Window Shopping

I was in the mood for some shopping today. It's raining cats and dogs outside, so I did the next best thing and checked out my favorite stores online. And I wasn't disappointed! The very eclectic store Ornè De Feuilles has a new collection, and what a collection it is! They seem to have traveled across the globe and handpicked things just for me. Oh alright, for us. Handpicked for us. :)

The stitch of the year - Kantha stitch.

Kilim pillows

Oooh...delicate!

Lanterns and light. Love the unusual use of wooden lamp base as ceiling fixtures

 Handwoven rugs and pillows

Beautifully crafted chairs! And the feel of linen upholstery 

Ceramics from all over

Reuse, Recycle! Vintage mirrors and distressed picture frames

Folks from India - See see! The common nylon/plastic bags in a new avatar :)

Finely crafted baskets of all shapes and sizes

Pillows from Turkey. I am not too keen on the velvet though..

 And finally, nothing beats hand spun Khaadi!

Hope you enjoyed window shopping with me!

[All images: Orne de feuilles]

Ria's home...

...And a giveaway!

Ria Kaushal wrote to me a couple of weeks back and shared a few tantalizing images from her home, along with the inspiring story of the origin of her organic, handmade, ayurvedic skin care line called Skin Apotheke.

Giveaway alert! Continue reading to win fabulous products from the line!

Mmm...I wonder how she knew about the two loves of my life - beautiful homes and fabulous skin!

I am so excited to share Ria's lovely home in Miami with you. Ria has a natural flair for styling and it is inspiring to see how she transforms a room just by rearranging a few decor pieces and adding fresh flowers and tea lights.

Ria enjoys hunting for eclectic pieces on sites like EBay, One Kings Lane, Fab.com, Amazon and stores like Kilol, Anokhi, FabIndia and Good Earth back home in India. 

I love how Ria uses textiles to change the look of the bedroom. She made the headboard herself using a large canvas and fabric from Anokhi.

And the view that draws her back home, each day :)

This lovely warm home is where Ria works hard to create her organic skin care range of products for us. A quick introduction to Skin Apotheke:

Skin Apotheke is fresh handmade organic skin care based on ayurvedic principals from India. Ayurveda is the oldest healing science dating back to 1500 BC and ayurvedic beauty is holistic, deriving its knowledge from the laws of nature. Skin Apotheke products are 100% natural, organically sourced, chemical free, paraben and synthetic free products that deliver. Skin Apotheke uses only premium USDA certified organic oils, butters, flowers, herbs and other botanicals for all the skincare and incorporates some of the most effective anti-aging ingredients available in the market.

 

The Giveaway!

Ria has very graciously offered to giveaway, not one, but two of her products to 'An Indian Summer' readers. And we will pick two readers (by random number selection), who will receive these amazing skin care products in a package:

Organic Ubtan face clarifying cleansing scrub, and

Rose quartz organic essential cellular peptide serum

Thank you, Ria!

How to enter the giveaway?

Just comment on this post, and

Apart from letting us know how you like Ria's home :)

Tell us your favorite skin or hair care tip!

You have a week to comment

Make sure you leave your email ID so that we can reach you

Ria and I will announce the names of the two lucky readers

On Aug 24th!

[Open to all. Ships anywhere in the world]


All Images: Ria Kaushal
Buy Skin Apotheke here
On facebook
Write to her

Design for An Indian Summer - Till Aug 31st now!

Hello ya all creative peeps!
Thank you for joining in the logo design party!

It has been lovely to get your emails and the first few designs of the logo for 'An Indian Summer'. A lot of you have requested for more time, and I have received a bunch of questions about the finer details of the style and the kind of logo I would like. Worry not, for here is some more information:

Timeline

Based on your feedback, I have decided to extend the timeline for the logo design till the end of this month. You now have till Aug 31st to submit your fabulous creations!

Style of the logo / My design preferences

Well, to begin with, do read this, if you haven't done so already. I'll also share my design preferences right here, for easy reference:

- I would like a 'clean' design - not minimalistic, but not too crowded either.

- I adore runny water colors, crayons, pencil and ink sketches, hand drawn illustrations, letterpress, handwriting and typewriter fonts!

- The design does not necessarily need to be 'Indian' in theme or look & feel. 'Summer' is a potential theme to build the logo around. 'Design' could be another one. 'Summer in India' maybe. Or 'Design from India'. How about 'Bohmian design'? Just some potential themes for you...can't wait to see your take on the blog's identity! :)

- Please feel free to send in as many versions of the logo as you want. The more the merrier! Send your designs here. 

- More questions? Send them my way any time!

- Read the first post announcing the logo design contest here

Thank you again folks! I am so looking forward to what you'll send me! Remember, a fabulous gift box, lifetime credit and a big bear hug from Mr. Blog awaits the selected design :) 

Things I save

There comes a time

When you need to take a hard look

And take some tough decisions

There comes a time

When you need space

A lot more space

On your hard disk

It was that time for me today

To decide

What to save and what not to save

 What inspired me once

Does it still inspire me?

Here's a snippet from my many many inspiration folders

Some images I decided to save...

How can I not love  this room? The tiny couch with the suzani throw, the lamp, the rug, the dog. 
Oh, the dog!

This is saved in my idea folder for stair landings

Mirror Mirrors on the wall, where can I find you all?

Brillianto idea for messy work desk post-its and notes

The ubiquitous steel jug, not so ubiquitous any more

Pretty details

Wine wine instead of chai chai!

that's how chai - tea vendors sell their wares at Indian train stations...shouting out chai-chai, holding glasses of steaming tea in wire holders like above

And a few from my color files...

Alternate use of the many mirror work fabric patches I hoard

And, my all time favorite picture frame! :)


[Image sources: Sorry, since these images were in my inspiration files, I hadn't noted down the source!]

August Rain

It's August already!

Soon the rains would be gone

Autumn would creep in

And in no time

We'll be getting ready for the new year!

Whoa!

Well, time seems to have slowed down

In these pictures at least

Pictures from Srilanka's Galle House & the iconic Lunuganga

Beautifully captured by photographer Richard Powers

 And before I leave you

I have to pause,

And Thank You

 All you fabulous people who have been writing in

And are designing An Indian Summer's identity for me

What would I do

Just what would I do without you?

[All images: Richard Powers]

Design for 'An Indian Summer'!

Can you draw/sketch/paint/doodle or such?

If you do,
Hallelujah!
Where have you been?
I need you!

Long time readers of this blog  have been a witness to my many attempts at creating an identity for An Indian Summer. While I am quite talented otherwise (ahem), I am no artist, sadly. And, as this blog gears up for some exciting new ventures, I would like it to have a distinct identity. And that's where You come in! I mean, I do do hope that you will come in and help me out here. Pretty please?

So, calling out to the fabulously talented people who I know read 'An Indian Summer': If you are an artist, a graphic designer or love to paint / draw / sketch, will you please help me create an identity for my blog? A logo. Some icons. All that will proudly showcase your work and announce 'An Indian Summer' brand.

I will be ever so grateful, not to say chirpy like a spring bird and happy like a well fed kitten, if you would do this for me. And to thank you, I would like to send the creator of the selected design a Gift Box. A rapidly growing Gift Box that has personally handpicked gorgeous items for you and your home. And that's not all! Your work will be credited like for ever on this blog's home page, and any other sites/publications where I use your designs. 

[So far in the GiftBox: Chanderi block printed stole, Wood printing blocks, Madhubani paintings, Tribal necklace and earrings, Incense sticks and blue pottery holder in a cute wooden box, andhra leather puppet for the wall, kantha stole/throw and more pretteh tidbits to be added....Ooo, somebody stop me!]    

So how does it work:

1. Click here to read a quick requirements doc. I have put a few relevant details in here. Feel free to send me any other questions that you might have, or, just drop me a note letting me know that you are going to design for the blog (and I'll send virtual kisses back!).

2. You design for the blog! (yippee and yips) and send your design/s to me by August 18th 31st, on the blog's email ID. 

3. I ooh aah over what you all send to me, and then select the one that is the closest to what I would like the identity to be.

4. The creator of the selected design receives an email from me because well, there is this fabulous Thank You Gift Box that I would need to send you, and I would need your shipping address (ships to anywhere in the world)! Wohoo!

5. I also share all the designs I have received in a post, with credits (unless, you specifically ask me not to share your work). So even if I pick up some other design, your work would still be showcased to my fabulous readers. Like forever. In a post. On this blog.

Sounds good? I am all aflutter with anticipation already! 

Send me any questions or thoughts you have via comments or email. And Oh My God, please DO send me some designs, or I would forever be held captive by evil PowerPoint. (Yes, I created the current header in PowerPoint. Designers/Artists: Don't kill me! Just design for me please!)

Psst: Dear readers and blogging friends: I would love it if you could help spread the word! Please share on facebook, twitter and/or your blogs. Thank you!

Much Love

Mr. Blog & Bhavna

Update: Read the latest here!