Spotlight

Deea - A budding fashion designer

Sadeea Anwar Deea is a young, self made fashion designer, whose thirst for creativity and passion for colours triggered her to designing and making custom-made dresses for a limited number of fashion conscious young girls and women in Dhaka.

It was in the year 2000 when Deea started working on dresses like salwar kameez and sari. Deea started designing dresses for herself in the beginning but over the time she has received loads of orders and requests for dresses from people around her. She also has equal interest in designing other textile items like curtains, bed and pillow covers. She also does wonderful works on pottery and plans to hold an exhibition of her creative works in the future.

Her first outfit show was held at Alliance Francaise in the year 2000.
Deea believes that her mom is her biggest motivating power. Her mom, who was a student at the Art College, has always encouraged her to hone her creative talents through works that would highlight her enviable designing ability. Deea learnt the basics of art from artist Swapan Chowdhury, who taught her the magical ways to give life to something still.

This summer, Deea's creative mind is yearning to work on cotton and terry voile. Since the days are sticky, pastels like light blue, yellow and purple would look great on summer wear, Deea says.

This budding designer is looking forward to working a lot on bright colours, tie-dye, hand paint, embroidery, glass work, stones and sequence this season. She says that block prints have gone almost out of date now and she hardly works on a black backdrop.

Her dresses are characterised by delicate handiwork that require close attention, time and patience. It often takes Deea more than a month to complete a sari. In case of salwar kameezes, though she can usually complete them within a week. However, hand embroidered dresses usually require a lot of time for completion. She has samples of dresses at her home to help her clients choose the right design. She often makes changes in the cuts of her dresses to give them an off-track look. The prices of her salwar kameezes usually range from tk.1000 to tk.2000 and she always tries to use the best of the materials for every dress she prepares. Currently enrolled at North South University, Deea says that the great load of study currently prevents her from working more intensely on dress designing.

She has already done some really beautiful and dazzling bridal saris and won praises of many. She says that she would love to do more bridal wear if she were ensured of a good return.

Today, the young people of Bangladesh are involving themselves in creative and important works besides their studies. Being a nerd is definitely not 'in' today. If you ever set your eyes on Deea's hand painted dresses, you would notice reflections of her own sense of aestheticism on them. Done carefully on cotton materials with vibrant colours, each of her dress wins new dimensions with touches of her paintbrush.

This young designer has yet to offer a lot to Dhaka's fashion arena. At present, Deea receives orders from her clients at her home, but she certainly dreams to open up her dress boutique someday. But till then we hope that she continues to mirror her creative self in the dresses she designs.

If you want, you too can contact this young and promising designer at Ph # 9860665; the artistic dresses she designs would definitely impress any woman with a high choice for clothing.

By Wara Karim

News flash
Baishakhi mela at Bibiana

Baishakh is all about celebration. We go to the Ramna botomul, join baishakhi rallies. What else do we do? Well, let us not forget baishakhi melas. The charms of yester years are definitely missing these days nevertheless its not totally lost. Thanks to boutiques like Bibiana, the effort goes on and a different kind of baishakhi melas is being arranged these days. Who knows there might or might not be any nagor dola or delicious treats but it will certainly offer trendy outfits prepared by fashion house. Bibiana one of the popular fashion houses of Dhaka is arranging a mela starting from 26th Chaitra (9th April). This merrymaking will continue till the pohela baishakh. Bibiana is situated at house no-6, road no-5, Dhanmondi.
-LS Desk

A true taste of Asia BY Tommy Miah

Crab Masala
Crabs- 3 lbs
Medium onion- 1 (sliced)
Tomato- 1 (chopped)
Tomato paste- 1 tablespoon
Green chili- 1 (cut lengthwise)
Garlic- 3 cloves (crushed)
Red chili powder- 2 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds- 1 tsp
Tamarind pulp- 1 tablespoon
Chopped cilantro and green onions for garnishing
Salt to taste
Oil- 2 tablespoons
Clean the crabs and remove the shell.
Break off the large claws and remove the small legs.
Break each body into four pieces if they are big ones or two pieces if they are small.
1. Soak the tamarind in 3 tablespoons of hot water for 10 minutes.
2. Strain and reserve the liquid.
3. Heat oil and fry the cumin seeds and onion until soft.
4. Add turmeric and red chili powder and mix.
5. Then add the tomato paste and cook for 4 minutes. Now add the green chili, garlic, salt, chopped tomato and then crab pieces. Mix well.
6. Cover the pan and cook over low heat for 5 minutes.
7. Then add the tamarind liquid and cook for 20 minutes or until the crab is cooked.
8. Garnish with chopped cilantro and green onions.

Hot & Sweet Shrimp
Shrimp- 1/2 lb. (peeled & deveined)
Onions- 2 (finely chopped)
Tomatoes- 2 (finely chopped)
Garlic- 3 cloves
Green chilies- 5 (chopped)
Tamarind pulp- 1 1/2 tsp.
Red chili powder- 3/4 tsp
Garam masala powder- 1 tsp
Cumin powder- 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder- 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds- 1 tsp
Grated Jaggery or brown sugar- 1 tsp
A bunch of chopped cilantro (coriander) leaves
Curry leaves- 10 (optional)
Oil- 1/4 cup
Salt to taste
1. Soak tamarind in 1/2 cup of hot water for 10 minutes.
2. Remove the seeds and keep the water aside.
3. Grind the green chilies, garlic and cumin seeds to make a paste.
4. Heat oil in a pan and fry the onions until soft and add the ground chili-garlic paste and fry for further 2 minutes.
5. Put in the tomatoes and fry until soft.
6. Then add all the spice powders and stir-fry for a minute.
7. Add half of the tamarind water, Jaggery, salt, curry & cilantro leaves.
8. Pour 1/2 cup of water and bring it to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes.
9. Now add the shrimp and cook until they are completely cooked and the gravy becomes thick.
10. Serve hot.

Ambot Tik
(A sour and hot dish)
Ingredients:
½ Kg fish - shark, catfish or kite fish
salt to taste
10 dried red chillies
1/4 tsp cummin seeds
4 peppercorns
1/2 tps turmeric powder
4 cloves garlic
1/2 inch piece of ginger
a marble sized ball of tamarind mixed in 1 cup of water
1 finely sliced onion
2 tblsp oil
Method:
1. Clean and wash the fish.
2. Cut into small steaks, rub in salt and set aside.
3. Grind all the other ingredients, except the onion, into a fine paste (masala) with a little water.
4. Fry the onion until brown.
5. Add the masala (paste) and fry for a minute.
6. Add 1 cup of water. Bring to boil then add fish.
7. Cook on low heat until tender.
8. A little salt and vinegar may be added if desired. Serve with plain boiled rice

Kerala Chicken
Chicken- 2 Lbs. (wash & cut into pieces)
Fresh green peas- 1/4 cup
Carrot- 1 (cut into thin strips)
Small baby potatoes- 7
Onions- 2 (chopped)
Grated ginger- 1 inch piece
Garlic- 4 cloves (chopped)
Green chilies- 3
Coconut milk- 1 1/2 cups
Cinnamon- 1 piece
Bay leaves- 2
Cloves- 2
Black peppercorns- 1 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Garam masala powder- 1/4 tsp
Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
Ghee- 2 tablespoons
Oil- 2 tablespoons
A bunch of curry leaves
Salt
1. Grind the ginger, peppercorns, turmeric powder, onions and green chilies to make a coarse paste.
2. Wash the potatoes. Add salt and turmeric powder & boil them with skin.
3. Then peel of the skin and cut into halves.
4. Heat oil and ghee in a large pan and add mustard seeds.
5. When it pops add cinnamon, bay leaves & cloves.
6. When it turns brown add garlic and curry leaves.
7. After a few seconds add the onion, ginger and chili paste. Fry for a couple of minutes.
8. Then add the chicken pieces and fry.
9. Add potatoes, carrots, garam masala and salt.
10. Cover the pan and cook for 5 minutes.
11. Then pour the coconut milk and add the green peas. Cover and cook until the chicken is fully cooked.

Tips

House décor

It's not always necessary to hire a professional interior designer to add a little glamour to your abode. There are certain trick that all of us can make use of to give our sweet home a few touches of loveliness.

Do you know what great differences can a few plants bring to the interior of your home? A tall plant in one corner will make your room look spacious. If you have empty space in room, place some small and attractive plants on the floor. A few terracotta items will also look lovely, get some aesthetic bells, and pots from the handicraft stores to add further serenity to your home.

When arranging flowers in a vase with a wide mouth, use tape to create a grid across the top of the vase. Flowers will remain upstanding and be evenly spaced.

In every home there are at least a few unused items like coffeepots, glass jars and ceramic containers; use these pots and containers to place a bunch of fresh flowers. It's the startling combination of these jars and flowers that will add drama to your kitchen.

If you want to hang a picture on the wall, hang it at eye-level.

In order to add depth to a small room, hang mirrors. Since a mirror adds space and depth to a room use a nice frame and hang the mirror in a place that will reflect something pleasant. This can be a painting or even a decorative piece.

While choosing a carpet, remember that a room that is used most (say, the living room) should have a durable one; you can choose the thin, artistic ones for your bedrooms. If you want to buy a carpet of solid colour, make sure it gets along with your drapes to add a little appeal.

Lastly, remember that the shade of your walls is very important in determining whether you want a spacious or a cramped room. Light colours on the walls will give a feeling of space, while dark paints will give that cramp look. Light coloured walls and ceilings will make the room appear larger. The opposite goes for dark colours.

By Wara Karim

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Hanging out

Crescent Lake

When sizzling days are followed by serene evenings, hanging out with friends by the side of a gently flowing lake is surely soothing and refreshing. People from different parts of Dhaka crowd at the Crescent Lake every afternoon and evening, especially during the weekends.

This artificial lake attracts a large number of families and couples every single day. People sit by the lake or stroll in the surrounding lawns and chat the evening away. Vendors selling ice cream, soft drinks and peanuts wait for a call from the visitors.

Therefore, if you ever feel bored and exhausted at the end of another mundane day, you can too visit the Sangshad Bhaban, a grand example of magnificent architectural effort. The building covers a very large area and there are too many places where to sit and chatter with your friends or family. However, there are stories that we have heard about people who got mugged in this place, therefore please be careful if you have already planned to stop by this lake on one slow evening.

With gentle breeze sweeping the area and greenery pouring calm to the atmosphere, Crescent Lake is a favourite hangout for many Dhakaites.

By Wara Karim