavika: Thanks a ton!

    Ruchira: A big hug right back. I do it because it brings me joy and like you rightly said it multiplies.

    oijuggle: Thanks a lot :)

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  11. Krupa: Thank you so very much! Wish you the same!

    Jyotsna: yes--raksha and Vandu. I remember :)

    me: Thank you :)

    Aabha: Thank you!

    Priyaa: Sure. mail me. Right now flooded with orders.

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  12. your time is priceless and the amount of joy others get by receiving your card is just priceless :):)

    may the god shower you with happiness and strength to make people happy.

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  13. Relatively i am nobody to comment here.
    but I am still wondering about this sentence which drove me insane to ask for the reason.
    [ " But the joy that the card making brings is unmatched, because it is a joy which is shared by the giver (the person who ordered the card) and the recipient."]

    I mean, I still think your books are more far better than your cards.

    Its not that I didn't like your cards. but stillll...........

    This may be frankly idiotic to say but I didn't understand the art of crafts (pity me)..



    ooooppppppsssss...

    Regards,
    Abhishek

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  14. Abhishek: yes, you may not relate to the joy of being touched by something so deep and so personal between two people. I felt i was a part of Astha's love for her Dodda and Felt involved in their life. It is very different from writing a book for a larger audience where you are not a part of their lives at all. As in I don't even know who buys the books, who reads and how they are affected (if at all they are). card making is something so beautiful, so personal and so full of love. I guess an artist or a creative person will understand. Thank you for your comment.

    Ramya:Thank you so much!

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  15. You have defined your life Preeti. To know and progress in what you are excellent and progressing in what you really really wish do not always come together. You are one such identity. I love you..You are such an inspiration!!

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  16. As always Inspiring. Keep up the good work Preeti. I really like the way you do things wholeheartedly.I am aiming for that and needless to say you are my inspiration.

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  17. Anonymous7:08 PM

    Love in my heart.. tears in my eyes..

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  18. readingthroughmymind: thanks a lot!

    Anu:Thank u!

    Dhivya: Thanks!

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  19. The cards are beautiful......every rose tells us how involved the process of making them must be. So understand the joy u feel having a small part in making a person happy:-)).

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