DIY Ideas For The Weekend

Here are some DIY ideas for you to give your garden a makeover this weekend. Go through the links for a complete post.

Create a Zen corner:

A very quick way to create a zen corner in your garden, click here to know how you can do that.

Paint hanging baskets:
Paint all those hanging baskets in some vibrant colour to add charm in your garden. Click here to know how I did it.

Make a pot full of happiness:
Paint a pot (any kind of pot) and place it in your garden. It will sure add some drama there. Click here to see how I made one for my garden.

Make a bird house:

Summers are already here and it would be great if you could give a home to some birds, and please don't forget to keep bird bath in your garden. Click here to learn how you can make bird house at home. 

Paint balcony walls: 

To give your balcony garden a face-lift, you can paint one of the walls of your balcony. You can choose Madhubani, warli or any other Indian art form to give personal touch to your garden. Click here to know how I painted my client's balcony walls. 

Make some accessories:

You can make some garden accessories by your own like mushrooms, duck and ducklings, turtles, butterflies and bird nest too. Don't you believe that, then click here and here. 

Hope now you have a fair idea to give a complete makeover to your garden. Choose any of these DIY ideas as your weekend project and don't forget to share your work here :)

Have a creative weekend folks!!

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Hanging Baskets In My Small Balcony Garden

I had always wanted hanging baskets in my balcony garden, but I couldn't find big wrought iron hanging baskets with coir lining here in Pune. So I bought these plastic ones. I didn't like their dull colours though, so I painted them in vibrant colours.

I planted Money plant, Jade, 9 O'clock, Purple Wandering Jew and Singapore Daisy in some baskets, that my mother had given me and sowed seeds of Virginia Stock and Nasturtium in two baskets, that my mother-in-law had given me. I was desperate like a kid, who just wanted seeds to sprout the moment they were sown. I wanted to see, how my baskets will going to look when they will be full of foliage and blooms. And slowly it happened.........

Kid in me was so happy to see some blooms and Virginia Stock sprouts, that were filling the blue basket.

And finally the day arrived when I saw 9 O'clock, Nasturtium, Singapore Daisy and Virginia Stock blooming and Money plant & Jade thriving and spreading cheer in my small garden. This was the sight I was waiting for. It was so heart warming to look at these baskets.  

Some close ups.........

And some different angles.........

And Purple wandering Jew has become the main attraction in the garden for its lovely purple leaves and the way it's covering the basket.

But now because of cold weather Nasturtium has died :( and 9 O'clock plant has stopped blooming. 

Waiting for Spring to arrive now.

Have a great weekend ahead dear all!!

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Beautiful Balcony Garden!!

First let me share some exciting news for all my lovely readers. I know you all love decorating your homes, so here is a chance to win gift voucher worth Rs.3000/- for more information click here.

I have a wonderful guest today on my blog, Smita Srivastava. A food blogger who is equally enthusiastic about gardening. When I stumbled across some beautiful images of her small balcony garden, I couldn't help and asked her to send some more lovely images.

Smita Srivastava is the food blogger behind the fun food blog Little Food Junction . She started her career as a graphic designer after completing her masters in advertising design but fun foods, cooking & photography was where her true calling was. Struggling to interest her daughter in eating, she began to transform plates of food into colorful animals , people and pictures to liven up mealtimes. Her designs worked so well that she started her blog, Little Food Junction .

Simplicity , healthy and easy to make has always been her mantra for all her recipes and food designs. Her works have been featured on several newspapers and sites of great repute Her book – Fun food for Fussy Little Eaters ( published by Ryland Peters & Small, London) is available worldwide ( on Amazon, Flipkart, Barnes & noble etc )

As I said she loves gardening too.....

 So here some eye candies for you from Smita Srivastava's balcony garden

Well that's a nice way to add pop of colour and so much character in a small balcony garden. Beautiful accessories and lovely planters, is what that can change look of garden.

Balcony garden that is filled with lot of character. Don't you love that cute tiny ceramic hut.

Look at those lovely mushrooms.... gorgeous isn't it.

I just loved her collection of beautiful  ceramic planters in different shapes and colours.

And here's a wonderful zen corner in her Indian balcony garden. A perfect place to unwind.

Smita inspired me to do so many things in my garden, I am all set to add some character in my garden. Tell me what do you think of her beautiful garden.
Check out more gardening ideas on my blog click here

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In Nature's Lap

Hello dear readers!!! I am back after a refreshing and lovely vacation. 

How you all have been. Would you believe I purposely kept myself away from 'Internet' during this period

and that was amazing. I just enjoyed every bit of my vacation.

When I came back home from a place where mercury had hit 46 C, weather treated me very well here with short spell of shower and cool pleasant breeze. I almost feel like being in nature's lap. 

Stepping out of room on the terrace every morning and evening is just a bliss. I get to see different moods and shades of nature. Sometimes it's warm and shiny .........

Sometimes grey and dark.

and sometimes at its best.........with myriad colours in the sky.

and when I look at this beauty I just forget everything else. I am peaceful, free of stresses and calm.

Now let me take you to my other balcony/terrace. It's open to sky and looks beautiful in every season. We get ample amount of sunlight through out the year and what to say about pleasant breeze that blows gently every evening as I enjoy my cuppa there.

View from the living room. I enjoy endless rains

and my sun kissed beauties too.

It's green, it's full of colour. it's full of life and happiness!!

That's how I feel in my lovely abode. Blessed, happy and in nature's lap :)
Stay tuned to know about relation between fragrance and your mood. Next post coming soon....

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Fan Of The Week: Shashwatee Raut

First let me share some exciting news for all my lovely readers. I know you all love decorating your homes, so here is a contest and a chance to win gift voucher worth Rs.3000/- for more information click here.
This really cheers me up and keep me going when I receive some sweet notes from fans and readers of my blog. One such reader 'Shashwatee Raut' sent me her very very creative work to share here. Have a look of her DIY projects and beautiful balcony garden. Over to Shashwatee-

Many items in my garden are clay items which I have painted...Tulsi pot, small dog, swan, stool on which I have kept the fountain and the lotus pot.

Small cranes are made of U shaped hair pins and left over M-Seal. The mushrooms are made of plaster of Paris and body of a Reynolds pen (white body)...I have used egg shells as mould to give the mushroom shape. The small insect is made of a plastic ball. The bells are made of Chai ke kulhad!!!

This is Shashwatee's small but lively and beautiful balcony garden.

These five hanging pots are just rabdi handis which I have painted :) 
They look so vibrant and enhance the beauty of her small balcony garden.

   

Small pot in below image is made of paper clay...and I have placed an artificial plant in it as I can't water it......and the lotus like pink flower is made of pistachio shells. 
That lotus looks so real . Pot and butterflies are adding character to the space.

The nest in below image is made of coconut coir...I tried to make it as real as possible but......it became like this. 
Now who will going to believe this that nest isn't real.

I have made the pen stand with a rejected glass on which there was a crack...by simply pouring candle drops on it..then painted with fabric colour.
That's creativity at it's best.

 And the tablas are made of coconut shell..

Two creations are inspired from yours..
This is beautiful and she has done great job. You can find these two tutorials here and here.

Thanks a lot Shashwatee for sharing your passion for art and craft here on Design Decor & Disha.
What say friends. Isn't everything just fabulous. Everything that she made tells a story of her creative imaginations. What do you think.....just let her know through your comments :)

If you also have something to share please feel free to write me at designdecoranddisha@gmail.com!!
Stay tuned to meet Inspiring Eminent Artist of this month :)

All images are provided by Shashwatee Raur and are subject to copyright.

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Grow A Beautiful Garden

Before sharing tips on how to grow a beautiful garden one should know 'Why to grow a garden'.

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need"_Marcus

"A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness, it teaches industry and thrift, above all it teaches TRUST"_Gertrude Jeky

"Gardening adds years to your life and life to your years" _ Anon

Now you know the benefits of growing a garden. Here are some tips I am sharing to grow a healthy and beautiful garden.

Image Source: Click Here

1. Soil: 

First and most important step involve in growing a garden is to maintain good soil. Soil should be fertile and healthy. You can improve quality of your soil by adding compost/manure every year if you are growing flower and vegetable garden. No need to add compost if you are growing herbs. 

Check soil pH if it is too acidic then add some lime to control the pH. Healthy soil pH is considered between 5 to 8. That is neither very acidic nor very alkaline. Though it varies from plant to plant.

Add mulch (protective layer of material like bark, wood, plastic on the soil) to the top layer of soil, it will maintain soil temperature, maintains soil moisture, control weeds, organic mulch increases soil fertility and it reduces soil splash while watering or during rains.

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2. Environment:

Environmental factors also play an important role in gardening. Main factors are water and air temperature.
Watering directly depends on weather. If it rains then you can skip watering plants, though in summers you have to make sure to water your plants regularly. Nutrients available in soil get dissolved in water and are taken up by porous roots of the plants.
When temperature is very low then plants go into dormant state and metabolism slows down. While in very hot temperature plants stop functioning properly. So its always a best idea to take good care of your plants during extreme temperature conditions. Bring your plants inside home when there is too cold and keep them in partial shady  area in very hot weather.

Image Source: Click Here

3.Choose right plants:
Select your plants according to the space available and how much sunlight your space gets where you are planning to grow a garden.
If you have very limited space then going vertical is the best option. Choose plants those are dense and leafy.
If your garden space receives less or no sunlight then choosing shade loving plants like hydrangea, hostas, begonia, fern, bamboo, camellia, coral bells and fox gloves are some good options.
If your garden area receives ample amount of sunlight then choose day lily, black-eyed susan, coleus, chlorophytum, juniperus, daisy, salvia, hibiscus, petunia, verbena these are sun loving plants and thrive in sun.

4. Pots:
You can add a lot of drama to your garden by choosing some fancy and eye catching beautiful planters for your garden. You can simply paint your existing pots and can see the difference. Make a beautiful arrangement by placing pots of different color and size in cluster. Try using some unconventional pots like tree stump, plastic bottles, mugs, tyre, boots, pitcher or even an old bath tub too.

Image Source: Click Here

5. Garden Accessories:
Accessorizing your garden is as important as any other space in your home. Lots of  garden accessories are available in market these days. Choose right one for your garden according to space available. Bird house and bird bath not only enhances the beauty of garden but gives shelter to thirsty and tired birds also. Gnomes, fairy, by-cycle, wagon, terracotta or sand stone figures and fountain are few to name.

Image Source: Click Here

Hope you have found way to brighten up your garden and are ready for a makeover.

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