DIY with newspaper

Let us see how we can use newspaper to make a basket and some pretty coasters.Once they are made they become very sturdy and the best part is we get to make them with something as simple as newspaper.
So let us get started...

DIY BASKET

Materials required: Newspaper, glue, paint colours of your choice

Step 1: Take an A4 size newspaper

Step 2: start rolling diagonally from one end to make paper strips.

Step 3: Now roll these fine strips in the form of a circle. Roll the strips tightly one over the other. You will need ten or more such strips to make the circular base. Glue each strips firmly with fevicol. You can spread the fevicol a little lavishly for firm binding. Do not worry. Fevicol will become transparent once dry. Also make such circular rolls for the sides. Depending upon the diameter of the base, the number of circles on the sides will vary.

Final step: Glue all the circles on the sides, next to each other on the base. Let it dry. You can apply a coat of varnish as protective layer. Mix equal parts of fevicol and water to prepare the varnish. Apply it generously on the basket which is now ready. This also gives a shine to your basket. You can even paint it with your choicest colours and make it prettier! Add embellishments like mirrors, buttons, sea shells for added effect.

Tell me,did you find this interesting?

Now for the second DIY it's pretty much similar to the basket that we made just now.

DIY Coasters

You have to follow the same instructions till the 3rd step in the above DIY . You roll the newspapers in circles and make it as big as you need by rolling and attaching more newspaper strips.Then you can paint pretty designs on the coasters and yep! they are ready.Give a generous coat of varnish by mixing fevicol and water in equal amount. The varnish acts as a protective layer.You can make a circle with large diameter and use it as a place mat too!

Here are two coasters that I made.

These DIY are part of the DIY series  that am engaged with at the moment for Asian Paints. You can have a look at their Pinterest board here for more DIY's from me.Let me know what you think of them.

The 'Bath' rooms...

How do you make your Powder rooms / rest rooms or in plain terms your bathroom interesting? Well, I know for sure this is one of the most neglected space in our homes.But a little effort here and a little thought there and you can have a bathroom that will also be at least as much talked as the rest of the house.

Let us start with the basics .So the hardware is all there, but pay a little more attention to the decor in the restroom.May be an interesting element such as these lovely Rajasthani jodis that are hung on to the mirror ...what say?



Adding some accessories in the dry area should also attract more eyeballs...



I know this looks rustic but the copper pots and buckets and the wooden mirror is a sure crowd puller or if you want to go for sophistication ...here it is



Also, let us have a good mirror there.May be one that is large in size.Well you know, size does matter many a times!



And how beautiful is that laundry basket.I love the green and may be also some plants or a pretty flower arrangement to complete the set up!.

Then one could always opt for a washbasin like this .... Gives a vintage feel. Isn't it ?



Or customize our very own 'Uruli' to a basin...



But this according to me is a dark space so one would have to play with colours here to make it more cheerful.May be something like this..



and let us not forget the storage...Some Indian wicker baskets can come handy here.



Now for some more inspiration...

The mosiac backlash tiles are so pretty...Would love to have something like this in my bathrooms.



And in the company of rose petals I would never want to come out of the bath.











Take your pick and choose the one that works for you and enjoy the much needed 'me-time' in the cosy confines of your rest room.

Image courtesy : My pinterest board

Malgudi Vatika

There is something in the name 'Malgudi Vatika' that beckons you right? Yeah I know most of you will remember the name for the serial Malgudi days.Well just on an impulse, we visited the place some time back and didn't regret it one bit. Now to tell you all, Malgudi vatika is a restaurant on the Mysore road. We were there for lunch but came after evening snacks. I loved everything about it.The food of course and also the interiors and the wide stretch of outdoor lawn and greens that it maintains.

Malgudi Vatika has a rustic charm.You will find many antique stuff and am sure those who are the interior ,decor lovers like me, will want to visit it again and again. Let me take you through certain images that will do justice to so much of hype that I have created.

Such prettiness all around...

The outdoor sitting area...

Didn't mind waiting here at all...

Reminds me of my school desk...

Old but Gold...

Do you remember these?

Tic-tac-toe and Pallankuzhi...

Copper carafe and tumblers.

This is their menu card...

There can be more images but nothing like visiting the place and seeing it for yourself. After all seeing is believing!

I gathered that one need not visit luxurious spaces to feel happy but true content also comes from revisiting memories associated with our childhood! In this case, the trunks,gramophone,the white brown 'barnee' and various other pretty artifacts casually displayed within the interiors did that for me.

Food was good and I would definitely recommend it to all. Bangaloreans book your seat for the weekend. As I mentioned  earlier it is on the Mysore Road about 1 Km after Wonder la.  

P.S : Some of the images are from their website

Some quiet moments with greens at home

This is a very simple post but an activity that gave me immense satisfaction.Since some days my money plant( pothos ) had a miserable appearance.I was in no mood to buy the moss stick .So finally did what I had seen my mother do in all these years.She would just scout for a stick and wrap our humble coir around the same.

Last week we went to farm and that is where I found this bark.Immediately I knew, where I would use it .So this afternoon trimmed the plant,inserted the thick stem into the pot and wound the coir around it and then gave the same treatment to the money plant.So as the pothos grow ,I will only have to give it a direction around the coir wound stem.

Looks clean right.what do you think? Now for those of you who do not follow the Sajavat facebook page some more greens from my home.Have a look.

Nothing is spared at my home.Not even my son's toy truck.Anyway you enjoy the monsoon and the greenery around.We will see each other very soon!

Kantha Embroidery

Kantha embroidery... A stitch that comes alive

Can you make out the fine running Kantha in the bedspread?

Kantha embroidery is one of the oldest embroidery and in simple words it is nothing other than running stitches.It is a widely practiced art in the state of West Bengal and Orissa and is believed to exist since 500 years. Originally rural women used this form of embroidery to re use old fabrics and sarees by stitching them together in layers.Quilts were often made from old saris when they used to give away but now a days due its popularity Kantha is a much loved embroidery form among all needle and thread lovers.

A quilt...

Now, this I must say is innovation!

These days apart from clothing, Kantha is used in home furnishings such as bed covers, quilts, furniture and furnishings too!.Kantha stitched with multicolored threads can be a treat to the eyes.It has captured the interests of global audience and finds popularity among the designers in U.K and Japan.

Oh! love this Potli...

The motifs used to embroider Kantha are simple everyday objects, flora and fauna and folk scenes.It
is an affordable, practical yet mesmerizing form of embroidery.

Swing, Hammock, oonjal, jhoola and lots of fun!

A childhood pleasure that continues as a desire even now is to have a gala time in a swing. Isn't it?

A swing can momentarily lessen your burden and sway your worries away.



and an outdoor one at that takes me to a different world...



Make a simple one as these for your child or for the kid in you and you will be lost in a world of giggles and laughter.



A hammock is no less...I can see myself snoozing away in this.A side table would serve better.A mug of coffee and a book for company...Chai and pakoras is a nice idea too!



And something like this...oh truly contended...

If space permits, have a jhoola in your courtyard,balcony, terrace or even in a small area at home. It will be elegance personified.

This one totally took my heart away...within home ...



A very traditional feel...a style that am too fond of...Enjoy the post...Keep swinging...