Announcing 'ART ESCAPE GOA'!!!

I'm out of town, but this is one bit of news I just couldn't sit on any longer. I'm super excited to share with you the 'ART ESCAPE 09' that's kick starting tomorrow in Goa. Whats the 'Art Escape' all about? Its a dream get away from our daily humdrum lives for a few days of pure creativity along the shores of Goa. Put together by the 'Inspire Project' ' Art escape' comes in 3 & 6 day courses in painting & pottery all through November to January for starters.

All the details can be found on their site, but this is just ideal for the harried/bored corporate looking to tap into a bit of their creative side. You didn't know you had one? Their website puts it beautifully: "You don’t have to be a natural born artist to enroll in the art escape. We firmly believe that by giving yourself over to the experience of creative arts, you will view and appreciate art and life in a much deeper way."

They have a 3 day Painting workshop (Paintshop:) & a 3 day Pottery workshop (Potshop:), you can opt to do the entire 6 day worshop or either of the 2 courses on offer. And if you are worried that you don't know where to begin, just land up, they do provide you with the art material and all that you will need.

And this is the place far away from the city where the worshops will be conducted.

Art Escape Entrance

Bamboo cottage room

"Whether you are a corporate type who has finally decided to accomplish that burning desire and love for the creative arts or simply an individual looking to relax, de-stress, refresh and revive your senses, this is a great opportunity to learn art as a medium to express & discover yourself. Art escape is here to help you do just that."

Space for Studio

Art Resto Lounge

Space to relax

Resto lounge at......sundown

I will myself be headed there to attend the workshop- its a question of when. So watch this space for more news about 'ArtEscape'

The brilliant bit is that if you are in and around Goa & you want to attend for a day you can do that as well. They really give you options. Click here for the rates, dates & registration. And go have some fun!! :)

My 1st hand-painted tray

This is the 1st tray I designed & painted. All the others came after this one. I don't have pictures of the earlier avataar, but it was a lime green and yellow one with such tackily painted leaves that each time I saw it I itched to give it a new look. So one fine day I just pulled out my paints and brushes and started. Sharing a few pictures of how I started and how it finally looks. I'm no great artist but what the heck- I had fun :) I was using a brush after more than 10 years.

I have a fondness for lotuses & prayer flags, so they had to come in.

Filling colour into the petals- it looks incomplete...

So I carried forward the stripes from the blue into the yellow with an intricate but very simple pattern. And added clouds over the prayer flags. It still looks incomplete...So the cloud moved up to spread acrossAnd the stripes climbed further down to cover the edges of the tray.
And now I'm done!
Its really thanx to the internet and blogging and artists like Jessica Gonacha & Dithi Chakraborthy that I even thought of trying something like this. Check their work out- its sooper inspiring (just click on their names).
Coming up next are some new decoupaged tray designs that I just finished making.

The all new Southern Living Magazine!

I was surprised and happy to hear from the Southern Living Magazine in the US & about their all new revamped look. For all my readers in the South of the states, you must have already seen it on the stands, and for all of us who won't be able to quickly grab our copy, here's a sneak peek into the goodies inside!
I've always had a massive interest in Church architecture and have gobbled up every decor story available on how church elements and architecture can be used in a home. So imagine my excitement on seeing the beautiful story of what happened when a builder family got to move into their favourite Bishop's home. And how a home that is equal parts Gothic and gorgeous, comfortable and chaotic, became an inspired tribute to a dear friend.

Do click on the images to see a larger picture.

"Episcopal churches and cathedrals are characterized by Gothic elements such as arches; vaulted ceilings; stained glass windows; and rich, ornamental ecclesiastical symbols. “Being an Episcopalian, I knew what a rich architectural history there was to work with.”

"Inspired by church pews, neighbor and furniture builder Rob Cart crafted the breakfast room
table and bench. He carved quatrefoil designs in the base to reflect the Gothicstyle architecture."

Love that white painted hand railing and the black and white frames on the panelled wall.

"The home is decorated with pieces that are casual but that complement its formal architecture. The living room’s neutral palette— accented with a soft blue on pillows and in accessories— has the timeless appeal of a sepiatoned photo."

"A dramatic console table is a souvenir from a Highlands, North Carolina, trip."
Just check out those stained glass windows and the leaded glass door- sigh...

The other story that really caught my eye was this bunglow which used the most interesting wall art- in this picture you see a framed blue print- isn't that cool!!

This one's my fav! "“This is one of my favorite things,” says George(whose home it is) of the framed envelope in the dining room. It was addressed by George’s great-grandmother to her uncle, George’s namesake, in 1917."

"George was drawn to these vintage Chesapeake Bay maps because of their mustard yellow color and his love of colonial port towns. He discovered a large collection at an antiques store and bought the whole box."
The magazine is also stuffed with all kinds of interesting decor, food travel & health stories. I can't wait to lay my hands on my own copy :)

All images courtesy Southern Living Magazine

Agas and Tamar Jewellery

I have a weakness for jewellery thats rustic and simple. When I saw the Agas and Tamar site for the 1st time I was struck by the richness of texture and by the earthy designs. And it definitely helps that they are so lovingly photographed.

Rings of gold. I'm not into gold but this is just so gorgeous.The beaten beads strung snug together

engraved and textured silver

Rough hewn rings

Ancient scripts on gold bands

How I love this piece.
Agas and Tamar stores are in Israel and NewYork. Sigh... Check their website for bigger pictures or if you want to order your very own piece of magical charm.

ATTIC

I'd heard of 'attic' and I just saw it on facebook today and I can't tell you how excited I became as I checked out their website. I NEED to go to this store ASAP! I love that their collection is so contemporary, international and very very NOW. The cool white interiors provide an excellent backdrop for the strong dollops of colour that their products are. I love the rounded edged windows that bring in loads of sun and the eclectic mix of products. You can buy a lot of PlayClan here and a many other seriously interesting products, be it accessories or fashion.

Cool white exteriors

Bright pops of colour stand out against the white

Clothes, bags, cushions, frames, all from the land of cool.

*LOVE* those free-standing alphablets that are such a big trend internationally.

Please note the neatly panted 'trunks' and the handpainted shoes strung with pretty lights

Colouristas and fashionistas, this is the place to head to.

geometrics in clothes is a personal weakness of mine

Attic is at the end of 17th road, santacruz west, so all of you in Mumbai, just hop across to bring home your spot of fun, fashion & colour. I'm headed there!

SALE!!! at KYE!

Sorry for disappearing for the longest time. There's been lots going on for all this while. Will keep you posted on it soon. But for now here's a quick bit of useful info. The tremendously talented Kalyani from KYE is having a SALE of some of her cushions at a sexy discount. Here are the cushions, if you love them as much as I do, just go for it. Write to her at 'writetokye@gmail.com'

And here's a peek at the cushions on sale.

Black n white lovelies

love these sunny geometrics

And hand-drawn little girl series.

Love her free flowing hair and the red & black buckled bag.
I'm already late in reporting this SALE, quick, write to her or check out further details here.

News! New Store BLISS Launches + artnlight products in BLISS

This is news I'm sooo excited to share with you :) A brand new fashion & decor store called Bliss is now open in Versova, Andheri, Mumbai. And you can actually buy artnlight products from there. It all started as soon as I uploaded the pics of the trays and boxes here on this blog. Mallika Desai Thakker from Vibe design wrote to me and Riddhi and said she is launching a store and would love to keep our products. She was the 1st person to contact us and we were really thrilled. Over the past month and a couple of meetings what struck me was what an amazingly easy person Mallika is to work with. And apart from being an oasis of calm, she has great taste & this you can see in every part of the gorgeous store she has put together. So here we go on a visual tour of brand new BLISS. (I'm so happy to be the 1st to cover them - ye, ye ye!!!)

The wooden gate has Bliss's pretty lotus signage on it.

Bougainvilleas on the balconies on top are waiting to grow and spill pink into the compound.

Wood panelling & sculptures are an interesting contrast to the blue door.

If the exterior was bright and airy, the interiors have the understated elegance of an exclusive boutique .The walls are dressed in beautifully upholstered fabric.

Bliss retails well known fashion brands
And super elegant accessories

The textured wall painted in luminous gold is spot lit to create drama.

Elegant party accessories & purses.

Fancy clutches and purses in metallic weaves

I loved the way gold and wood dress this beautiful stairway that leads up to the decor section.

And along the stairs on the walls are my wall art.

I never knew it could look quite this good :)

You must excuse this bit of self indulgence

At the head of the stairs is an elegant white single seater with a paper lamp hanging over it.

This is the sight that you see as soon as you walk up the stairs. The Blue wall is a beautiful backdrop for the engraved marble top dining table & has lovely display windows

My trays- Ye! :) I love the way she's kept the cuttle fish trays against the blue wall. This works :) And aren't those table mats beautiful?

The pristine white sofa stands out against sheer pink curtains and the blue wall.

Elegant cushions are strewn tasefully on the sofa.

This is an interesting wall where Mallika has displayed precious stones that can be used to dress parts of your walls. (My trays are perched on top of the blocks- next to the clocks)

My vintage Rose trays
And Riddhi Desai's books :)

This huge silver wall clock is my MOST favorite thing in BLISS. What a gorgeous piece of work it is.

Pretty cushions line this stylish grey sofa

I love the way this yellow wall catches the light from all the chrome pieces displayed along it.

Pretty glass and chrome candle holders

Glasses and tableware

Shiny stylish cutlery

My boxes line the top shelf along with vases

Thats my peacock tray :)

I loved this elegant set of tables with inlay work

Pretty ceramics

prettier cushions

An interesting view of the decor section

Wall clocks

Unique ceramic table ware

Bliss is very much like its name. Especially for lovers of all things beautiful. For all of you in Bombay, the address is 180, Aram Nagar1, Fisheries University Rd, 7 Bunglows, Andheri. Ph:022 26332111. Do drop in for your dose of luxe eyecandy.