Floral fantasies - A guest post

Hi there! Are you tired of the endless winter yet? I know I am! I desperately need something to cheer me up - winter doldrums, I tell ya!
Well, take heart dear readers! You are in for an absolute and I mean an ABSOLUTE treat today! We have a guest blogger in the house and what she is about to share will knock your socks and your winter blues off!
I am honored to  introduce Sruthi Singh of the East Coast Desi. She is an inspiring stylist, photographer, home decor enthusiast and blogger and one of my absolute favorites! I love her airy photography, resourceful posts and desi inspirations! Her posts , each one an oeuvre d'art, make my morning cup of tea that much more enjoyable! Her blog is fabulous because it is a testament to her natural artistic ability and her keen awareness of what her audience wants!
It is a great pleasure to have her over at Aalayam today. Via 18 stylishly fashioned shots, floral arrangements and vignettes, Sruthi talks about adding color, life, texture and energy to your space. Pay attention as she imparts some great lessons in styling floral compositions! Valentine's day is around the corner - why not spice things up naturally? Flowers have been an eternal symbol of love. We hope you draw inspiration from our post today to get you into the amorous spirit this Valentine's day. Thank you Sruthi Singh! We love collaborating with artists and creative talents like yourself to generate value for our readers. So, thanks for willingly taking this on. What a fantastic post! I am sure Aalayam readers will love it as much as I did. Before I turn it over to Sruthi , here is the link to her blog. Make sure to sign up because you don't want to miss her posts!

Now, over to Sruthi Singh of the East Coast Desi…

 Vases with Dual Personality

"I'm honored and delighted to be guest authoring at Aalayam today. I would like to thank Deepa for the wonderful introduction and for inviting me to be a part of Aalayam. The team at Aalayam has been doing a commendable job in expressing India, it's art, craft and decor in a novel way. Wishing them luck for Aalayam and more!!!!

As for today's post, I had an incredible time putting it together for the Aalayam readers. Without further ado, let’s get started…….

I think I can safely say that indulging in flowers has therapeutic benefits. Apart from being visually enticing, flowers seem to have an unparalleled effect on all our senses. Their simplicity, form, beauty and sensual floral fragrance gives us an opportunity to experience nature up, close and personal. Those familiar with my blog "The East Coast Desi" and my decorating style, know that flowers are an indispensable element in decorating my space. 

To match the uniqueness and individuality of flowers, the choice of containers in which they are housed should be equally exclusive, helping us create elegant compositions. Apart from being a visual link between the blooms and their backdrop, containers can also be statement pieces by themselves. These receptacles foster the blooms when not in their natural environment and thus play a pivotal role in keeping the blooms alive.

Working with unique vases does not have to be an extravagant affair. I personally like to use an assortment of “found” receptacles to create displays around my home. Using unconventional containers as vases, helps create stunning arrangements and makes for a wonderful conversation piece. As you’ll will see, most of my vases come from my kitchen - kettles, vinaigrette bottles, ceramic creamers or jugs, colored goblets, trifle bowls and vintage beer mugs to name a few. I do hope you'll enjoy the snapshots of inspiring and exciting variations of adaptive containers that I've used to add beauty to my home.

This floral arrangements has been created using a Ghee Silver Copper Teapot from Tibet. Used to serve the Tibetan Ghee tea, I’ve adapted it to display a bunch of pale yellow carnation. In grouping with a Buddha and mercury glass votive holders, you have yourself a calming zen corner.

Creating a personal space with a distinct style is not a herculean task, if you surround yourself with knick-knacks and pieces that have a special meaning to you or memory associated with it. Here, I've used an unpretentious copper "kalash" that was used during the puja for our house warming ceremony. Displayed around the house with the Button Poms gently tucked into the container, it reminds me of the wonderful moment when we set foot into our home.

While on the topic of creating a space filled with memories and history, there's nothing like a wonderful heirloom piece to add to your decor. Backed by history and traces of time, a vintage brass beer mug that belonged to my granddad (one of my prized heirloom possessions), is an absolute favorite as a vase. Used to arrange a few stems of magenta Dahlias makes for a strikingly simple arrangement that adds instant color to my space.


Coming from India, I'd like to describe my style as eclectically Indian. Metal containers made of brass, copper and silver with their burnished and tarnished surfaces lend a rustic traditional touch to an arrangement. Personally, I have a penchant for the classic brass urlis' during the festive season. Their open structure favors creating exotic floating floral arrangements that are perfect for a festive occasion.
Now let’s look into those kitchen cabinets and improvise with what we got. Ceramic jugs and coffee creamers in brilliant color tones are perfect vases. They bring a little drama to a morning brunch with friends or intensify the style quotient to an alfresco tea time.

Ever thought of using trifle bowls and vinaigrette bottles as vases??? If not, then take a look at the inventive vases used to make attractive displays. Be it Chrysanthemums or autumn foliage, the clear glass receptacles with their neutral quality showoff the flower/foliage from the petal to their stem.

Up-cycled pasta sauce or salsa bottles can be given a new lease of life with colorful ribbons, washi tape or raffia. I've used some recycled jute from a rice bag, ribbon and a paper clip to create a vase for a dear friend. Studded with Queen Anne's lace this simple arrangement speaks volumes of your creative labor.

Colored glass votive holders or goblets are another wonderful alternative to the conventional vase. They supplement the color quotient of the display and by contrasting the blooms against the vase you have yourself a vibrant potent arrangement.

 

 For an alternate take on cut blooms, one could also use small potted flowering plants that work well indoors. One of my absolute go to plants for indoors are the African violets. The longevity of potted plants is longer when compared to cut blooms. But the container to hold the potted plant does not have to be unimaginative. This wonderful brightly colored pail is a unique container that adds color and character to the decor. 

Your home office or work space could also use a touch of creativity. Ceramic monogrammed mugs with a few sprays of your favorite blooms are a wonderful way to mark your territory. How perfect is this deliberately simple exhibit of Oriental Lilies in a white mug for a visual spark ???

So go ahead and indulge in the giddy fragrance of a bloom, the natural curvature of a stem or the ruffled feel of a petal. The transient nature of blooms only reminds us that life is a fleeting journey and should be enjoyed and celebrated while it lasts. What are you waiting for, your bunch of happiness is out there waiting for you..............
                                                                             ~~~~ Sruthi Singh


(Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright Please do not use without prior written permission.)


Did that not just take your breath away? It was also great to see glimpses of her well-edited home that is so grounded in classic elegance. Once again, thank you Shruthi Singh.
 Supriya and I jointly authored a post on decorating with fresh flowers a while back. In case you missed it, here is the link.

 And here is a hint on what we are working on next - Master bedroom, valentine's day ....shshsh, I am not saying more!

Cheers!
~Deepa

A backyard soiree in PINK! - Spotlight on Bridal Shower

 We are at the home stretch of the India Circus giveaway! Remember, the contest ends tonight (17th) at 9 pm Eastern US, if you havent already signed up - now is your chance! After, you've picked your option , please leave us a comment on the post - you are eligible only if you have left us a comment after completing the steps! Good luck! The winner will be announced on the 24th.
Please go here to participate.

Today's feature - A backyard soiree in pink!

The trellis is used as a focal point!

Well, this was actually a bridal shower that I hosted in honor of a dear friend recently. However, since I did not know much about bridal showers or hosting one before this, I planned a garden soiree in PINK - figured I couldn't go wrong with that! Pink is a great color to celebrate love and the romantic union of two hearts  and it set the direction for this intimate soiree that involved an adorable bride and a few of her friends. So, read on..

A hand drawn bride and groom for a personalized touch!

The tradition of celebrating bride-to-be with a dedicated event traces back to 16-17th century Netherlands (source). Bridal showers have been a pre-wedding cultural courtesy in the United States since the 1890s. Modern day showers range from simple soirees to  flamboyant fares (the Martha Stewart kind!). 

Building on the PINK theme!

Our shower purported to allow the bride to pause and imbibe all the pre-wedding excitement.  The chaos and frenzy that is so integral to INDIAN wedding preparations often casts a dizzy spell and warrants a relaxing break. We picked a weekend in May and got a group of  friends together. Laughter, fun and raising a toast to love was our main goal.  We threw in some pink and some pom poms, that's all!

An intimate setting with a big impact!

Here's what I learnt (from various www sources) about bridal shower etiquette in the lead-up:

- The maid of honor or one of the bridesmaids hosts the event typically in their home.
- Etiquette calls that the bride's family - mom, mom-in-law not host the event!
- It is essentially a get-together to shower bride-to-be with gifts, love and attention.
- The bride, in turn, thanks the hostess with a gift.
-  It is usually planned as an afternoon event, 4-6 weeks prior to the wedding and usually after the invitations are sent out.

Wishes...

 I like to plan my events ahead of time but this one just crept up on me.  I intended to host the shower since the time her wedding date was finalized (many moons ago). With conflicting on-call schedules, getting the group together turned out to be harder than I imagined and eventually, I gave up on the planning. Miraculously, we found one weekend when most of us were available and it happened to be THAT weekend!  No worries, breathe easy- I told myself! It can be done!

Enjoying the outdoors ...yet again!

With one enthusiastic bride in tow (I know, I know - bad etiquette!), I made a few quick stops - flowers, cake, decorations - all in a few hours span!  We argued, disagreed and negotiated about the look and feel of the soiree. But we agreed on PINK! The girls graciously pitched in with the food and the punch and wore pretty dresses and perfect smiles! We lounged in my backyard enjoying the gorgeous spring weather! All in all - it was a merry affair, one that I am positive our bride-to-be will cherish forever. The shower was a great way to incorporate a tradition from her adopted country into her wedding saga before she heads home for  traditional Indian nuptials. 

The shower ensemble matched the bride's chirpy personality and included brilliant hued pompoms, paper lanterns in a dainty pink, gorgeous asiatic lilies, an adorable pink plant holder, pink striped paper straws (yes!), wishing tree made of willow branches , the PERFECT cake  and many more chic details which even Aphrodite would have appreciated! 

Savoir-faire details!

The girls take home a tiny token of love...almond candy!

Putting it together was an absolute blast and yet another experience that I will fondly remember.   I wish my friend Vaishali and her groom Ashwin,  a lifetime of happiness….

Aalayam shines the spotlight on the American Bridal Shower  - a cultural more that celebrates a bride as she stands on the threshold of a new life!

Sigh! The wishing tree in willow branches.

 How to create this look:
1) Choose 2 primary colors for your setting, if you must, add an accent color - in this case, I opted for pink and basic white . Notice, I chose different shades and hues of pink, to add a 3 dimensional effect.
2) I kept my willow branches for the wishing tree particularly long (see 1st pic)to add visual interest and to keep the eye moving from the table decorations to the trellis decorations
3) Mix in some personalized elements (hand written signs are great!) with the store bought decorations to create your very own custom arrangements
4) Stay away from tacky banners, paper centerpieces, faux floral arrangements! 
5) If you have to stick to a theme - remember, less is more! In this case, the bride sign on the trellis, the hand drawn bride and groom and the card stock paper with wedding words were our only wedding themed accessories.
6) Don't be afraid to use stuff you already own - if it is the right color, it will work! Case in point-my pink elephant and the candle holders!
7) And lastly, fresh flowers, fresh flowers, fresh flowers!

Please join us next week to find out who won the gorgeous India Circus tray and we will be talking COLOR!

Cheers!
Deepa 
p.s: All the images are from my backyard and taken by my husband. Please ask before using!

The Grand Aalayam Giveaway (an announcement)!.... and Floral Inspirations

Welcome to the weekend dear readers!!

Deepa and I have a fantastic surprise in store for you! We are planning something really awesome for next week for all of you and your friends! 

This poster gives you an inkling of what's to come, so wait with bated breath, there is a gorgeous, true blue Aalayam style giveaway waiting for you!

What do you need to do to be eligible for the grand giveaway, you ask? Well, stay tuned for next week's post to read about the eligibility criteria and to look at the exciting lineup of India Circus products we are showcasing. Think of it as mind pleasing eye candy and a chance to win a gorgeous prize!! I for one, cannot wait for next week...

Now, on to this week's post! For this post, Deepa and I worked together, so you will see corners and floral inspirations from both our homes, and scribbling from both our inkwells...so..here goes!

A gorgeous brass accent complements a jewel tone vase - Deepa's home. 

Have you stopped at the grocery store lately? The first thing you notice is the pretty blooms that are on display both inside and outside the store. The spring season is nature's tribute to life! And there's nothing like fresh flowers to infuse life and zing into your living space! Decorating with fresh flowers is probably one of the oldest and simplest universal home decorating techniques.  

Whether they are yellow flowers in a purple glass vase that compliment the yellow and purple jute braided pillows or tender coral roses that kiss the blue and white Moroccan vase in a zen bed room, flowers add elegance and glamor to your space!

A mood fix for sure - a zen reading nook - Supriya's home!

Fresh flowers are an instantaneous color and textural fix not to mention a mood fix! There is something undeniably blissful about a bunch of pretty flowers. Actually, there is something divine about the whole process of buying /picking flowers, cutting them, pairing them with the right vase, arranging them and finding a corner of your home that is perfect for those flowers - it is the simple things that bring you the most joy, after all!

A book basket, a lamp and a couch - A Serenity corner from Supriya's home!

Flowers are the most versatile decor accessories that blend in seamlessly with any decor style - ethnic Indian or rustic chic or casual country or simple elegance. 

You never go wrong with fresh flowers!

Speaking of rustic chic, look how effortless, the delicate coral roses look hobnobbing in a vintage watering can! 

Finding ways to reuse, recycle and refurbish jars, cans and containers of interesting shapes and sizes, not only is a green thing to do, it adds that element of drama and interest to any living room, study or bedroom! 

Flowers are a staple feature for all of our festive tablescapes . Deepa recommends going in for the abundance of a lush bouquet and at other times, settling for the striking form of a single stem. 

Either way, adding some blooms is a great budget friendly way to create visual interest! 

Deepa and I both like playing around with patterns, motifs and colors to create different vignettes in sprightly hues and bold patterns. 

 Home decorating is all about creating a space that inspires us to live our best life. 

Bohemian colors and patterns are married together harmoniously - Deepa's home

Flowers not only add beauty but also a live energy and vitality to the space. Fresh flowers make everyone happy! Pairing floral arrangements with accents that you already own is a simple and easy way to buff up a living space.  

Look how the dramatic black and white two -toned vignette or the mishmash of random colors and patterns thrown together is adding oomph to the decor! 

Who said Black is boring!  - A two toned vignette from Deepa's home!

Men, who are reading this post with your ladies, please remember, the staid tulips, or the cheerful zerbera daisies, the exotic lilies, the cheeky carnations, or even the dainty roses..all are sure fire ways of winning your ladies' affection, over and over again. And a redeeming way to a no girls allowed TV or golf weekend!!

Gorgeous tulips add drama to a modern family room - Supriya's home!

So, dear readers, we leave you with these floral inspirations for your living space and to brighten your day! And do not forget about the Grand Aalayam Giveaway next week!!! You deserve to win and we are rooting for you!

Love,
Supriya and Deepa!

The art of entertaining and Spotlight on block print

namaste - a welcome greeting & a symbol of hospitality!

The Taittirriya Upanishad (source) says "Athithi Devo Bhavah" which reads "May your guest be your God" laying down the guiding principle for Indian hospitality. The offering of the doctrinal "chai-pani"  (tea -water) as you enter an Indian home is not just a social more but an ingrained symbol of hospitality.  Images of my grandmother's considerate hospitality extended to her guests is lovingly etched in my memory. She never turned away a guest unfed and her piquant home cooked meals came to be a symbol of her legendary hospitality in our circles. 

Our dining room gets ready for visitors!

I have always sired a passion for hosting even since the time I was a novice cook (pity my first guests!) Entertaining implied inviting friends into our house and into our lives. Over the years, our home has hosted many gatherings - poker nights, festive potluck dinners, sunday brunches, casual chai huddles and celebratory regales. And so, for me,  entertaining has evolved into an esoteric interest. Being on this side of the pond, I have the opportunity to combine the Indian tradition of hospitality with the Western art of entertaining. From theme parties to cocktail hours to fine dining, the Western way of entertaining involves the creation of a viscerally stimulating experience  - one that I have come to admire and appreciate.

An assortment of colorful Indian delicacies served in basic white serveware.

"Dinner is not what you do in the evening before something else. Dinner is the evening" ~ Art Buchwald

Hosting a party means putting several elements together - the food, the  beverages, the table scape, the music, and the people. While it sounds simple enough, cohesively bringing the said elements together involves scrupulous planning, effort and preparedness. Entertaining is not only about cooking a meal and feeding your guests - it is about creating a palpable experience with a harmonious medley of ingredients - the aroma of food and flowers, the ambience created by music and lights, interesting conversations and lots of laughter. And hence the reference to art.

Desserts anyone?

  Throwing a good party takes time and if you are working outside the home it takes even more time! Given that my work days tend to be busy, I plan days in advance checking off one little thing at a time. Planning well and getting a head-start is a great way to trim costs. Prepping lets you do more at home and outsource less.  A to-do list is your best friend  and allows you to track all the little details.   The chaos and frenzy leading up to the event can leave you worn out and frazzled.  Therefore, I seek help when necessary. Cleaning  your home, picking your serveware and tableware, cooking the dishes, setting the table, planning the decor - the  tasks add up quickly! There are times when I wished  I had my mother or my aunts around and that's when I turn to my girlfriends (thank god for them!). 

A hand drawn elephant gracefully adorns the menu board

So, once you have the logistics down -it's time to party!

We recently hosted our American friends at home. The challenge of showcasing India through the food, desserts, decor and customs to an international audience was something I thoroughly relished. Collating the spices, the aromas and the textures for a  non-Indian palate was a formidable but fun culinary exercise. 

Fresh flowers in accent colors for an inviting feel

I used a base of solid white serveware to let the vivid colors of the food and decor pop.  The food was served buffet style but prearranged seating around the table allowed for a more relaxed "sit-down" dinner. For the tablescape,  I used white as the anchoring color with purple and fuchsia as accents. The dessert bar had a choice of two Indian desserts served in mini-flares and mini-bols for visual appeal. I also had a cake, just in case! Experience has taught me that contingency planning is key. I toyed with the idea of serving lassi but settled on a watermelon cooler punch keeping in mind the little guests of the day. The bright red beverage added  just the right splash of color.

Watermelon cooler

 I tied in all the different elements with one common denominator - the elephant.  That's right! Nothing represents India with more sanctity than the mighty elephant. From Indra's Airavata to Lord Ganesha to Maharaja's sawari, elephants have gained notoriety as an Indian cultural symbol not to mention they are also a personal favorite! Yes, I collect elephants! 

The bright red hand painted wooden elephant flanked by arabismo Morroccan glass serving as candle holders  (more on that in another post!)  looked resplendent as the buffet centerpiece . And lastly, my hand drawn elephants on the menu and the namaste sign board added a personal touch to the party .

Buffet centerpiece

My party was by no means perfect and it was never intended to be! But it was priceless, nonetheless - as a group of wonderful people gathered around my kitchen island to enjoy a home cooked meal and filled our home with warmth and laughter!

At Aalayam, we like to shine the spotlight on treasures that are unique to our homeland and today, I will be drawing your attention to my table linen in a beautiful block print fabric.

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication" ~ Leonardo Da Vinci

 

There is nothing more simple and sophisticated than block print fabrics. An ancient textile imprinting technique, block printing is done by artisans in rural India and these handmade fabrics are perfect inspite of their imperfections!
The symmetry of the ornate motifs adds drama and detail and makes these fabrics a great home decor accessory and more recently a global design trend. In a provencal (?) and paisley pattern my place mats and napkins are cheery and compatible with the  spring weather. 

 Buy block print and keep this artistic textile making technique alive and infuse your home with color, texture and a chic sensibility! Check out Apartment therapy's feature on the Indian block print fabric.

That's it for today folks! 

Be merry, live well and savor your Srikhand!

Recipe for Srikhand from here!

Cheers!
Deepa

All images are from my home and copyrighted! Please ask before using.

p.s: Thanks to turmericnspice for helping me plan the menu!

Spotlight on Warli

A warli painting by Jivya Soma Mashe image via

Let’s talk art! Truly, nothing is more pertinent than artwork when it comes to customizing your home décor and putting a personal stamp on it. Your home is a reflection of who you are and a well-curated art collection is a great way to allow your home décor to speak for your personality. Collecting artwork can be a daunting task especially if you are a novice. But remember - there is really no right or wrong way.  Building your personal art collection is a creative process that takes a sense of appreciation, a lot of intuition and a great deal of patience! Retail outlets, online curated sales, antique stores, flea markets and art fairs are all excellent avenues to find the right pieces of art that tie in to your unique décor philosophy.  

 I own art work sourced from all of the above and I am also very lucky because I own a few treasured pieces of art made by dear friends– my very own one-of-a-kind paintings!

Today, I want to share one of those paintings with all of you. This was made by a dear friend of mine in the Warli style and holds a very special place in my heart. 

My warli made by my friend RM, photo credits: Uj, my better half

 

 So, are you familiar with the Warli style of painting? 

White figures on a red background - the warli!, Image via Herve Perdiolle gallery

The Warlis are a contribution of the Warli tribe from Maharashtra, India and a part of India’s heritage. Lacking a script to communicate in writing, the Warli tribes invented their own art form as a way of expressing their relation with nature and thus the Warli paintings were born. With their unique art, the aboriginal Warlis infused life into tiny circles, triangles and squares and captured the essence of human interaction with the elements, pictorially. The original paintings feature miniature white figures painted from rice paste on a background of red earth and cow dung that gave the paintings their distinctive red hue.  Primarily, drawn as murals in the huts of the Adivaasis (first inhabitants), the Warli paintings became a portable art form only in the 1970s largely due to the works of Jivya Soma Mashe –a pioneer Warli artist.

The warli serves as a  backdrop for performing artists. Image via photographer Ed Bock

Do you want more information on Warli paintings ? Click here and here . Check it out, dear readers. There’s so much history behind this art form – it is a fascinating read!

Image via Rekha Kantak

There’s many ways to incorporate this art form into your décor - a backdrop, a mural, a vase or a painting or even a head board as seen above. The possibilities are endless! The versatile Warlis can work in any décor-scape. 

Paired with a fenton glass hobnail vase in a serene blue and a few gerberas in a gorgeous pink - my maroon, black and white Warli makes a lovely statement - don’t you think? 

A corner from my home, photo credits: Uj, my better half

Next time you see a Warli painting do not hesitate to add it to your collection. It's inherent graphic nature not only makes the Warli an appealing piece of art but also a great conversation piece.  Every Warli has a story to tell. Mine tells the story of “ the dancing circle of friends” as my 9 year old very imaginatively explains!

 And, if you like to paint  - why not try your hand at painting a Warli and contribute to keeping this ancient art form alive?

Cheers!
Deepa