collective craft.

When I received a mail from Shweta Mohapatra of collective craft, I must admit I was completely blown away by the delicate designs on stone. I believe the products really are 'poetry in stone'.

collective craft is the brainchild of Sibanand Bhol an architect from the SPA ~School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, and Shweta Mohapatra an animation film designer from NID, Ahmedabad.

Soapstone Tealight Holder...

collective craft works towards creating environmentally responsible design solutions and engaging traditional handicrafts in contemporary product in Odisha (Orissa).

Shweta and Sibanand work with artisans who have been involved in the age-old traditional stone art form of Odisha where soft soap stone is used for carving figurative forms.

The collaborative currently works towards securing rural livelihoods by generating work opportunities for artisans through interventions and innovation in design and technical processes.

Leaf Series Platters...

Granite Range Bowls...

Leaf Series Coasters...

Pink Series Coasters...

Stone Jewellery...

Their beautiful creations are retailed at~

KAMALA

Gallery 1, Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan,

Baba Kharak Singh Marg, New Delhi 110 001.

Ph.: +91 - 11 - 65969600 / 23743321

Shweta blogs at collective crafts

Read More

Green green everywhere

As monsoon has arrived here in Pune, I can see lot of green everywhere. I am so in love with this lovely weather and greenery all around.

These days I google a lot about container gardening and planning to grow small but lovely terrace garden. My heart skips a beat whenever I see lot of green and lovely planters. Planters of various kind and colours add so much fun. Lot of planters and container gardening images are so beautiful that I just want to share them with all my blog readers. While searching for fancy planters and gardening I came across a master gardener Michelle Derviss's blog . She with her team creates magic in gardening world. Do check her website here.

Gardening is so much fun, you can place a series of pot

Image Source: Click here

 or you can just grow few different kind of plants in a same container

Image Source: Click here

or use completely different kind of planter like this, ceramic head pot


Image Source: Click here

or even you can use log also as a planter and believe me it looks just perfect.

Image Source: Click here


I have found lot of inspiration and can't wait till Sunday so I'm gonna start my work tomorrow itself and let me tell you friends that once I start my gardening project it will be a great fun and I am sure that I'll grow my dream garden though it will take time. Till then all ideas and inspirations are welcome to help me growing my dream terrace garden.

Read More

Red Rocks ... Pun Intended!

I thought I'd give the inside of our home a break and spruce up the outside a bit ... especially since my beautiful friend, Vanessa, and her awesome sister, Heather, are hosting a fun Blogger Block Party coming up soon, which will include a back deck/patio party, along with many others!  Please visit their amazing blog, At The Picket Fence, (which full of talent, sentiment, wit, yummy recipes and their creative, inspiring projects), for more details!  And, I also want to thank Vanessa so very much for recently featuring my blog ... such a sweet surprise, which I sincerely appreciate!

Here is one corner of our back patio (I look forward to sharing the rest of it, as well as our porch, at the blog block party).  The rockers here used to be painted black.  And, just as I was about to spray paint them ORB, they screamed out for color.  So, that's what I gave them!  Two coats of Rustoleum Sunrise Red later and there they are in all their glory:

This is what the *tired* rockers looked like before:

Now ... they pop! 

I found this beautiful, little mosaic table at Pier One (SALE!) ... the colors are so pretty and tie in beautifully with the striped accent pillows (WalMart) that I placed on the rockers.

I redid the floral arrangements in the wall planters up above.  And, yes, I confess, I do NOT have a green thumb ... instead, I have a silk one!

I love mixing apple green, red and yellow together:

Think I might have to spend some time out here this afternoon ...

... that is, after I put a finishing touch on a patriotic wreath that my sweet friend in Virginia asked me to make for her:



Thanks for stopping by ... have a great day !!

Parties I'm linking up with:

At the Picket Fence/Inspiration Friday
Under the Table and Dreaming/Sunday Showcase
Dittle Dattle/Amaze Me Monday
Thrifty Decor Chic/Before and After Party
Savvy Southern Style/WUW
French Country Cottage/Feathered Nest Friday

Becca

Read More

Varnam presents 'Stories of Channapatna'

Varnam~ Colours for your home, which is Karthik Vaidyanathan's venture brings to you beautiful lamps from their series called 'Stories of Channapatna'.

Each piece has been designed by Varnam and handcrafted by the artisans of Channapatna.

Channapatna is a rural town on the outskirts of Bangalore which is popular for it's wooden toys best known as Channapatna toys. The work involves lacquering the wood of 'Wrightia tinctoria tree also known as 'Aale mara'. The origin of these toys can be traced to the reign of Tipu Sultan who invited artisans from Persia to train the local artisans in making wooden toys.

Green 'Villaku' base, inspired by the traditional oil lamps...

Green base with White and Gold lamp shade...

Lamp bases in various colours...

Green lamp base with Purple Buta Shade...

Karthik says,'I have always found the 'glossy' vibrant colours of Channapatna very intriguing and wanted to explore them in a different avtaar, away from their 'toys' imagery. Since I keep a keen interest in home decor, wanted to combine the two.'

If you want to pick up any of these do drop by at

The Ants Store

#2023/B, 1st Cross, 14th A main, HAL 2nd stage,

Indiranagar, Bangalore - 560038.

Tel :- 080-4175639

from June 3rd to 5th, Fri to Sun, 11AM to 8 PM.

(images by Varnam)

Read More

A Dining Room in White ...

Well, my hands are cramped and my fingers are still swollen (wait ... that's probably from all of the salt intake in the goodies I inhaled during the Memorial Day parties we enjoyed this weekend ... nevermind), but it's DONE !!

Here are the results of a crazy decorator (a/k/a ME) who was determined to give her dining room a new look by painting every.single.piece of furniture (all dark stained) BM White Dove, followed by sanding, staining and waxing!

Take a peek around ...

Some of you may remember that I purchased this sideboard last Fall and debated whether or not to paint it.  Many of you suggested I leave it alone ... alas, I simply couldn't.  I left the top alone though (does that count) ?!

Loved distressing its legs:

And, I'm sure you're not surprised that I added an animal print runner on top!

Not only did I paint all of the chairs, but I recovered them as well.  And, for the arm chairs flanking the sideboard, I found these pillows at Pier One (on SALE) ... they simply screamed at me to take them home to add whimsical pops of color:

Let's  not forget the bench, which was the first piece in this room I attacked with my paintbrush!

I LOVE how the tabletop gleams now that I refinished it (from a cherry stain to dark walnut to match the top of the sideboard):

I knew that I wanted a pop of color on the table.  When I spotted this gorgeous vase at HomeGoods, I knew it was "the one" !!

Love the crackle finish and ornate detail on the sides:

A silver tray is perched on top, holding everything needed to "set" the table:

Plate wall remains the same:

There are two more items on my list in order to complete this room ... a cowhide rug layered on top of the sisal rug, along with a vintage chandie, dripping in bling bling!  Wish me luck ...

Annnnnnd, a nighttime shot:



As always, thanks for stopping by! 

Linking up to these fabulous par-tays:

Savvy Southern Style/WUW
Elements Interiors/Whassup Wednesday
No Minimalist Here/Open House
French Country Cottage/Feathered Nest Friday
Miss Mustard Seed/Furniture Feature Friday
At the Picket Fence/Inspiration Friday
Under the Table and Dreaming/Sunday Showcase
Thrifty Decor Chic/Before and After Party
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/Tuesday's Treasures

Read More

Unconditional Love

I have been waiting for this mother-baby sketch for long time now. I have mentioned about it in my earlier post here. Now this framed beauty is ready to take place in my baby's room.

Unconditional Love

Though its not a perfect picture but what I love about it is that one can see calm and feeling of being secure in mother's arm on baby's face. Mother looks so satisfied and filled with love while holding her baby. Have a closer look.......

Happy & content mother

Reposed & calm baby

This portrait I made during my teen age & little did I know at that time that its going to be a part of decor in my baby's room. I swell with pride whenever I see this picture.

This Picture has enhanced the beauty of my baby's room and affection between both of us is roaring high by the day. Being a mother is sheer bliss and I am enjoying every part of it.

Happy weekend to all lovely blog readers.

Note: All images are mine please do not copy without my permission.

P.S: Please forgive me for my photograhy skills. I am not a good photographer just trying my hand on it.

This is my entry for PPF.

Read More