Monthly Roundup

This month was action packed. I did lot of things, from rearranging to recycling it had been a super creative month.

First post was on my living room that I rearranged and it looks bigger and better now.

Living Room Decor

Next we met a very talented artist Ritu Dua. Her inspiring interview you can read under 'Inspiring Eminent Bloggers' series.

Painting by Ritu Dua

Then we learnt about Indian Art: Madhubani Paintings this time. You can find everything about Madhubani art like origin, style, theme and process in this post. More about other Indian art forms under 'Indian Art' series.

Madhubani Art by Bharti Dayal

Then comes my upcycling project of making Decorative Tray out of old newspapers. You can find out some more exciting DIY projects here.

Decorative Tray: DIY

Spring is here with its magic in air. Check out my 'Spring Garden' and do let me know how spring is treating you.

Spring is showing up in my garden

Here comes second DIY of this month 'Plastic Bottles Hanging Planter'. Are you hoarding junk, have some soft drink bottles then you have to read this post and make something useful.

DIY: Plastic Bottles Hanging Planter

And it's not over here I have one more DIY for you in my bag this month. A 'Birdhouse' made of plastic container. Summers will be arriving shortly and to save lovely birds make a bird house and hang it in your garden.

Birdhouse: DIY

First time I tried my hands on Warli Art. Check out my First Warli Painting and let me know your views.

Warli Painting

Wish you all a very happy Easter and  very happy and creative weekend!!

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A Marriage!

Hubby and I went to a fabulous flea market about three hours from our home. It is in Bloomington, IL and it called, Third Sunday Market!

We have been before and I even did a post on it the first time we went. You can see that HERE.

This time, as our house fills up, and we don't want to be called the H word...Hoarder's. We kept our purchases to a minimum. I know it doesn't sound like fun, but

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It's a Spring Thing (I Think)!

Greetings, friends!

Welcome to our "Spring" breakfast area (even though it's in the brisk 40's outside ... blech), where I've made a few, fun changes!

While "Miss Bessie" (the cowhide rug) decided she'd had enough of the wear and tear on her while resting under the table and moved on over to our quieter sitting room, I think the most noticeable change is the addition of a new farmhouse bench! 

I've become a big fan of buying furniture "au naturale" and then painting it to match our decor.  Once my sweet hubs put the bench together, I gave the legs and frame two coats of Annie Sloane's "Pure White," layer of clear wax and then stained the top Minwax Dark Walnut and Red Oak.  I love how it adds to the French Country feel in here!

I'm not *quite* done with it though ... I'll soon be adding a cushion to the top covered in this pretty, checked fabric: 

I think (**hope**) the fabric it will tie in nicely with the panels, bamboo shades and parsons chairs.

Back on the table, I added a simple Spring vignette:

I started with one of my favorite wire trays from Pottery Barn ...

added another one of our cute bunnies from Pier One (that I gave a little burlap collar):

along with a glass apothecary filled with a few delicious *faux* green apples (yum), and ...

of course, added a vase full of *faux* fragrant tulips (thank you, Big Lots)! 

Annnd, well, *what* Spring vignette is complete without a stack of dishes,  colorful napkin and pile o' spoons ... as if we're about to enjoy a fabulous cold treat on a warm, Spring day!  (But, because Mother Nature has declared it still Winter here, that cold treat will have to wait!)  Boooo.

I also added a bit of bling to our chandie, since I don't need it anymore in the sitting room (can't wait to share what I did in there):

The bling chain is from Pottery Barn, and these lengthy *pretties* are actually Christmas ornaments that I simply hung from each arm:

And, there ya' have it ... our Spring breakfast room trapped in Winter!  If you are one of the fortunate ones to actually be warmer Spring temps, would you *please* send them our way?  Thank you!

And, as always, thanks for stopping by!

I'm linking up with:

Savvy Southern Style/WUW

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Burlap Roses

Just a quick little diversion from a harder project that I was working on! 


 Let me explain. I was working on making a chair slipcover that was challenging. Sometimes when I get overwhelmed and need a break but not from creativity, I do a simple little project...feel like I accomplished something and can resume the challenge before me at hand.

That is the case with this little lamp shade.

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Warli Art: My First Warli Painting

I must say this month has been action packed for me. I kept myself busy in various activities and learnt few good & new things. I think this is the mantra of happiness- keep yourself busy and learn something new.

I have always been a great admirer of all Indian art forms . It was my dream to explore and learn about various Indian Arts and that's what I am doing these days. Let me share my happiness with you all wonderful people who always keep encouraging me by reading, commenting and liking my every post.  Recently I learnt about 'Warli Art' and found that it's not only the simplest art form but looks magical too. 

Earlier I had done Warli art only on a small pot but this time I tried it on paper with all the details and tried to depict social life of Warli tribes.

Here is my first Warli painting. Theme is wedding. 

My First Warli Painting.

Here are the details. Sun and sparrow can be of same size in this style of painting, as proportionality doesn't  matter.  

Warli Art: Sparrow and Sun

Groom on a horse arriving for wedding. Banana leaves, earthen pots and decoration with flowers and leaves  to recreate the scene of wedding ceremony in a village.

Warli Art: Groom

People are welcoming groom and playing instruments. All the shapes are geometrical circle for head, triangles for trunk and pelvis of human body. Faces are bereft of features.

Warli Art: Men Playing Instruments

Palm trees and hut to recreate a village scene. Again geometrical shapes are used and filled them with fine lines as no free space should be left in this style of painting.

Warli Art: Hut & Tree

Animals and birds are very common in this painting. Here is my Warli peacock.

Warli Art: Peacock

I enjoyed a lot while I was doing this art. I felt like I am achieving something with every stroke of brush. I am so happy so content. I don't know which art form I will be working on next but I will surely share with you :)


Joining PPF!!!

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DIY: Bird House

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So it's my third DIY/recycling project in this month. Isn't that fantastic. Well the first one was Decorative tray made out of old newspapers and the second one was hanging planter made of plastic bottles.
I am sure that this third one that is bird house made of plastic food container, you will enjoy more than any other DIY in this blog. Before summers arrive be ready to provide food and shelter to lovely little birds. This project is kids friendly and you can involve your little one also. Let's start here:

1. Gather your supplies

     1. Cardboard
     2. Scissors
     3. Knife
     4. Paper rolls (how to make learn here)
     5. Glue
     6. Plastic food container
     7. Food container's lid
     8. Acrylic color
     9. Brushes
    10. Twine/rope

Step 2. Make a small hole at base of plastic container.

Step 3. Insert both the end of twine in this hole to make a loop and make a knot inside the container. It will look like as shown in image below. It will be used for hanging the bird house.

Step 4. Put the lid on, press it properly.

Now glue the lid using hot glue gun.

Step 5. Now it's time to prime it. Use acrylic color.

Step 6. Now cut circular shape 2 cm above the base of the container that will serve as an entrance.  

Step 7. It's time to make a roof. Cut the cardboard as shown below.

Put one end on the other and glue it.

Step 8. Here you will need all the paper rolls. Start sticking rolls one by one on this cone shaped roof or you can skip this step and directly paint this cone in your choice of color.

Step 9. Now the roof is also ready. Prime it and then paint both the roof and house in your choice of color. Don't forget to give a top coat of varnish.

Step 10. Now pull out the twine loop from a hole on the top of the roof. Bird house is ready.

This is how my birdhouse looks. My Son enjoyed this DIY thoroughly and I am also very happy to see how it turned out :)))

I tried placing and hanging it around different places in my garden until I found suitable one.

Near bird feeder.........

Under the palm.........

Between money plant.........

On the pillar............

And finally hung on a branch which I found the most suitable place in my garden as this part doesn't get lot of sunlight.

What do you think of my bird house. Do you have a bird house share your images on my Facebook page and I would love to feature it in my blog :)

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Easter Decor 2013

 It's almost Easter...








































Easter decor is placed and fluffed...no other words needed.


These parties I love to link up to or check out my Blog Parties tab
Monday
Party Time @ It's So Very Cheri
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps On The Porch
Motivate Me Monday @ Keeping It Simple  
Make it Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House
Masterpiece Monday @

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