Buddhist flags, books and plants

Some of the things that remind me of home are loads of plants & books, a little prayer corner, temple incense, Buddhist flags, the smell of wet soil after plants have just been watered, fresh flowers and spices.

I keep trying to bring in influences of my childhood & what is familiar; to my current home and I've realized it is slowly morphing into little corners that remind me of homes I've lived in and the places I have visited and that stayed with me. I love hours spent de-weeding or re-arranging my green babies, reading amongst them and generally lounging about in my pjs and embroidered slippers with music playing in the background and a book in my hand.

This is a little glimpse into my home and a lazy Saturday evening relaxing after being slightly under the weather.

Another day another Kolam

On my last trip home my sister's help used to come early in the morning, wash the entrance of the home and make a beautiful 'Kolam'; a geometrical drawing composed of loops drawn around a grid on the floor. I would wake up early to watch her work and one day asked her in my broken Tamil/ sign language if I could take photos of her working.

She would come, clean the previous day's kolam, put dots to make a grid with chalk powder and make a stunning design all in a span of five to ten minutes. While drawing she wouldn't stand up or take her hand off the task of creating the intricate design.

Everyday millions of Hindu women in the South of India make Kolams in front of their homes to bestow prosperity and ward off evil.

I just love the various designs these ladies came up with, its not like they've been to art school or anything. Its amazing when for festivals they make designs on the floor with flower petals and light candles around it.

I also love this lady's bright saree and the bright plastic bucket is so cheerful. Everyday she would come bright and early smelling of the fresh flowers in her hair, these pictures don't do justice to the women you see on the streets in India.

I hope you enjoy these photos and have had a wonderful week.

Little corners of joy

Little corners/ things around my house that give me joy...What makes you happy?

The festival of lights

This week was the Hindu festival of lights or Diwali as it is called in India, it is a week full of auspicious days including one to buy jewellery and welcome the Goddess of wealth and prosperity into the house. I am not very religious but a day devoted to buying jewellery in the name of worshiping Goddess Lakshmi is more than fine by me!

The boy and I celebrated the week by calling and wishing loved ones, lighting loads of candles, hanging fairy lights, eating yummy food, buying a fondue set and gorging on melted cheese and I had to take the opportunity to draw an alpona on the balcony. Here are a few pictures of the festivities our way including one of me wearing my festival jewellery acquisition, a yummier than yummy silver necklace.

I didn't want to bring up anything negative in this post but I cannot resist saying, that a few months ago the Freepeople stores/ dressing rooms were decorated with these traditional alpona designs and it seemed a bit weird to me. I am really over people kitsch-fying every aspect of my culture, these designs are used during traditional and religious ceremonies. Also most of the free people one clothing that cost an arm are made in India using traditional Indian craftsmanship and techniques and I really would like to know how much do the artisans creating the beautiful clothes benefit from free people's outrageous prices.

And don't even get me started on Winter Kate, Nicole Richie's line, gauzy cotton/ flowy silks, with traditional Indian motifs and designs that have been available for decades in India and everywhere else, priced indecently and given Indian names like Devi, Avanti, Lakshmi etc! Like seriously woman, stop pretending to be a designer because all you are is someone who has a fabulous sourcing and marketing team. Didn't mean for this to be a rant but I am just over companies and individuals using poor people's talent to make mega bucks.

Back to happier things its almost Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah are round the corner, here's wishing everyone a happy and prosperous build-up to which ever holiday you wish to celebrate.

Home decor fixations

As I mentioned in the last post, we've moved houses and with the new, bigger, brighter house and considerably higher rent comes the excitement and deliriousness (in my case) to do up the place. I have been combing blogs, pictures, magazines, markets, home decor shops, thrift stores and plant sellers like a woman possessed, for inspiration as well as pretty little things to make this house a home that I love. Right now my mind is completely absorbed with making a tropical paradise in the balcony and sunny parts of the house not to mention start a little herb garden where basil and curry leaves will grow side by side. I cannot wait to fill every available space with fairy lights, little Buddha statues, succulents, temple flags, candles, incense, Kalamkari wall hangings, Madhubani paintings, picture frames loads and loads of crochet, cushions and embroidered fabric. And since my mind is swimming with pictures I decided to share some of them with you and also two blogs that always cheer me up decor inspiration wise.

I would give anything to live in something akin to Justina's (from the blog Justina Blakenly) jungalow ie part bungalow part jungle tropical paradise/ bohemian home of my dreams. Another lady who seems to read my mind with her blog where my home inspirations come to life is moon to moon. Here are a few pictures of the kind of houses and home accessories that make my heart skip a beat.

I am going to try very hard to not put a million pictures below. Happy Tuesday all!

All pictures: Tumblr