An Indian Summer

Some days...

2012-02-11T00:02:00.001+05:30

I too like black and white!

Et tu?

Read about this delightful home (all pics but last) here on Lantliv.

[All images: Lantliv]

Goodies from my inbox!

2012-02-10T23:14:00.001+05:30

Anya Prints

Anya Prints is the brainchild of Shilpa Bisht, a communication designer from Ahmedabad. Anya Prints aspires to be a design and production centre for hand-printed visuals in the form of greeting cards, storybooks and textiles. Shilpa recently launched her first collection 'Water' - a set of limited edition fine prints, in the form of greeting cards. She sent this collection of cards to me with the most delightful hand written letter, and made me very happy! I can't wait to see what Shilpa and Anya Prints have in store for us this year! In the meantime, get her debut collection right here!

[Anya Prints; Shop]

Strand of Silk

If you are in the UK, and have been searching for a way to get hold of the some of the best designer wear from India, look no further, for Strand of Silk is here! With designers like Abraham and Thakore, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Eina Ahluwalia and select others, Strand of Silk promises to bring luxury brands from India right to the comfort of your home. And that's not all! Strands of Silk is offering a special discount to An Indian Summer readers! Just send an email to Strand of Silk with 'An Indian Summer' in the subject line, and get an exclusive 10% discount code! Happy Shopping, folks!

[Strand of Silk; On Facebook]

Kish & Evie

Kish & Evie, has been a long time dream for Karishma and Vivek, a duo based in Melbourne, Australia. They have been running a design studio for four years and branched out into crafting beautiful quality pieces from textiles. Kish & Evie ranges are beautiful and exotic, drawing inspiration from the duo's travels. Their current range is based on a trip to Mexico, and is with a bit of Frida and a bit of Dia De Los Muertos :)

Kish and Evie have a great offer for An Indian Summer readers! Just like Kish and Evie's facebook page and get $25 off on your purchase!

[Kish and Evie; On Facebook; Blog]

Art Meets Fashion

Aarti Verma's Art Meets Fashion needs little introduction. A darling of the blog world and creative peeps in India, Aarti has created a niche for her hand drawn accessories and products. Bright colors and a contemporary take on traditional icons are Art Meets Fashion's leitmotif. Take a look at her fun creations right here!

[Blog; On Facebook; Shop]

Plush Plaza

The last couple of years have been good for decor and online shopping enthusiasts. There have been a bunch of e-stores that have been launched, providing a wide range of home and personal products by way of online shopping. Another store, that has been recently launched and looks very promising, is Plush Plaza. With an expanding range of home furnishing and decor products, Plush Plaza has an interesting and unique collection, all laid out in a very user friendly style on the site for an easy shopping experience. Check out Plush Plaza right here!

[Plush Plaza; On Facebook]

KadamBaby

Kadambaby is Shuchi Pandey's online store for kid products designed and created by her. Via Kadambaby, Shuchi's aim to create products that are attractive to kids and would enhance their imagination and bring out their creative side. Do take a look at the cute range of products on Kadambaby's site!

[Shop; On Facebook]

Ostana and a giveaway!

And finally, a fabulous giveaway by Otsana! Otsana has been started by Sonaal Rai along with a friend. They work with designers and craftsmen around India to develop products that combine functionality with beauty, combining the age old metal working techniques of India with modern design influences. Their beautiful collection can be viewed here, and also, they have would like to giveaway one of the frames (shown above) to a reader residing in India! All you need to do is to head over to Otsana's facebook page and comment on the link to this very post. Leave a comment there answering the following question: 'What would be your favorite picture to put in this photo frame?' Otsana will announce the name of the winner on it's page in a week's time!

[Otsana on facebook]

Tia Pakhi

2012-02-07T19:06:00.003+05:30

Tia Pakhi is what you would call a green parrot in Bengali. With a name evocative of bright colors and the streets of Calcutta, Anaïs Basu's debut collection is as fascinating and full of life. Anaïs, who recently launched Tia Pakhi in Paris and Calcutta, is a french designer, in love with India and it's textile traditions and craft.

Anaïs Basu's journey in India, discovering a world full of creativity, joy, energy, hospitality and such a rich culture, began six years ago. In her own words:

It all started on my first visit to India in March 2006. After my training in fashion and textile design in Paris, I found the opportunity to come and work as a designer with a textile export-house in Kolkata. I felt immediately at home in the city. Through my work which was to create designs for embroidery for the European market, I discovered a new medium and so many new techniques and was fascinated by all the possibilities to explore. The craft which caught my eye then, and still does, is the traditional Bengali craft of Kantha, for it’s beauty in simplicity, it's texture and feel.

Few weeks after my arrival in India I met with the young Bengali man who was to become my husband some years later, and through whom I could discover the country and it’s culture more closely connected to the reality of today’s India.

I am now living between Kolkata and Paris and being in India has given me the great opportunity to develop my passion for textile design and finally launch my line of textiles for furnishing and accessories. My work is essentially dedicated to Kantha for which I had a soft corner from the time of my first visit. My research is to use the traditional craft from my adopted state of Bengal and reinterpret it with more contemporary designs and colour palette; presenting Kantha with a new fresh look and making handcrafted products reach the homes of a more diverse public. Hence the craftsmen can keep their craft alive and find opportunities to develop their skill and their economic situation.

In India, I am constantly stimulated creatively, especially in a city as vibrant and colourful as Kolkata where the traditional culture is still so present in the urban life. People, markets, architecture, food, everything is there all around calling out to you.

Tia Pakhi's line of products include home furnishings and personal accessories like small cushions, floor cushions, throws, bed-linen, table-linen, accessories and jackets. In addition, Anaïs will also have a young kids line comprising of games, kurtas, blankets and cushions and is planning to exhibit her collection in more cities soon.

You can get in touch with Anaïs via her website or via Tia Pakhi's facebook page. See more of Tia Pakhi's collection here.

[All images: Tia Pakhi]

Art for a good cause

2012-02-07T17:39:00.000+05:30

I am back from vacation! Yes, the visas came, and we went! And, to kick-start my back-from-vacation-week, it's a pleasure to share with you, the launch of a new collection by a dear e-friend, all done for a good cause!

Aarohi Singh, the gorgeous artist at Art By Aarohi, is passionate about stray dogs. Putting her passion and skills to good use, Aarohi is launching a new collection of home and personal accessories, called the Poonch collection, in Bangalore, India. The great news is that 50% of profit from this collection would go towards the welfare of strays in perpetuity, particularly towards spaying and neutering them, managed by VoSD.

For the folks in Bangalore: The Poonch collection is being showcased at the 100Ft restaurant, Indiranagar from the 10th till the 12 of Feb. Do go and pick up a special something from this hip collection and contribute your bit towards the welfare of strays.

You can take a look at the entire collection here. Event details here, and get in touch with Aarohi here and here!

[All images: Art By Aarohi]

Some thumb twiddling

2012-01-25T20:16:00.007+05:30

And some loving!

The Husband and I intend(ed) to take a long overdue holiday this week. But the visa consulate played, and is still playing truant with our reasonably good intentions. The visas are already delayed by a day, and I am fretting and sitting at home with the luggage packed, the household help sent off on a break of her own, work plans re-scheduled, the fridge emptied, and pretty thumbs being twiddled (yes, my thumbs are kind of pretty, thank you). It's a national holiday in India tomorrow (Yay! Happy Republic Day folks!), so no visas tomorrow either. I have my fingers crossed that we get the visas on Friday and off we go to celebrate the Husband's birthday in faraway land. With all the finger crossing and thumb twiddling, the only thing I want to do is something that can make me calm - like looking at pretty rooms and talking to you lovely folks out there, who I am sure, would never mess with any one's visas. Sigh. Over to the pretty rooms now:

Love the retro mood of this room

And look! A fabulous post I spotted on Remodelitsa.

A bungalow in San Anselmo designed by Alison Davin of Jute Interior Design

So long my friends. If you don't hear from me next week, you would know that I am frolicking in a far away land. And if you do hear from a very grumpy me, you would know that I have a serious serious bone to pick with a particular country for having a nincompoop visa consulate!

[Image credit: Top two from Tumblr, Rest - Jute Interior Design]

Orient 499

2012-01-16T22:17:00.000+05:30

I have long been an admirer of Orient 499, an eclectic boutique in Beirut. Founded by Aida Kawas and Frank Luca, the boutique is a modern version of a treasure cave, filled with absolutely stunning textiles, original handicrafts and indie designs. Aida and Frank source their products from places like Syria, India, Damascus, Istanbul, Cairo and Uzbekistan to name a few, and also design and produce a large part of their collection in-house. Working with local artisans and designers, Orient 499's products are a contemporary take on age old craft tradition and materials.

Orient 499 also designs and stocks gorgeous jewelry and beautiful dresses. I have always loved whatever little jewelry they showcase online and can only imagine how tempting the rest of collection must be!

I could keep looking at these pictures for hours. Sigh! If only they sold online!

[Image credit: Orient 499]

Digs on 1stdibs

2012-01-11T20:48:00.001+05:30

Found these gorgeous rooms on 1stdibs, the go to online marketplace for exclusive luxury (and very expensive!) items and antiques. As you browse through this collection of beautifully designed rooms, shot by some of the best photographers, you can also shop for the 'look' on the site itself. While I am not buying anything from the site any time soon, I had to, but of course, share my favorite India inspired and bohemian rooms with you :)

[Images shot by following photographers: Melanie Acevedo, Tim - Street Porter, Tria Giovan. Source: 1stdibs]

Mona Hajj Interiors

2012-01-09T22:58:00.001+05:30

I am helping my dad do up his new apartment these days, and have been looking all over for inspiration. Something elegant, something cozy but not too fussy, something that easily fits in the older heirloom pieces, textiles and art with newer stuff. Mona Hajj's interior work spoke to me immediately and I bookmarked several of the finer details that she has beautifully created in rooms and homes.

Mona Hajj, one of the Architectural Digest's top 100 designers for 2010, grew up in West Africa and Lebanon, and was educated in Europe and the US. Her diverse experiences and global awareness is reflected in her designs, which are not only graceful and timeless in their appeal but also quite functional and comfortable.

Find many more examples of Mona's tasteful work on her site - Mona Hajj Interiors. Her first book Interior Visions will be out this April in stores and will also be available online.

[All images copyright : Mona Hajj]

Heaven & Home

2012-01-09T19:51:00.002+05:30

Heaven and Home, a new shopping site for home decor enthusiasts in India, aims to bring the best of brands and products at great prices. Started by Tara Kaushal, Nishrit Shrivastva, Tushar Ahluwalia and Sunnyraj Agarwal, the idea of the site is to bring the fragmented home and living market in India to the comfort of the user's home. The site in itself aims to become the style authority for your home, so all products are hand selected by Heaven and Home's style team to bring only the best from national and international home decor lines.

Set on the lines of One Kings Lane and Fab.com, Heaven and Home has new collections for sale at discounted prices almost every day. I personally love their selections so far! The site also brings the best from different well known export houses, and provides an excellent opportunity to buy products that we would have found only in international markets.

Nishrit has very kindly created a personal invite from me for new members to join Heaven and Home. Click right here, and shop away! And, you can connect with them on facebook too!

[All images: Home and Heaven]

I like you already..

2012-01-04T19:04:00.000+05:30

..2012!

{The warmth of tea-lights, on a cold cold winter day}

I hope, so far, this year has been treating you well too!

Here's wishing you, my lovelies, a wonderful rest of 2012!

I am in the midst of moving to a shiny new laptop and hence the absence of beauteous posts. As soon as I have moved, installed and cleaned up stuff from laptop till date to laptop from date, I'll be back with goodies that make you go Ah! Be good, till then. :)

[Image: Taken by me at home]

Love and Wishes

2011-12-24T21:09:00.000+05:30

To my dearest readers

For this holiday season

[Red Online]

In the year 2012

I wish for you and for me

Laughter, hope, passion

And

Lots of inspiration!

See you in the new year

Be happy and be safe

Kisses and hugs from:

Mr. Blog and me

The Satyagraha House

2011-12-22T18:51:00.002+05:30

The Satyagraha House, Mahatma Gandhi's house in Johannesburg, SA, has recently been restored and renovated by the French company Voyageurs du Monde. It is is now open to receive visitors at it's museum and guests for stay. Heritage architect Rocco Bosman, and interior designers Amit Zadok and Christine Pulch, took utmost care to maintain the existing character and sanctity of the site and recreated the interiors keeping Gandhi's philosophy and austerity as their guiding principle.

Khadi and linen fabrics, jute floor coverings, memorabilia from the days Gandhi and the house's architect Hermann Kallenbach stayed here, period wood furniture, old photographs, simple and functional carefully selected decor pieces, all put together create an aesthetic, minimalistic and sustainable heritage home.

Mahatma Gandhi's original attic bedroom, recreated with the help of images from the Gandhi Museum in India

Watch this short video for the story of renovation of The Satyagraha House. Not only am I impressed by the thought behind this project, I also really admire the style guideline and design aesthetics used to revive this house. There is a sense of calm, comfort, and, organization, that permeates through the house and can be felt through these images.

Satyagraha: Satya means truth, and (A)graha means request/insistence. Read more about the Satyagraha movement here.

[Images copyright: The Satyagraha House]

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-21T22:05:00.000+05:30

A beautiful home...

...in Formentera

[All images from woman.es]

And to edge in a few words on this wordless wednesday - do check the Asmi necklace giveaway post for the winner, announced today!

I'll be back tomorrow, with many more words. And visuals :)

Sapna's Jewels!

2011-12-14T20:35:00.003+05:30

Excuse me while I hyperventilate...

...for I love Sapna Mehra's pretty jewels!

I just can't pick and choose the ones that I like the best, because I like them all! I know, I know...the yada yada about not being greedy and all...but will you just look at these pretty little things?! How can I resist? Neither can you, once you look through the entire collection here and here! And 'tis being the time to give, Sapna and I have a fabulous giveaway and a generous discount offer just for you, coming up in the post!

As Sapna and I chatted over email, she graciously shared her story and inspiration with me. Reading through her journey, I could see how her passion, persistence and global experience has helped shape her beautiful collection.

A snippet from Sapna's journey, in her own words:

I grew up in suburban NJ. My father was an engineer and also an amateur singer and musician and loved classical and semi-classical music and ghazals. My mother was a graphic artist and had a studio in our home where she painted landscapes, and gods and goddesses in oils. I spent many summers of discovery and adventure in Jodhpur and Jaipur, my parent’s hometowns. Later, in college, I studied Comparative Literature and loved my courses on post-colonial theory, religions of the East, cinema studies and literature of India and the fantastic.
I moved on to work for many small businesses in different capacities and had a stint as an assistant for a Madison Avenue gallery specializing in South and South East Asian antiquities. I was able to research countless works of art and came to build an understanding of iconography and symbolism in South Asian art. I especially fell in love with the beauty and playful elegance of Indian miniatures and with the complexities of Buddhist iconography in Tibetan, Nepali, Cambodian and Indian sculptures.

Starting in late 2001, I spent months at a time in Jaipur, working with jewelry making artisans and tradesmen learning about gems, traditional jewelry making techniques and the intricacies of production. In 2007, I quietly launched myself as a designer with a clear vision to produce a collection that exemplified the skills of kundan and meena artist while creating designs that were meaningful and fit contemporary and cosmopolitan lifestyles. My hope is that when people wear my jewelry, they feel inspired, empowered and delight in a bit of rustic luxury. I love the idea of the global soul!

"The Giveaway"

Sapna would like to gift a necklace from her Asmi collection to one happy chirpy reader. What you need to do is:

Read up more about the Asmi range
Leave a comment on this post with:

Your life path number (calculate here), or, the number of the Asmi necklace you would like to win, and
Tell us "What does being a global soul mean to you?"

That's it! Sapna and I will pick one winner based on the answer. Unfortunately, there are shipping restrictions that don't allow Sapna to ship jewelry from the US to India, and hence, the giveaway is open only to readers outside of India (baaah! I am crying with you, girls!).

The contest is open for a week, and I'll announce the winner by updating this post on Dec 21st. Make sure to come back and check if you are the lucky one!

And more..

You can buy Sapna Mehra Jewelry from her etsy store or from her site. And for the rest of this month, get a 15% discount using the code AIS15.

Thank you Sapna! You and I will enjoy the lovely comments that come in over virtually shared glasses of mulled wine :)

[Credits & Links: Sapna Mehra Jewelry, Etsy Store, Connect on facebook, Tumblr blog]

~ Winner Update | Dec 21st, 2011 ~

Thank you so much for your beautiful comments! I thoroughly enjoyed reading through your descriptions of a global soul.

Here's what Sapna had to say about the comments, and, the one lucky winner!

I read through all the comments many times over and am overwhelmed with the inspiring, uplifting and thoughtful responses!

I want to say thank you to all the people who posted their comments - everyone one of them describes the global soul so beautifully...I will come back and read the comments any time I need some inspiration!

A comment that really resonated for me is from Laura Bourassa. I think Laura's comment speaks to the intimate, universal human conditions, the things that connect us to each other, even as we celebrate our differences and diversity. That is 'the web of life'. We speak different languages, live on different continents and pursue different dreams, all on this same earth. We are all actively engaged in 'the endless cycles' and that's what connects us.

As we journey on our own individual paths, and face our own struggles, it's comforting and encouraging to remember that there are so many others that are struggling, achieving, living and loving, just like you. No one is alone. What a beautiful thought and I'm quite moved by it!

Congratulations Laura!

Please write to Sapna with your shipping address and, do let us know how you enjoy your Asmi necklace :)

Serendipity

2011-12-12T21:47:00.000+05:30

Today evening, I was watching a re-run of the Christmassy movie Serendipity, and browsing through my favorite online stores, looking at their festive collections. And it was while I was looking through Wisteria, that I serendipitously discovered this lovely home tour of their Senior Creative Manager - Paige. As I walked through her home, I fell in love with her sense of style and color. The movie forgotten, I just had to share Paige's home and my favorite images from Wisteria's blog with my favorite peeps - you!

Here are my favorite rooms and ideas from Paige's home...

Quite a serendipitous discovery, eh? :)

[Image credit: Wisteria]

So, what are your favorite movies for this time of the year?

MoonRiver

2011-12-12T20:22:00.000+05:30

MoonRiver, the iconic store in Delhi, now has an online presence!

Founded by Radhika Gupta, MoonRiver brings together world-class designers with local indigenous artists, to offer exclusive hand-crafted items sourced at the grass-roots level and available to design-savvy consumers globally. MoonRiver takes great pride in working with local artists and communities to offer truly unique art, lighting, jewelry, gifts and home decor in their storefront in Delhi, and now also in their newly redesigned online shop.

All of this month, MoonRiver is hosting a fun Pinterest Party with fabulous giveaways every week! Read all about it here on MoonRiver's blog. And shop from their beautiful collection here.

Have fun pinning and winning!

[All images: MoonRiver]

The Good Earth Story...

2011-12-06T21:05:00.002+05:30

Jamun, an independent collective, specializing in media concepts and content, has directed and produced a crisp and beautiful video for one of my favorite stores - Good Earth. I love the mood in this elegantly shot project and enjoyed the brief glimpse into the design and creation process of some of the classic Good Earth products.

The images below are screen shots of my favorites from the video. Watch the entire video here.

A peek into the design process

Few of the many beautiful products..

A chat with Anita Lal, the founder of Good Earth..

Good Earth's latest collection - Seringapatanam

Ooo...I wish I could move into a Good Earth store! :)

Credits:

Good Earth

View more of Jamun's work here, and connect with them here

This week's goodies!

2011-11-23T23:53:00.002+05:30

Kinche Boutique

Payal Jaggi, the owner of Kinche Boutique, started the boutique to bring her favorite style of decorating - the french country chic / cottage style to India. After 15 years of experiencing the world as an air crew member, Payal's boutique brings to us the very best in her preferred style, with her carefully researched and hand picked products. Kinche Boutique is located in Gurgaon, India, and soon, would be available to us via her online store! For now, browse through the expanding collection here.

Krya

When Preethi Sukumaran, the creative one half behind Krya, send me an email sharing her company's philosophy, I did a quick little jig right in front of my surprised laptop. You would too, if you were handed an organic and natural alternative to your daily washing machine detergent. Preethi graciously sent a packet to me to try out, and for probably the first time ever, I couldn't wait to wash clothes! Krya's natural detergent is made of soapnuts (known as reetha in hindi) and works way better than regular detergents (my personal experience!). And the fact that you are contributing your little bit to help protect the environment, well, that makes the mundane task of loading a washing machine, a whole lot agreeable!
Read about, and shop Krya's first product here. Connect with Preethi and Srini on their blog or on Krya's facebook page.

TexturedInk

Ankita Kejriwal, the vibrant owner and graphic designer at TexturedInk is truly a child of the east, and now, a citizen of the western world. Her work is a beautiful balance between the rich colors and contrasts - an influence of her eastern upbringing, and the crisp, simple lines - an impact of the minimal western design aesthetics. Ankita's shop on Etsy called TexturedINK, is the place where she designs and sell modern graphic design paper goods for the home. Apart from paper prints, posters, art panels and personal stationery, she's also proud to offer unique products printed on recycled wood panels - the wood for which has been salvaged from fallen trees in apple orchards! And what's more, Ankita is offering a 10% discount to An Indian Summer readers for the next 15 days [i.e till Dec 10th]. Use the code Thanks11 to shop now!

Collective Craft

Collective Craft, founded by Shweta Mohapatra and Sibanand Bhol is a collaborative effort of a group of designers, artists and architects. It is based in Delhi and Orissa, India. Collective Craft works on sustainable design practices, craft revival and also, in developing contemporary craft products along with local artisans. For the founders, creating a smaller ecological footprint and developing sustainable products are two critical parameters for all their design projects.

The philosophy behind their products, combined with their sublime designs, is a winning combination for me. You can read more about their process on their blog, and get in touch with them via Collective Craft's facebook page.

Shakiraaz

Shakiraaz, the online store for all the all things pretty, has been started by Shakira Lima, a textile and graphic designer. Shakira is based out of Melbourne, and creates beautiful designs on, and from the textiles she sources from India. She would soon be launching a printed range of tableware in silk and linen. Get in touch with her on Shakiraaz's facebook page.

Aniika

Aniika, which means 'beautiful' in Sanskrit, is an apt name for Meghana Rao and Shamim's maiden venture. Aniika, headquartered in India, with offices in the US, is a virtual bazaar for emerging Indian designers to build their brand and sell their creations globally. Aniika, currently still in beta, will be an excellent source for design enthusiasts to get their hands on fresh contemporary designs from India. Connect with Aniika on facebook, and shop their current collection of goodies here.

Devajyoti Ray

My post on Indian Art Collective yesterday reminded me of a talented artist who had shared his work with me a few weeks back. Devajyoti Ray, whose work was recently exhibited at Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai, is inspired by the concept of pseudo-realism. His paintings pick mundane scenes from day to day life and convert them into color blocked works of art. Take a look at select paintings here and the schedule of upcoming exhibitions here.

OMI

OMI [Oh My India] by Omi Gurung, is a group that aims to be the catalyst in changing the lifestyle of people in India, by creating awareness to reduce, reuse and recycle domestic waste. Omi's site is a growing resource for DIY tips, reuse projects and sustainable products, and helps people get started in this direction. Connect with Omi here.

Kabutar.in

And finally, a happening new site for, well, that what is happening right now! Shubhendu, one of the founders of this wacky site, send me an email that made me smile. And at the threat of his 'standing in a corner to sulk', I promised him that I'll share kabutar.in with you guys :). So here it is - a new place to share your pic and let the world know what is happening right now! And if this is your thing, then there is an iPhone app too folks!

[All images copyright respective owners and An Indian Summer]

All this Art...

2011-11-22T20:16:00.000+05:30

K Laxma Goud

...is now available online!

But just for this week! Indian Art Collective, the first ever online art fair in India is on, and everyone is invited. Selected art works from galleries across the country, have been brought together in this online fair and are available for sale. While most of the art work is targeted towards serious art collectors, there is a decent representation of comparatively affordable work from new artists. Even if you are not keen on picking up an art piece, you could still spend hours browsing through and get inspired by the vast range of original paintings, sculptures and installations showcased on the site. Here's a really very brief glimpse into the variety of art the fair brings for us:

Chitta Prosad Bhattacharya

[Image copyright: India Art Collective]

I'll be back tomorrow with some talented people and interesting new stores and products. Sorry, I was away last week - have been having a busy run! Can't wait for that elusive time off. Sigh.

It's time for

2011-11-11T23:33:00.003+05:30

...some retail therapy!

Presenting to you today, three distinctive online stores from India, all three conceptualized and run by brilliant young women. I really admire their creative vision and entrepreneurial zeal, and love how their online ventures are shaping up. Each store has a unique personality, and collectively they are a virtual shopping paradise! Take a look at my pick of favorites from each online store..

Shopo

Shopo is bright, kitchy, fun and hugely inspiring - just like it's co-founder Krithika Nelson. Krithika and Theyagarajan set up Shopo on lines of an Indian marketplace. It provides designers from India a platform to take their products online, and us buyers a chance to buy beautifully handcrafted, unique products from all parts of the country. I love how each designer selling via Shopo gets the opportunity to share his/her profile - a way to stand out in a sea of beautiful products!

Kanika's Anek Designs, a perennial favorite

Vineeta's legendary decoupaged trays and boxes from ArtnLight

Gorgeous shibori fabric products from Sarah's Umoya

Journals galore in Kavya's Kaagazi

Studio a* by Shivani

Afday

Afday [Art For Every Day], is Rashmi Daga's online baby. With the firm belief that 'art' is present in every day and every small little thing, Rashmi set up this online store, where she curates carefully selected handmade works of professional and amateur designers. Afday is the perfect source for fresh off-the-oven designs and products. Some of my current favorites are:

Man series cushion cover and Sculptural fabric clock

Hand embroidered cushion cover in tussar silk and Ikat lampshade

Bunting ipad cover and ceramic autorickshaw

Banana fibre bag and Picture postcard place mats

Afday has a special discount code for you! An Indian Summer readers can get a 10% discount on any item they shop from Afday by using the code indiansummer10. And if you shop for more than INR 2000, you'll also get a surprise gift!

Pret-Amoda

Pret-Amoda is an online destination for exclusive fashion and accessories from established and emerging designers from India. A play on French and Italian words meaning 'ready to fashion' – the name Pret-Amoda captures the essence of what Ritika Walia, it's founder, envisioned the store to be. Ritika leveraged her experience in luxury fashion merchandising in the UK and in India, and set up Pret-Amoda as an exclusive retail channel, easily accessible for shoppers of Indian inspired fashion from around the world. While I eagerly await new additions to their home decor segment, here is my wish list from their current selection:

Mike Knowles pop print and Cushion from Abraham & Thakore

From Aka Nu Deli studio and Mustard clutch

Breathing Space by Eina Ahluwalia and Lotus Sutra

Dresses by Divya Anand and Gaurav Jai Gupta

[All images copyrighted to respective store owners and designers]

And if you still haven't had enough of retail therapy, come back tomorrow morning (morning India time that is).
~~I'll announce~~ Announced the winner of a dress from Shabby Apple here! Go check!

Could we...

2011-11-08T20:01:00.003+05:30

..take a walk ♪

Could we

♪ Have a talk

[Could We: Cat Power]

Thank you
It was great ♪

Let's make another date
Real soon

♪ In the afternoon
:)

[Image credit: All but one, Last one]

Shabby Apple Gives Away..

2011-11-04T14:47:00.003+05:30

...A dress of your choice

In your size

Wherever you are in the world!

When Alex from Shabby Apple wrote to me about hosting this generous giveaway, I was very happy to offer the opportunity to you, my top-of-the-pops readers, to win a dress from Shabby Apple's eclectic collection. Shabby Apple is a fashion company for women, by women, and of women, and believes that 'beautiful dressing shouldn't be complicated'!

How to enter and win!

1. Look through Shabby Apple's fabulouso collection online

2. Select one dress that you absolutely adore and would like to win, and leave the name of the dress in the comments section of this post. Oh, and leave your email too so that I can reach you incase you win!

3. And, ummm....that's it!

The contest is open for a week, and I'll update this post with the name of the lucky lucky winner (I am already jealous!) on Nov 11th! The winner, who will be randomly selected, gets the dress of her [or his!] choice delivered to her [or his] doorstep!

Giveaway open exclusively to

An Indian Summer readers, and

Fans on facebook

Much love

From me

To you

[Links: Shop Shabby Apple; Shabby Apple on Facebook, Blog]

............................................................................

Winner Update [Nov 12, 2011]

The winner is

Maheswari Janarthanan!

Congratulations Maheswari! :)

Please drop in an email to me, and I'll share your details with Shabby Apple.

Winner selected using Random Generator. Click on image to enlarge.

Thank you all for participating!

I hope to bring more such fun giveaways for you in the coming months!

How could I resist..

2011-11-01T22:32:00.001+05:30

..these gorgeous textiles

And magical rooms

At Le Jardin des Biehn

Take a look

And tell me

Would it have been right for me to resist?

Le Jardin des Biehn, a former summer palace of Pasha Si Tayeb el Mokri in Morocco, has been restored by Catherine and Michel Biehn. This boutique guest house is beautifully decorated with textiles from all over the world, including Central Asia and India, and antique costumes collected by Michel over the years.

[All images: Le Jardin des Biehn]

You and I,
we'll resist another day :)

Ta da!

2011-10-31T13:58:00.003+05:30

Meet Diya Dasgupta!

This, my lovely peeps, is the young designer who won the 'An Indian Summer' logo design contest! You can see her hard at work above. And below, here are a few of the designs she deftly created for An Indian Summer. And up there, you could see the new banner, while towards the right, you could see the new widget for An Indian Summer. As you look through more of her designs in the post below and in her portfolio, you would figure why I feel like an art curator showcasing the work of a brilliant designer in a gallery :)

Calling colour, pattern and print as her greatest loves, Diya's goal is to design a visual language. Her core design philosophy addresses the notion of (cultural) identity through the medium of design, and thus her work is an infusion of her Indian upbringing and her experiences of other cultures, places, people etc that she has come across in her life so far.

Sketches and paintings - couple of many techniques used by Diya in her textile and graphic design work

This is a part of Diya's final year project - The Tactile Manifesto, and is a reflection of her personal design philosophy. The Tactile Manifesto examines whether the homogenizing effect of globalization curbs individuality and thus, creativity, or whether it is possible for designers to maintain their (cultural) identities and creative spirit in a globalizing environment. One of the designs from this project is already being used by a furniture supplier in Sydney.

Diya's project where she designed a concept for a screen/room divider that is inspired by Indian Mughal architecture.

In Diya's words:

I moved to Australia in 2007 to study and have recently completed a Bachelor's degree specialising in Textiles and Graphics/Media at the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales in Sydney. I completed high school in Berlin, Germany, middle school in Kathmandu, Nepal, primary school in New Delhi and pre-school in Belgium. Although I feel somewhat like a nomad, I consider myself very lucky to have been exposed to different cultures and ways of thinking from such an early age. It has framed the way I see the world and heavily influences my work.

A series of textile concepts designed by Diya, for an Oriental boutique hotel

Diya was one of five finalists in the 2009 Rug Up competition organised by Designer Rugs. The shortlisted design 'Hope' is the first one in the image above.

Diya and I had a great time developing an identity for An Indian Summer. While it was a really tough call trying to select from the many incredible designs that came in, I felt Diya was able to put on paper the essence of what I had in my mind. I wanted a distinct 'motif' that captures the exuberance of this blog, and yet, is simple enough so as to not overpower the brand.

Like Diya's work? Well, the good news is that she is open to freelance work and exciting projects and I can't recommend her enough! You can reach Diya at this email ID.

Over the next few weeks, I'll try and clean up Mr. Blog to make it more reader friendly. Any one who has tried to clean up a boy knows what a task it is going to be! ;). Drop me a comment / email if there are changes you would like to see. And do tell Diya and me if you like the new logo!

[All images copyrighted to: Diya Dasgupta]

A beautiful Diwali..

2011-10-25T20:01:00.002+05:30

..is what Mr. Blog and I wish

for all our dear readers

Hope you have a delightful festive week!

This Diwali, my gift for Mr. Blog is the new logo (coming up later this week), and my gift for you is some handpicked inspiration for a festive tablescape ~ distinct, colorful Diwali table settings, as beautiful as the festival!

Tea lights look ethereal, whether in simple glassware or blingy tea light holders

Moroccan/metal lanterns for Diwali tablescape

Peacock feathers and motifs add a distinct Indian flavour

Time to take out your heirloom brass / kansa glasses and put them to good use!

Lotus, pearls, lace, rich textiles...add a touch of luxury to your table

Those colored wine glasses you picked up on a whim? Contrast them with bright flowers and create a vibrant setting for the family lunch

Shined to perfection silverware, kansa thalis and elaborate dinnerware are all time favorites

[Image credit:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]

Next week I'll share with you ek jhalak (a glimpse) of Diwali decor from my home. In the meantime, before you run off to do last minute prep for the festival, do make sure that you have entered the Skin Apotheke giveaway. Winners to be announced on Oct 27th now.
You have two more days!