By two kaapi n' a bit of art

Nalagarh

2011-07-08T16:13:00.007+05:30

On route Delhi- Dharamshala, we decided to stop at Nalagarh for a day. A short detour from the main town square to the top of a hillock, and maneuvering through some rather narrow winding roads, we got to the Nalagarh Fort.

At first glance, Nalagarh looks like any other dilapidated large fortress, but we walked in only to be charmed by it's beautiful expansive rooms, furniture and paintings from another era, and a massive terrace verandah offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the city to the Shivalik hills.

The fort at a glance

Our room the inviting poolI loved the combination of blues and whites, reminds me a lot of the houses in Greece. In some parts it really did look like blue icing on a white meringue cake.

The perfect evening- Chai and chat on the verandah

Nalagarh is the perfect weekend getaway from Delhi or Chandigarh. (It's just about 60 kms from Chandigarh). If you are in a mood to do something more than just laze around, they organize nature treks, boating at the Bhakra dam reservoir, visit to the Mughal gardens in Pinjore, and guided tours to the local handicraft institutes, village industries and local havelis. As for me, I would rather indulge myself in a 'kerala style' massage at the spa.

For bookings and tariffs you can check out the website http://nalagarh.in/index.html

Windows

2011-02-08T18:48:00.002+05:30

Windows in Mumbai are unique. Unlike any other city, windows here tell us a story. A story of survival, a story of decay, and inbetween all the chaos, stories of hope and eternal optimism. If you want to know Mumbai, study the windows. Cos its not 'just another window' in the city, but the city itself in these windows.

Window Farms

2010-08-19T12:00:00.004+05:30

One thing I really miss in my home in Bombay, is a balcony. I had two balconies in my home in Bangalore, and although I don't consider myself as much of a 'balcony person'- the types to spend hours sitting out there with a cup of tea and a book, it's just nice to have an opening, some golden sunlight, space for a few pots, pretty flowers and spots of green, maybe herbs.

For those who don't have a huge house or a backyard 'Jamie-at-home' style, I came across this interesting site the other day. Ge this- you can grow up to 25 fresh live vegetable plants—lettuce, herbs, snap peas, cherry tomatoes, peppers, kale, small squash, edible flowers, and many mor in a normal 4'x 6' window in your home.

http://www.windowfarms.org/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykeE1Kk95Bw&feature=player_embedded#at=50

Seems like a simple DIY project, where you share your space year-round with a vitamin rich living harvest and a lush trickling fountain-like curtain. And the best part- it looks beautiful! Homes, classrooms, restaurant, I can see it going very well with any kind of design aesthetic.

Fluke by chance

2010-01-09T11:51:00.006+05:30

Art Prints
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Being new to Bombay, we had a tough time looking for unique pieces of furniture and accessories while doing up our place, the same lampshades, the same cushion covers scrounging through racks and racks at the various Homestops, and Fabindias, and so I am delighted to stumble upon www.flukedesigncompany.com

cushion covers and bags

furniture- center and side tables

For long I have loved the Indian pop art, artists like Krsna Mehta, Manish Arora, Loose Ends and festivals like Kala Ghoda trying to revive familiar urban motifs to create a style that is colorful, contemporary, modern yet Indian. If you too are a fan of Indian kitsch, this is yet another place where you can shop for itsy bitsy curiosities, from t shirts and bags to art prints and furniture.

Makes for excellent gifts although it's a tad bit on the expensive side! But considering every piece is individually crafted and painted by hand, you can't really put a price to it. If you are in a mood to splurge, add this to your weekend shop stops.

To India With Love

2009-12-01T10:33:00.007+05:30

I chanced upon this book on Amazon a couple of days back. A year after 26/11, 'To India with love.. From New York to Mumbai' is an attempt to pay tribute, raise awareness and funds for the victims of the attacks on November 2008. With a cover so captivating, I love the way the pages have been put together almost like a scrapbook- photos and snippets, stories and experiences.
What's more interesting are the contributors - famous personalities from all over the world, from all walks of life. Some of them being Wes Anderson, Adrien Brody, Francesco Clemente, Anthony Edwards, Jeanine Lobell, Natalie Portman, Yves Carcelle, Jean Touitou, Owen Wilson, Laura Wilson, Cynthia Rowley, James Ivory, Matthew Williamson, Rachel Roy, Tory Burch, Padma Lakshmi, Shobhaa De, Ratan Tata and Mukesh Ambani.

It's kitsch, it's colorful, vibrant and light hearted, yet making a difference in it's own little way. Profit from the sales of the book will go to support families affected by the attacks.

Quoting one of the co- authors of the book, Mortimer Singer- "I feel that there is a certain organized chaos to the book. It is a scrap book which it full of energy and surprises, not unlike Mumbai. I think that was the idea, for it to be transportational"

'Combat terror through art', has become the public's new found weapon in the city as well. The ongoing and hugely successful 'Mumbai Wall Project' saw Mumbaikars express themselves in color to paint the one-km wall in Chandanwadi in Marine Lines, on the 26th, spreading the message of anti terror, and paying tribute to the city's heroes.

Kala Ghoda

2009-11-06T12:35:00.011+05:30

Last weekend, we made a trip down to South Bombay to the much- hyped Kala Ghoda festival. It's a street festival where you bump into some of the most vibrant and colorful people in the city. To rich Colaba aunties, to the long haired arty- fatry types, to the young hippies and college crowd, it's that part of the old city which oozes charm and character, with an interesting mix of buildings, some art- deco, and others old British style stone and brick. A leisurely stroll down the area is a perfect way to spend a pleasant Sunday evening.

vintage bombay

First started in 1999, the Kala Ghoda street festival has risen in popularity over the years, and attracts a good crowd from all over the city. Apart from the regular stalls selling knick knacks, there are various sub-festivals that feature the visual arts, dance, music, street plays, cinema, lectures, giant installations, workshops and special events for children.

It's a fun evening with plenty to drink, plenty to eat... if you fancy hot samosas and chai at the roadside cafes eateries or colorful ice golas in a cup. Soak in the humid air, the festive spirit and sweet melodies a flute, but don't forget to carry your pocket camera, cos this event lends itself to a lot of interesting 'photo-ops'...
...and if you want to end your evening at even higher spirits... hop across to good old Mondys for some Belgian beer and light happy music. Cheers!

Cafe Mondegar

Junk to Thunk!

2009-10-21T13:34:00.006+05:30

I read about these guys the other day, and the work they are doing seemed super interesting, so wanted to share it. Who would have thought that all the empty Lays bags, milk tetrapaks and all the plastic junk that overflows from my bin everyday can be put of such good creative use.

A pet project started by Suren Vikash has now grown to become Thunk In India, a company that converts waste to utility items and has designed the products which have lasting value and life in spite of being produced from waste. The young entrepreneur has also helped generate employment for many.. Suren has made biodegradable bags, mobile pouches, laptop and CD covers, pens from waste and these products have caught the imagination of environment conscious.

cd cases

blinds

hand bags

Rag-pickers form part of his team collecting waste from different places, including Bengaluru and Tirupur and pass it on to Suren’s company which then works on creating the products. The rag-pickers are taught to segregate and create the products which are competitively priced and some companies, including IT, have found them very useful. The company has a weaving centre in Pollachi where plastic wastes are woven with cotton yarn for products.

To know more about this company, to collaborate and contribute or transform your organization to 'zero-waste', do check out their website- http://www.thunkinindia.com/

Go quirky online

2009-09-26T15:45:00.007+05:30

Over the last couple of years, a lot of 'online shops' have sprung up selling quirky creative yet reasonably priced knick knacks for your home. This particular one caught my attention while surfing. Fun stuff out here- toys to cheer up your desk at work, or wacky pop art cushions for home, or cool birthday gifts!

It's called Quirko, and you can order these online. So convenient :-)

Ultra mini table fan

Wijo- Red

Marlyn coasters

Jackpot!

More cool stuff at http://www.quirkoshop.com/ Check it out!

Dove's evolution of beauty?

2009-08-31T23:16:00.011+05:30

I'm going to write about advertising this time, and my two paisa views on a current campaign. In case you haven't seen it yet, this is a Dove commercial from 2006.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U (here's the link if you don't see it playing below)

Dove for a while has been talking about real women and real beauty. In most of their advertisements globally, be it either print or television, they have successfully represented the majority of women ie, the non model ordinary looking, overweight, freckled, dark, black, anorexic.They have remained true to their idea of 'real inner beauty'.

But- why not in India? Out here Dove ads display beautiful milky white clear skinned models with flawlessly airbrushed faces. Take the current Dove Shampoo tv commercial for example, or the current print ads that contain testimonials of 'real' women in India who just ALL happen to be 'fair and lovely' as well? The farthermost they have gone is putting a pair of spectacles on one of their models, and that's as close to 'real' as they seem to get. These pale photo- shopped faces do not represent even a fraction of women in India. Not even close. Just the cream of the crop. Dusky can still be beautiful.Will they ever have the guts to show a fat and dark south Indian woman? Ever? Let's see for ourselves:

Dove's international 'Real beauty' campaign:

Dove India's 'Real beauty' campaign: See the difference? So why the double standards? Is it because India is still obsessed with the notion of fair= beautiful? I don't think so. I think the Indian audience is slowly evolving. And so should Dove in their advertising. Honestly right now Dove's perception of beauty in India is quite distorted.

My sunny balcony

2009-08-04T16:17:00.009+05:30

Amidst this noisy polluted concrete- jungle city, four friends came together and decided to bring in a little sunshine into our lives. Thus was born - Mysunnybalcony.com, a project that brings us our own little garden right outside our window.

'Doing up' a balcony is a concept still alien to us urban professionals, we have just about gotten into the aesthetics of interior designing tiny apartments. Gone are the days of sprawling lawns, gardens maintained by 'maalis' with their watering cans, or plucking fresh ladyfingers and tomatoes from our backyard! Heck.. it's hard enough to maintain a potted orchid, a money plant is the only way to get a spot of green home for some of us.

Now you have a number you can call and watch your bare grilled waste of space transform to a sweet sunny balcony. So snuggle up in that cane chair with a book in your own private garden, a fountain gurgling away in the background. Sundays..lazy sundays...

Quoting from their website..."Any space that receives even a little bit of sunlight is a potential MySunnyBalcony space: A tiny unusable patch outside your front door, an ugly terrace on your roof, or even a back balcony in your your high rise apartment. It doesn’t matter how high up or small your space is, we’ll work with it. We’ll also tell you what you can do and what you can’t. You’ll be surprised at the immense number of green possibilities that even a tiny amount of space can hold!"

Take your pick...designer, zen, colorful or just a green veggie patch, or an idea of a cute terrace garden you've always had, but didn't know how or never had the time to go about executing it, mysunnybalcony is your one stop shop for custom made balconies home delivered! Kudos to Reena and her pals, and here's wishing them all the best on their new venture.

Make sure you check out their website for more pictures and ideas for your space. http://www.mysunnybalcony.com/

Home sweet home :D

2009-08-04T16:08:00.004+05:30

We finally finished doing up the interiors of our new place, and if I may say so myself, it looks fab! Here's a sneak peek

http://www.flickr.com/photos/floydgal/sets/72157621816290971/

Loose Ends

2009-08-04T10:41:00.006+05:30

I had heard and read a lot about this accessory shop in Bandra called 'Loose Ends', and been looking forward to making this trip for a while now. We set out on a wet Sunday afternoon, and after around twenty minutes of driving up and down looking for 'BEAS society' mentioned in the address, frustrated when our google map on the iphone that totally led us to the wrong place. But nevertheless, we found it, tucked away at the end of a narrow street, in a dilapidated garage.

I expected the shop to be a lot bigger but it was sweet and tiny, and they did have a delightful range of home accessories. I particularly loved the smaller things like matchboxes with kitschy indian pop designs, the plastic handbags, and wall clocks. Our new house was in desperate need of a clock, so we got a neat vintage looking one for the study. Along with it I picked up a tiny graphic- print handbag, just like that.

I'm a huge fan of the 'Happily Unmarried' range of products and I was delighted to see the whole stock. I have them all, the Gabbar shot glasses, the sardarji lassi tumbler, the wine bottle lamp, and now I have the tea- coffee- sugar tin box set to add to the collection. Winding up our trip nicely in time to get back home for some nice hot chai!

Hey I almost forgot about the fridge magnet we picked up. It reads 'I don't have an anger problem. I have an idiot problem'

A good day for Good Earth

2009-07-08T22:53:00.011+05:30

Cloudy Sunday morning, a very fine day for a big splurge in the city. After holding on to our Good Earth gift vouchers for more than a month now, we decided it was time to make that trip downtown to get some of their ‘to- die- for’ accessories. I was almost expecting to bring back a bag full of ‘seven -grand- worth’ goodies, instead all we got was a measly two and a half items for the house. I wasn’t totally disappointed either, was pretty happy with the stuff we got, they look expensive (most important) and they go with the rest of the decor in the house (expensive looking too!). Also fulfilled my desire to at least once go to a super expensive store and shop guilt-free.

Good Earth- Located in Raghuvanshi mills, in the heart of Lower Parel, it boasts a sprawling two floor expanse of elite home furnishing, accessories and a cafe. I wouldn’t say every item is worth it’s value, but there are few pieces that are unique and price worthy. Our first pick was a white stone bathroom set comprising of a soap dish- toothbrush stand- soap dispenser, mellow and modest compliments beautifully with the bold aqua tiles in our master bathroom. We also saw a square flat light wicker tray we really liked to go on the shelf for the same room.

Our master bath

Going along with my present aqua- craze, our next buy was a six bowl stone ceramic soup set, lending an earthy touch to an otherwise sleek steel and brown kitchen. I'm looking forward to inaugurate them delicious bowls with gleaming rich tomato soup on one of these mumbai monsoon days. A spot of color on grey n' gloomy afternoons ought to cheer one up. Nothing noteworthy in the glassware section, we were looking to pick up a set of whiskey glasses, but all quite tacky. Instead got a cutesy round glass wine bottle with a stopper.

Wrapping up downstairs, we made our way to the first floor through deep purple and blue texture walls that lead us to the home furnishing section, which honestly was quite a let down. The furniture is boring and uninspiring, while the prices went up to multiple lacs. Not that I was looking to buy any more furniture, so we moved on to the smaller knick knacks- pillow covers, cushions, table cloths- which again I thought were too 'fab india' like, just thrice the cost. I was looking to spot some India- inspired kistchy prints, not something one could as easily find in a local handloom house. But nevertheless, I did find something quite interesting, so wasting no time picked it up. It's a three foot long raw silk turquoise cushion with black graphic print on one side and mirror work on the other end. It seemed one- of- a kind, and I figured this thin long cushion alone would be enough for the living room couch, instead of crowding it with many small square cushions, which is quite common. It went well on our bed as well. Glad i found this!

Our bedroom

With our kitty almost exhausted, it was time to stopover at the cafe for a quick bite. It's called the good earth 'verandah'... and i absolutely love it. The old warehouse feel, the high ceilings, the worn out- peeling off wall surfaces, the vintage prints and paintings, long paper shades flanking the columns... and an enormous enormous wine rack on the wall behind the counter. The menu was extensive- from light eats like sandwiches and muffins to pasta, an extensive wine selection and to my husband's delight 'cream cheese bagels'! I haven't seen too many places selling bagels in the city, so this was a welcome surprise. They have a variety of cheese and bread for sale as well, from greek feta to sour blue cheese and breakfast rolls. So a fulfilling toasted tomato- mozzarella bagel and lemon ice tea later, it was time to bid goodbye to good earth...scouting for candles to finish off some leftover balance off the vouchers. Four coconut shell scented candles fit the budget, and we were on our way, shopping- happy- tummy -happy back home.

Bottomline: Head to Good Earth only if you're in a mood to splurge or have a bunch of vouchers to exhaust.....or if you're super rich of course. On the other hand I give a big thumbs up to the cafe. The ambience is plesant, food's great and moderately priced, nestled within the store...quaint and quiet seeming far far away from the noisy madness of Parel.

Whitewashed

2009-06-27T11:47:00.006+05:30

The glare would blind you, so don't forget your shades before stepping out of your room in these beautiful islands of Greece. White- boring, plain vanilla white, takes on a new personality adorning the walls of tiny village homes and inns, in the quaint island of Paros. Like a brush of rose blush or a thin line of blue liner accentuates the face, deep blue windows bring out the beauty and starkness of the detergent white walls. Minimal yet rich, shadowed by luxurious vines... making us wonder what lie behind those compact whitewashed facades...colorful stories of an island with over a thousand years of history.

The Cycladic villages have, for most of them, a similar architecture: white cubic houses built the one upon the other, with wooden coloured windows, doors and balconies in narrow streets next to windmills and Byzantine churches. The best manner to enjoy the architecture and its magical shapes and shadows is to wander in those labyrinth streets and look out for interesting curiosities. Capture and take back with you every tiny bit...a blue window or a yellow pot in a nook, as much as your memory card can take, and it still don't be enough. A bunch of red peeping out of a jar of white, subtle yet drama in every sense.

White spills over to the neighboring picture postcard island of Santorini, - blue topped houses and a maze of tavernas from the top of the caldera to the port at the bottom of this volcanic island. It's surprising to note that everyone has pretty much followed the same color code... no spoilsports out here. Giving a clearly distinct character and identity to the islands, unlike any other in the world.

I used to think painting a wall red was bold. But I might be wrong there. White could be bold...white is taking a risk, no other color can bring out the blue of a tiny drop of ink, than a white piece of cloth. Heck even having a white wall stay white is a challenge. It's making a statement.. of elegance and of control. Not everyone can. I have a couple of ivory white walls in my house, and I'm already nervous.

Design goes Barbie!

2009-04-22T15:09:00.011+05:30

Delightfully-design-a-luscious-candy- licious! That's in a nutshell describing the "Barbie loves Johnathan Adler" collection- our very own Barbie's 50th birthday celebration. I remember getting my first Barbie doll, when I was in second grade maybe, and it was aptly titled 'My first Barbie'. A pretty Betty look alike, sporting a modest white frock and a pink ribbon. My First Barbie has grown to a lady and come a long way since then, hosting a big birthday bash at her very own pad in Malibu!

Designed by Johnathan Adler, one of the judges of the popular 'Top Design' Series, the Barbie Dream Home reflects her eclectic style, showcasing opulent pop-art colors and patterns.

The living room comes complete with a chandelier made from thirty blonde wigs, and whats super interesting is the original Andy Warhol portrait of Barbie herself, and tons of “happy chic” accessories that pay homage to all things Barbie.

This is her decadent bedroom with an amazing walk-in shoe closet that we would all just die for. And I'm in love with the mini vintage China cabinet, the black and white bold print wall paper. Very kitsch. As Jonathan states in his manifesto.. 'We believe minimalisim is a bummer!' I agree. There is beauty in mess and madness. Colors that clash.

And for all the big time Barbie collectors out there, you can pick up select items for purchase as part of the “Jonathan Adler Loves Barbie” collection launching September 2009.

Another brick in the wall

2009-04-12T22:10:00.012+05:30

I've always dreamt of a home with a warm cozy study, where I can plonk myself on a couch with a book and my regular cuppa joe. To make that happen in our tiny apartment in Mumbai, we had to get a little innovative. We decided to break a couple of walls and convert our second bedroom to a bar cum study, and of course scoured through various books and the internet for ideas, instantly falling in love with the old school brick look.

Since the New York loft or warehouse style apartment started to greatly influence interior design almost twenty years ago, bare brick walls have been a long sought after feature in modern homes. It oozes quality, solidness and style and like slate, contrasts unbelievably well with soft furnishings or other natural elements such as wood.

Featured below is one of my favorite singer Michael Stipe's New York apartment. I totally love the deep red walls stretching down to the rich wood flooring, and lovely large windows letting all the light in.

Lighting a brick wall
To make the most of a bare brick wall, spotlights should be positioned above and angled down onto the wall in order to really show of its texture. the beauty of a brick wall is that the red tinge of the bricks actually add warmth to a space and really sit well next to delicately patterned curtains or settees. And half-walls make areas appear larger than they are, dividing space without interrupting lines of sight.

Where to buy?
Half brick can now be purchased in most DIY stores which basically allow us to create a brick veneer over an existing wall and enjoy the same effect for a fraction of the cost. We bought the bricks for our study at Vakola, Santa Cruz. You will find dozens of brick and tile shops in this area, and the rates are very very reasonable.

So once, you have your 'bohemian' exposed brick wall, it's time to let your imagination be your guide into decorating it. As for us, we are going to hang a couple of vintage poster prints, an acoustic guitar, and a dark wood book shelf. It's fun and exciting, and I'm so looking forward to doing it up!

D-I-Y Design Projects

2009-04-03T10:59:00.018+05:30

Interior design and styling need not be rocket science. Any of us can become great stylists if we set our mind to it, and for everything else there is google.com. Some useful sites I have come across are apartmenttherapy.com and designspongeonline.com. You can get great ideas to fit in your budget, and the key to everything is to find the right 'mix n match' combination.

Over the past few months we have been looking for interesting interior concepts for our new home in Bombay. We came across this show on AXN called 'Top Design', and we were addicted. The show brought in designers from all across America, to compete to win a cash prize of 100,000$ and a spread in Elle Decor.

We were super inspired by show winner Nathan Thomas... his eclectic 'out there' sense of design, bold colors and styling, yet so simply poetic. I totally loved the cloud lamp shade he created for the dining area in the finale, it''s just so quirky and unique, we thought of making one ourselves over our dining table.

Cloud lamp shade in 2 steps:

1. For the base: You need a long plastic/wire mesh, to make a circular- cylindrical shape by tying the ends together. Cover the surface with ordinary white chart paper (using fevicol or cello tape as shown in pic on left)

2. Get white paper plates of different sizes and stick them all over the surface...and you lamp shade is ready. It's a gorgeous floating cloud when lit.

The painting on the wall (first photo) was created by letting wet paint drip down an empty white canvas. Made my Nathan himself, it took him less than ten minutes. Can't get any easier than that! And it looks like a masterpiece.

I like the choice of art Nathan uses for the study wall. It's all so random, and the turquoise wall gives it a rich vintage feel.The odd combination of cushions and the artwork are his signature touches, which we can spot in every space he designs.

Wallpapers surprisingly can add a lot of character to an otherwise solid painted wall. It gives a sort of graphic- kitschy look, which may not be every ones' cup of tea, but hey...it definitely makes a bold style statement. Also I found out that wall-papering costs just as much or even lesser than texture painting, which everybody and everybody does these days. 'Harlequin' brand of wallpapers have a wide range of patterns from graphic to floral and is avaliable here in India.

What I've learnt over the past few weeks is to never be too scared to experiment, never play it too safe ...after all you get to design your 'own' house maybe a couple of times in a life time, so make the best of it. Spend hours and days researching, pulling out references from magazines, the Internet. Beg borrow steal ideas that work, add your own quirky touches and let your home be a reflection of your personality, and not just another modular set.

Candle therapy

2009-03-20T14:43:00.014+05:30

Amongst many other fetishes, I love collecting candles. It's weird cos I never like to burn them, but stack them safely inside my cupboard, take them out once a couple of months, admire and put them back inside. That's theraputic enough!

So the other day, I got home, but there was no electricity. It was really quiet, and the weather perfectly pleasant. A light drizzle, the scent of wet earth still lingering. I was tempted to light a candle. Not the regular, but one of my precious scented ones. So i dug out an old African Swazi handmade candle..something I had got more than seven years back from a friend. Hunting around for a matchbox I light it with a bit of hesitation, watching it burn.. slow faint and then brighter, disclosing an array of eerie silhouettes. It was a moment that seemed to last for hours, as my eyes were fixated on the soft subtle flickering of the flame, in conjunction with the scent of sweetly released fragrance.

Handmade swazi candle

Just what is aromatherapy?
True aromatherapy candles contain natural plant essences and have very few chemicals. The wax is also natural and burns in a way that creates stronger, more healing aromatic releases. Whats interesting to know is that different kinds of candles have different properties for healing.

Beeswax - the best kind of beeswax candles are pure with natural fragrances and free of toxins. Beeswax is especially calming because they have been proven to release negative ions, which cleanse the air. This is very conducive to creating a mellow mood and in time, detoxifying the body.
Paraffin candles - Paraffin candles have been around for centuries and are slow burning and long lasting.
The drawback is that they are petroleum based. Because of this, there are split factions of aromatherapists who tout both benefits and drawbacks of this candle’s use.
Soy candles - these candles are becoming more and more popular with individuals because they are clean burning and aromatic. They are also all natural, biodegradable and non-toxic. Even with all of these attributes, soy candles can be wonderfully cost effective as well, making them an all around delight for connoisseurs of aromatherapy.
Feng Shui Candles - feng Shui, which literally translates into “wind-water” is the ancient oriental practice of achieving balance to facilitate positive health and beauty. It is also based on the concept of “Chi” or life energy. Feng Shui candles come in several different colors that represent elements, for instance, a red candle would symbolize fire. I fished out these scented beauties for a few hundred bucks from a street in Pondicherry a few months back.

Eye candy therapy!
Ok..this is my own addition. Mint Chocolate or Creme Brule? How can you not fall in love with something so yummy, so pretty. Check out these beautiful teacup candles at Etsy, an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade. http://ecram1.etsy.com/

These again, are inspiring me to make some of my own. "A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle."

Colourtrippin'

2009-03-12T16:23:00.016+05:30

I turn around to see him working on his new monster. Round -green -one -eyed, purple with yellow spokes, or a little black time bomb. Hobby? Passion? or obsession? It's definitely working for super talented Carl Savio, who has taken play- doh clay to a whole new level. His little clay heads have become the hot topic of discussion around us.

So how did it all start ? "Boredom. Timepass in office between briefs...."
Atleast one of us have put all that disposable time at work to good use! Oh and naming these dolls can be as fun as making them. Don't miss Carl's 'Mylapore maami' or 'Adam bomb' and 'WTF'

"Mylapore Maami""Adam Bomb""WTF?!"

And the best part is, he makes it look so simple. You need is a ping pong ball, some tub of clay and your quirky head. Inspiration and ideas are all dyou...your everyday dabbawala to your pet fishes. So start colortripping on a lazy Sunday, or on a long bus journey back home, or under your table at one of those boring endless board meetings. And you might just surprise yourself with all the new heads you create!

There's more colortrippin' on Carl's website http://colourtrippin.blogspot.com/

Tsunamika

2009-03-06T17:18:00.000+05:30

There is nothing called waste in Nature,
Everything has its creative role.
Everything can be living & beautiful,
As Tsunamika is...

I stumbled upon this page few days back and it caught my interest. Tsunamika is a Tsunami related project of Auroville, Pondicherry. This project is conceived and executed by Upasana design studio of Auroville in the seaside villages of Auroville's bioregion. Nearly 480 fisherwomen from 6 villages are trained and from them around 180 ladies are now creating these little dolls called Tsunamika.
She has been hand-made from fabrics left over from other creative works in Upasana. The project team, who trained the ladies, now supplies them with raw materials to continue producing the dolls. All dolls produced are bought from them in bulk and are worldwide by Upasana.

These dolls comes to you unconditionally. There is no price tag as they are gifts for you and the ones you love. I think this is a brilliant initiative..spreading the message of love, hope and empowerment. A bright blue paper clip a lemon yellow pencil cap.. what joy they bring!

Meticulously crafted from bits and pieces of waste cloth by women whose lives has changed forever after the tsunami. They have a very sweet range of products from wall hangings to greeting cards to scribble on stickers and board games. To know more on how to get your own tsunamika doll, here are the links:

http://www.tsunamika.org/node/40

http://www.tsunamika.org/products

Pet project

2009-03-05T19:28:00.000+05:30

I like collecting bottles. I have a few green wine bottles, which have now become home to long slender money plants with pretty pale green leaves. A starbucks frappuccino one on my desk, which reminds me of those old little milk bottles we used to get many years ago. I have always wanted to paint bottles. So i finally looked it up, to get inspired, to get ideas, and probably book a Sunday for this. ( because my otherwise busy sundays are spent watching Friends Seinfeld re-runs)

Well, what do you know...with a little paint, a few magical brushes, and a hint of imagination... here's what you can get.

This one's just black permanent marker on a plastic pet bottle painted white. So stark, so graphic, so simple. In fact it would a lot easier if you made your design in a sheet of bond paper or butter sheet and traced it onto the circumference of the bottle before inking.
Here's a happy blue and red couple I fished out from Flickr. You can use almost any kind of glass paint for your bottle depending on the kind of texture you seek. Pebeo is a very popular brand and can be found in most craft and art stores. Also always use gloss exterior varnish to protect the paint.

Hopefully after getting all excited and inspired, I will pick up that bottle of wine from my window and paint myself a bright blue sky and a bright yellow sunflower, and a sweet little message to myself in it.

Art goes underground

2009-03-02T20:57:00.000+05:30

A week in London spent tube- station- hopping. It's probably the best and cheapest way to get around the city, and hey- it's fun! I pick up my regular starbucks macchiato and make my way though the public subway up Charing Cross to Trafalgar square in search of a new adventures above. The long and winding passage tells me a story, a story of palaces and knights and bygone English summers... accompanied by echoing sounds of a distant spanish guitar atthe end, where another vagabond has pitched his tent for the day collecting pennies in his hat. Pennies for a tune, pennies for a blessing.

London is beautiful. There isn’t a direction you can turn without your glance being stolen by a piece of art. Art follows you all the way, even more than a hundred feet below the ground. For years now, the London Underground have been running their underground art program 'Platform For Art' in order to promote London's eclectic art scene and to entertain and enlighten commuters on the cities bustling underground.
Appreciation of subway art soon turned to an obsession, hopping off at every station, curious, excited to see what surprise lay ahead, on the walls, the alleys, the rows of posters by the escalators…. they never seemed to end.

In the 1920's the Underground was regularly producing over forty posters a year. These were mainly Art deco with men wearing bowler hats. By the mid eighties "Art on the Underground" was revived, if only as a way of filling up the blank unsold advertising space on the tube. Each year about six posters were commissioned with print runs of 6,000 each. It’s interesting to see art evolve over the decades and the tube stations are probably the best silent witness to this change.

m-i-n-d t-h-e g-a-p . Mind the gap, the gap between our blur express espressos lives and a world that stands still, walls that tell a different tale.

Of broken white cups and vintage art

2009-03-01T23:30:00.000+05:30

It only seems proper to begin my new blog on design with what inspires me most...coffee. There has been much noise off late about the Indian Coffee house on MG road shutting down. Suddenly it seems to have become everybody's 'all time favourite joint since forever'. Sadly it was never so, all these years, infact the last I visited two years ago, it was practically empty. I remember even writing about it....

"My heart wandered to the most unassuming places in the city, old gems- threatended to be torn down anyday. There is a joy in discovering such spots, the people...their lives, the walls, the chairs, the cups chipped at the edges.. which have seen so much over the years. Waiting for my coffee, I look around, the mirky walls sport vintage posters of old coffee advertisements.

Sipping the brew, watching people pace up and down and twice over again on the pavement, smiles and giggles and shopping bags and children with balloons and newspaper cones of roadside bhelpuri, and you order another cup of coffee, cos one is never enough. The menu isnt lavish; masala dosa, buttered toasts, omelettes, or pakodas and cutlets...but just so prefect, just as mom would make it.

Upstairs, its quieter. It's almost empty. A couple in one corner. An old gentleman reading the newspaper at another end sticks his head out to catch a glimpse of the intruders. We sit by the window on the old sofa torn at the edges, the foam popping out... it's oddly relaxing. We absorb the silence, for a few moments. It's calming. Probably a tad too perfect... makes me a little sqeamish. It was time to leave, get back to our world, the familiarity, the comforts of noise, the crowd, the pressure and deadlines, out of this tiny capsule which had taken us back in time."

I love the ads of the early sixties and seventies... the illustrations, the colors, the typo....ads for little things like radiosets, lightbulbs, dishwashers, peanut butter and ofcourse the classic Campbell's soup. You have such vintage prints plastered all over restaurants like TGIF, but somehow, here in Coffee House- they 'belonged'. Here's a look at a couple of them..

"a fine type, a fine coffee, both are INDIAN"

"The reason for my charming smile..INDIAN COFFEE"