Tuesday, 16 July 2013

Summer Showcase of Homes

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Who doesn't love taking a peek into other peoples' homes for a little tour?!  Well, starting next week, 26 bloggers (myself included) will be sharing our Summer "casas!"


Here's the action packed lineup:

Monday, July 22
Tuesday, July 23
Wednesday, July 24
Thursday, July 25
Friday, July 26
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I better get busy tweaking!


Hope to see you there! 

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Monday, 15 July 2013

Back Yard Gardens 2013!

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I thought you might like to take a stroll
through my yard with me. This has been a good weather year for plants
and mine are flourishing.You will understand why we love being at
home, puttering in the gardens and happy as can be!

All area beds and burms are lined with stone. I just spray round up once a year in Spring in front of the stones to keep the grass at bay and there is little

Friday, 12 July 2013

Castello di Amorosa, Napa Valley.

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I have been missing from this space for over two months and the reason is my new passion: Pottery. 
It's been an interesting experience of moving out of my comfort zone, of trying something new, of rediscovering myself.
It's been loads of practice, struggle, frustration and patience. 
It has also been about a sense of achievement of seeing one's first not-so- perfect pot fired and glazed.
You can see my progress in this beautiful art here.

Now for a post about the trip to this delightful castle winery in Napa Valley in sunny California: Castello di Amorosa.

Napa Valley attracts visitors from all over the world due to it's picture perfect scenic views, the blue skies, rolling hills,vineyards and wineries on either sides of winding road.
As we drove through the wine country we realised they were filled with a wide variety of wineries. 

On researching, we found a castle for a winery and decided to follow the GPS leading us to the gates of Castello di Amorosa. 
...and what followed will be conveyed through my photographs.
The castle isn't particularly ancient, it is just 20 years old and was built by Dario Sattui of V. Sattui  Winery in a 13th-century Tuscan style. The architectural style with the picturesque vineyard backdrop is what makes it so breath-taking.
  



We were just in time for a wine tour...
The castle is built over 171 acres of land filled with forest, stream, lake and vineyards. It has 107 rooms on 8 levels above and below the ground.


The gorgeous courtyard where balmy evening parties are hosted...

The Tuscan style is evident in the details...

Our super interesting wine guide giving us information about the castle.

The afternoon shadows of furniture in the courtyard.

The castle has a Chapel as well!


We sure felt transported to Tuscany.

The masonry and ironwork were handcrafted using old crafting techniques.

The Great Hall has lovely frescos painted by two Italian artists who took over a year to finish.

The castle has authentically designed features of a moat, drawbridge, defensive towers, an interior courtyard,  a chapel, a knights' chamber and a a torture chamber! (will omit that;-)

The metalwork were all hand-crafted.



Now for the cellar and wine-tasting :-)

The huge wine cellar.
Following our wine connoisseur's instructions of smelling, twirling, sipping the wine...

Their list of wines.

Our wine tasting session.

One of their popular wines:-)


 ....and I came back with a bottle of their best dessert wine and one teeny-weeny bottle of grape-seed oil. Filled with great nutritive properties, going to replace the olive oil with this one for the salads!

Hope you enjoyed the visual tour of the castle winery.

(Images by Arch)

Thursday, 11 July 2013

Front Yard Gardens 2013!

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I thought you might like to take a stroll through my yard with me. This has been a good weather year for plants and mine are flourishing.You will understand why we love being at home, puttering in the gardens and happy as can be!


Grab a drink and sit back and enjoy...it's a lot of pictures! Let's start in the front yard...


NOTE: An interesting fact about our home. The rock wall in

Tuesday, 9 July 2013

What Is It?

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At first glance I thought this was a vintage bird cage stand.






But it was so much taller than any I had ever seen or owned.



Then I read the raised lettering across the claw feet...

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Grand Rapids Dress Form Co.



I researched it and think it is a hanging dress form holder. For now, I have my wedding dress hung from it in honor of my 19th wedding anniversary

Monday, 8 July 2013

Winner of the Kindle Fire and Fun in the Sun Party Highlights!

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Thanks to all of you who participated in our Fun in the Sun Party ... you guys are beyond talented ... so much inspiration for all of us to soak up!  And, how incredible that there were over 13,000 entries in our Kindle Fire giveaway!  We're excited to announce the winner ... LAUREN KIM!  Congrats Lauren!  To view the original "rafflecopter" verifying her win, feel free to click HERE.

And, since I shared our summer porch during our summer gathering, I thought it only fitting that I feature other summer porches that were shared at our linky party!

Angie from Echoes of Laughter shared her beautiful and colorful front porch.  I'm ready to sit on her cute bench, lean up on her fun pillows and enjoy the glass of water she has waiting:


Christine from Little Brags featured her charming front porch.  I love that she added flower pots to her lanterns ... just might have to borrow that idea:


Mary Alice from Chateau Chic shared her gorgeous porch full of vintage charm and soothing colors!  If her pillows mysteriously disappear, I *hope* she doesn't come to my house looking for them:




Anita from Far Above Rubies shared her fabulous porch, full of vintage/country charm!  I love her collection of antique license plates ... such a fun conversation piece:



Faye from The Shabby Cottage shared her inviting front porch that is such a wonderful welcome!  Who would've thought to add a chalkboard to an entry ... love that idea:


And, Christy from Our Southern Home shared her incredible porch makeover!  There are so many fantastic elements in her expansive space ... you'll just have to see for yourself:


Again, thanks to much to all of you who played with us, celebrating Summer, as well as your creativity!  Be sure and visit our "Fun in the Sun" group Pinboard on Pinterest by clicking HERE, where we share even more of our faves!

Thanks for stopping by,

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Inspiring Eminent Artist: Priyanshu Thakur

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Featuring today a cute, little, very talented, inspiring and youngest Artist here on my blog. Readers big round of applause for Priyanshu Thankur. 

A little artist at work
A big warm welcome Priyanshu on Design Decor & Disha. Please let us know something about yourself. Over to Priyanshu:-

I am a 13 year old child artist and I make sculptures out of stoneware clay and also paint acrylic on canvas. I am 9th Std. Student of St. Annes High school Mumbai.
When I was 5 year old playing with clay and made one Ganesha....my mother saw that and she taught me how to make sculptures. 


My Parents always encouraged  my talent, and many other people who helped me gain so much success till now.

Beautiful sculpture created by Priyanshu

Their are many eminent personality who encouraged  my talent and give me an opportunity to participate in various shows.

Priyanshu exhibiting his artwork.
My sculptures are often abstract figures of tribal people, and I even sculpt ceramic shoes and tea pots. The sculptures that I make are Raku fired which gives them a shiny effect.

 

 My paintings are of villagers and farmers whom I see from train while I go to my hometown.





Many famous people who have collections of my art work are  Film Director Amol Gupte, Music Director Leslie Lewis, Actress Anushka Sharma, Actor Ranbir Singh, Mrs.B R Chopra, Industrialist Mr. Jay Raghoonanthan from South Africa and many more.

Priyanshu with Ranveer & Anushka

Film Director Amol Gupte interacting with Priyanshu

Ah I am totally bowled over by amazing creation of this wonderful artist. 
Here are some feathers in this little boy's cap. 

Education:
* 2012 : 8th Std. Student of St. Annes High school
 Orlem Malad (w) Mumbai-4000 64
Solo Exhibition:
*2011: Stoneware Sculpture & Painting, at Prakrit Art Gallery, Channai
Group Exhibition: (Ceramics & Painting)
* 2006: Holy Childs School of Art , Mumbai
* 2008: Nehru Center Art Gallery, Mumbai
* 2008: Kala Ghoda Art Festival , Mumbai
* 2009: Kala Ghoda Art Festival, Mumbai
* 2010: Kala Ghoda Art Festival, Mumbai
* 2010: Nehru Center Art Gallery, Mumbai
* 2011: “CHATAK” Nehru Center Art Gallery, Mumbai
* 2012:Ceramic sculpture show at Artist Center, Mumbai
Participation:
* 2010: Loksatta Balrang News paper Children Story Painting
* 2010: Kala Ghada “Just Fired potters” Slide Show at ICIIA Art Gallery
* 2010: Theater Workshop with Juhi & Nadira Babbar, Mumbai
* 2010: Landmark Forum Course from UK in Mumbai
* 2010: Studio Pottery & Sculpture at Lavasa Art & Culture Festival
* 2011: 21st Jan to 30th Jan. Surbhui Art Fest. CBD , New Mumbai
* 2011: 5th Feb to 13 feb. studio potters show at Kala Ghoda Art Festival, Mumbai
* 2012: 4th to 12th Feb. Studio Potters Ceramic Show at Kala Ghoda Art Festival, Mumbai
* 2012: Studio Potters Ceramic Show at Hathautee Art Festival, Mumbai
Achivements:
* Many prizes in Painting, Project & Poster in School & Interschool Compitition Mumbai
* Two Drawings about Mumbai Social Life Printed in Annual School Magazine, 2007
* “Spread Peace” Painting Cover Design for School Magazine 2008
* 2008: 26 Nov. terror attack painting selected by Loksatta Newspaper
* Media Coverage by Leading TV Channel, Newspaper at Mumbai & Chennai
*2012 : 2nd place for Inter School Save tiger poster compitition
Installation: 
* 2010: Lavasa Art & Culture Festival, Lavasa, PUNE
* 2011: “Boot Race with Foot” Kala Ghoda Art Festival, Mumbai
* 2012: 4th to 12th Feb. Installation “Wild West ” at Kala Ghoda Art Festival, Mumbai
* 2012: Installation “Wild West ” at Hathautee Art Festival, Mumbai
Ceramic Workshop :
*2008: Eco-friendly Ganesha workshop for children at Holy Childs School of Art , Mumbai
*2009-10: Ceramic Ganesha workshop for children at Kala Ghoda Art Festival, Mumbai 
*2010: Ceramic Sculpture Workshop at Lavasa Art & Culture Festival
*2010: Studio Pottery & Sculpture workshop at Nehru Center for Bal Mohan School, Mumbai.
*2011: Ceramic Sculpture Workshop on 17tht Jan. at Surbhui Press Conference, The Club, Juhu.
*2011: Ceramic Sculpture Workshop on 2nd Oct. at Prakit Art Gallery, Channai 
* 2012: Ceramic Sculpture Workshop at Kala Ghoda Art Festival, Mumbai
* 2012: Ceramic Sculpture Workshop at Hathautee Art Festival, Mumbai
Painting & Ceramics in Collections:
* Mr. Amol Gupte, Mumbai * Mrs. Neena Rege,Nehru center 
* Mr. Jay Raghoonathan , South Africa * Mrs. Tulika Gajarao, Singapore
* Mrs. Pratibha Wagh, Mumbai * Anushka Sharma, Ranvir Singh 
* Mrs. Pamela Chopra, * Sidharth Kak Mumbai
* Lesle Lewis * Prakrit art Gallery, Chennai and many more in India & abroad. 

If you are residing in Mumbai then don't miss the opportunity to have a look of Priyanshu's artwork at his studio.
Studio Address
Plot-323/ D-45 , Vishakha CHS, Near Apna Bazar, Sec- 3, Charkop , Kandivali (w) Mumbai - 400067. India.
Contact: Cell: 09820383213, 09820441619, Resi: +91 022-28681475
Email: priyanshuthakur14@yahoo.com. kawitathakur@gmail.com

I know lot of readers out there are inspired and appreciating this little wonder...don't you!! OK you can express your feelings in comments below. Shower your love by saying a word or two to this young artist.