A dollop of humour

Humour in decor? Why not? After all we spend a fair bit of our lives at home. Often it is after a hard day's work. Tableaus like the one below never fail to bring a smile to my face... Well, go on, take a good look at all the stuff you have and put together a tableau that appeals to you.Place it on your favourite side table and de stres...

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Magnetic clips...

This is really easy and done in a snap! Wooden clothes clips are quite common in our departmental stores. They are not very effective in keeping clothes on the line especially when it is windy. But they are very effective in holding lists, takeaway menus and the like. What is left to do is to magnetise it. Instead of button magnets which in India tend to be thick and unwieldy, use magnetic sheets...

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My post has been chosen...

Thank you guys at blogadda, for choosing my post Junk art to Objet d'art to be featured on Tnagy tuesday picks...Here's the link! http://blog.blogadda.com/2010/05/25/indian-blog-writers-top-posts-weekend-r...

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Bells on my furniture

Bells have a special place in the Indian culture and each state has its own version. I bought a string of cow bells long ago and then happened upon this beautiful piece of kutch embroidery on a visit to Ahmedabad. I adorned my South Indian oonjal (swing) bench with a piece in which I fused both... Here to prevent the delicate embroidery from tearing, I stuck bakram behind the length of the embroidered...

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Junk to wall hanging in minutes...

The kitchen towel roll is one of the most versatile things I've come across. With a little modification it becomes a tunnel, a rainmaker,  a vase... the possibilities are endless. Today I'll show you how to make the cutest object of joy in minutes! Here's what you'll need. As always, substitute all accessories with whatever you have. That's the challenge and the fun of it! Here, I have cut...

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Thorans - How to make an Indian bunting

I could never resist the lure of beads and baubles available at craft shops. This time I ended up with a lot of red and gold. So I threaded up a few thorans. Here's a look at a festive one... Simple, yet festive! Same tanjore stone piece that was used in the napkin ring, different use... Making thorans is really simple and what's more, you can suit it to your decor, mood or theme....

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DIY : Easy ethnic napkin rings

Indian craft shops stock an abundance of bead and sequin based accents for use in traditional Indian clothes. Use these and craft wite to adorn your  napkins......       Here, I have stuck a sequin and tanjore style bead accent  to craft wire - which I wound around a kitchen towel holder (to keep its shape)          ...

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A splash of red

Red is a vibrant, rich and warm colour. I leave you with this beautiful red napkin, edged with a simple white hem. And that raffia covered napkin tie... it's to die for.  So simple and inspired! Image  : Furniture and Furnishing by Melanie Paine Have a great weekend!! ...

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Beautiful Bastar art

These metal marvels can give any home a facelift. Here, the rescue switch panels from boredom. Here is a bastar panel which is fixed on a TV receiver inlet.Looks so pretty and rustic..   Here are two ladies chatting and indulging in a bit of shringar atop an outdoor fan regulator.  This tribal chieftan complete with peacock feathers rules his fiefdom from atop...

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DIY : Easy evening bags

I call these bangle bags, though I sometimes use bracelets as well. They are easy to make and can be customised to your evening wear... Here, I have made a pouch using kadi print fabric. I then attached a couple of bracelets which had suitable colours as handles.Take a look... You will have to sew loops to attach the bracelets in place. There is an easy way to do this - nylon ribbons. The...

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A lingering calm...

Here's a tableau to start your week off on a serene and positive note. This is actually a gurgling fountain... makes the most beautiful tinkling noise. Close your eyes and smell the fragrant frangipani, the vanilla scented tea light and listen to the fountain... all of a sudden, the week ahead is filled with new exciting possibilitie...

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wind chimes and mobiles

Take a look at these mobiles of a different kind ! I made the first one here with cocktail umbrellas, nylon wire, buttons and beads, the second, I found at a friend's place. It's from Paris.. gorgeous, yes?   The first one was made by a local potter, and has terracotta leaves... makes the most beautiful sound...The second is again from a friend's...

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Beads and baubles...

   Love the beads! I collect all kinds and string it up any which way I like. What do I do with them? Hang them on either side of curtains, add them to cushions. Give me some ideas... what else can I do with them? I've added the shot below because I loved the pic; See I'm not very good with the camera, so when the picture comes out right, it can be overwhelming!! ...

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Repurposing an oven mitt into a garden accessory holder

For the longest time, I have been racking my brains for a pretty idea to hold my few garden tools when I came upon this little glove which was lying unused. I have a lot of cross stitch patches lying at home since the days when I was addicted to cross stitch.  So I sowed on a patch of the right colour, sewed on a curtain hook behind the glove and stuck a couple of garden implements and accents...

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Thorans....Indian buntings

I dedicate this piece to two of my fellow bloggers in the design domain who have shifted homes. Patricia and Sharon, this one's for you two... What better way to welcome guests than with a pretty thoran!! Here's another view... I cut out the leaf shapes on bakram and green kadi printed material and stuck it together. I simply love primitive decor, so I used little gold pins to attach the ghungroos...

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Some of my favourite things....

There is something about little pots that makes me go weak in the knees...Over the years I have collected many different types. Some broke in transit, some I couldn't carry with me, but I still treasure my little collection which has survived the rough and tumble of life...Here's a look at my collection... I bought these at an exhibition. They were created by the daughter of a national award winning...

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Abstract craft!

You've heard of abstract art, but abstract craft? It's fun; I'd even say a cathartic experience. Professionally, it's sometimes called "Found Media"; because, well, we use what we can find, and put something together... This is what I put together... I 've used some craft wire, earrings, a fancy spoon, pendant, a bobbin...I guess I went with silver, grey and the like. Take a look at my inspiration....

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DIY : No-sew patchwork napkin rings

This one's really easy and really no-sew, but all-stick! You will need to get some things together before you begin, though. Here's what you will need Scraps of cloth, some plain (solid colour) and some with prints you can cut out. A pair of nice sharp scissors Fabric glue Bakram or stiff cloth That's it, let's get started.... Now cut out a rectangle of solid colour cloth, like I have at left....

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Just adorable....

I found this in the latest Inside Outside (April 2010)... Decor of the quirkiest kind is what I'd say. I'd love to have this on my walls! Oops! I think my scan is a bit blurred at the edge...sorry about that, but do grab a copy of the issue and if you haven't seen the Better Interiors issue of February 2010, grab that as well - beautiful spaces-. What's your idea of quirky? Drop me a note......

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Green decor

It's back to Nature, with this absolutely funky nameplate... I picked up some of these tree bark - plates, at a store at very throwaway prices(only because we don't have too many trees left in the neighbourhood...), wrote the name, added a few ant  stickers and a few food crumbs and voila - a nameplate that is unique and green! Here's another one which we use as a  handy note holder... Stick...

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Tie it up in style

Here is  another thing to do with all those earrings lying around in your cupboard. The other thing you will need to make up this curtain tie-up is ribbon. Funky or traditional... your choice. Just poke the earrings right through the ribbon. After all you never know what other use you may put it to.... maybe even wear it sometime? I'd love to hear your ideas on what you'd do with your earrings....

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