Colours Dekor

Artist Review ~ Asha from Bahrain

2013-05-24T07:30:00.000+04:00

Do you remember seeing Asha's gorgeous home in Bahrain....

Well today, I will introduce you to Asha ~ the Tanjore artist *sigh*...

Such a talented woman... a truly multifaceted personality... go on Asha... tell us about these paintings..

The minute one hear the words, 'Tanjore paintings', the picture is full of gold, semi precious stones and vibrant colors.

The reason for taking up Tanjore art is, living in Bahrain I had plenty of time at home, my passion for painting took me to explore this amazingly beautiful art which is also a time consuming one. It takes days to finish a single piece, after which comes the framing. I have taken a lot of interest in framing each and every painting of mine... some times spending hours on end at the local art gallery and framing workshop. Please take a second look at the beautiful Italian frames too:)

Here, I would like to put in a word of appreciation to the local Bahraini artist who were extremely encouraging, in fact they had not come across a Tanjore art till I showed them my work! They were fascinated by the sheer shine of the gold foil on my paintings:)

a closer look of a few of her paintings...

Now, if one is sitting with a particular painting and working on it for say more than a month, will one not fall in love with it eventually? This is exactly what happened with most of my paintings:) Hence, sorry... I cannot part with any of them. Each painting has its own memories of the time, days and months I sat with them and I hold it very dear to my heart.

Who knows, in the future I may get back to doing this... if my mood permits... to take orders!!!
So, as of now, please do enjoy seeing my paintings and do send in your feed backs as they are very valuable for me.
If any one is interested to know more about this they can feel free to write in to my email id - sriashani@gmail.com

Now this isn't all... wait to see more of her paintings next week...

Store Review ~ The Color Caravan

2013-05-22T07:30:00.000+04:00

I'm sure you know by now... the e-store is open!! Yay!! And now we can all shop online... for all these lovely things...

So go on to the Color Caravan e-store... to avail your 10% discount, Discount Coupon : CD and this is valid for a month till 22nd June... Oh.. and there are limited vouchers... so if you are planning on buying something.. be quick!!

So what are you favorites from the Color Caravan... here are a few of mine... *smiles*

Oh.. I love this little pouch...

This is truly my style...

Isn't this soooooooooooooooo cute??

I don't know if you guys remember... but I already have something similar... But this still remains my favorite...

So if you are shopping at the Color Caravan store... Don't forget the voucher code is CD ... get your 10% discount now!! *smiles*

The Weekly Story ~ wk 16

2013-05-20T07:30:00.000+04:00

Hello my lovelies... How was your weekend?? and is the week ahead super busy...

I had a long weekend .. *smiles*... Just means this week is shorter...

Friday was well spent completely some chores at home... I've been procrastinating for a while... so this weekend was my 'lets just do it' weekend... *smiles*

Don't you think the pot converted to dustbin is such a good idea...

We spent Saturday and Sunday at Fujeirah Rotana... which is a lovely hotel with the mountains on one side and the beach on the other... A lovely weekend getaway from the hustles and bustles of Dubai...

A day well spent without my phone, computer, internet... a day at the pool... only problem is.. we've come back totally sun burnt ...

At the breakfast restaurant, I noticed the ceiling had the colours that I've been thinking of for a while...

So.. now.. I'm inspired... and here is my new colour palette... What do you think? Do you like it?

I know I haven't visited you for a while... I promise I'll make all attempts to visit you this week... *smiles*.. So if you are here today... join '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 coloursdekor@gmail.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!!

Antara's garden wall

2013-05-17T07:30:00.000+04:00

I'm beginning to believe that there is a creative genius in every one... You just have to find that person and bring out the creativity... Its lovely to see...

I found Antara via her blog... and when I discovered this wall... I simply had to feature it... I totally love it... Do you??

Now I'll leave Antara to describe herself and her gorgeous space...

I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a teacher, a blogger, a bookworm, a music lover - just like any of you. The blog is my personal space to write about all the sundry things that interest me and every little memory I want to relive when I grow old, about my two lovely daughters. My hobbies include reading, cooking, gardening, photography and pottering around with things at home. Being wedded to an army officer, entertaining and hosting come naturally to me. Despite having to shift homes every two to three years, I make sure that I leave my impression on the home that I occupied for its subsequent occupants.

When I came to stay in this particular house three years ago, this piece of land in front of it was a dumping ground. Within a month, I got everything removed, laid grass, built a bamboo fencing, sowed seeds and transformed it into a space which is the envy of all neighbours. Then I had this blank wall which I always thought of either sending a creeper up on or putting up some frames but ultimately the idea of creating this flight of birds struck me. And voila, one fine morning I just drew them with a piece of charcoal and used black paint to fill in. Simple yet eye catching.

Inspirations by Arani

2013-05-15T07:30:00.000+04:00

... as I was talking to Arani she said...

'.... over the years I have been discovering and rediscovering myself and ever evolving .Some things I have parted with, some I still held on to, and some I have added and revamped ...... '

and truly thats what inspired me to see more... and I sure hope.. you are going to be inspired as well...

Tell us a little about yourself... and your home... :

About myself: I am an ex banker, but one fine day just decided to hang up my corporate shoes and follow my heart. Studied Apparel Designing (though a tad late in life) and actually came out with flying colours, bagged the outstanding designer award too. Thanks to my banker husband I have been travelling in and out of India, settling in new houses meeting new challenges. Presently I am residing in Mumbai, a loving hubby and an active 8 year old son with me, as my support system. Love beautiful things, designing, art & photography, travelling, listening to music and cooking.

... what about your distinct decor style? Give us some tips...

The decor is primarily Indian with colonial and eclectic accents. Some of my favourite pieces are the low lying darbari styled seating arrangements picked up from HauzKhas village New Delhi, the marble topped corner tables with coloured tiles are from Lajpat nagar(Amar colony).The grey slatestone Krishna with the flute is from Mahabalipuram (Chennai). The eclectic hand fan is obviously from Kolkata ,I just added the red sari border around it and so on ....

Thank you Arani for sharing pictures of your home in Bahrain as well as in Mumbai... These are truly inspiring...

Now.. if you like what you see here... don't forget to visit Arani at Add that xtra in the Ordinary

The Weekly Story ~ wk 15

2013-05-13T07:30:00.000+04:00

Oh !! what joy at seeing two magazines on my door *smiles*... The day was well spent looking at these images again and again.... and again...

I simply love how morning peeps in....

and love the shadows and shades it bestows...

The week ahead is going to be busy as usual... and I know I haven't popped in for two weeks.. so I'll come by to say 'hello'... *smiles*

So if you are here today... come join '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 coloursdekor@gmail.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!!

Blog Finds ~ The Bangalore Snob

2013-05-10T07:30:00.000+04:00

And I found another blog... that I'm super impressed with...

Ankita... Go on and introduce yourself...

Hi, I am Ankita. Ever since I was a child I have seen my mother decorate the house with her own creations - her mantra was that whatever she created might not be a masterpiece but it would be exclusive. And the exclusivity of the artifact would make it more gorgeous than any expensive piece bought from the market (which ofcourse would be produced in masses). And this mantra kind of lingered in my head. So when I got married - after the initial few days of buying the usual stuff like the bed, dining table and sofas, I decided to fill the rest of the house with EXCLUSIVE artifacts which would not just serve as a show-piece but would have a story behind it.

One of the first home decoration pieces we did were these Green and Black Bird Paintings. This was special because my husband (who has never held a paint brush in his life) and I painted it. It was a fun weekend project for us and whenever we look at these paintings we smile with the memory of that weekend.

And since this turned out so well – I decided to blog about it. Initially the blog was just a place where I would document my experience and pictures of my home decoration experience and share it with close family members – my mother and my sister. And eventually this artistic bug in me nudged me to do more – create more stuff which were different and not available easily. And that’s when I started painting.

It was Madhubani style of painting that interested me the most – the colour the vibrancy and the celebrations that the Madhubani paintings represent was something I could relate to.

But my obsession to painting did not really stop at canvas – I painted a couple of lamps around the house too.

Alongside, my passion to discover more on home decor only grew. I now visit every possible flea market and specialized home décor shops to buy stuff for my house. And I blog about my experience – so be it a flea market or an online shopping experience, I blog about it all.
And ofcourse, there are these beautiful homes that my friends and family have that I love to share through my blog. Homes which are gorgeous and I just cannot get over how beautifully people have decorated them.

By now Im sure you are wondering... who she is... Ankita blogs at The Bangalore Snob and don't forget to read about why she choose that name for her blog... *smiles*

Store Review ~ Kinda Like Wasabi

2013-05-09T07:30:00.000+04:00

This isn't just a store review, but an invitation to visit Arte on 10th May 2013 at Times Square Mall in Dubai ... and while you are there... don't forget to visit 'Kinda Like Wasabi'

Tell us a little about yourself...

I was an Art director & an Associate Creative Director working in the fast paced, action packed world of advertising. Having had a baby I traded in my high heels for flats & my coffee cup for sippy cups. I decided to leave advertising to raise my kids but I couldn't let go of my love for art and design. So along with bringing up my 2 babies I decided to nurture and develop my vision to some day have my own design studio and that's how Kinda Like Wasabi (KLW) was born.

Tell us more about KLW

At KLW I design quirky, kitschy, fun statement decor pieces for homes. The kind of piece that adds flavor and a visual punch to any decor... Much like the sensation of eating wasabi :) hence the name.
I design and make decoupage boxes, trays and coasters. It's all hand made. The designs are for people with a sense of humor, who don't want the run of the mill stuff. The kind of person who pride themselves on having a sense of design and owning a one of a kind piece. A piece that reflects their individuality and personality. These people can take pride and delight in the fact that they own something which is not mass produced.

and finally....

I am a part of the ARTE (Artisans of the Emirates) group & sell my products at the exhibition at Times Square Centre on every second week of the month.

Being a hands on mom to a 2 month old and a 2 yr old toddler, it's taking me a bit more time to expand my business. But slowly and surely I am getting there. And hopefully soon in the very near future I plan on expanding the range of products I design *fingers crossed*!

Here are a few more trays... and a few boxes...

So if you like what you see... visit Kinda Like Wasabi ... and also don't forget to visit Arte on 10th May!! *smiles*...

My Home, My Haven ~ Sharda

2013-05-08T07:30:00.000+04:00

Welcome to the home of Sharda ... She is a search consultant by profession. Extremely passionate about design, home interiors and travelling….. she has been living in Bangalore for 10 years now and absolutely loves the city.

Pictures today of her space which is a 1065 Sqft 2 bedroom apartment with very little sunlight.

Sharda, tell me a little about your design style:

I like classy designs with clean lines. I like to uses a lot whites and off white in my designs. White for me is like a canvas which allows me to play around with different colours. Since there is no much sunlight, I use a lot of bright colours in the soft furnishing (curtains and cushion covers) to make the room look bright and cheerful.

I have displayed a lot of Knick Knacks which I have collected during travel. I keep changing the interiors of my home very often as I find it relaxing.

There pics are of my drawing room. We have very less sunlight in this area, so to make it cheerful and vibrant I keep experimenting and changing the soft furnishing very often, this brings a fresh feel to the room. I have displayed a lot of Knick Knack which I have collected from my travel, the Buddha is from Thailand, I filled the fish bowl with the sand and sea shells from langkawi which I have collected during one of my Scuba Diving trips, the mask on the coffee table is from Venice, that cute little cow is from Switzerland. My Husband loves reading so we have a dedicated bookshelf for him. I have also displayed some artefacts on the coffee table, which I picked up in Ladhak

The masks which you see on the wall in the dining area are from my Ladhak Trip.

And now.. she shows off her gardening in her cute and pretty balcony... Im impressed!! sure hope you are too... *smiles*

So is your home so stunning... or your balcony a labour of your hard work... Go on and share images of your home with us... on coloursdekor@gmail.com

The Weekly Story ~ wk 14

2013-05-06T07:30:00.000+04:00

And its a Monday... needless to say.. I had an action packed weekend.. and am looking forward to an even busier week...

... not showing you some more empty walls today... Infact.. I think the place looks crowded just with the furniture so am so puzzled as to what else to do on those walls...

But I truly love how my jhoola fits in... to the living space!!

Now tell me... how about if I have a jhoola hanging off the ceiling... Do you think that would look nice??

Oh.. and my horse cabinet is back in the living room... *smiles*...

for a better view...

and not to the final section of this room....

Another blank wall... at the dining area... If you've got any ideas for here.. please share... *smiles*

And once again, I promise to visit you all this week... so come join '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 coloursdekor@gmail.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!!

Artist into ~ Priya

2013-05-03T07:30:00.000+04:00

Priya is a self taught artist with an eye for colours, patterns, design and style. She started painting in water colours in her teens and soon after experimented with acrylic and pencil.

Her paintings have elements depicting both her roots, culture n traditions of Odisha (India) as well as her growth and evolution to being a Global citizen. She has a rich treasure of artistic memories as well as travels and exposure to multiple environments (spanning India, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States) where she has learned to love and balance the unique beauty of traditional age old paintings (especially the Pattachitras from Odisha & Tanjore paintings) along with discovering the essence of old and new Global artforms.

She loves and paints anything that speaks to her- be it the rich vibrant paintings of Gods and Goddesses from Hindu mythology, beautiful Orchids and flowers at the Singapore Botanical Garden, or random sketches of leisure.

She loves to use a myriad of colours- bold n vibrant as well as subtle and soft; designs both traditional as well as eclectic patterns and textures that tell a story of their own. She continuously tries and experiments with new mediums and forms of Art & craft.

She feels Art is the most fulfilling way of relaxation n enjoyment (apart from being Mom to adorable toddlers) after or within the routine domesticities in her everyday life. Art, for her, is a continuous process of learning and she is her own harshest critic, till date never being 100% satisfied with any of her creations. She is crazy about Paisleys.

In her own words: "I have this insane unending love for paisleys and also for the shade Black. To me Paisleys in design and a Black Dress would never go out of style."

I sure hope you liked her work as much as I did.... *smiles*

Like her page on FB 'Precious with Priya'... or email her on priyanareshk@gmail.com

My Home, My Haven ~ Barnita

2013-05-01T07:30:00.000+04:00

You know how I admire people who share their homes with me... These are people who've made each corner of their home with passion and love... Each piece is a treasure that holds memories... and one such home is that of Barnita... where I'm taking you today.

Tell me a little about yourself...

I am a Bengali by birth, born, brought up and educated in Kolkata. Currently settled in Bangalore with my family. Working in the IT industry. Have 2 daughters aged 9 and 5 who are my world. My interests are in gardening, art and crafts and needlework.

Where are the masks from at your entrance. Do you collect this?

They are a mix of terracotta mask and few from Chile which was a gift. I love masks and I do intend to increase the collection. Incidentally the wall panel on the other wall is basically miniature terracotta panels, mounted on a base.

Do you have a particular style that you follow at home..

I live in a 1745 sq ft apartment in Bangalore and I do try to keep the basic theme Indian since I feel that is the one in harmony with the environment we live in. Though there are artifacts from all over the world which find a place in my home. I also love plants and have tried to bring them into every nook and corner of my home including bathrooms, kitchen, dressing table etc!

Tell me about all the paintings..

Most of them except the Madhubani one are painted by my father in laws. He is a accomplished painter though never sold any commercially!

You've got a fair bit of a collection in the showcases.... What is it? Where is it from?
The showcases photos are (alas) pathetic. But they are from all over the world including many parts of India. There are representations from Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, China, Africa, US and Turkey.

Any special feature you would like to talk about....
I love a home which exudes warmth – it should feel home, o for that a lil bit of clutter is also fine. I love artifacts and I have tons of them. I have tried to display some but there are many more. I do pick up souvenirs but that is very commercialized now. Any place in the world you go, the souvenirs are Made in China! I like to pick up things which appeals to me eye and gives me a sense of happiness. Possible my love for buddhas is based upon that.

Now... also.. why have you not sent me pics of your balcony?? I can see some gorgeous stuff...

Yes of course will send you pictures of my balcony. It is overflowing with plants. Maybe I need to tidy them up a bit for them for the pictures. I do have planters, brass bells and other artifacts in my garden!

I notice you have colourful bottles hanging.. What is this?

They outline the rim of my open kitchen. I love them since during the afternoon, they catch the rays of the falling sun and give out beautiful colors. I intend to put money plant cuttings in some of them

How do you live with an open kitchen?

I wanted a fully open kitchen but have only one side open – more like a window. It makes my kitchen look bigger and gives me some place to decorate!

Now... if your home is built with equal passion, then emial me on coloursdekor@gmail.com..... I'd love to drop by for a cup of coffee... *smiles*

The Weekly Story ~ wk 13

2013-04-29T07:30:00.000+04:00

We had lovely weather this weekend... So.. Friday I did NOTHING... which is something, I never do!! *smiles*... Yes, I enjoyed the morning with mom at the spa,... then watched the kids jump in and out of the pool... the afternoon ended with an impromptu BBQ... Was totally brilliant...

Evening was well spent with a few girlfriends too... *smiles*..

So now, Im showing off some blank walls of my home...

What I love about this home... is that the swing is now a part of the living area... Which means... I sit on it all the time.. *smiles*

Nothings new... everything seems to fit perfectly well in some corner ...

This area of the home already looks crowded enough... so I'm a bit confused as to what I want to do on the walls... Can't seem to decide.. as anything I have in mind... seems like clutter.. *sigh*..

The blue window here is a bit of a sore eye for me... Im planning on put plain wooden blinds here... so lets see if that makes any difference...

... sneak peak into the dining area... above..

But I have this one stunning blank wall... that I'm going to leave blank for a while...

I'm sure hoping you'll join '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 coloursdekor@gmail.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!!

Store Review ~ Tesserae

2013-04-26T07:30:00.000+04:00

I'll tell you honestly... I always thought Mosaics were for garden tabletops and nothing more... And I was sooooooooooo wrong... till I discovered Tesserae... and that's where I'm taking you today..

It is fascinating how myriad pieces come together to make a compelling story through mosaic. The store ‘Tesserae’ in Bangalore is one of few stores in India that specializes in mosaic work.

The store which opened its doors in September 2012 is an initiative by the talented Sarah Kurien, who has nurtured a lifelong passion for the arts. Her endeavors that led to the store's current success include a fascinating course in stained glass making six years back, post which she embarked on the journey to explore other mediums of art and its many facets. During this time, she found her passion in creating beauty using pieces of glass and ceramics, envisioning the bigger picture and became a self taught mosaic artist. Her interest in mosaics eventually led to the opening of the store Tesserae.

Tesserae ~ The quaint and gaily decorated store offers mosaic based home accessories like intricately designed table tops, lampshades, mirrors, trays and garden accessories done in ceramic tile, stained glass and pebbles. Sarah has even added the mosaic twist to unexpected items like chess boards and nameplates. These products are colorful, cheerful additions to the décor of any home. The designs are one-of-a- kind and any accessory can be custom designed to suit one's taste and budget.

Tesserae, undertakes individual custom orders and executes exclusive mosaic projects with architects and interior designers, apart from individuals and business establishments. Sarah mentions that custom work often involves conceptualizing, designing and executing the mosaic work based on a theme. For example: She recently completed a mosaic rendition of Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’.

So come and walk into Tesserae for the perfect answer to your gifting and decorating needs when the norm just won't do.

And if you liked what you see... Go visit them... in Bangalore..
Tesserae, 972H, Ground Floor, 1st A Main Road, S.T. Bed, Near Maharaja Hotel, Koramangala -4th Block, (First left turn before Smart Supermarket) Ph: 9740652337
www.facebook.com/tesseraeindia

Blog finds ~ canavāsium

2013-04-24T07:30:00.000+04:00

.. So what would you do... if you found a new awesome blog??

Obviously you'd share it with me... *smiles*...

Now a little about the blogger ...

Hi there! This is Saranya, an engineer by profession, an artist at heart, my life so far shuttles between the two extremes.

Tell us a little more about yourself.. and your blogs..

I live in California where there is no bound for art, culture and natural beauty. No place can be more inspiring for an artist to be. With the big Indian scene here, I feel all the more tied to India and Indian Arts. I love to create, dream, dance and travel. I guess my inspirations are drawn from my travels and memories from times spent in Madras and Rajasthan years ago.

I love to illustrate, paint, craft, photograph, photoshop and sew. Recently, I am working towards creating unique pieces of art where each one has a story to tell. Apart from art and work, I have found my way in my kitchen in recent years, trying to create new stuff.

I am the voice behind these two webpages - http://onceuponatime139.blogspot.com/ and http://cinnamonsncloves.blogspot.com/. I am hoping to sell my art work someday and switch over to a creative profession full time.

and now for some of her impressive work...

So hop over.. and visit her awesome blog.. Once upon a time and Cinnamons & Cloves

And don't forget to tell me.... if you liked my new find?? *smiles*

The Weekly Story ~ wk 12

2013-04-22T07:30:00.000+04:00

Hello my lovelies... So how was your weekend?

I had a super busy weekend... Friday morning was the Dubai Terry Fox Run for which we arrived at 6am and stayed till about mid day. It was lovely to see the enthusiasm and energy!! Truly... people do believe in miracles.

Friday evening was the first of the Emirates NBD Classics II with Shubha Mudgal. It was an enchanting evening... She sang continuously for two hours and the crowd demanded more... Beyond impressive!!

Anyway, so Saturday was dedicated to cleaning, clearing, sorting.....

Here is my little one... who always helps me clean & clear... She is the second de-clutter queen... *smiles*

We've kind of settled in our new home... There is still a lot to do *smiles*

Which basically means... even our names are on the floor.. LOL...

Oh... so once cleaning was done.. I quickly jumped to the opportunity of displaying some of my new finds from Indya kaleidoscope...

Isn't this gorgeous??

What do you think of these?

Anyway.... so our new home is more or less similar to the old one... except its slightly older (in age)... which means.. the fineness and prettiness of my earlier home.. doesn't exist...

Saying that... it just means that there are more white coloured walls... And you know how I totally love white walls... and can't wait to take out my brush...

I visited some of you last week.. and I'll pop by to say 'hello' you the rest of you this week too...

So join '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 coloursdekor@gmail.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!!

Surviving Cancer : a story of a New Mom

2013-04-19T07:30:00.000+04:00

You know my blog is dedicated to decor and I never speak of anything else... but today is the Dubai Terry Fox Run at Dubai Festival City. The run starts at 08.30am... I sure hope to see you there.. Every single penny collected goes towards research... I've been a part of the foundation for a few years and hence I beleive that research is the only key to fight such deadly deseases... Hence when I heard this story... I simply had to share it with you...

Surviving Cancer: What I Learned as a New Mother

I never thought that I would go through cancer. I don't think that anyone does. Just suddenly, your whole life changes, and what you thought was given to you as a right, your life becomes a challenge. I was 36 when my life changed. There were extreme lows and extreme highs during the year that I was diagnosed. When I gave birth to my first and only child Lily, I couldn't imagine feeling anything less than utter bliss, yet my dreams were almost shattered a few months later.

I went back to work full time about 4 weeks after bringing Lily home. I didn't want to waste any time getting into the normal routine. That meant going to work every day, but I began to feel extremely tired to the point of mental and physical exhaustion. On top of that, I was losing weight, about five to seven pounds a week. Something was definitely wrong, and I was back in the doctor's office before I could even get used to being a new mommy. After three months, the test results were finally in.

Cameron came with me to the doctor's office when the results were in. We didn't know what to expect, but as I sat across from the doctor, listening to him say that I had malignant pleural mesothelioma, something so specific and deadly, that I blocked out everything else but Lily. How was I going to be her mother now when I had this horrible other thing growing inside of me? What came next was even more shocking. The doctor said that I only had 15 months to live without treatment. That meant we had to pick a treatment right away, only I couldn't even talk or pay attention to the doctor's advice. I looked to Cameron who realized I was desperate for help, and he stepped in. We were going to see a specialist in Boston.

The specialist in Boston had a high success rate of treating mesothelioma patients. The first part of my treatment was surgery. I had to go through a very risky extrapleural pneumonectomy surgery that would remove one of my lungs, part of my chest and heart, as well as parts of my diaphragm. The surgery was incredibly risky, but I got through it. I spent 18 days in the hospital afterwards just to recover. Then, after another 2 months of recovery I began chemotherapy and radiation. All the while, I kept thinking of Lily. I couldn't see her or be around her too much during this process, and it broke my heart. Still, through it all, I thought of my dreams as a new mother and what I wanted to be for her. I was going to make it through this no matter what.

My family was a big help during the treatment. Going through chemotherapy and radiation for mesothelioma was one of the hardest challenges I ever had to face. It's a cancer that takes about 95 percent of the people diagnosed. Through my surgery and cancer treatment, I never stopped believing that there would be a brighter day for my family. I saw myself spending so many more years with Lily and raising her to be a kind and gentle heart.

My parents are some of the most generous people. Things were difficult for us, and my parents took Lily in while I went through my treatment in Boston. Through their strength, I also gained a great deal of perseverance to get through the darkest of times. My husband and caregiver Cameron was also there when things went to chaos. He was my rock and champion through every single day. Friends, other family members and even strangers wanted to help as we went through this dark period. I missed so many things in Lily's life, but I always think about how much worse it could have been without the help of so many people.

As deadly as cancer can be, there were a variety of lessons that I received from the experienced that bettered my life. For one, I appreciated the warmth of family so much more. I cherished my husband and daughter, forming such a tight bond because we fought for life together. As a family, we truly understand the gift of life and how precious that is. I beat mesothelioma because I had a support group that was bigger than I ever imagined. I don't know if I ever thanked everyone for how they came through for my family. They truly made us stronger just by being there and gave me a second chance to be the mother that I always wanted to be. Seven years later, we're a happy, healthy family and I am so thankful.

My Home, My Haven ~ SamPR

2013-04-17T07:30:00.000+04:00

It truly humbles me when you invite me to your homes!! When you are not a photographer, not sure if you are a designer ... and yet you gather the courage to show off your home.... I'm always impressed and I am in awe of your home and your personal style... and how you influence every single wall with your own persona ...

Every wall has character ... every little piece unique...

So join me, with your cup of coffee, tea or latte ... as I take you to SamPR's home...

Please introduce yourself :

I am based in Seattle, WA and discovering my keen interest in interior decor. I love to decorate my home just because I feel happy doing it. Its a kind of relaxing for me to do little arrangements whenever I find time. Though not picture-perfect , I try to bring brightness and coziness in my home. My interests are pencil sketching and playing on my Veena.

And now tell us a little about your home...

The living room is painted in burnt sienna colour, we chose the color because it brings vibrancy and energizes . I invest time ,creativity in little things to personalise my home and give it a cosy look.

The dining room has dark wood dine set we chose green to bring greenery inside our home.

The musical instrument Veena is given to me by my mom and its in the pooja room. I really love playing my veena , it also has a calming effect.

The pooja room has a quaint mandir which I purchased from a local dealer in Mangalore. I adore "Ladoo gopal" ,so you will find lots of ladoo gopal in my mandir.

It keeps raining here so rainy days are perfect for inspiration for anything creative .

Here is one quote which I love :

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ― Albert Einstein

What do you think of her colourful and vibrant home.... Don't forget to leave a comment *smiles*

The Weekly Story ~ wk 11

2013-04-15T07:30:00.000+04:00

Hello my lovelies... Its a beautiful Monday morning here in Dubai... How are you all?

I'm going to try and visit most of you today.... pop in and say 'hello'... and 'thank you' for always visiting me... I'm still a bit busy at work.. and generally even more busy at home...

This weekend... more or less... we've settled in our new home. Emptied all the boxes... put things in place... The walls are still bare... But the garden is sorted... Do you like the above pic... ?? Thats what I did on Friday...

So as I was struggling putting my home together... my friend who moved homes the same time as me... painted her walls and got her entire home sorted... I'm soooooooooooo envious...

I love what she's done to her liviing room.. Very pretty!! very very different... She's got beautiful panels on the wall from Home Center ... and then she put butterflies around.. What do you think?

I love... how she has personalized her entire home... with her unique style... Tell me what you think?

And don't forget I'm waiting for you to link in...!! '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 coloursdekor@gmail.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!!

Complaining about a friend

2013-04-10T07:30:00.000+04:00

Now.. I don't normally use my blog to complain about my friends.... But.... you have to listen to my story!!

I have an awesome friend in Bangalore… who runs a little awesome store called Indya Kaleidoscope…

However, she seems to keep all the treasures for herself….

Now… below is the set of Buddhas that I have been eyeing for a while… Tell me… which one do you like?? I’d like to have three for my own… Which ones would go along??

Look… blocks… for either block printing or wall hanging… *sigh*… how gorgeous…

Now.. this is the highlight… Indya Kaleidoscope sells.. Kantha quilts… awesome ones!! In her home.. she got creative and covered the sofa with the same material.. ins’t this awesome…!!

I love the stuff… Do you?? Visit Indya Kaleidoscope or their FB page for more…

The Weekly Story ~ wk 10

2013-04-08T07:30:00.000+04:00

and its Monday again... I have lots to say... lots to do!! Its just that 24 hours isn't enough for me.. It just isn't...

Do you feel the same way??

I have some stuff lined up for you for April ...

The above is a basket from Bali... I'm going to show you how it was made...

I'm planning on taking you to a Budhist temple somewhere in south India.... Can you guess where?

And then I'm taking you to the streets of Moscow... where I found this super impressive spray paint artist... I was totally stunned.. and have to share my experience with you...

I'll be visiting you soon!! Im not making excuses... I've just been super duper busy...

Do link in ... this week... at 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 coloursdekor@gmail.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!!

Artist intro ~ Sravani

2013-04-05T07:30:00.000+04:00

Bringing to you today... is Sravani

I am Sravani Jaddu, a self taught artist. Though I chose a different career in psychology, art has been a part of my life since childhood. I moved from India and currently live United States for my education. My hobbies were more explored in United States and I started working on them whenever I had free time. And the amazing part is Internet in this country that helps me learn new techniques and give good exposure to my art. My inspiration is India and nature. The colours that I use are mostly bright and vibrant that depicts the varied cultures and people in India. Every part of the country has its own style of art that makes me more inspired. And nature, the beauty and colours in nature are amazing that usually makes me admire!!!!

I like working with different forms of art that you see on my page, My lil world which has given me more encouragement. Photography is been added to my interest few years back. Inspiration for my pictures is also nature and colours. Every time I look at something beautiful I want to capture that memory forever. And also my grandfather was a photographer who an inspiration. Juss photographs is the other page that I first started. And I am working on my photography skills.

A few images of her work...

If you like her work, don't forget to like her FB page, My lil world and Juss photographs

Store Review ~ Paper Boat Collective, Goa

2013-04-03T07:30:00.000+04:00

I'm taking you to Goa today... to Paper Boat Collective...

Paper Boat Collective, Goa, is a simple and stylish concept shop set in a quaint

Portuguese house with lovely green and ivory windows.

The handcrafted ceramic, textile, furniture and wall art at Paper Boat Collective

(a Monkey Business Enterprise) is a limited edition curated collection that stirs

the soul with its simplicity, thoughtfulness and charm.

Carefree spirit underpinned by the professional ability of two NID graduates,

Bhagyashree and Thomas, steers a simple idea through many tides in the

Indian design space.

At the onset, PBC has a distinct collection created with passion and care.

Monkey Business, for bold, handcrafted ceramics;

Sotomoto, with children’s merchandise in a riot of colours;

Bent, showcasing handmade wood furniture;

Rangoli, offering organic cotton and silk apparel; and

candid renditions in water colours, pen and ink, and photography

by Prash, Allen, Vikas and Sandy.

Wander into this old-fashioned space, past the anteroom, under a high Goan tile ceiling,

and let Paper Boat Collective delight your senses as you soak in a serene but still

surprising ambience.

As rising tides lift all boats, so do the team’s aspirations. Paper Boat Collective

is in conversation with international designers to showcase their work at the store,

as they navigate through workshops and make a splash with events,

destined for an unforgettable journey into the horizon.

Here is a tour... of the store... in Goa

Like what you see... go on and like their FB page Paper Boat Collective....

The Weekly Story ~ wk 9

2013-04-01T07:30:00.000+04:00

Hope everyone had a lovely Easter celebration... and loads of blessings coming your way...

While my forte lies in prettifying my home with candles and other Easter related stuff... Today, I'm taking you to my brothers kitchen... *smiles*...

.... where he often creates some magic.....

I have no skill sets here... so I simply think he does a fabulous job...

Although the photo credits go to me.... *grins*

He cooked up an awesome Easter dinner... and we had some lovely family time.... Sure hope you've spent some good time with your loved ones too this Easter....

Now... now!! Don't be lazy... Do a quick post and link in... this week... at 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 coloursdekor@gmail.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!!

Easter weekend

2013-03-29T07:30:00.000+04:00

Why would Easter fall on the last day of the financial year?? Why!!??

*sigh*... This is such a busy time for me at work... And the kids are home for two weeks... which means... they are sooooooooooooooooooo demanding...

Anyway, I haven't had time to be creative... so showing you some old posts

Easter Jars from last year... we gave away little chocolate eggs & sugar coated almonds in these to the girls and their friends..

and the year before I was even more adventurous and had an Easter tablescape for the kids... *smiles*

This was a super fab project from last year... quick and easy... Easter tealights...

Hope you are having a blessed Friday.... Have a lovely weekend....