Karmasuthra - Celebrating the Modern Indian Woman!

At Aalayam, we showcase everyday inspirations on design, décor, cuisine, and the cornucopia of cultural eclectics. As you know, Deepa and I are constantly on the look out for brands that can be a great showcase of everything we love about all these wonderful muses. 

We recently rediscovered a jewelry brand that we wanted to showcase on Aalayam because it had the visual and cerebral appeal of a "thinking woman's" brand. In the bargain, we chanced upon a warm rendezvous with the self-made entrepreneur who is lovingly nurturing the brand like a living force and scored a glorious peek into her home, her heart and her joie de vivre!

So, presenting to you "Karmasuthra" and it's catalyst creator - Divya Thomas!

Divya Thomas - Picture Courtesy and Copyrights - Karmasuthra Jewelry (c).

Riveting, sensual, enigmatic and global in appeal, Karmasuthra Jewelry is a perfect homage to the modern Indian woman. We here at Aalayam, strongly espouse non-conformist style sensibilities, and this two part brand spotlight and artiste feature (yes - including a grand home tour) is not only a befitting ode to this new-age personal style statement, but is a veritable feast for the heart and the mind! 

Picture Courtesy and Copyrights - Karmasuthra Jewelry (c).

I meet Divya Thomas on a gorgeous Saturday morning. She welcomes me into her home for breakfast, coffee and willing perspectives on all my questions. Clad in a crisp white chikan kurta, and almost no jewelry, Divya's kohl lined eyes and ingenuous features add to her enigmatic personality.  Divya is waiting for me at the door of her home. And instantly we connect. There is no reserve or reticence..just warmth and welcome. I will wax eloquent about her home, and my sensory revelations during the home tour in the next post, but now, lets talk about her brain child - Karmasuthra.

Picture Courtesy and Copyrights - Karmasuthra Jewelry (c).

The burning question in my mind was the reason behind the name Karmasuthra. I had to get that question out of the way, so I asked Divya. Why the name Karmasuthra? Was it a bold and evocative play on words? Or did it actually speak to the essence of the brand?

To which, Divya had a straight and simple response. "The name "Karmasuthra" has a sensual appeal.. it sounds just right for the brand."

Here's how: "Karma" is the Sanskrit word for "Fate". And an allusion to "What goes around comes around". What started as a germ of an idea to launch a jewelry brand with the name "Karma", evolved into "Karmasuthra" with the inclusion of the suffix "Suthra". "Suthra" is the bind that holds things together. "Karma + Suthra, it just sounded right". 

I agree. Propitiously named, the jewelry line is indeed a confluence of the colors, textures, artifacts and curiosities, all held together with the providence of hand-crafted patterns.

Picture Courtesy and Copyrights - Karmasuthra Jewelry (c).

Then we traversed through Divya's creative process of the nurturing Karmasuthra's eye-catching product line. The bottom-line was simple: 

Loads of inspiration + Loads of Coffee, spark the conception of these one-of-a-kind pieces, born as a labor of love in Divya's workshop (workshop picture sneak peek, at the bottom of this article).

Picture Courtesy and Copyrights - Karmasuthra Jewelry (c).

Divya says "I dream up my daily dose of inspiration. There are days I wake up with a thought, an idea, and run down to the kitchen to make coffee. Then I play, with the colors, shapes, designs and textures...I have fun with the process, I feel the energy and I create!"...

This utterly joyful "reach into the soul and create" process shows! It shows in the fluid detail and nuances of Karmasuthra designs. "Whether it is the front of a necklace or the back, I want the piece to look beautiful, like it has a life of its own, a personality to remember it by" Divya elucidates.

Picture Courtesy and Copyrights - Karmasuthra Jewelry (c).

For Divya, there are no rules, no playbook, no conformist guidelines, when it comes to her passion of Karmasuthra design. She mixes and matches textures, media and material:  silver, lapiz, porcelain, beads, rightfully sourced cuspids and pincers in a glorious orgy of earthy unanimity. (Animals are not harmed for the sourcing, Karmasuthra does not obtain material sourced from endangered species, or via contraband medium)

The designs come from the creative recesses of her mind, her heart and fills her and her customers with a whole new level of confidence..to embrace their sensuality and rule the world!

The much in demand nose-pin, and the aquiline, evocative beauties, whose lives Karmasuthra has touched!

The whole process of designing the line is therapeutic for Divya. I can relate. Creating a thing of beauty can be an everyday joy. To see her customers aglow with a Karmasuthra necklace or a "jhumka" or an anklet, invigorates Divya to spread the positive energy she always derives from, and associates with, her work. 

Picture Courtesy and Copyrights - Karmasuthra Jewelry (c).

Karmasuthra jewelry is primarily handcrafted by Divya. The material is sourced from all over the world. Bold and vibrant Turkish accessories, beads from traditional African markets or Native American rosaries that come "blessed" with spiritual energy are refashioned with love and finesse in the creative zen workshop. 

Divya can most often be found immersed in her work, accompanied by soulful music (click here to listen to what Divya's currently listening to) and a glass of wine to rev up the creative process. 

Picture Courtesy and Copyrights - Karmasuthra Jewelry (c).

I asked Divya about how she communicates with her demographic (buyers and aspiring buyers), how she translates their needs into a Karmasuthra style statement. Divya has got the mix of "push" and "pull" marketing right. She says "I style individual, statement pieces for my customers, but most of the time, its the jhumka or the necklace or the anklet that is calling out..to be loved, cherished and owned". 

Divya Thomas - The creator and the nurturing force behind Karmasuthra
Picture Courtesy and Copyrights - Karmasuthra Jewelry (c).

Karmasuthra started as an avocation for Divya, and it turned into a passion that is currently dominating her creative world. So I asked Divya if she had anything to share with the DIY jewelry enthusiasts and beaders. To which Divya replied:

"Have no second thoughts, no second guesses. If you fall, dust yourself and move on. At least you tried."

Divya's workshop/hidey hole/creative space. Where the magic happens!

Look out for the evocative "Kamagni - Inspired by Fire, Lust, Love and Desire" - Karmasuthra's latest line that imbues passion in every hand crafted bead. And, watch this space for an exclusive home tour (you don't want to miss this) and a heart-to-heart with Divya Thomas..for together Divya and Karmasuthra symbolize:

A true celebration of the Modern Indian Woman.

A warm THANK YOU to Divya for letting us into her home, and sharing her refreshing and energizing perspectives with the Aalayam family!

On popular demand, Karmasuthra jewelry can be ordered via the Facebook Page of the brand.

Love,
Supriya

Spice Rack Remedies! A Case for Ginger

Hello my dear Aalayam family!

I am back! And I promise the next few posts are going to be scintillating! I know you guys might have been expecting the Karmasuthra brand showcase and much awaited home tour (Yes!! it's a two post series) of the force behind Karmasuthra - Divya Thomas!

Well, you won't have to wait long. While we here at Aalayam are busy (and having a gala time) cranking out the upcoming two-post series, we thought we'd sneak in a quickie post! 

Here we are again, talking about house hold spices and their curative properties. You might fondly recall the cases made for Cardamom and Coriander and the gastronomic journeys we took with them! Today, let's put our hands together for Ginger in ....

Spice Rack Remedies!
What our kitchen counter might hold, to cure what ails us.

Ginger is one of the ancient, revered medicines of India and Asia. Popular medical journals say that Ginger's ability to combat a variety of diseases and conditions is due in part to its impact on excessive inflammation, which is a significant underlying cause of many illnesses.

Ginger is particularly useful in treating chronic inflammation because it partially inhibits two important enzymes that play a role in inflammation gone awry -- cyclooxygenase (COX) and 5-lipoxygenase (LOX). A 2010 study found that people who consumed two grams of Ginger daily for 11 days experienced about a 25 percent drop in exercise-induced muscle pain! All the more reason to eat curry before hitting the gym! Right?

Deemed as a super-food, Ginger helps combat nausea, and helps relieve stomach cramps and indigestion.  Scientists believe that through various processes in the digestive tract, including blocking serotonin receptors in the small intestine - Ginger can help keep us from throwing up. This is thought to be because of the spice’s high levels of gingerol; a powerful component that gives it its natural zingy flavor.

So, reach for that ginger tea, or just chew on a piece of candied ginger when you get a case of the tums or the gags! Trust me, it works.

Ginger’s current name comes from the Middle English "gingivere", but this spice dates back over 3000 years to the Sanskrit word "srngaveram", meaning “horn root,” based on its appearance. Indians and Chinese are believed to have produced ginger as a tonic root for over 5000 years to treat many ailments, and this plant is now cultivated throughout the humid tropics, with India being the largest producer. 

A popular food blog Food Matters quotes the following and I am happy to pass some juicy tips along!

Terrific Benefits of Ginger:

1. Haven’t been feeling hungry? Eat fresh ginger just before lunch to stoke a dull appetite and fire up the digestive juices.

2. Ginger clears the ‘microcirculatory channels’ of the body, including the pesky sinuses that tend to flare up from time to time.

3. Can’t stop the toot-a-thon? Gas—oops—guess what?! Ginger helps reduce flatulence!

4. Just had surgery? Chewing ginger post-operation can help overcome nausea.

5. Stir up some ginger tea to get rid of throat and nose congestion. And when there’s a nip in the air, the warming benefits of this tasty tea are even greater!

6. Bedroom blues? Try adding a gingery punch to a bowl of soup. (Psst...the Ayurvedic texts credit ginger with aphrodisiac properties) 

Fantastic right? I hope you enjoyed this post. Finally, I leave you with my favorite recipe for Ginger Fried Rice. Do try it and let me know how it turns out!! CANNOT go wrong with Ginger folks!

Love,
Supriya

P.S. Aalayam is proud to present the India Circus tray (remember The Grand Aalayam Giveaway, winner Preety!?) lovingly put to use to serve a scrumptious home cooked meal.  Preety is a food blogger, owns and writes in Preety's Kitchen. We love what she serves up!! 

Home tour- A food blogger's shabby chic abode!

Hello!

When it rains, it pours! Literally and figuratively.  Today is the 18th consecutive day of rains in my neck of the woods, I kid you not!
I am not complaining though. The incessant rains remind me of the Indian monsoon. The pitter patter of rain drops, the smell of the rain kissed earth, a warm cup of adrak chai on a rainy afternoon -ah, monsoon memories come flooding back as I write this.

Talking about monsoon - I am going to take you today to tour the home of Sia, the wonder woman behind my favorite food blog Monsoon Spice!  

A Cook's nook!

Yes, it's pouring home tours and today we bring you yet another visual inspiration with a candid and heartfelt write-up, this time from the home owner herself.

I love her blog and I have my reasons why. I love the way her blog is set up. It is easy to navigate.  I can find recipes by vegetables, by ingredients, by meal, by type of dish, you name it! It is not always that I plan ahead,  find a recipe first and then go shopping. I do the reverse …often! I realize I am down to my last set of vegetables and want to find a quick recipe that I can probably toss the assorted medley of left over vegetables into and Sia's blog is great for that. I can click down to cabbage or carrots and an amazing host of recipes and pictures pop up. Just what I need!  I love her recipes - simple, no fuss, authentic recipes that always yield a fresh tasting home cooked meal!  I also love the affable aura that her posts carry - she writes from her heart and you can tell. 
Sia's Monsoon Spice is a fabulous food blog. Period!

I pestered Sia and asked her to see if I could feature her kitchen. I was curious to see where all her gastronomic delights are created, her work space, if you will. I was going to do a feature post on the "Cook's nook"   I knew she was super busy - being a mom (to her adorable boy Paarth), having a full time day job and a passion that requires considerable investment of time and energy is no walk in the park. Ask me how I know!  And yet, I emailed her, keeping my fingers crossed.  She was amazing - she sent me a ton of pictures of her entire home, a great write -up and enthusiastically responded telling me she was in! 

And so, without much further ado, I present to you Sia and Krish's adorable shabby chic nest in Yorkshire, England.

The moors of Yorkshire

Talking about her home, work-life balance and her food blog,  Sia writes....

"There is no  particular  decor theme running through our home.  Eclectic with a  touch of shabby chic would rightfully define our style. Our home is warm, inviting, relaxing, and comfortable and has a lived-in feel to it ! When we brought this house at the end of 2009, we envisioned adding bright colors to the plain magnolia walls.  But life took an entirely different course when I became pregnant with my child! And now, 3 years later, we have grown to love what few others may label as dull or boring! Our magnolia walls  brighten our home even on a typical dull and grey England day!  At night with the corner lamps switched on and with candles  flickering, the room transforms into a tranquil space and seems  perfect to unwind after a busy day at work!

The sun filters into Sia's living room filling it with light and warmth!

Light colored walls  allows me to experiment with brighter shades via soft furnishings, wall décor and a few select knick knacks. I love freshly cut flowers and indoor plants  and I believe they make the room look fresh, bright and cheerful. 

With one hyper active toddler on my toes, we have stopped buying things for the house on an impulse. We have tried to keep the décor simple and clutter free to allow for a kid friendly decor scheme.
The living room décor has splashes of copper, gold and orange for a cozy colorful ambience. The Buddha sculpture on the side table is our first purchase for the house and we absolutely love it! 

Tenderly placed knick knacks add personality to this cozy corner. I spy auto rickshaw!

The little study room houses my pride and joy, my book collection and on  the walls you will find  amateur watercolor prints made by me during pre-pregnancy days. It is here, in our small India corner, sitting on low seating/diwaan I write most of my blog posts surrounded by memories of home!

Paarth has an adorable space of his own.Winnie, the pooh waits in antiicipation for a playmate.

 My little ones play room wears a cheery air with his favorite animals on the wall. We spend many happy hours here coloring, reading, cuddling and creating beautiful memories!
The master bedroom is a sea of calmness with white, duck egg blue and sea blue color scheme defining this shabby chic space.

A mobile adds a pop of color to this shabby chic bedroom

The kitchen décor is very simple with bright glossy white cabinets and integrated appliances. We  brought in color creatively via accents such as  floor mats, rug, wall décors, chalk boards and fresh fruits and flowers to take away the sterile look!  Since we do not have much storage option in the kitchen, we brought a stand-alone white glossy cabinet from Ikea which holds most of my large kitchen utensils and cookware. 
 

Books, pots, spice jars and more get stacked into neat piles and add visual interest.

The cookbooks you see on the top of the cabinets are mostly gifts from my friends and also the review copies sent to me by cookbook authors. I love to flip through the pages of glossy cookbooks from time to time to draw inspiration for my food blog, but my most treasured cookbook is a handwritten, decade old book with turmeric stains and dog eared pages given by my mother that has precious recipes from my ma and grandma’s kitchen! 

And this is where the magic happens! The magic of monsoon spice!

, I wear many hats in my day to day life.  During the day I am a full-time  IT professional in a very exciting organization and I am a part-time food blogger and photographer by night. I am also a  full-time daughter/wife/friend/sister/mother, voracious reader, doodler, curry plant killer, nature and adventure sports lover, tree hugger, bon vivant, bathroom singer.! 

A girl after my own heart! Chunky beads make a great fashion statement!

Like this wasn't enough I also believe in living life to the fullest and believe in making everyday moments count.  I make sure that I don’t mix my professional life with my personal one and  never bring my office work  home as I want to give my family my undivided attention. I cook simple food during weekdays that take little time to cook and yet do not compromise on taste! Thankfully both my hubby and son loves simple south Indian fare and are not fussy eaters like me!  Planning our meals and a little prep work  helps a lot in weekday cooking. I cook the lentils and prepare the vegetables on weekends and freeze them in a freezer to be used during the weekdays. I also want to acknowledge my husband for pitching in with his share of work and that helps tremendously allowing me more time for my personal interests such as the blog. 

Kitchen magnets that speak for the homeowners sense of humor!

It takes around 3-5 hours of food blogger’s time for every individual blog post, from cooking, plating, photographing, editing the photographs, writing and finally publishing the recipe.  And that's just the tip of the iceberg! I often get questions from my readers and one thing that pops up every now and then is how I manage home, office, family and kid and still find time to blog?! Well, the answer is very simple. If you love something and are really passionate about it, you will somehow find time for it! 

You can find the recipe here!

Every person needs a space/place of their own where they can be creative and let the artist in them shine. Before I used to blog with the sole intention of keeping a little online journal of all the recipes I learnt from my mom and grandma. And after a year or so, I began blogging for others as my blog got recognition and picked up more traffic around the globe! But now I blog for the simple joy and pleasure I get from it without expecting anything in return! May be this is the reason why I still enjoy food blogging even after 6.5+ years of blogging! :) Only tip I have for any aspiring bloggers is do it for  the fun and joy it provides and not for any tangible benefits! i believe that when you put your heart and soul into your passion, you will strike chord with like minded individuals!"

What an absolutely adorable home! Everything in its place and a place for everything. There is a touch of romance and that's what makes this home Shabby Chic!

Romance + whimsy = shabby chic!

Love it! Do you? We would love to hear your feedback.

Thank you Sia and Krish for sharing your darling shabby chic home with all of us.

Be sure to visit Sia at Monsoon Spice as she unveils the magic of spices and dishes out one yummy recipe after another!  I am cooking my way through Sia's recipes already and you can join in the fun too..

Next up - a  2 part feature on a jewellery artist  and her gorgeous home. She is the force behind the Karmasuthra brand and I can't wait to meet her myself!  Join us right here!

Cheers!
Deepa

Media Room - A La Mode! (A fourth of July tribute to American decor!)

A wide angle - to get us going!

Dimmer lights, surround sound, popcorn and  a good game of poker - those are the buzz words for today's post!
Welcome to the next stop on my (Deepa's) home tour. Previously, I've taken you through our guest room and our little boy's room. Today, we are heading to our basement for a tour of our newly transformed catch all space - media + game lounge!

Chic accents = chic room!

We were lucky - the previous home owners had already finished a portion of the basement and so all we were left with was adding our personal touch. Even before I could say the word basement, my husband and son claimed this as their space!   They were excitedly exchanging ideas and I didn't have the heart to interfere. However, I did stake claim to a closet in the basement. This sits underneath the staircase and has wall to wall shelving. It is a great space to store all my extra/seasonal home decor accessories and arts and craft supplies. This closet is now fondly referred to as the Aalayam closet and I love the utilitarian value of this closet! I will share a picture of this someday.

I digress. Back to the media room story... 
Space planning for soon-to-be men's den began in earnest. A wet bar, a game and seating area and media station were all promptly assigned to their respective corners. This room was ENTIRELY designed by my husband and is unlike any other room in our house. The rest of our house is very global in its feel and Indian in its roots (courtesy moi). This room on the other hand as an All American feel - big on style, big on comfort! 

Of course, with men being men, the room was first fitted with a projector and a big screen! That's right - a bare space with a big screen! I was probably the only one in the house who seemed to think that was odd. The boys lounged on the floor with a bag of chips, while the images came alive on screen aided by the surround sound and nothing else mattered! This went on for a few weeks.

But eventually, my husband got down to work and the space was outfitted with all the essential elements - furniture, art work, accessories, a rug, lighting and the finishing touches!.  And it all began with a well conceived, budget-savvy plan! This was his project from start to finish and I must say, I am mighty pleased. An old breakfast table was repurposed as a table for poker nights.

The white accents were all gifts - reuse, repurpose, refashion!

 A previously used media credenza was now positioned against the back wall as a storage unit for cords, cables, gaming console accessories, dvds and books. A few select accessories were used to dress this cabinet for a stylish yet clutter free look!  

Mismatched accents work- don't be afraid to use what you have!

I love his choice of art work for the room - particularly this planked airplane from Pottery Barn! It sits comfortably above and across the length of the couch, grabs your attention and reflects my husband's love of travel. Perfect for his den! Tufted sofas are in and I knew he digs the tufted look but finding something that was appropriate for a media room was tricky and so, he was ecstatic when he found this tufted sectional. It is not too bulky, came in a gorgeous camel shade and has enough seating to allow for comfortable movie viewing.

Playing with a neutral color palette can be fun too!

The inherent acoustics of the room and well picked sound accessories enable a theater-like audio experience . We opted to add a screen instead of projecting the images directly on to the wall and this enhances the picture quality. We enjoy watching movies and games at home much more than heading to the movies and that has always been our thing. With a little planning and some effort we have recreated theater ambience right here at home!

The wet bar area was already painted in a gorgeous dull-red.  A little sprucing up was all it took to make it ready for our guests!

Happy hour anyone?

Overall, the colors are cozy and calming leaning towards rustic and earthy.  This is in stark contrast to the rest of our colorful home but works really well for this room!
My favorite in the room (and it was hard to pick) has to be the coffee table , the round shape adds visual interest and the jali style wood -work incorporates just a touch of India into this otherwise western room. I picked the coffee table accessories - a couple of gorgeous coral accents . They look great as a pair and  combined with a reflective metallic tray they make an eye-catching arrangement!

Jali style coffee table  + coral accents + metal tray = Vow?

In the Dirty Picture, Vidya Balan seductively quips "Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment"  Let's admit it! We love our Bollywood movies!  And their inherent entertainment value. After all, they are so integrally woven in to our cultural tapestry. For expats like ourselves, weekend trysts with Bollywood movies is not just an exercise in unwinding but also a surefire way of clinging to our native identity. With their glitzy and flamboyant fare, Bollywood cinemas have continued to entertain native audiences for over a century now and that includes us. To revel in the Bollywood pomp and show in the comfort of our American home and to spend a cherished evening with each other is something that we as a family truly enjoy and this room enables just that!

Unknowingly, life tends to creep up on us and take over at times! We lose sight of what's most important! And at those times we need to remind ourselves that snuggle-time with our families is as good as it gets!

Next weekend is movie date-night and I plan on showing up in my pajamas!

Hope you've enjoyed our tribute to American decor? Happy 4th folks!

 We have a busy busy summer ahead of us - a fabulous food blogger's home tour is up next followed by a two-part spotlight feature on a phenomenal jewelry artist and her gorgeous gorgeous home! So, do not budge!

If you like our features and have friends who might be interested, please share our link and help us grow the Aalayam family!

Cheers!
~Deepa
p.s: The pictures are copyrighted. Please ask before using.