SAJAVAT

M's Gift Collection

2012-01-04T00:31:00.000-08:00

2012 has arrived!!My wishes to everybody for a bright future.At the same time lets also remember to cherish the past,create memories that will last a lifetime!!

My dear friend Meghana has sent me her favourite collection of gifts!!
I personally liked the glass samai a lot.

You guys also have a look!

Radium Glowing Merlion from Singapore

Seashell Spoon

Wooden Grapes

Glass Samai

Giraffe Family

Glass ettardani

Ajanta Cave Painting

African Lady

Gifts

2011-12-21T04:00:00.000-08:00

The year is slowly coming to an end.Santa is going to knock our doors soon,or is he coming in thru the window?? well you never know.

But tell me....

Do you like gifts? wondering...
well who doesn't?
I simply love giving and receiving gifts.but I love it, if it has an unusual twist to it.
Like if its handmade,natural or ecofriendly,inspired by a folk/local art.

Featuring some intresting decor gifts that I have acquired over the years!

BAMBOO MUGS FROM ASSAM..

BASKET AND MUG

MASK FROM SRILANKA

VASE MADE BY NATIVES OF SOUTH AFRICA GIFTED BY MY SIS.

CHOPSTICKS WITH A CASE GIFTED BY MY FRIEND M

BEER MUG FROM BRUSSELS,BELGIUM

EARTHERN BOX GIFTED BY MY SIS-IN-LAW

You can also let me know your favourite gift(with a photo attached preferably) and I will post it on my blog.

so take care,all my readers and blogger pals.will meet you all soon next year!!

Keep Gifting!

A Very Happy Christmas
&
A Happy New Year!!

The Purple Turtles

2011-12-09T18:53:00.000-08:00

Today Iam going to present, one of a kind lighting store,so let me not hold you anymore.Welcome to the world of lights!!

The Purple Turtles is Bangalore’s exclusive innovative designer lights destination and specialize in providing and customizing lighting ideas to suit your homes, office spaces, resorts, restaurants and every kind of theme-based interiors.

It has lighting solutions which are inspired by mythological characters and graphic characters.All the lighting creations here are one-of-a-kind. They are individually crafted, draw inspiration from unusual and diverse sources and are finished in materials as unique as their design. From earthy elements like handcrafted paper, banana fiber, wood and jute, to hand blown glass, beads, shells and stylized fabrics; and metals that include brass, copper and stainless steel.

Every creation in this spectacular range including the light fittings, lamps and lampshades are individually crafted and designed by the country’s most prolific and renowned light designers. And their design inspirations come from the farthest corners of this multifaceted subcontinent.

some of their clients are the renowned Reliance Group, The Park Hotels, Nando’s International and Royal Orchid.
All the lighting fixtures of Café Coffee Day Lounges and outlets across the country have been provided by The Purple Turtles. Some of the commercial projects undertaken includes the Microsoft office in Bangalore, CISCO campus in Bangalore, Male Airport in Maldives, Informatica campus in Bangalore, Fresco campus in Hyderabad amongst others.

Some more from their lamp collection ..

You can also preview the collection at thepurpleturtles.in,
Find Purple Turtles on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Purple-Turtles/104367659641056

The Purple Turtles Address:
#128, 1st Main Road, Domlur 2nd Stage, off 100 ft rd.,
Indiranagar, Bangalore – 08.
Ph No: 080- 41528039

Hello There,

2011-12-07T23:35:00.000-08:00

Been missing in action for a few days!! oops! few months to be precise.

Life is such.. sometimes it keeps you so occupied that taking time out for even the most favourite activity becomes a task.

Nevertheless I missed blogging and reading other blogs.so Iam back.
and I have so much to catch up with,so much to share that Iam in a fix!
what to tell you first??

Today am sharing a corner of my home with you all.so take a peek.

A SILENT NIGHT..

BRIGHT SUNNY AFTERNOON..

ARSTY-CRAFTY CHALLENGE

2011-06-24T03:41:00.000-07:00

Hi,
There is an arsty crafty challenge at Mindful Meanderings.It is having a workshop for kids on folk art.Iam sending my entry too!Also am keeping my fingers crossed!
You can get more details HERE

See my entries at warli on cards and on cushions

Pots,Vases and Memories..

2011-06-23T01:15:00.000-07:00

Memories are made of these..Last Janaury I was at this resort which had a home boutique some years back and apparently its now shut.But nonetheless some of the items were still on display.They were real treasures.

For your eyes..

Corner piece

A wooden trunk

Bright orange on a rustic seat

Loved the inlay work

Here is one of my favourites-The white elephant

Tea,sugar and coffee anyone??

what's so special? The metal jacket

Pretty vases

Vow!..beautiful lamp

Lady in white..

Pitcher from the mughal era?

Last but not the least..A red bird

Reduce,Reuse,Rycycle- Part 2

2011-04-28T03:02:00.000-07:00

Part 1 on the three R's was liked by many.so here comes the 2nd part.

This is a large pot used to store tamrind in large quantity.
My mother in law's elders passed it to her when they were shifting their house and my MIL has converted it into an intresting piece.

I also have a wish!
I hope it is passed onto me and also to several other generations to come.
and may be one day it will be called an antique piece!
Amen!

Reduce,Reuse,Recycle

2011-03-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

So much is always said about conservation of our resources,or rather wastage of resources.
Well.. we may not always be in a position to set everything right but why not start at our level?

For a start my mom - (The source of my inspiration of all things beautiful) suggested a unique way.what do u do with your old clothes that remain stunning even after years of wear.giveaway to someone needy or may be they remain in your cupboard for old time sake.how about reusing them or using them to make another beautuiful something...hmmm my mamma has beautifully used some old duppatas to make bedsheets,table runners and covers.

Table cover

Bedsheet

Greeting card made using fabric pieces and buttons

Sending cheers your way!

2011-02-03T20:46:00.000-08:00

Flowers spread happiness.
Here is a post to make you smile and brighten up your day!

AA LIVING

2011-02-01T00:36:00.001-08:00

When I first recieved a mail from Preetam Chandok of AA Living,I was curious to know more about it.Well it turned out that,AA Living is a Home Interior Store located in Napean sea road in Mumbai.

After I went through their website and the write-up Mr.Chandok had included,I was sure that I have an intresting find in the form of a design store.well check out for yourself,you will find many of the products appealing.No doubt that their client list is impressive to say the least.

But I intend to write about their in house kiddie stuff that caught my fancy and one that I truly liked.Their kids range is from BIBZY.

FOOTBALL BOOKENDS

Bookends make fantastic gifts, and encourage your child to put their books back when they are finished. The A to Z bookends and Football bookends add style and organization to a child’s bookshelf. These are handcrafted and hand-painted.

ANIMAL WALL HOOKS

Funky animal wall hooks from BIBZY are fun and decorative and are ideal for nurseries or playrooms. The Panda, Giraffe and Lion wooden wall hooks stand out in bright colours and are sturdy enough for hanging clothes and bags

WOODEN CHAIRS

These antique finish chairs are handcrafted, hand painted and meet all safety standards. Each animal chair is cute and endearing to a little one. These are suitable for children up to the age of 6.

FRAMES
Memories are important to everyone; children especially love to hear about what they were like when they were babies or things they did when they were little. These picture frames make an excellent gift for kids or parents and come in colourful themes.

For more information contact them at:
Rajul Apartments, 9 Harkness Road , Nepean Sea Road,
Opp Gold’s Gym, Mumbai–6
Ph: (022) 23683985 / (022) 23681569
Email: info@aa-living.com Website: www.aa-living.com

Open from Monday to Saturday, 10:30 am - 7:30 pm

A makeover story

2011-01-21T01:35:00.000-08:00

A unique experience

Hey guys am so excited!!
Got a makeover done at my home by ASIAN PAINTS.Many of you may be aware of the "SURPRISE YOUR SPOUSE" campaign launched by Asian Paints for their Royale play brand.Am sure you would have seen Saif Ali khan ad where he is a part of a makeover process.Bad luck,couldn't meet him though!
when I saw this ad,I thought it was time to give a real surprise to my husband and a makeover surprise adds such a fun element to the whole concept.
BEFORE

The plain wall

well it all started with fixing "the day" for the makeover.I chose a working day so that my hubby is away for the better part of the day.Finalised the combing texture and Mango as the base coat,Glowing rust as the top coat.
I chose this shade keeping in mind the rest of the decor.The idea was that the wall is highlighted at the same time it should blend in with the other decor element which is almost beige and orange in my home.ROYALE PLAY has a variety of shades and textures to chose from,actually you are spoilt for choice here.

I chose a wall which is the most highlighted in our house so that after the makeover it gets a more enhanced look.

Asian paints were there at my place by 10 am on the chosen day.They began working first by masking certain areas so as to make sure that there is no mess in other areas.Then they had to scrape the wall to smoothen it.Thereafter applied the base coat Mango,we joked that it looks as yummy as aamras.

Applying base coat-Mango

After the first coat

After an hour or so after the first coat dried it was time for the final coat.

Top coat-Glowing Rust

Making patterns on the wall-Texture-Combing

This was the most interesting.one guy applied the glowing rust where as the other guy used this combing tool to create the design and the required effect.
Lo and Behold! by 4p.m we were done.It was quick and mess free.

Final look

Now the wait was for my husband for whom we were taking all the pain.I had this butterfly feeling in my stomach.But all is well that ends well.He was surprised to no end that I could do something of this sort behind his back.

The Royale wall

The wall looks beautiful.
It really lends a character of its own and stands out.
I had a lovely experience.

You can watch the youtube video on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwQ44lFDydo

Happy Sankranti and Pongal-o-pongal

2011-01-14T04:25:00.000-08:00

Happy Sankranti to one and all.

India being an agricultural country harvest season is celebrated throughout our country with great enthusiasm and fervour.
It may have different names but the festival is a celebration of the farmers, their lands and cows and signifies the harvest season.In Maharashtra it is the Makar Sankranti.

open the lid to taste the pongal

In Tamilnadu Pongal wherein 'Pongal' a prasadam (made with rice and jaggery) also with the same name is made to overflow from an earthen pot with the intention that the year ahead also overflows with peace and happiness.
so lets say together Pongal-o-Pongal.

Living room

2011-01-07T04:02:00.000-08:00

For the second part in this series let me invite you inside.

Lets step into the hall,drawing room or living room whatever you may choose to call it.
An intresting piece of information about drawing room is that the name is derived from the sixteenth-century term "withdrawing room" and "withdrawing chamber," A withdrawing room was a room to which the owner of the house, his wife, or a distinguished guest who was occupying one of the main apartments in the house could "withdraw" for more privacy.
Until the mid-twentieth century, after a dinner the ladies of a dinner party would withdraw to the drawing room, leaving the gentlemen at table, where the cloth was removed. After an interval of conversation, the gentlemen would rejoin the ladies in the drawing room.
Certain points to keep in mind before you do up your living room.
1.Always keep the area in mind. keep it clutter free.
only include those that will make the room look larger.

2.Straight line furniture goes a long way in achieving this.
3.The frames that you hang on the walls should be at eye level.
4.you can make a room look larger by using mirrors and glass.
5.Include pieces that you truly admire and not because it is seen everywhere.
6.Living room ideally should be a zone where you relax and therefore comfortability should be a priority.
7.If you prefer Indian sitting throw cushions look wonderful.
8.vibrant rugs,carpets,mats in pretty prints can be added to achieve a colourful room.
9.Try creating a focal point.
10.keep the decor changing at regular intervals by playing around with your furniture.fresh flowers,drawings by your kids can all add that personal touch in your home.
11.If its a living cum dining area,keep the dining table small.
12.Adequate lighting brightens up the space.If natural lighting is limited there is a variety of artificial lighting available in the market.This will make the room warm and inviting.
13.One can go in for light colours on the walls and for the upholestry so that the accessory chosen can be brighter.
14.white and cream looks serene but when interspersed with florals,the room will look magical.
15.let your room always be colour co-ordinated.

some pics from my sister's living room

Keep watching this space for more pics on living room.

Good Bye 2010!

2010-12-30T08:38:00.000-08:00

So...A year almost coming to an end.How do you intend to welcome 2011?
With a big bang of HAPPINESS,LAUGHTER and of course a clean,pleasant and a stunning HOME.
Starting this week I plan to dedicate a separate post to each and every room in a house.Hope you will enjoy this house tour.

where do we start..
Right at the entrance of the house.The entrance to any home can give a wonderful insight to the people residing inside.

what do we do to enhance the outer portion of our home? In a place like Mumbai people live in flats and they are deprived of a garden or a courtyard in front of their homes.But a rangoli or a flower arrangement can work wonders.

A beautiful peacock rangoli to welcome your guests at the entrance.
(My neighbour's creation)

some floating flowers..

Rangoli design made by my mother(with rice paste),some flowers ,and a diya or a candle...

Step inside for a beautiful interior and into a wonderful 2011!

Happy New Year

Missing the blogging world!

2010-12-14T20:17:00.000-08:00

So much has been happening in the world of blogging and I have been missing them terribly. At the same time life could not have been better for me.Iam now mother of a little boy too!So with two kids around,things are moving with jet speed,but now I intend to hit blogging again!
Just thought of sharing this wonderful news with all of you.
Take a look at the gorgeous kids room.
Iam now thinking of a makeover at my home.

Have a cheerful day!

Warli again!

2010-09-27T23:32:00.000-07:00

Yet another one on warli! Are u bored?

We have a small group of fun loving girls gang and the team is called Sakhi Sanskriti.We meet once or twice a month,have fun,play games,enjoy the weather,snacking is ofcourse a part of all this and above all we celebrate each other's birthday!!
You all must be thinking why am I sharing all this with my blogger friends?
Here comes the Warli part.On each birthday we gift a warli card to the birthday girlies.

The cards have warli design on them and while making these I have struck to a theme of one tree and two women on them.

Trees and ladies have many a thing in common.Both are pillars of strength.one for the environment and the other in a society.Ever imagined a home without the mother?She is the lady of the house.Just like a women, a tree is also a mother.

Please save trees and respect women!!

enjoy the warli cards!

Motifs..Of Peacocks,Elephants,Paisley designs

2010-08-19T22:39:00.000-07:00

I have often wondered why these designs are so preferred over the others but these age old traditional motifs are so enchanting that you just cannot give them up!!

Isn't it so? Have a dekko

peacock Pendant

The picture isn't half as pretty as the pendant itself{my poor photography skills}

Traditional peacock motif on a south silk saree

Paisley design

Black and Golden Paisley designed kurta from BIBA, The famous fashion house

Silver Zardosi on a saree

What a bracelet!!

Elephants on a placemat

Elephants are huge,strong and sturdy but the intricacy of this delicate design fascinates me.I have all the mind to embroider this motif on a bedsheet.what do u think?

More of Warli art

2010-07-08T05:53:00.000-07:00

What you see below is a set of six cushion covers made for a dear friend K.
Let me know what u feel!Any other theme that I could have added?
Pls feel free to suggest!

Rains-Thank God for small mercies!

2010-06-08T02:51:00.000-07:00

After 3-4 months of scorching heat the rains have finally hit Mumbai.
Iam so happy!There is greenary everywhere,birds are chirping,little raindrops have formed on the grills of my window in the kitchen.Today morning two pretty red roses were smiling at me in my balcony!Oh what a wonderful feeling!A nice way to start the day with!
Let me try and make your day as well.

Warli on Cushions

2010-05-20T06:24:00.000-07:00

I have written about warli before and am so stunned by this beautiful art that I want it to be everywhere!I know overdose of everything is bad but then I couldnt help myself from doing so.I have painted a marriage procession in these cushion covers.Let me know how they have shaped up!

Here comes the handsome groom..

And here is the beautiful bride..

Terracotta Art-Kumbham Pottery

2010-04-26T00:09:00.000-07:00

I have a special corner in my heart reserved for pottery,terracotta and ceramics.
Today Iam going to let you into the wonderful world of KUMBHAM.

Jinan began his association with the artisans of Kumbham during 1992. Their joint explorations for the revival and sustainability of the potter craft helped the artisans realise their latent creativity and skills, enabled them to create their tools.designs and products.Kumbham Pottery was thus born.Located in Aruvacode, a tiny hamlet near Nilambur in Malapuram District of Kerala, India, Kumbham has attracted some 80 odd potters to affiliate with it to varying degrees, since its beginnings in 1993.

Today, Kumbham can rightfully claim to have facilitated a product range of over 500 designs, including kitchen and household ware; garden furniture and landscaping products and murals and architectural accessories. Terracotta to Kumbham is state of the art material, not the relic of an age past. Be it landscaping or interior decor, some of the best houses, corporate offices, guest houses, hotels, resorts and gardens in the country have relied on Kumbham to give themselves a refreshingly new aesthetic look.
Have a look.

Wall murals..

Some decoratives like mirror,wallmountings,lampshades,garden accessories etc;

They have also branched out into other crafts like Dhokra,Bamboo and paper craft.
Dhokra Art

Image courtesy Kumbham pottery
For more information please visit the site www.kumbham.org

Kids wardrobe

2010-04-22T05:20:00.000-07:00

Look at this wardrobe,I designed in my daughter's room.
with a "soon to arrive new member"I badly need more and more of storage. I agree its simple but I wanted the carpenter to make something that will take minimum time. I have tried to make it intresting with the help of handles (Winnie the Pooh characters and two pretty butterflies)that could intrest a kid.Let me know how it is!

Did you miss me?

2010-03-25T23:32:00.000-07:00

I know I have taken a longggg break...

But sometimes it so happens that you are just cut off from the creative world,at such times it is difficult to focus your attention on things you truly love doing.
Iam sorry to all those who would have(hopefully) visited Sajavat on all these days, expecting a new post. I really missed blogging and just hope YOU MISSED ME TOO!

The Handcrafted Store

2009-12-30T08:29:00.000-08:00

As I told you all in my last post,we (my friend M and myself) had put up a stall of handmade stuff in a 'fun n fair' organised on the 25th of December.our products included candles,coasters,curios,terracotta,ceramics,frames,cushion covers,runners,gift envelopes,kurtis etc;
It was a great experience.The cash box lifted our spirits and there is a motivation to do better next time.Am sharing certain pictures of the event.
For any enquiries please contact sangi_eashwaran@yahoo.co.in
And do keep the comments pouring.will love to hear from all of you.

The Handcrafted Store

2009-12-23T18:18:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,
Its time to test myself again.
Putting up another exhibition.(on a bigger scale)
Hope it attracts crowd and ofcourse buyers among them.
It will be a fun filled night with DJ,Rockband,eatery stalls and our humble stall,
"The Handcrafted Store"

There will be home accessories and personalised items too!A variety of curios and gift ideas for the New Year.
Tomorrow is the D-day.yes its going to be a Christmas event!
will share pictures of the event soon
so guys pray for me.wish me luck. I need them in tons!

Glass table decor

2009-12-12T19:09:00.000-08:00

Many of us have glass centre tables or corner tables at home,how do we try to create attention to such pieces?
Generally by placing eye catching or handy items on them.yeah right?

I have come up with another thought.
Try placing plants/flower arrangements below the glass surface. They look nice when we see the reflection from the top.All the better if you have attractive containers to go with the plants.
I have a cane centre table with a glass top and I have tried these various arrangements.Do let me know whether it works for you!

Wall art by Sowmya Sandeep

2009-11-20T22:29:00.000-08:00

Iam presenting to you the marvellous wall art done by Sowmya Sandeep, a very talented lady. She has very beautifully painted the bare walls of her kids room and kitchen. Let me not hold you anymore, I will let her paintings do the talking...So friends enjoy and do not forget to comment.

Wall art

2009-11-17T08:31:00.000-08:00

Coloursdekor is one of my favourite blogs and when Patricia came up with the idea of putting my small effort in as a post in her blog,believe me I was super excited.
For all those who are curious to know more about what Iam talking please visit the link
http://coloursdekor.blogspot.com/2009/11/wall-art-warli.html

Also let me know your opinions and suggestions.

The Toy Town

2009-10-24T23:02:00.000-07:00

Between Banglore and Mysore lies the toy town of Chennapatna.
some memories I will share with all of you.It is said that these wooden toys are non-toxic and the paint used on them are lead free.All the items are very colourful.wikipedia says that the origin of these toys can be traced to the reign of Tipu Sultan who invited artisans from Persia to train the local artisans in the making of wooden toys.ivory wood,rosewood,sandalwood are the varieties of wood used.

Going down the memory lane I had these wooden horse as a kid.how I wish I could have been here earlier so that I could have got it for my daughter!!

Chennapatna toys and showpieces..

wooden artifacts and cornerstools..

Shubh Deepavali

2009-10-16T19:45:00.000-07:00

A very happy and prosperous diwali to all my readers and blogger friends!!
May it fill your life with lots of love,health,happiness,brightness & sweetness.

Navratri & Bommai golu

2009-09-27T22:03:00.000-07:00

I visited some homes and clicked pictures of "BOMMAI GOLU". Let me share them with you all.Before that let me give you a brief idea of how it is placed and arranged.
These bommai's or dolls are proud possessions of a family and handed down through generations.every year a new doll is added to the collection. The marrapacchi dolls,the chettiar family, idols of goddess Saraswati,Lakshmi,Shiva, parvati and their son Ganesha are the main attraction of the kolu which are arranged on the steps.These steps are kept in odd numbers 9,7,5,3,1.The last day is the vijaydashmi day on which we offer prayers to Goddess Saraswati.On this day books,musical instruments are kept and worshipped.To make it more attractive,various pulses are sown in mud in a tray or bowl.Huts,animals etc;can be used arround the plants to create a farm house,park or a cottage effect.These attract the kids also and they participate actively.Another attraction is all the sweets and savouries that are made during these nine days of pooja.chundal is my favourite made with chana,peanuts and garnished with grated coconut,kaddipatta and coriander.

Variety of dolls..

The lady of the house serving meal to her family..

The chettiar and his wife..

Such a cute little boy..

A village home..

A mini zoo(cars parked outside represent the inevitable modern day evil...

Collection

2009-09-03T21:26:00.000-07:00

Festivals have all begun!Ganesh chaturthi,Onam and now everybody is gearing up for navratri.In India its a great experience,Believe me!
During all these days we decorate our home with diyas,lamps,candles,flowers,rangoli etc;
This year why not give attention to another little item that is found in almost every second house.we use it during pujas or prayers,when we offer naivediyams(prasad) to our lord.we ring it loudly with the intention that our prayers are heard and HE comes to taste our humble offerings and bless us.Iam talking of the BELLS!!

Take a look!

POOJA BELLS
The humble bell in our pooja room..

Bell with enamel work..

Brass bell..

Nandi sits on this tall bell..

CRYSTAL BELLS

Look at the detailed work..

Ceramic delight..

The Angel bells..

Bells in each other's company..I simply love these!

ANTIQUE BELLS

The famous cowboy bell..

Typical door bells.. (inside)

Outside the house..

The liberty bell of Philedelphia..

Roman bell..

Post-Exhibition!!

2009-08-17T02:11:00.000-07:00

As I told you,I had an exhibition cum sale of hand embroidered stuff.Last one and a half month were hectic.I had to plan what products I would exhibit.Finally I decided to make Pillow covers,cushion covers,runners,tray mats and frames.The two techiniques that I used were embroidery and applique.
people liked what they saw and appreciated my work and yes I also made a small profit.Now its for you all to see!!and please do comment.For any enquiries or online order of the same please contact me at sangi_eashwaran@yahoo.co.in

FRAMES

PILLOW COVERS

CUSHION COVERS

TRAY MATS & RUNNERS

Exhibition

2009-08-12T23:11:00.000-07:00

I have been busy for a while now.Iam making an effort to do something that i have always felt strongly about but never had the motivation or courage to do.This independence day ,i really want to break free of my own inhibitions.
Iam going to put up an Exhibition cum sale of handcrafted products.I will come up with more once iam fully prepared.so guys please wish me goodluck,i really need it!

Some wooden memories

2009-08-04T23:32:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across some old snaps.
Great wood work!!wood always gives you this old rustic charm.
These snaps are from one of our trips to kerala.

Simple ..yet so beautiful!

The ceilings give the special cottage touch to any place

The brass work on the wooden doors remind me of the malayalam movie manichitrathazu-the ornate lock

9 best indian interior design blogs-yes, am there!!

2009-07-31T02:56:00.000-07:00

hey am so happy and literally over the moon.
Sajavat has been featured one of 9 best indian interior design blog on www.blogadda.com.
thanks blogadda.
am really touched!!

please visit http://blog.blogadda.com/2009/07/28/9-best-indian-interior-design-blogs
for more details.

Traditional art - warli

2009-06-22T09:36:00.000-07:00

Warli art started in rural maharashtra,when tribals wanted to decorate their mud houses.since these tribals were also iliterate,they needed to express themselves and it gave them the freedom to do so.Birth,death,marriage celebration,harvest season etc; are usually depicted in this form of art. .It mostly involved human figures doing the usual chores.

what started in the rural areas has now become so popular,that it is found almost everywhere.sharing with you warli art on table mats,coasters and even earthen handis and spatulas

DIY-Dried flowers

2009-05-05T23:54:00.000-07:00

Flowers make me go crazy.but it isnt possible that we buy fresh flowers daily.
This summer I tried my hands on making a dry flower arrangement.
Heliconia is classified as a rare plant. This is how it looks.

I plucked some,left it to dry under the sun for a few hours and then my daughter and self tried painting the flowers.

This is the result.

Madhubani Paintings

2009-05-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

Gods,Goddess and various elements of nature are the preferred subjects for a madhubani artist.Iam really at loss of words.Look at the colours,the simplicity of design and how even a black & white picture can capture our attention.Hats off to the artisans whose resourcefulness has ensured that this art form continues to have a world wide market.

HANDS AT WORK

2009-05-01T00:05:00.000-07:00

This is a quilt that I have made for my little niece/nephew who will bless our family soon.The cats are all set to welcome the little bundle of joy.

Iam proud that I belong to a family of art lovers and artists in our own right.These are some "handiwork" of my ma-in-law.

My Little One

2009-02-18T23:37:00.000-08:00

She is the apple of my eye.she is my Daughter.

Today le'mme take you to her comfort zone.Her room..Her lucky mascot,Winnie the Pooh and the piglet welcome you, in her world.

This is her pin-up board where she puts in all her contributions like her medals,certificates,craftwork etc,And yes she turned 4 last month.

We made a comfortable sitting arrangement,on the floor for her,one in which she can have all the fun without ever getting hurt.

This is a mirror and on its shelf are these lovely puppies.They pose along with my sweetiepie.

And her desk.She sits there most of the time scribbling something or the other.Often its only an alphabet,a drawing or a line here and there but then I also wonder,maybe its her piece of art..

'Sajavat' on An Indian summer

2009-02-11T09:12:00.000-08:00

Hey Everybody,
Post dinner today, I sat with my laptop to work on my blog and ofcourse also to see some great work of other fellow design bloggers.I was really thrilled to find my blog being mentioned under the heading 'A few good blogs' in An Indian Summer.

I truly appreciate it.

Signs of Prosperity

2009-02-04T18:13:00.000-08:00

A tree is like a mother,holding her children in her bosom.
Maybe it's this idea that fascinates an artist.
One day I suddenly realized that my collection is slowly increasing.Unknowingly I have accumulated many such 'mommies' under my roof,each one of them being different from the other.

This one is a stain glass painting occupying the centre point of my display shelf.When we were designing this unit,myself and my hubby instantly agreed upon this tree design.It faces the entrance and hence welcomes one and all in its abode.

Madhubani is a town in Bihar and is the origin of this beautiful art form, also known as the mithila art.Like in other folklore,here too there is an element of myth and have various tales revolving around them.
Trees symbolize fertility and life.

This is a handmade,embroidered piece.My sister S gifted to me on my Birthday.I Really find all the shades very interesting as it truly depicts the stages in one's life.

For all those who have visited my site before,are familiar with the Chennapatna Bulls and their love for this tree!!

Bright and Beautiful

2009-01-31T09:45:00.000-08:00

It was my daughter's Birthday and to decorate the house I used fresh flowers to enliven my place.Trust me they spread warmth & happiness instantly.
Either make arrangement in a flower vase or uruli.They are great source to lift your spirits.

Bottle Art

2009-01-17T22:51:00.000-08:00

Hi Folks,
Tried to do something innovative with the empty bottle lying around and this was the end result.U can try it too! Use it as a fresh flower container or even as a pencil holder in the kids room.Be creative,Think out of the box!

Patta Chitra Art

2008-11-21T10:30:00.000-08:00

Iam continuing my earlier post on nightbazaar in Hyderabad.Though i have come back to the hustle-bustle of Mumbai life,am kind of still captivated by the beauty of all the handicrafts.

Patta Chitra is an age old tradition of making miniature paintings with religious themes originated in Orissa.It is made by hand on specially treated cloth known as patta.
Now a days artists also exhibit this beautiful art form on palm leaves,the themes depicting their village culture.

Bookmark

Art on an Envelope.
Artisians have tried to create maximum use of their art by making gift envelopes.I must say what a novel idea..

Kitchen Ware

2008-11-21T09:34:00.000-08:00

It is said that the best kitchen is not only the one that brings to you
lip-smacking dishes but one that houses the appropriate utensils and containers.Hence today's post is on various types of storage boxes like these Ceramic ones in which our grannies preserved jams,murrabbas and pickles..

Dahi or Butter anybody??

Spice containers

On the table..

Sindoordani or box of Pearls?

HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS DEEPAVALI

2008-10-28T03:27:00.000-07:00

A very pleasurable diwali to all of you.
DEEPAVALI is a good time to decorate your house with Rangoli,diyas,water candles,flowers..the list is endless and also a time to remember the supreme power and thank him for his love and blessings.

Night Bazaar

2008-10-18T04:13:00.000-07:00

We were at this night bazaar in Hyderabad.It was amazing to see so many artisians at one place.
I bought whatever my pocket would allow and there I made a note in my mind,instead of buying from Hi-Fi shops and malls,I will try and buy intresting stuff from such places and encourage these artists who take so much pain,come from various states across India and exhibit their wares.

Truly Incredible India!!

Come on lets take an effort and not let these beautiful art forms fade away.

HANDCRAFTED

2008-10-14T21:20:00.000-07:00

Buying cards for your loved ones is easier.
Making one is a whole lot of fun!!

Embroidery

2008-10-13T10:28:00.000-07:00

I always liked embroidered stuff but it was when my daughter was born I gifted her a bedsheet soulfully made.... BY ME!!
Then it kind of became a passion to gift her one each birthday.She will soon turn four and I think its time to take the next project! wat say?

Spicy Stuff !!

2008-10-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

I had to empty the seeds that remained from the red chilly container and my 3 year old daughter helped me.
We emptied the contents into the pot in our green patch of our balcony.

and the wonders of nature!

Look the chillies are in full form.

shall I pluck some more??

DUSSERRA

2008-10-13T09:37:00.000-07:00

Navratri means nine days which are celebrated with much fun and enthusiasm all over India.
Different people and different culture but these nine days are meant to worship the Goddess of Wealth,Power and Knowledge. Laxmi,Durga and Saraswati.
In most Indian homes 'Haldi-Kumkum' is the main feature.

Decorate your Thali as you please!! May be in nine different ways!

In South India People give Betel leaves along with Haldi Kumkum'Vethala Paaku'(betel leaf & Supari).
I found a novel way to decorate a corner of my home with these betel leaves.

Colour Delight!!

2008-10-04T04:28:00.000-07:00

It was a lazy afternoon, the rains pouring heavily outside.I was sitting with a glass of hot filter coffee and going through 'HOME' magazine.
As I was leafing through it I immediately knew what my next post should be.I couldn't take my eyes off it.Look at the colours!!
Purple,red green ...hmmm,should I finish my coffee and drift into the sleep mode??

Mirror Mirror on the wall,who is the loveliest of them all?

2008-10-04T04:09:00.000-07:00

Porcelain Timeless Beauties

2008-10-04T03:37:00.000-07:00

Could not help but capture some of the porcelain ware from various magazines.
Believe me,they are a must see.

They dont age with time and can be passed from one generation to another.Think Porcelain and what comes to mind is the delicacy and the subtelity with which it is crafted.

It is one of the oldest decorative item known to man.They can be dinnerware,figurines,vases,wallplates,clocks etc;

It is made from a mixture of two ingredients Kaolin and Petuntse.China first created porcelain ware.
Porcelain is still treated as luxury item but ask me they are a must for every home hence aptly said "Owners pride neighbour's envy"

"Kitchenaalaia"

2008-09-13T20:44:00.000-07:00

We were doing up our display unit in the kitchen.I think we were lucky enough to find the perfect handles.what do u say?

corners of my home

2008-08-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

These are some of the brassware used traditionally in almost all homes down south.
They look pretty with plants or maybe just grouped together and kept in a corner.

corners of my home

2008-08-20T10:47:00.001-07:00

Bell chimes

2008-08-20T10:39:00.000-07:00

corners of my home

2008-08-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

I sometimes find it funny,but then i havent even spared my waterpurifier.

glimpses from my home

2008-08-17T10:54:00.000-07:00

Chennapatna is a small town near Banglore.It is famous for wooden toys and decoratives.some memories from the place we visited recently.I really liked these bulls the moment i saw them.

ASHTAVINAYAKAR

2008-08-17T04:35:00.000-07:00

Another one from my Ganesha collection.

vinayaka

2008-08-17T04:18:00.000-07:00

My house is adorned with Ganesha.Iam a big fan of Him.