Colours Dekor

Rajasthan… the land of my dreams!

2012-02-24T07:30:00.000+04:00

Rajasthan… the land of my dreams!

My unending love for Rajasthan, encourage me to put one more post!! Look at this amazing fort – Garh Jaisal. The fort can be your home for a few days.

Look into the amazing rooms and live like a Maharani.

If you want to go and stay there... http://www.garhjaisal.com/

Above is the most beautiful room in the fort. Its called Opium Room. Can you see the intricate mirror work on the walls. Its shining with feelings of festivities.

I love purpulish pink !! I can already see myself sitting at this window and sipping my tea!!

Can you see my love for colours. It indeed brightens our lives.

Garden beauties..

2012-02-23T07:30:00.000+04:00

Now continuing the so called garden makeover... *smiles*...

Introducing my mommy's green thumb.... Mint for mojitos....

and a potted vegetables section.... *smiles* ... there are chillies, coriander, tomatoes and egg plant... *smiles*..

.... look tomatoes!! tomatoes!! Aren't they the cutest?

This bit hasn't changed as yet.... The plants are outgrown... and a bit of a jungle... But I really like them... so will trim them a little later...

And the backyard.... *smiles*... The Arabic seating is where I spend most evenings.. watching the stars and listening to the neighbours music... (during the weekends)... Its my peaceful area... But the summers will be upon us soon... and there won't be any outdoor seating...

Well... watch out for a Diwali makeover... later in the year... (giggles).. I think this are could do with a little bit of colour.. and a few hanging beauties.. What say??

...a Painting

2012-02-22T07:30:00.000+04:00

It is wednesday and time for another post from Anpu's closet. I am proud that I am on my 3rd week and not breaking the promise made to Patricia. I kinda feel that these posts puts me in a routine and a discipline of doing something creative continously. Be it some painting, playing with clay, or some sewing, some embroidery, gardening or...it falls under "Art" and "Creativity"- a place where I let loose my imagination and do what I want...how I want. So today I am going to share with you a painting that I reproduced from a long forgotton Diwali card. The card carried a beautiful painting by the eminent artist Vrindavan Solanki. I tried to paint something similar...using oils but on paper. Oils on paper! Why paper?...I was just bored of painting on canvas...so decided to experiment on paper left over from my charcoal paintings....and using onle 1 color, my favorite-Sienna brown. Check them out and let me know, how you like them. This is different from the decorative artwork post that you saw last year...

...the village couple...

...the lady...

...birds together...

Did you like the paintings? There are more charcoals, but will keep them for another post...

Until next wednesday...have a fabulous week. Ciao

~ Anpu

A small makeover

2012-02-21T07:30:00.000+04:00

If you follow me on twitter or facebook, you must have heard about how one weekend.. I messed up the garden... *grins*...

Here are my attempts to make amends... and make things look right again...

You've seen corners of the garden in my old posts... The bamboo partition thing was straight... I wanted a little bit of a pattern... or curve... What do you think?

Don't know if you remember, but I had three dwarfs from my Sydney trip... They didn't survive a few kids in my house... So, when I saw this at Daiso the other day, I simply had to get them home....

And my tulsi pot broke too... *sobs*... so now replaced by a simple brown one...

Oh... and I finally took out the trunk... and paved way for green grass... That I must admit looks good... But it makes the bird bath look like this... Which I'm not particularly impressed with... So this particular corner... needs another makeover... but thats for another time..

Do you remember my small lemon tree plant... ?? Look how bigs its become....

Well... these haven't changed... but I thought I'll add in these pictures as well...

.... on either side of the stair case...

Now ... an view from the top... for you.... I know.. I know... I've messed up the grass... but that will grow soon.... I'll post pictures of that when its all green... But what do you think of the design??

The flowers don't do much justice to the space as well... *sigh*...

But its work in progress.... so for now I'll leave it looking like this... and in three months time... I'll add a few more seasonal beauties... *smiles*..

The Weekly Story ~ wk68

2012-02-20T07:35:00.000+04:00

Its Monday again... I'm away this weekend... to some dreamy destination... and hopefully there'll be a table for two...

Imagine.. that... And all I can hear is the birds chirping... the sounds of the sea.... the fishermen somewhere far away..... talk in a language I don't really understand... NO!! I know.. the pics don't have any sea nearby... Well! that's not completely true... but ... anyway!!

Hubby and I... on our own... Its been a while since we've been on a break together... rather... just the two of us...

So I'll be back soon... In the meanwhile... 'miss me'... and join in the weekly party... *smiles*... See you all soon!!

'The Weekly Story' linky party ~ open from Monday through Wednesday every week.. ...

Do a post on your blog, about ANYTHING! and it can really be anything – example – a fun recipe you tried out, a craft project, a DIY, a table top, a few candles, coffee with friends or a good book or a movie review… The list is endless… just about ANYTHING… and anything about YOU !! *smiles* ... It can also be 'anything pretty' ...
Original photographs only... No images from other websites or magazines please!! This is about YOU.
Link back to my blog.... only as a courtesy, so we have more people joining the party.
Copy the 'permalink' from your post (not the link to the front page of your blog).
Add your 'permalink' to the 'inlinkz' at the bottom of this post.
Click the link before you. Don’t forget to comment and if you like the blog, please follow!!

Any questions, email me on torresp27@hotmail.com.

Please note, you DO NOT have to be a follower of my blog to join the party.. I'd love to see you here!!

Please grab the Colours Dekor 'The Weekly Story' button!!

Udai Villas, Rajasthan

2012-02-17T07:30:00.000+04:00

I have been forever planning a holiday to Rajasthan. Somehow, it just doesn’t seem to happen. I’m in the mood for going on holiday!!! Yes! I’m only going on a couch tour and am living in the land of sand, music, colours and havelis….. I am fascinated by the architecture of these ancient but alive palaces.

Havelis have always called me. Even the images seem to talk to me! My Indian roots are somehow connected to them ! However, the route to get here seems a bit blurred.

In the next few posts, I will be sharing with you a few havelis that I have come across. There are fanciful renditions of elephants, flowers and other paintings on abandoned walls – a work of art by artists never heard of.

Can you image how these havelis looked during their heydays?? Some of these are more than 300 year old. Most of these historic houses are locked up and abandoned or sold to some international hotel chain.

Sadly modern lifestyle doesn’t allow us to pause and listen to the tunes that these havelis used to play.

The remarkable architecture and artistic legacy obviously lies in grave danger. The paintings on the walls have surrendered to time… but the majestic doors, windows and pillars still live in their glories.

These home are obviously treasures worth saving!! I honestly don’t think the owners realize how blessed they are for living in a party of history and for owning an extremely unique resource.

Someday… I’ll have a haveli as well!

The first one I'm going to show case is the Udai Villas, by far the best property in Rajesthan. It truely captures the romance and splendor of the royal era. http://www.udaivilas.com/

The rooms are out of this world !! I love the window seat or baitak in this picture. I'm already sitting there and sipping my cup of tea!

The fabulous and majestic bath ! I'm now going back to the desert... I'm sure there is more to see there as well!

Blog finds ~ What's Ur Home Story

2012-02-16T07:35:00.000+04:00

I'm thrilled to have found 'What's Ur Home Story'... The blog is close to my heart and so many times when I read the posts, I feel as though... its me talking... so much in common!! I'm sure you'll love it too... go on and check 'What's Ur Home Story'...

I am Vidya, a chemical engineer by training, a financial analyst by profession, an artist by craft, and a decorator by passion. I obsess over a great piece of home decor, art, and tastefully decorated homes.

Whats Ur Home story started out as a way for me to document everything décor related that I did at home; I’m sure my friends were getting tired of all the FB updates. As we have a new home, we have a serious case of the “too new to change” syndrome. Everything I do can be easily implemented in rentals, apartments, townhomes, or anywhere you do not want to get into structural remodels.

I believe that structural features alone don’t define character (yes they do help); it is more about the story the house has to tell, about your family. In our home we tend to mix our Transitional style with our Indian roots.

Our family of 4 fills it with the things we love, that remind us of our culture and heritage, kids’ art work, trip souvenirs…..everything thing that is close to our hearts. I strongly believe that by falling back on something you love and the things that make you who you are, you can add layers of character to your home.
Whats Ur Home story is the story of how we are making our house a home one chapter at a time.

I sure hope you'll pop into What's Ur Home Story.... and inspire one more blogger!! go on!!

Clay - A delightful medium

2012-02-15T07:35:00.000+04:00

Last year, you saw some of my Pottery work here. Time to share some more clay work...I have always been impressed with the Harappa-Mohenjo daro images-the hieroglyphics found in the excavation sites,...stories of Chanakya, who mentored and was a teacher to Chandragupta Maurya, and who was responsible for the creation of the Mauryan empire, the first of its kind on the Indian subcontinent,...and Buddha, the enlightened one. With these thoughts in mind, I tried to mold clay into squarish plates- cut-scratch-mold them before drying in the Kiln and later painting the design ....

...Buddha, the enlightened one...

...Chanakya...

...the Holy cow and hieroglyphics...

...the clay plates displayed in the family room...

Playing with clay is easy...Many pottery schools or workshops have a 1 or a 7 day session...where you can get the initial feel. The only thing to remmber is that this like many mediums requires lots of practice, patience and persistence. I love Pottery and playing with Clay ....it is such a joy to see something that you envision, you create, come alive...

Hope you enjoyed the post...until next time...Ciao

~ Anpu

Table for two

2012-02-14T07:35:00.000+04:00

Happy Valentine's Day... my lovelies... Thank you all for the love you guys bestow on Colours Dekor.. that always brings a smile to my face...

I seem to suddenly... have fallen in love with the colour Red *smiles*...

Don't you just love chocolate fondue??

Hope you all have a lovely day today... and are pleasantly surprised in some way.. Do pass on that smile and hug to someone who needs it ... I'm sure they'll be plenty around you!!

*hugs*

The Weekly Story ~ wk 67

2012-02-13T07:35:00.000+04:00

Hello my lovelies... Its Monday again...

Oh.. I forgot to tell you... I got a little feature in the 'Khabar Magazine'... Check page 42 to 50 for the complete article... A huge thank you to Girija who has done a super fabulous job putting this together... Makes me feel like I was having coffee with Kamini, Sudha, Anu and Gagan....

Was thrilled to see my home on the first page of the article... thrilled only because my home looks soooooooooooooo much prettier in that image... I was stunned... !!

And then... the peacock wall of my old home... brought back happy memories... of lovely painted walls... I've failed miserably with what I wanted to do this time... Will show you images of the incomplete wall next week... *hides face*

Oh.. and now... back into the week... doing another small post for 'Red is for love'...

Here is a super simple paper craft... All you need is newspaper, stapler or glue and scissors... I showed the girls how to do this once... and then watched as they struggled to get it right...

I'm not a mean mom... I left them to struggle... only coz it takes them longer that way... and keeps them enthusiastic... till they get it right...

They made a few of these and hung in the garden and some at home... What do you think?

Definitely simple paper craft, for younger kids...

Are you going to link in to 'The Weekly Story' linky party ~ open from Monday through Wednesday every week.. ...

Do a post on your blog, about ANYTHING! and it can really be anything – example – a fun recipe you tried out, a craft project, a DIY, a table top, a few candles, coffee with friends or a good book or a movie review… The list is endless… just about ANYTHING… and anything about YOU !! *smiles* ... It can also be 'anything pretty' ...
Original photographs only... No images from other websites or magazines please!! This is about YOU.
Link back to my blog.... only as a courtesy, so we have more people joining the party.
Copy the 'permalink' from your post (not the link to the front page of your blog).
Add your 'permalink' to the 'inlinkz' at the bottom of this post.
Click the link before you. Don’t forget to comment and if you like the blog, please follow!!

Any questions, email me on torresp27@hotmail.com.

Please note, you DO NOT have to be a follower of my blog to join the party.. I'd love to see you here!!

Please grab the Colours Dekor 'The Weekly Story' button!!

Travel Taiwan ~ Taipei City (part 3)

2012-02-10T07:30:00.000+04:00

After lunch at the Grand Hotel, as you’ve read in my earlier post, we took an hours bus ride to Chiu Fen old town. This was a little picturesque town, with a different kind of atmosphere.. The people were simple and believed in their daily wages… and life was just awesome… *smiles*.. Here are a few images of this little town that I fell in love with…

This enchanting little town was on top of a hill… so the long winding roads… were simply magical…

The place has streets and streets of shopping and food… and more…

From here we took an hours bus ride to get back to Taipei city. We visited the Taipei 101, which I am sure needs no introduction. It was the tallest building in the world in 2004 and still holds a few world records, for the fastest lift and the damper ball that keeps the building balanced. Taiwan is in a volcano and earth quake prone area, and hence the damper makes this building safer than normal and reduces the effect of an unforeseen situation. Saying that… Taipei 101 is a definite visit, with awesome malls and an amazing food court at the bottom. Sorry, by this time, I was way too tired to click any more pictures…

Some of the other places to visit in Taipei City are Xinyi District, Yangmingshan National Park, Peace Park, National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall, Beltou Hot Springs, Longshan Temple.

Hope you enjoyed the tour of Taiwan with me…

A Love Tablescape

2012-02-09T07:35:00.000+04:00

Here is a simply tablescape put together by Sims and me..... No fancies, no fuss.... just a little bit of love.. and a small note... *smiles*

Love... doesn't make the world go round...

Love... is what... makes the ride worthwhile...

I sure hope you are joining in the 'Red is for love' linky party... !

Something new from something old...

2012-02-08T07:38:00.001+04:00

Post by : Anpu:

...As I start writing this post, I realize, I have not posted on Colors Dekor for a very long time nor have I been active in the Design blogging world. I have missed all of you and your delightful posts on everything fabulously creative stuff that are so inspiring...So without wasting much time, here is my first post for 2012..

Everytime, I visit Mumbai, one of the first things I do, is check out my Amma's cupboard for sarees and silk pieces, that she does not want or can no longer use. All those extra pieces in a saree that is kept aside for making a matching blouse is kept aside and never used...So, I usually end up with these lovely pieces of cloth that can be used in so many different ways.

... One of those of pieces of cloth kept away, was a chequered piece of soft Kashmiri silk in white - dark yellow - orange. I just knew, I had to do something to this piece...probably add some colors...make it bright and colorful...With that idea in mind, I batiked the piece and.. Voila...here is how my scarf looks now... Bright and full of colors of life. Batik is such fun...like pottery, the end result is always unexpected. My cousin Baby had introduced me to the world of Batik many many years ago...and yes, I have walked the streets/lanes of Crawford market in Mumbai searching for those special dyes, waxes and salts...fun times that one remembers with a smile... ...here are some pictures of the Batiked scarf...ready to be worn...

...do drop in your comment on how you liked the scarf.. Until next week...Ciao!!

~~ Anpu

Store Review ~ Indya Kaleidoscope

2012-02-07T07:35:00.000+04:00

I bet you've seen 'Indya Kaleidoscope' before... Preethi totally inspires me and I am in awe of her stunning store...

Preethi has set up a beautiful brick-and-mortar (physical) store in Koramangla, Bengaluru (India). And, I had to share pictures of her amazing store .. So here we go....

The entryway

View - outdoors from the indoors

A closeup of the gorgeous antique hall tree

Love her eye for detail

A closer look at whats in stock!

Drool worthy Tile top colonial rosewood table and the antique brass urli :)

Urli with a traditional flower arrangement (Kerala style)

Coconut timber products in stock.

Handpainted terracota products - by local artists

Hand painted Wooden boxes

Antique salt containers

Her mission to revive forgotten Indian art and craft forms and look beyond profits is what makes her venture stand out

So.... if you are in Bangalore... , you must stop by the store

IndyaKaleidoscope Arts LLP

194/B, 12th A Main

Koramangala, 4th Block

Bangalore - 560 034

To order online visit her store @ IndyaKaleidoscope and dont forget her USP- exquisite hand crafted products at reasonable prices!!

For updates about IK - IK on Facebook

Decor ideas and more: IK - the blog

Pictures: courtesy Preethi Prabhu
Post inspired by : Design Enthusiast with special thanks to 'Sudha'

The Weekly Story ~ wk 66

2012-02-06T07:35:00.000+04:00

All of February on Colours Dekor is 'Red is for love'.... so do a post on the colour 'red'... or join in with your 'love' posts... Here is my post on 'love craft' *smiles*

The girlies and I did some paper craft this weekend... Once I finished all the clearing and cleaning... we decided to add a few elements of red and love around the house...

On our dining table... made out of paper... as simple as that... with a candle it in.. Looks lovely!! What do you think?

You must think I teach my girls all sorts of non sense... Well the truth is... I'm not sure how much they learn about the craft... and its really nothing.. But when we sit down to make it together... we talk... about colours, family, love... and all sorts of things under the sun.. we laugh... and we giggle.. Some times we fight... *smiles*.. And it is this... that I truly value..

The girls have grown too fast... from baby talk a few years ago... that I could laugh over.. we now have serious kind of talk... *gosh*...

The added attempt they put in... to arrange stuff... to move things around... makes me feel super nice!! They moved this from the dining area to the foyer, coz they thought it looked better there... What do you think?

I know.. I haven't visited your blogs from last weeks linky... Sorry.. I was super busy with month end, but I had a quick look and I thought these two posts were lovely... *smiles*...

Informative post on Colours : The Basics at Purvi's Creative Hub...

and I bet you'll like this post on fun and boredom and some artwork from her journal at Za faran!!

Like I always say... don't forget to leave a comment... on their blogs.. and do follow if you like what you see.. Its simply brings a smile of 'blogger' faces.. *smiles*

You know I wait for you to join in... for 'The Weekly Story' linky party ~ open from Monday through Wednesday every week.. ...

Do a post on your blog, about ANYTHING! and it can really be anything – example – a fun recipe you tried out, a craft project, a DIY, a table top, a few candles, coffee with friends or a good book or a movie review… The list is endless… just about ANYTHING… and anything about YOU !! *smiles* ... It can also be 'anything pretty' ...
Original photographs only... No images from other websites or magazines please!! This is about YOU.
Link back to my blog.... only as a courtesy, so we have more people joining the party.
Copy the 'permalink' from your post (not the link to the front page of your blog).
Add your 'permalink' to the 'inlinkz' at the bottom of this post.
Click the link before you. Don’t forget to comment and if you like the blog, please follow!!

Any questions, email me on torresp27@hotmail.com.

Please note, you DO NOT have to be a follower of my blog to join the party.. I'd love to see you here!!

Please grab the Colours Dekor 'The Weekly Story' button!!

Travel Taiwan ~ Taipei City (part 2)

2012-02-03T07:30:00.000+04:00

On day 3, we started off early to the National Palace Museum. Sorry, I don’t have any pictures of the museum as photography wasn’t allowed.. The museum houses the worlds largest collection of priceless Chinese art treasures, one which spans China’s nearly 5000 year history… from brassware, to porcelain to precious and semi precious stones and a lot more!!

From the National Palace Museum we went to the Martyr’s Square, just in time for ‘changing of the gaurds’. I believe this place houses the graves of some of their freedom fighters and martyrs. The place is stunning, and the guard changing was surely worth watching..

Onwards to the Grand Hotel. It is believed that this hotel is situated on a hill in Taipei, is constructed under every single direction of Feng Shui and has the most amount of positive energy. It was truly buzzing and definitely worth a visit. The view from here, of the Taipei 101 are breathtaking..

More on Taipei 101 in my next post... *smiles*

In the Spotlight ~ 'Red is for love'

2012-02-01T07:35:00.000+04:00

Gosh!! Its February already... We are now a month into 2012...wow! That was quick...

Now.. I'll be honest... this is a bit of a confused post... I'm not sure what to do with 'in the spotlight' series.. Should these be topic driven... like the earlier ones we did... ie Green Thumb Dekor, a Thousand Words... so you can interpret the topic in any which way...

Or would you like these to be Colours specific... ie.. we pick a colour for the month and focus on things around the house in that colour... and the importance of that colour in our lives and homes..

What say??

Anyway, last weekend, the girls and I talked about 'love'.. and everything they love, people they love, hearts and fairies.. ... etc.. etc..

While Sims and I were decided on doing up a table ... Yva used her skills and made a heart out of the petals on the table... I thought it was cute..

These girls.. they grow up too fast.. *sigh*

So go on and link in... The 'Red is for love' is open all of February... and obviously will be focussing on the word 'love'... and the colour 'red'... Feel free to link in anything within these two parameters... I can't wait to see how creative you can get...

Grab the button now.. and do a quick post.. *smiles*

The Weekly Story ~ wk 65

2012-01-29T07:35:00.000+04:00

Hello Monday!! Another Weekly story waiting for you to link in... *smiles*... And another story I'm waiting to tell you!!

These are our outdoor months in Dubai... and I love doing up the table and setting up specials during this time..

You must know of Rajee Sood and her elegant - exquisite blog... Now, if you've seen her blog, you'll be drooling over the things at her store.. 'Rajee Sood Home'.. I wanted to do something special in the centre and slightly higher.. as all the food was being served around this .... *smiles*

And here is the special treasure I picked from 'Rajee Sood Home'... It stood talk, pretty and majestic and definitely started a conversation ... Don't you just love it??

Now, if you've been to 'Rajee Sood Home', you'll know there are sooooooooooooooo many things on there that I'd love to bring home.. and they'll probably be coming home in smaller instalments... *smiles*..

And I got this Diya... as well... only coz its sooooooooooooo pretty...

And do you know what the below is?? Do you?? Be honest!! If you don't ... go on and check 'Rajee Sood Home'... and also let me know what you like from her store!!

Blog focus for this week - You've got to see Creative Mind to beleive the kind of stuff she makes.. ...

.... and from last weeks posts ... I totally loved the way this desk looked and amazed with the story as well... Read on at Live and Times in Bangalore

Like always... post a comment on these two blogs.. its nice to know you visited them.. and dont forget to follow, if you are impressed with what you see...

Can't wait to see you linking in... for 'The Weekly Story' linky party ~ open from Monday through Wednesday every week.. ...

Do a post on your blog, about ANYTHING! and it can really be anything – example – a fun recipe you tried out, a craft project, a DIY, a table top, a few candles, coffee with friends or a good book or a movie review… The list is endless… just about ANYTHING… and anything about YOU !! *smiles* ... It can also be 'anything pretty' ...
Original photographs only... No images from other websites or magazines please!! This is about YOU.
Link back to my blog.... only as a courtesy, so we have more people joining the party.
Copy the 'permalink' from your post (not the link to the front page of your blog).
Add your 'permalink' to the 'inlinkz' at the bottom of this post.
Click the link before you. Don’t forget to comment and if you like the blog, please follow!!

Any questions, email me on torresp27@hotmail.com.

Please note, you DO NOT have to be a follower of my blog to join the party.. I'd love to see you here!!

Please grab the Colours Dekor 'The Weekly Story' button!!

Travel Taiwan ~ Taipei City

2012-01-27T07:30:00.000+04:00

Taiwan is known as the city of butterflies and orchids. It has more than 300 species of butterflies and about 30 different types of fruits. You do know that Taiwan is an island.. don’t you?? The island supposedly looks like a sweet potato!! But in that little island, its got main land, mountains, lakes and some stunning beaches… Saying that, today, we tour Taipei City…

The second day in Taiwan, we ventured off to the ‘Museum of Contemporary Art’, which was walking distance from out hotel. popularly known as MOCA, the museum was showcasing some fashion related art… which really is not my expertise…

On our way, we stumbled upon the ‘Taipei Metro Mall’… and were simply speechless..

It’s a city underground… there is a Metro Mall connected to another Metro Mall to another Metro mall… and it simply goes on!! More than half the city is underground… the metros and stations run above the ground and underneath… are these breathtaking shops… *sigh*

I couldn’t believe myself… I nearly walked half the city… or more… from one mall to the other, from a shopping mall to a book mall.. You surely need more than a day to check the shops and buy some souvenirs… The shopping is incredibly cheap and they are still willing to bargain more….. Yes!! Indeed… I got a lot of junk.. *smiles*. The metro malls are open all day and close by 10pm.

From here, we ventured into the night market, that opens at 7pm and closes at 2am… There are a few night markets in Taipei. We visited the Shilin Night Market at Jaintain Station. If you’ve been to a night market in Bangkok, its quite the same.. I wasn’t super impressed..

Oh.. another thing to be careful of… is that not many people speak English, hence its always worthwhile to carry a map or the address of your hotel in Mandarin. *smiles*… No! No!! I didn’t get lost.. I’m very good with roads and am always willing to head to the unknown.. *smiles*

My Home, My Haven ~ home tour Vandana

2012-01-26T07:35:00.000+04:00

"A house is made

of walls & beams,

A home is made,

of love & dreams"

~ unknown

The above words are so apt for Vandana's beautiful home, filled with lots of love, amazing colours, stunning beauty, with truck loads of passion, added in a few dreams, and a little clutter ... I'm sure you agree with me!!

Now a little about the 'architect and designer' of this home ~ Vandana *smiles*

I am Vandana, a primary school teacher by profession. I have always enjoyed doing up my 'home' and making it a place my family would love to come back to after the day's work. I love colours and exuberance around me. I've never shied away from making use of bold striking colours in my living space.

Recently, we moved house and city. After living in Mysore and Bangalore for over 15 years, relocating to Delhi was not easy. I miss my city, my own place that I decorated with so much love. The rented place we live in now, has not been able to take the place of my colourful home in Bangalore. So here I am trying to make the most of my available resources to turn this pad into a cozy home.....

I am sharing some photographs of my living room and one of the balconies. I have always loved greenery and have tried to have a small balcony garden. This is just the beginning....in days to come I plan to have a proper garden.....

My decor style is very simple, ethnic and youthful. I believe in low budget decor. The cane furniture blend all these elements so well! The bright colours in my home really make me happy and cheerful...rust, orange, blue, green. yellow...... these are some of my favourite colours.... There's no colour coordination anywhere in my place.... It's a mix of all these colours....

I'm totally in love with all the colours in this home, the bold blend of colours has my heart. The fusion of types of furniture, colours of furniture, use of canes and the pretty colourful mat ... makes me want to visit Vandana's home... and makes me wonder what her home in Bangalore or Mysore looked like... if this one is sooooooooooooooo beautiful....

This home definitely has a lot of character and reflects the vibrant personality that lives in there...

So... go on and post a comment and let me & Vandana know what you think... *smiles*... A little word of encouragement goes a long way...

And if you'd like to show case your gorgeous home... email me on torresp27@hotmail.com

Simple table centre piece

2012-01-25T07:30:00.000+04:00

The winter months in Dubai means making most of any outdoor space available. Its our seasons for BBQs, beach parties, picnics, long drives, etc....

This simply means, its my opportunity to set up an outdoor table... *smiles*.. And would you think I'd let this opportunity go for anything in the world... *grins*

Here is an extremely simple centre piece idea, that any of you can try. Be it outdoors or indoors... A few leaves from the garden (you could use stems, leaves, or even flowers)... put it under an inverted wine / cocktail glass... and top it up with a candle... and voilà.. What do you think?

Do ignore the rest of my garden.. *smiles*.. I'll be doing 'project garden makeover' next month!!

Now.. what do you think?? If you've got any such interesting ideas... email me on torresp27@hotmail.com

The Weekly Story ~ 64

2012-01-23T08:08:00.000+04:00

Its Monday!! Yay!! I'm running a bit late this morning... *smiles*.. But that's ok... isn't it?? I had a fabulous - chilled out - relaxed - feet up kind of weekend... Absolutely did nothing!! Drove off to Al Ain, which is about 3 hours away from Dubai and it was lovely to get away from home...

We stayed in Al Ain for two nights and only drove back on Saturday... We also went up Jebel Hafeet mountains to see the glorious sun set... It was a truly beautiful weekend...

And then... getting back to work on Sunday... *sigh*.. Isn't that soooooooooo tuff!!

Now... I'm sharing with you a few of my Christmas gifts.. The festive season was so mental with my gran being ill, etc, etc... that I didn't even get an opportunity to look at these gifts properly.. so as I opened them again, I see Santa has been very generous to me this year... Here is a little fridge magnet with a message for me... *smiles*... This Santa obviously has a little problem with me cleaning the house all the time...

These two Santas obviously know how mental I am about elephants and peacocks... *smiles*

This gorgeous peacock pendant below has given me an idea... Can't wait to show you... what I've got in mind... *smiles*..

And to truly bring a smile to my face.... is this key hanger... Isn't that gorgeous?? This Santa knows me too well... I haven't put it up as yet... so more pictures to follow...

One Santa knew I had my eyes on this for a long, long time... *smiles*.. I know you can still see the packaging... coz I haven't really unwrapped my gifts as yet... That will happen in the weeks to come.. and all these will have a special place in my heart and in my home!!

Thank you... to all my little Santas...

I know this is already a long post... but I simply had to share two posts from last week!!

I'm surely going to try these cup cakes from Flavours!! Watch out... for next week.. Sims & I are having 'mom-daughter' time... making these.. She loved the recipe, so its a definite hit!!

Oh.. and I've always hopped on to Lisa's Room with a View for ideas and inspiration... This particular idea... simply stole my heart... So pop in.. and have a look...

Remember.. its always nice to leave a comment... and even better if you follow them... Go on and spread the love... *smiles*..

and while you are here... join the party this week... I'm not going to bore you with the rules... if you don't remember... have a look at last weeks party... *smiles*

And finally... Colours Dekor 'The Weekly Story' button!!

Travel Taiwan ~ Sun Moon Lake (part 2)

2012-01-20T07:30:00.000+04:00

Did you read my post last week about the Sun Moon Lake… Now we are the Wenwu Temple!! The temple area is the home of two temples. One is the ‘Benefit Temple’ of Jihyueh Village and another is the ‘Dragon Phoenix’ Temple of Shuishe Village. The Gods of these two temples protect territory and people and are worshiped by the local people.

Here you will see loads of petitions written on golden lamps… and some on paper too.. I wrote a petition too.. Mine I guess was the only one in English!! *smiles*…

In early days, the only way to enter the temple from the lake, was through steep steps. There are 365 steps leading to the Wenwu Temple. These are called… ‘365 steps to heaven’… Each step has an inscription that I couldn’t read, with a date on it…

The construction style of this temple follows the Northern Dynasty with three halls ~ the front hall, the middle hall and the back hall. The temple has a spectacular main entrance and a grand temple courtyard.

After spending a few hours at the Wenwu Temple, we ventured into the Wenwu Temple Hiking Trail to the Bamboo Rock Garden. From here a bus ride back to the Shuishe Dam and Shuishe Peir. We stopped for coffee as the sun was setting, and I clicked nearly a million pictures of the stunning sun set.

Sorry… my lovelies… we don’t really get to see such gorgeous skies in Dubai.. so my heart felt like an 8 year old child again… and I simply couldn’t stop clicking… *smiles*

I sure hope you enjoyed this tour with me to the ‘Sun Moon Lake’… By far a refreshing and rejuvenating day! *smiles*

Blog find ~ Warli-Soul

2012-01-19T07:30:00.000+04:00

You know how much I love Warli art... Don't you? I've been dreaming of doing a small Warli wall... at home.. and that's when my heart found 'Warli Soul'...

I'd like to introduce you to Aparna who blogs at Warli Soul. She is a software techie turned home maker turned mommy turned artists who loves making modernized warli paintings...

A few pics for you to enjoy...

I totally love peacocks too...

Another gorgeous Warli... with warli borders... wow!!

Do you like this??

So now... hop on to Warli Soul.. and don't forget to like her page... and leave a few comments.. Its always inspiring and motivating...

Store Review ~ Kadambaby.com

2012-01-18T07:30:00.000+04:00

www.kadambaby.com is an online store exclusively for infants and kids.

Started by Shuchi (NIFT alumni and mother of a one year old) and hubby PR, kadambaby.com is their first step towards creating a space just for infant and kids!

After having worked for about six years in the apparel and home furnishings industry in India and US, Shuchi decided to take a step ahead and start something on her own.

The joy of designing and creating one's own products is just unmatchable. All the products at kadambaby are made with lot of love and care for the little ones. The excitement in a kid's eyes on seeing a nice product pays for all the hardwork that goes in its making.

Here are a few pics... enjoy!!

Go on and visit kadambaby.com to have a look at their entire range of products.

You will also find them on shopo.in ... soon!!

Go on and like them on facebook... and don't forget to take part in their first give away ~ finger puppets.. and a few more items on their blog!!

Go on and leave a few comments... and inspire.. Shuchi!!