Varnam

Remember the lovely Creative Corners's of Karthik Vaidhyanathan's home in Bangalore?

He's back this time with Varnam~ A colourful line of home furnishings.

A full-time media professional with a passion for interior design, Karthik's Varnam showcases the amazing beauty of traditional Indian handmade textiles.

Karthik explains, "Varnam is a sincere attempt to highlight some of the inherent beautiful qualities that traditional Indian fabrics possess.

The product line consists of table runners, curtains, cushions, etc. all handmade from Indian sarees and blouse materials.

Pillow Covers made from saree and blouse materials...

Curtains...

Table runners...

I felt these were apt since Indian stories incorporate some of the most beautiful patterns, colours and motifs. The sarees include traditional nine yard Maharashtrian sarees or ‘Navvaris’, cotton sarees from Tamil nadu , Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

I have also made use of the very popular and blouse material traditionally used by women along the Maharashtra-Karnataka border, ‘Khan’."

The products are simple with no added embellishments.

Varnam is being showcase at The Ants Store in Indiranagar from October 22nd to 24th, 2010. If you are in Bangalore do drop by and check out the stunning range of home furnishings from Varnam.

(images from Karthik)

Read More

Keep Learning!!

This blog is not only for novice artists, crafters and decor enthusiasts but also for maven in these fields. Learning is an endless process. This blog is my earnest attempt to share more about different kind of Indian art forms, showcase various artists and beautiful homes from around the world, DIY, recycle whatever I can and lots of gardening projects too, all at one place. I am collecting data from various sources, from masters to learners.

You can learn as well as share your unique talent here on my blog. As I believe that everybody has got something unique and is gifted. So why sit idle and quiet. Go ahead and show the world your hidden potential.

So this is going to be a great journey. Follow my blog and keep learning!!

Read More

Lighten and Brighten

Hope you all are enjoying the day.  It's absolutely gorgeous here ... I have *no* business being indoors, let alone playing on the computer!

So, I'm taking you into our sitting room today.  Some of you may remember that it used to look like this:

It was a yummy metallic chocolate brown (Ralph Lauren Metallic paint in Lush Brown), which I absolutely loved.  However, because the furniture in there is dark, the room began to close in on me. 

After:  I painted the walls BM Manchester Tan, switched out the furniture, the rug and window treatments. 

The chairs and ottoman are from the great room (which also has a new look). I've ordered natural colored slipcovers for the chairs ... hope they work.  And, a smaller jute rug replaced the larger, darker one we had.  I like having more of the wood floor exposed:

I found this silver tray at a local *ha-uge* antique store called B&B:

I've moved things around in the bookcase and have added a few Fall touches there, as well.  Love the vintage Tequila bottle (also found at B&B):

A baby white pumpkin is perched on a nest of shredded paper which all sit on top of cute bowl I just bought at a friend's awesome gift shop called Crazee Birds:

Fun textured pitchers (and, yes ... a-NOTHER bird plate).  I also lightened some of my books up by wrapping them in painter's paper (from Lowes):

This fancy mirror once *lived* in the dining room, but has since moved here:

And, a fun find from Home Goods:

We're really enjoying the new look in our sitting room, especially in the afternoons when the sun pours in through the windows.   

Well, I hope you have a wonderful day!  I'm off to finish up the dining room:

I'm linking up to:

BNOTP for Metamorphosis Monday

Make it for Monday

It's So Very Creative

Transformation Thursdays

Inspiration Friday

FJI for Saturday Nite Special


Thanks for stopping by,

Read More

Fall Buffet

Happy Tuesday! It's almost *chilly* here today, which I love!  Since finishing my Fall tree that I shared with you yesterday, I've been tweaking my Fall buffet that sits in our great room.


This is the view of it from the foyer (feel free to click on any pic to make them larger):

A little closer:

A cream pedastal bowl sits in the center filled with pumpkins,  pinecones, leaves, a starfish and a baby pumpkin tucked on top of a little nest:

A vase from Willow House holds sprigs of little leaves, flowers, pumpkins and feathers:

 A cute bird plate from Home Goods:

Continuing the touches of the bird theme, I love this rustic birdhouse I found at one of our local gift shops:

This pumpkin sits on top of a vase I wasn't using.  At the base of the pumpkin sits a round wild *spray* that is supposed to be used at the base of a candle.  Oops:

And, there ya' have it!

I think I may crash Marty's Table Top Tuesday party, Rhoda at Southern Hospitality, Feathered Nest Friday, Color Outside the Lines for Vignette Fridays and Show and Tell Friday.  Come on over and join the fun!

Thanks for stopping by,

Read More

My Fall Family Tree

My poor husband ... he's such a great sport when it comes to supporting my decorating obsession hobby.  He'll make countless trips up into the *sauna-like* attic for me when it's time to decorate for the holidays.  HowEVER ... he wasn't quite prepared to pull a Christmas tree down ... in Sept-EMBER!  lol

I really wanted to do a *family* Christmas tree again this year ... I'm just putting it up a tad bit earlier.  And, it's not *really* a Christmas tree, per se ... more of a FALL family tree, with rustic, muted ornaments (and, okay, a few sparklies mixed in, too)!

I wrapped it in both burlap and grapevine garland and added lots of bird feathers ...

gold and copper-y ornaments (WalMart), and a picture of one of my older sisters and her family while visiting her husband's family in France ...

a few sprigs that have birds' nests on them (with a little gold birdie perched in one now).  The glittery topped acorn sparkles away in the lights ...

gold layered balls (have them in copper and apple green, too).  I found them at Dollar Tree last year ... 2 for $1 ... score!) ...

a baby owl, who found another empty nest to rest in (alongside a picture from when my husband and I renewed our vows in Punta Cana for our 15th Anniversary, this past July):

pinecones scattered on branches and a burlap *skirt* peeking through (you *know* I love the sparkly leaves) ...

Annnnnd, you'll see branches and more feathers sprouting up from the top, along with bows in pretty colors of browns, golds and creams (gotta add more birch):

But, the most important *embellishments* on our tree are the family pictures and sayings that grace it, reminding us what this season is about .. being thankful for family and friends.  I've included pictures of generations past, and I love having them as part of the tree ... part of the season.  Even though I'm not good about visiting my family in Virginia, they mean so much to me.  I get sentimental putting these pics on the tree, especially as I see members of my family who are no longer with us.  Years gone by ... moments that are now memories.  

Here's my younger sister (now 35) surrounded by my late grandfather and other relatives, while she models a lovely purse (*ta-da*) at a family gathering.  She's always been the stylish one!  And, my most treasured picture ... the moment I first held and met my son.  Okay, where are my tissues?

Thanks for visiting!

I'm linking up with:

Making the World Cuter Monday

Metamorphosis Monday

Motivate Me Monday

Read More

B is for Beads!

Happy Thursday ... another week is almost done!  Well, it's still gloomy here in South Carolina; however, the sun is supposed to return tomorrow (yay)!  So, while I'm enjoying an evening inside, I thought I'd join Jenny Matlock for her fun Alphabe-Thursday party.  This week, the letter is "B" ... so I've chosen "Beads." 

As I mentioned in my last post (sharing my Fall mantel), I was determined to add a beaded garland this year; however, I simply couldn't find one a.ny.where!  I am NOT a crafty chick; however, I realized that if I *really* wanted the look I was going after, I was going to have to make the garland myself.  *Heavy sigh*

Off to Michael's I went.  There, in the jewelry section, I was pleasantly surprised to find these little beauties!!  The colors were perfect for the natural look I wanted:

So, while watching my favorite(!) show, Modern Family, I simply threaded the beads randomly onto picture frame wire.  I chose this type of wire so that it would withstand the collective weight of the beads, and also allow me to manipulate the wire into the shape I wanted.

And voila:

While it's certainly not going to be featured in Martha Stewart's Living magazine (lol), I'm happy with how it turned out ... mainly because it was super easy and inexpensive!

Thanks for stopping by,



Read More

warm blush...

It's official, in my home the 'warm pink' is the fall colour:-)

What are the hues that are painting your fall this year?

Read More