Glass films...lending utility and decor value

Glass films serve multiple Purposes. Heat reflection,safety, privacy, decoration being some of them. Of course you remember the films used in car windows. So whatever your need, you can go for these glass films to add a touch of glamour as well as utility value to your glass works.

This is one of the products on offer at Homesol. You can also check out Sajavat facebook page for more info.

Eco friendly Spaces

Eco friendly spaces... the name itself makes me feel as if a cold breeze of air has swept in, on a hot summer day.

Indradev 's Residence- Green home

There are many ways to go about creating a home that is nature friendly and that's the call of the hour now. We must take steps now so that the future generations are not deprived of natural resources.

Some of the pointers discussed below may be a little helpful in going about this way.

Also I have posted images of  homes of people who have taken the steps in the right direction to create such eco friendly and resources saving spaces. For this I have taken information from here

Reduce Reuse Recycle :

This is the foremost to be followed. First of all, buy only as much as you truly need. Then utilize it to the maximum and finally find ways of recycling the product.

This is so true in today's times when we have excess of everything. Sometimes  I really feel our kids do not value things as much, as we as  a generation used to do.

Pots and pans which are not in a condition to do cooking can enhance your decor by using it as a planter.

Make use of old fabrics to do applique . This gives a fresh life to your clothes. Old sarees can be used as curtains or runners.

Do not throw away wine bottles. use it to keep pothos. Think hard and we can have multiple uses of an item.

G V Dasarathi's home... All windows, kitchen cabinets, bookshelves are made from discarded pinewood packing cases

Handmade Products:

Anything handmade increases it's value. After all, you have put hours of love to bring out such a unique  product. If it's handmade, chances are it is bio degradable and that makes it earth compatible.

And I am not only talking about small handmade stuff but use them in the construction of your home too. Like handmade athangudi tiles or even terracotta tiles.

Kanavi Residence in Bangalore uses hand made  mud blocks 

Natural materials:

Bamboo, stone, terracotta, fibre, coir all our natural options for an  attractive decor inside or outside home

Sandhya Subbaramaiah's home uses all natural products for home decor

Rainwater harvesting:

Many apartments, builders have now woken up to the fact that water is pricey. Yes rain water harvesting is not so difficult. If not followed in your society,take initiative... It can be installed within minimum budget.

Ashok Kamath's residence uses rainwater harvesting to grow such lovely flowers

 Energy Conservation:

We have the blessings of the sun god in abundance. So why not utilize it to our benefit.Install solar panels for heating water. Solar energy can also be used for cooking. Try using only CFL'S at your place. They save more energy than we can imagine. Teach your kids the basics of energy conservation. To switch off lights and fan when not in use.

All home owners who are thinking of constructing their own houses in future, give a thought to sun lit veranda  & courtyards. Good natural lighting options minimizes the use of electricity. Also its such a cool idea to have a central courtyard that provides ample light during the daytime.

Chockalingam Muthiah's home is completely solar powered

Save water: 

In our apartment the water from cooking area, bathing area is all utilized to provide for water in the flush tank, Simply put we use recycled water for our toilets.What may seem insignificant now, is actually small steps taken for a bigger cause. Support such initiatives.



Green environment:

Segregate your wastes into dry and wet. Almost whole of Bangalore has taken up this challenge and I am truly happy.You can even make your own compost. Go organic.Go green. Grow your own veggies, herbs and fruits.

Shyamla Madhavan uses compost to grow this Tomato Plant.

Remember all big innovations have stemmed from a small idea. Keep doing your bit and the rest will fall in its place.

DIY BOARD GAME

Today I want to share with you an interesting board game played in Southern India and by the people of Srilanka and Singapore. It is called pallankuzhi. On translation it simply means 14 pits (padinal -14  kuzhi-pits)


This game was widely  played by women folks before the advent of television and the internet. It improves your ability of mental mathematics and motor skills too.This traditional game board was generally made in wood or stone in olden times and came in various shapes. It has 14 pits, played by two players at a time, each having 7 pits to his name and a bank pit for each player. Generally tamarind seeds, seeds of a plant called manjari or cowrie shells were used.

 It was a great time pass when women folk gathered around festival times. Also during Sivaraatri when they had to fast and keep themselves awake the entire night.

You can get more information about this game in wikipedia

I remember myself playing this amazing game as a kid in my uncle's house with my cousins.The game was so popular and addictive that even the elders joined in the fun. Now we have so many other ways to pass our time yet such traditional games still carry their own charm. Very recently I was discussing this with my maternal uncle and never knew that he would take the next possible opportunity to gift me this board. My grandmother's house is being renovated and my uncle made sure that the carpenter carved one pallankuzhi from the wood of one of the trees back home in Kerala.

This is the one am talking about.

Pallankuzhi

Isn't it wonderful? A lovely one in the shape of a fish. since the time it arrived, have been itching to paint it pretty. since it is in fish shape, painted some more fish motifs on it.

So for the next 2-3 days my dining table was in a mess. Every now and then, I would sit with the fish to add a dot & a line there.

In making

Taking shape

Almost done

Now for the final look...

How does it look?

I have placed it in my foyer area and every time my son passes that way, he is sure to try a hand at it. Picking up manjari seeds, dropping them in the other pits... yes irresistible it is! There are days when he cannot make it to the park in the evening time, these days we play this fun game.

Have you ever played such traditional games as a child? Share with me and we can reminisce in the memory together.