DIY Inspiration - Desi Gift idea!!

Wondering what to gift your friends and family this festive season? Do you want a touch of unconventional and personal to your gifts this year, instead of spreading cheer with the random and benumbed gifts spun out of the big-box retailers?

Or maybe you want to add your personal design stamp to your home or work space? Maybe create a conversation corner around your "desi" style?

Then - here's your perfect recipe! A DIY inspiration post by a guest blogger - Divya, owner and author of The Craft Angel. Divya and her inspirational ideas, which we love, can be found at http://creadivya.blogspot.com/. Read on!!

Feeling crafty today? Have an hour to spare? Then make these fun photo frames that add a dash of desi colour to your home. Nothing depicts India better than vibrant colours and some good old bling! These photo frames are easy-breezy and look so chic and artsy. They can instantly dress up a wall, like they do here in our home...and if you’re a picture-crazy person like me, they are the perfect accessories to personalise your home with your most favourite memories.

Let’s get started then. This project is super simple, as easy as 1-2-3! Here’s a photo tutorial for you...

Gather your supplies –

And get crafty!

The possibilities to decorate them are endless!

And your handmade photo frames are ready!

Here are a few handy tips –

·         I use frames from Ikea. But you can get them at your local craft store too.

·         While painting the frames, make sure you go over all the sides, even the back, to achieve a more finished look. Get into all the nooks and crannies J

·         And you could go all crazy with the colours, or stick to a more conventional colour scheme. That’s the best bit, these are so easy to customise!

·         Allow the paint to dry completely before you get on with decorating further.

·         I find that hot glue holds sequins quite well, but you could also use any other strong glue. Especially if you don’t like stringy glue all over the place J

·         If you have more time to spare, get creative and use string, Popsicle sticks etc. to add texture to your frames.

·         Once you’re done with the decorating bit, seal the frame by spraying (or coating) a thin layer of acrylic/water resistant sealer.

 

These would look great in your home. But they also make wonderful handmade gifts. Simply make a few, stack and tie them with jute string and add a little handmade tag. Rustic, elegant and oh-so-special – the recipient is sure to love the thought behind it!

Hope you try this quick ‘n’ easy project! For more handmade projects and ideas please see my blog – www.creadivya.blogspot.com.

Happy crafting!

Divya

Vintage charm at it's best!

Eclectic Home Office design by New York Photographer Rikki Snyder

Image via 

Books, colors, textures, patterns,  fabrics,  artwork, antique furniture,  mirror work, patchwork - sigh! Now that's what I call Sunday eye candy...

And oh by the way, the other pictures had me at hello as well..so hop on over to houzz for the entire tour! 

Cheers!

Deepa

Featuring the foot stool!

Featured above is my fabulous find from Home Goods - the mirrorwork footstool!Photo courtesy - Uj, my better-half

What are the staple features of Indian decor, you ask? Colors, fabrics and exquisite woods, I say. Undeniably, it is the fine interplay of these key elements that infuses an "Indian" space with vibrant life. Quintessential Indian decor elements include hand carved wood, intricate motifs, splashes of vivid hues, ornate patterns and luxurious fabrics. Now, if you are the kind that draws inspirations from global look books but have no clue where to begin - here is a simple idea. The foot stool! It is a great way to add some boho chic to your space. Foot stools are inexpensive, widely available and very utilitarian! The sari patchwork and the Jaipur mirror work are two great options to bring in some Eastern flair to your living space. These are a great gift option too! Personally, I have my heart set on a kilim and a suzani foot stool. Mixing patterns is totally in and I dream of injecting a little Middle eastern influence  and mixing it up with the Indian elements for a more eclectic feel.  Until then, I plan to put my feet up  on my Rajasthani foot stool and enjoy my cup o' Joe !
Cheers!
Deepa

Image via google

The Magic of Kalamkari!

I grew up in a home adorned with Kalamkari..Seetee covers, cushions, shirts, dresses and sarees..so much..that I have taken this much loved hand painted/block printed cotton textile, sourced from Pedana near by Machilipatnam in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, for granted...as an essential part of my life and living space.

The familial response that the fabric art evokes in me is not surprising, as I see this fabric used with global seasonings and versatality. World designers and decorators have embraced this fabric to add a dash of earthy splendor to their collections, homes and works of art.

The word "Kalamkari" is derived from the Persian words kalam (pen) and kari (craftmanship), meaning drawing with a pen. 

Two distinctive styles of kalamkari art reign supreme-  the Srikalahasti style and the the Machalipatnam style of art. My father is from Machalipatnam and this particular style of fabric is something I hold dear to my heart. A piece of home..wherever I am.

The sheer versatality of the fabric is tantalizing. Clutches, Purses, Handbags, Scarves, Home Decor, Paintings and Table Cloths. I even have coasters made with this fabric and print. The beautiful hues, the vibrant textures and the organic, hand made quality of the print..where no one design mirrors the other..the textured imperfections..the fragrance of the fabric..make any Kalamkari piece, a work of art to be cherished.

I leave you with an image from my home..a Kalamkari twin bed-sheet (queen and king size tucked safely away in my linen closet) on a day bed/seetee lending the global appeal to a warm and cozy family room. And just in case you were wondering..the lamp is from Pier 1 Imports! :)

Love,

Supriya

"Indian"izing your living space!

Do you often ponder how to add a touch of "India" to your living space? Do you miss the rich colors, the deep textures, and the vibrant accessories that create a melody in your heart..whenever you browse through the aisles of World Market or Ten Thousand Villages? Symbols so reminiscent of the iridiscent diversity of Indian decor? Then..I am one of your kind.

Here's a visual journey..a traverse through my living room which I have "Indian"ized. A touch of grandeur to give me and my family a taste of India as I walk in the door everyday...

Start with the statement piece - it could be a vintage statue that you found at a thrift store that captures the colors you love, or a intricate carved center table you discovered on craigslist that you refurbished and polished.

Group similar pieces together. Find unconventional ways to display artifacts. Capture the essence of colors, themes and contrasts. Is Red your favorite color? Does the vibrancy of the hue remind you of paprika and warm spicy curry? Then pick bold red accessories, statues, idols, flower pots - group them together and create a vignette.

Don't forget the softscaping! Pillows and fabric based accessories add texture - that creates the visual interest in any living space. Texture instantly transforms your space from blah to having chutzpah! With internationalization of markets, you will be surprised to find how affordably you can decorate your space with the flavor of India.

And..the piece de resistance! The seating. Your options are virtually unlimited. The key is to think out of the box. I personally do not like couches. Low seetees, rattan furniture and quirky looking chairs (read Ikea and World Market) work great if you want to add that touch of whimsy to your living space, while on a budget. 

I do love the structure and the texture these outdoor seating chairs and ottomans bring to my living room. Add some tailored cushion covers custom-made in your current favorite color, and ambient lighting, and there! all of a sudden - you have your very own piece of desi nirvana that no one else has! 

Enjoy your living space. You deserve the joy it will bring you.

Love,

Supriya

Glam it up with GOLD!

A corner from my home. Photo courtesy : Uj, my better-half

When it comes to home décor, I believe in the "Vow" factor.  And nothing spells vow like some shimmer and shine. The color gold is my all-time favorite design element.  Gold embodies glamor and luxury. Its versatility enables inclusion in any décor style or color palette. Gold adds richness, interest and even a bit of drama.  Even for the thrifty shopper, home decorating is an expensive proposition especially when one is gunning for the glamorous look. Hence, I prefer decorating with timeless pieces and gold accents are just that!   My design sensibilities are in constant evolution.  And so, re-decorating is an inevitable reality and my  gold toned accents never fail me!

Additionally, it is rather easy to incorporate gold elements into an ethnic Indian décor canvas – the gold threads in traditional Indian fabrics, the gold foil in Tanjore paintings, and the golden finish of brass figurines are a few easy ways to add a dash of sparkle to your home. The use of gold allowed me to pull in a bit of Indian heritage into my personal space. Most Indian palaces have architectural elements such as towers, pillars and arches with intricate gold details contributing to their opulence. And as I look around my own home, the gold elements remind me of my roots.  

Gold has a global décor intrigue too. If your own personal design preference is western or eclectic then you can easily add some glitzy glamor and elegance via the use of  sunburst mirrors, sconces, lamps, and vases. Additionally, with an innate ability to work well in a Christmas table scape or to add to the festive cheer of Diwali, gold has a magical seasonal appeal as well. 

Of course, the key is to limit accenting to a “touch of gold” or a “hint of glitter”. Remember, everything in moderation!

The above image is from my home. I love the lustrous appeal that this gorgeous antique brass teapot holds and with the addition of few cheery yellow flowers and gold wall art in the background, I have a vignette with the Vow factor !

Cheers!
Deepa