Autumn table decorations

Hello lovely people!! How are you? I am sure you all must be enjoying autumn..autumn colors..falling leaves..collecting pine cones..shorter and cooler days..hmmm.. I live in the tropics and really miss this season..Though I must say it does get a few degrees cooler here as well!! 

I was browsing through some of favorite German magazines and came across these lovely autumn decoration ideas.. They are so easy, practical and so pretty as well!!! 

Take a look and be inspired!!!

                              The cool, crisp autumn weather is perfect for apple picking..Use red apples as mini vase!!!! Remove the core of the apple ..Fill it with little water and put some fresh flowers from your garden or the ones you picked from your walk in it.. 

Make yourselves warm and cozy with candles..Decorate the tea light holders with cut out patterns of autumn leaves attached to them.. This could also be a great project for kids..You can get the Instructions and templates in this PDF ..They are in German but very easy to understand:)

  

Easy and quick decor idea for this fall... Heather twigs!!! Dry them and using a simple rubber band tie them around a glass carafe.. These will look good around a tea light holder as well!!! You can keep a bunch of  red, violet or pink heather twigs in a cane basket and that will also look good!!!!

 Bring the autumn to your dining table .... How about a napkin decoration with a cookie in leaf shape.. It would be a nice surprise for the guest. Shape the crispy biscuit dough with a cookie cutter in leaf shape.. Make a hole in it before baking it and later just pull a  pretty ribbon through the hole... wrap together around a napkin. 

Why just stop at table decorations... Create a Wreath of nuts...Made from hazelnuts, almonds or pine cones . . 

First, collect nuts and cones.. make a hole in the nuts  with a wood drill pierce and string them on a sturdy floral wire. Then form a uniform ring...connect the wire ends and cover up with raffia. Tip: It looks best if arrange several rings together!!

                          Lovely DIY lanterns for outdoors are very easy to make.. I had done                          something similar sometime back.. Check the tutorial here..Decorate them with ribbons and fabric flowers..Fill it with water and floating candles..

    Last but not the least .. I totally loved this table arrangement... You will need baking cups, candles, candle holders and flowers like Phlox... Fill the baking cups with water and place the candle into the holder...Then float some individual phlox flowers. 

All beautiful images are courtesy: Living at Home.de 

Peacock painting

I had mentioned in my earlier posts about the large peacock painting I was working on...Today I want to share with you the finished one.. This painting is a larger version of my watercolor painting of a peacock on a tree.. I think I made this more than a year or so back..

The tricky situation is that when you are making a small painting it is easy to hide the minute tiny details but in a large painting it is the opposite. It is the minute details painted to the accuracy which makes a painting look alive and pretty.. I researched lot of peacock pictures on flickr and elsewhere to study the features and details of the bird..

   Courtesy: Peacock, 2. Showing Off - part deux!, 3. What lovely tail feathers you have, 4. Peacock On Tree

    Accordingly as a practice I made this smaller painting of a individual peacock feather which I had shared with you .. You can see it here!! So finally a few weeks back I finished the painting and found a place for it to hang...

 I am not thoroughly satisfied with the background. I wanted to make motifs or something in the background..but DH liked it and insisted that I keep it the way it is...This area you must have seen in earlier post here and here. We moved the tables and this is how it looks like now..

I have used a blunt knife to paint .. It has given it a sort of 3- D look .. For the feathers I must have painted 3-4 layers to create depth..I painted a part of feathers with golden color which reflects when the light  shines on it at a certain angle..I know it cannot be seen in these compressed pictures:( 

This is how this area looks in the evening when I light the candles!!!


Joining party at Patty's 

Beach napkin ring DIY

These beach  napkin rings are so stylish, aren't they!! Can you believe you can make them at home ... They are super easy to make..This could be a perfect weekend project....Found this awesome beach napkin ring tutorial on a equally awesome blog- Design Sponge.. Get the instructions here !!!

Have a great weekend!!!!

xo

One vase 4 stunning centerpieces

Let's look at 4 different ways to arrange flowers and create awesome centerpieces using the same vase ...

     

Arrange Calla lilies with long stems or floating flowers-orchids with lemons and lemon slices, floating candles. Use large tropical leaf like a banana leaf or Monstera leaf as a table mat.. This decor will look splendid on a romantic occasion or even a lovely elegant party with friends..

Arrange tulips as a bouquet and floating in clear vases alternatively in a row in the center of the table. Float candles in tall glasses .. sprinkle tiny flowers on the table..This centerpiece can make your table look very festive ... 

Use seasonal flowers and fruits for creating a seasonal look..

All the beautiful images are courtesy brown paper design.

Work-In-Progress: Bal (baby) Ganesha

This is the new painting I am working on...This is of  Bal(baby) Ganesha..

             I have completed the peacock painting I had mentioned earlier..will post the pics soon..

              Wish you all a lovely week ahead!!!!




Linking to Colors Dekor: weekly story!!

Indian inspired baby accessories

India is known for the rich history of textiles. There are lots of small and big shops in India where one could find incredibly cute, chic and yet traditional baby clothes and accessories.. But the problem for me is that most if not all don't have any online presence plus to shop in India one needs the assistance of a local friend or relative who would be enthusiastic enough to take me to those shops..So for people like me who are not travelling to India during this time.. here are some wonderful online shops which sell incredibly beautiful India inspired baby blankets, clothes and accessories..

Rikshaw Design collection includes crib sets, pillows, and accessories- all hand block-printed on the softest Indian cotton cloth. They have lovely block prints of elephants, monkeys, paisleys, flowers and many more Indian motifs. 

                                                                 

                                                                                         Courtesy: Harabuhouse

I love this idea..Rikshaw Design diaper pouches help you keep all your baby essentials organized in your bag! It is good looking, elegant and stylish ..but I am not sure if it is practical for a first timer like me.. I imagine myself to be a bit clumsy and confused at least in the initial months:) but I am keeping an eye on it..maybe I will surprise myself by being a very cool and elegant mom even while changing the diaper...hehhehee

Momruepneur Dipali Patwa's Masala baby is a gorgeous shop.. All the products are so colorful, vibrant, stylish, chic and traditional...It combines a modern, spirited, urban vibe with the essence and traditions of India.. 

The summer blankets or dohars with the feel of cashmere and advantage of cotton...Awesome isn't it!!! Muny designs combine the traditional Indian textiles with contemporary colors and motifs, giving the clothes an eclectic, bohemian and multicultural aesthetic look and feel.

The fabrics used to create Chakra design studio garments and home goods are printed using the exquisite ancient Indian technique- kalamkari. 

I have been confused for while as to what style of clothes and accessories I want for my baby.. Thanks to all the eye candy I feel like I have found direction for shopping..

                                                   Have a lovely weekend!!!!!!

Eco friendly designs by Anjali Venkat

We live on a island with limited resources and have no where else to go..That island is our planet earth..We should try our best to take care of it..The easiest way is to recycle, reuse and recreate..Today I am introducing to you all a fantastic artist who creates beautiful items with recycled material.. Her name is Anjali Venkat-a incredible glass artist from Chennai,India. Her art is funky, boho-chic and functional!!!!

She transforms discarded glass bottles into planters, CD racks, wall clocks, center tables... ...reclaimed wood and old magazine and calendar papers to create functional art. Each piece is hand-crafted and is therefore unique in its design and execution.

 A glass bottle flattened and drilled to make a planter.. would look beautiful as a centerpiece on your table in living room or even the office.. 

                                          A gorgeous plate to serve fruits or starters...

  These candle holders/ diyas are perfect for the coming Diwali season...

This rack would add color and spark to any plain or dull wall....

Another masterpiece decorated with tiny fused glass pieces..

All you lucky guys who are living in Bangalore can see her work in person. Anjali Venkat and Shetal Parrek are holding an exhibition of these and many more beautiful functional art works at the Chitra kala Parishat at Bangalore. It starts from 24th to 26th September. 

You can see more of her beautiful and creative work on her website Anjali design and  on her facebook page here!!!

All images courtesy Anjali Venkat!!

Creative baby shower inspirations

I was looking at some baby shower inspirations just like that..The ideas I found are so cool that I can use them even for any other baby or even a toddler party..like naming ceremony or maybe a party to introduce baby to all my and DH's friends and colleagues or even the first birthday...

                                                                                                      Courtesy: Simply bloom Photography

I love the balloon shaped candies and the cake with bunting on it..The colors are so lovely..Lucky girl at Simply bloom Photography got this beautiful baby shower.. Visit her blog to know more about the entire party...

                                                                                                              Courtesy: Hostess blog

This baby shower is themed Elephants and alphabets baby shower... This party is more for the mommy than the baby.. that's why it is contemporary styled..That's why the color theme is also very stylish- Tangerine and Pewter...What I liked are the mason jars with bakers twigs ...so adorable and also a easy quick idea for any party..

Courtesy: Hostess blog

This is one of the party I simply adore and I think any tea lover would absolutely love.. The theme is Modern pink tea party..These star shaped paper lanterns from Luna Bazaar are so gorgeous..they create an ambiance of cheer and elegance instantly...That's not all ..This party is so creative and full of inspiration.. Look at the milk bottles filled with pink lemonade..The flowers, the candies and lollipops , cupcakes, accessories... everything is matched to the color theme of pink and white perfectly.. 

                                                                                                                         Courtesy: Hostess blog

This picture is from the same party.. Did you notice the lovely jar decorated with a pink doily filled with tea bags .. The flowers are kept in tea jars/ tins .. The mirrors are used to divide the tea bar and dessert bar..Check out all the details about this party here!!!

Hostess blog is an exhaustive source for creative parties...I love browsing through the lovely parties which are showcased there.. the best part is that she gives all details right from the party invitations till the vendor information..

Courtesy: pizzazzarie

I found one more lovely creative idea which would fit perfectly for a baby shower..It's a beautiful DIY, a easy hand made flower ball..Its so easy to make.. See here to get all the detailed tutorial to make this adorable flower ball.. Use it as a table decoration or tie a string to it  and hang it to the ceiling..

                                                                   Courtesy : pis for party

Similarly you can also make a rattler with real flowers for the entrance..So cute isn't it!!!!

                                                                                                                    Courtesy: pizzazzerie

What is a baby shower without any fun, games etc...This one is more about the activities to do at a baby shower...It is absolutely fantastic especially if you have a bunch of creative friends..The activity is to decorate onesies/ infant body suit..They had can used fabric scarps and every friend cut it into desired shapes and stick it with fabric glue .. The outcome is so adorable and original... I love this idea!!!!!

I enjoyed browsing through these parties.. I am bursting with ideas and getting more impatient now..hheeee:))