Valentine's day Tablescape: Table For Two

Sharing my emotions that I can't hold today........................ 

My husband has made me laugh, wiped my tears, hugged me tight, watched me succeed, seen me fail, cheered me on, kept me going strong. My husband is a promise from God that I'll have a friend forever. 

Now let's start setting a table for two for that special day- Valentine's Day!!

Have you figured out what colour combination do you want for Valentine's day table setting. I chose red & white for this special occasion. As my crockery and accessories collection have red and white in abundance. So it was easy for me to go with this combination.

Napkin ring is made of Quilled Heart that you can see in my earlier post. Name tag is placed on plate with initials written on it. 

Simple yet lovely and I think perfect for occasion. everything red & white. Candles and lamps complete the romantic look.

Here is some glow and glitter for that romantic ambiance.

 Stained glass jar is serving as a vase to hold my love tree (Click here to know how you can make Love tree).

This candle I made during Diwali festival last year. It's an aroma candle perfect one for romantic dinner.

Terracotta diffuser is filled with lavender fragrance and the room was filled with intoxicating aroma.

 Hearts everywhere..........

and some sumptuous food of course...........

Hope you also enjoyed your day with your loved ones!!!

Wish you a very Happy Valentine's Day

PS: All images are mine and are subject to copyright. Please don't use or copy images without my permission. 

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She came home on Mahalaya...

It all began one July afternoon in 2011, while having chai on our terrace in Bangalore, 

Mr. Husband and I were reminiscing about our respective childhood days spent in Calcutta, West Bengal. {Yes, both of us had Grandparents who lived in the ‘City of Joy’}

The rich culture, the distinct architecture, the warm people and the simple daily life in the land of the Goddess is so deeply engrained in our memories that we wanted it to be part of our lives today. To be depicted in the form of art that could be cherished everyday. Forever.

With each painting that Dithi Mukherjee uploaded on her blog, we knew that she was the only one who could bring our memories alive with strokes of her paint saturated with Bengal folk-art and mythology.

Dithi Mukherjee needs no introduction but let me try.

She is a self-taught artist and a print-maker from West Bengal, India living in Geneva, Switzerland. Her paintings are inspired by the rich traditions of India, her childhood memories, her experiences in the magical land of Bengal, the folk art and the music of the Bauls… 

Her unique style of painting has the viewer getting lost in the eyes that are nectar-filled pools of beauty.

Away from home.
The unabashed use of a vibrant palette of colours, the Bengal influence makes Dithi's work very exclusive.

Kumortully Ghats 

Mother and daughter.

Her talent weaves magic on anyone who looks at these canvases steeped in vibrant hues.

On a personal level, I met Dithi online via Vineeta’s blog in 2009 and there was an instant connection.
A creative connection. 
A connection fueled by our love for India, the great admiration for our culture and traditions. 
A connection shared with many cups of steaming hot masala chai over the internet. 
A connection based on our love for the beauty of life. 
A connection based on the highest regard for each other’s creative work.

We commissioned Dithi to paint for us amidst her hectic travels between Geneva and India and our imminent move to Minnesota.

For us, Calcutta is our favourite Bonedi draped in the traditional soft Bengal handloom saree, the Shanka pola (White & Red Bangles), a hand fan for those hot humid summers, the black & white flooring on which we as kids ran with abandon during our summer vacations. 

Few weeks before Durga Pujo, 2012 with each exchange of mails, with each shared thought, with each experience, with each stroke of her brush the Bonedi was getting transformed into someone mystical, someone magical, someone embodying the supreme feminine power. 

She was becoming the Goddess. 

She was becoming Durga.

She was becoming Maa.


In October, 2012 Dithi was leaving for India to be with her family for the Pujos and she mailed the painting of Maa just before she left.

Each day passed filled with the anticipation of Maa’s arrival. 
....and then finally.

A beautiful golden handwritten note by Dithi.

She arrived!

Maa arrived on Mahalaya. 

{The auspicious day that heralds the advent of Goddess Durga, the beginning of the Navaratris}

Dithi elevated the painting to a completely superlative creative level with her interpretations, the profusion of colours on the canvas, the lotus-petal eyes to drown in, the spring-green ‘pakhi’ Her consort, the crimson-coloured fingertips, the Bangla composition by Rabindranath Tagore that runs along like an intricate silk border that holds the painting so delicately.

Maa's space in our humble abode.

The birdcage on the camphor chest is representative of the profound composition 'Khanchar Pakhi Chhilo' by Rabindranath Tagore depicted in the painting.

Here is the translation.

Meanwhile in Calcutta, Dithi helped me get a bunch of traditional Bengali Sindoor Daanis’ {Containers for storing Vermillion powder} which I wanted to be part of Maa’s corner in our home.

Along with the Sindoor Danis came Tara Maa's Magical Padukas. 

I have mentioned before in many of the previous posts that whenever art in any form comes home: It is a blessing. 

With Maa coming home to us, in our new home, in a new country, we feel completely blessed!

When the ochre lights come on in the evening.

Thank you Dithi Mukherjee, for giving us Maa!

Hop over to Dithi's blog to read her post on the creation of Maa.

( Copyrighted Images by Arch, Painting by Dithi Mukerjee. Please don't use without permission)

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Chandelier Love

Do you have endless love for chandelier's that I have?





I adore so many different styles of chandy's that I just had to make a change!


The first vintage chandelier that I ever purchased was from ebay. I eventually talked my hubby into letting me take down the ceiling fan in the living room and replace it with this lovely old piece...







I really liked it for the most part, but our

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Because My Dad Said So!

Meet my dad, Sam ... devoted husband to my sweet and beautiful Mama ... retired dentist ... golf enthusiast ... and, now, apparently, decorator extraordinaire.

For the past few years, whenever Dad has come over ... more often than not, he would look up at our dining room ceiling and say, in his deep southern, instructional voice, "Becca, *when* are you gonna paint that ceiling(?)," OR "you *need* to paint that ceiling ... it's too dark and brings your room down," OR "I see you *still* haven't painted that ceiling!"  Time after time, I've humbly answered (as I'd roll my eyes and nod my head) "I know ... I know, Dad."

Well, this 43 year old gal finally listened!

Before (from last Fall):

AFTER: (Sorry that I'm only showing a snippet for now ... will share more once I replace our ceiling medallion!)

Admittedly, Dad was right!  A lighter ceiling (BM's Maritime White) IS better in here!  I never realized what an effect the gold, metallic ceiling had on the Manchester Tan walls, and how it would cast the darker color down onto the walls.  It seems brighter now ...

In fact, Mr. Roo just might break out in song!

I'm pretty sure that our *faux* orchid has even started to grow:

And, because I just KNOW that Dad is going to want to bring his friends over and show them the influence he has, I added extra seating by bringing in slip covered parsons chairs (that were in our bedroom) to the heads of the table:

Thanks, Dad, for the suggestion (or was that an order) ... I *finally* did as I was told!

Thankfully, Dad approves of the new ceiling and will now enjoy saying "Aren't you glad you *finally* painted that ceiling(?)" over ... and, over again!  And, admittedly, I wonder what he's going to say I need to do next!  LOL

By the way, if you need someone to tell it like it is (or give you advice or instruction that you didn't realize you wanted or needed), I'm sure "Sammie" will be happy to zip on over in my (I mean, HIS) Corvette and share his thoughts!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

I'm off to party here:

French Country Cottage/Feathered Nest Friday

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Valentine's Day Craft: Quilled Heart

You must have read my earlier post 'Inspiring Eminent Blogger: Suganthi'. She is Quilling Artist and has her unique way of Quilling. I loved all her artwork and instantly fell in love with this art. I tried my hand on Quilling earlier also. I made Quilled flower wreath on Christmas. This time I made Quilled heart as you all know Valentine's Day is just around the corner. This craft is very easy and you can involve your kids also as I did.

I made this quilled heart and then added bead hanging inside it. To make quilled heart, take a red quilling stripe and fold it into half. Roll both the ends inwards, one after another using quilling needle and then stick both the coils together.

To hang beads inside quilled heart was very simple. Just thread, needle & beads and your quilled heart will look even more cute :)

Look at the images and you will be able to understand how to make these cute little hanging quilled heart.

Now the next steps is to hang them on a branch.

I had this dried branch and I painted it red. All the little heart are now hanging beautifully on a Love Tree.

And spreading love..............

See....Love is in the air :))

Tree is looking lovely but I think it needs something more........

I have an idea to make it more lovely, more beautiful........probably will show you in my next post.

Till then try making this love tree for your loved ones and don't forget to show me the images.

• Click here to know how I set my valentine's day table for two.

P.S. All images are mine and are subject to copyright.

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