This Time For Africa

It's been some time. Several weeks. Around two months since I last spoke to you here, on the blog. It was an unplanned, unintentional break and not a pleasant one. But now, the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel has been spotted and after days and nights of heart wrenching turbulence, things have finally calmed down, for better. I am breathing again and my lost mojo is knocking at the door, tempting me with far away places and exotic imagery. 

I chanced upon Africa Moon a couple of days back and got lost in the stunning visuals. It was the spark that I needed to reignite my creative soul. I put together some visual boards to inspire me and hope they inspire you too!    

Sigh. Sometimes all you need, are some pretty pictures.

[All Images: Africa Moon]

I will be seeing you a lot more in the coming weeks before my wandering feet set off for the next round of travel. As always, I have been sharing all the goodness I come across on AnIndianSummer@Instagram. Oh and, I have a treat for my readers who are also cat lovers and/or illustration lovers - my other Instagram account - Catlustration. For the love of furballs, do take a look :)

And and, last few hours left for entering the giveaway to win a gorgeous cashmere scarf from Chobhi. Make sure you follow An Indian Summer on facebook and twitter so as to not miss out some fabulous giveaways coming up.

See you again soon!

Hello 2016!

And Hello You!

Kick starting the year with interiors clearly after my own heart

White walls and vibrant textiles and art

From the portfolio of Amber Lewis

Dive right in!

Hope the year has started off on the best possible note for you, my kittens

There is so much to talk about, so many updates

I am flitting between cities & airports & highways right now

Will be back with a heart to heart post soon

Travel with me here in the meantime

xoxo

[All Images: Amber Interiors]

That Time Of The Year

When I start to wind down

Ruminate on the months that whizzed past

 Count the many trips. Remember the journeys.

 Marvel at where I have come

Sing and dance one day

Curl up the next

Spend the day discovering new music

Or reorganizing my book shelves and laptop folders

It's mid December, my kittens

Time to clean up

Time to put your pretty feet up

Time to indulge

Time to take a break

Time to let go

Time to recharge

For the new year is just a couple of weeks away

Inviting, all shiny and smelling fresh & nice!

My favorite type of decor

Along with a ditty

With such depth, sigh

Just feel it resonating in your heart

[Not really. But was worth a shot]

But a round about way to tell you, my munchkins

I will be on and off the blog

For the rest of the month

For I am curling up

Listening to music

Enjoying the twinkling lights

Tasting the salt in the cool sea breeze

Raising a toast

To mark the passage of another whirlwind of a year

Follow me on Instagram and on An Indian Summer Likes

My other two favorite places to hang

 And I will see you soonish

Will pop in here before the year ends

To give you all my love

And more.

Oh and, grab/download a copy of the latest Elle Decor! My work space in Goa has been featured there. Will be sharing more images from the space on instagram soon :)

[Images: Here. Rest: An Indian Summer]

Tushar Rao Photography

Goa. My acquaintance with this sea side heaven is relatively recent. I visited Goa for the first time a couple of years ago and fell in love with it's lush rain drenched fields, the winding roads, quaint villages, beautiful houses and the gentle folks who live here. I remember one balmy afternoon on that trip, mellow after a few chilled drinks, I had sighed and wondered aloud, what it would be like to live here? That was then, and today, I am penning down this post, sitting on the terrace of my little studio, cooled by the Goan sea breeze, listening to the constant sound of waves in the background, and well, warding off all sort of insect life which is making itself comfortable on my brightly lit laptop screen! 

This move to Goa has been possible because of the help and support I got from friends and serendipitous connections. Tushar Rao, a resident of Goa, was one one such connection. And what an interesting friend he has turned out to be! A photographer, who has traveled the length and breadth of Goa, capturing vignettes from daily life and shooting many beautiful homes, boutique stores, hotels, Tushar's work portfolio is a treasure trove for any Goa-phile! And as we chatted, I kept exclaiming since I realized that I have been familiar with his work from way back in time, when as a bright eyed young design enthusiast, I would pore over the one interior design magazine [Inside Outside] that used to be published in India. He is the one who had shot some of my favorite features from that time! It's but obvious that I demanded that he hand over his portfolio to me, since such loveliness must be shared with my folks over at An Indian Summer!

Tushar started experimenting with the camera when very young, and after 8 years as an amateur photographer, he has been a professional since the last 20 years. His work has been published in various magazines like Elle, Inside Outside, Better Interiors, Society Interiors, India Today, Design Today and Verve. He has shot extensively for books on Goa and also had the opportunity to assist the well known French photographer, Robert Polidori. 

Here are some of my favorite picks from the homes Tushar has shot. Dive right in!

You can see more of Tushar's work right here!

[All Images: Tushar Rao. Storyboarding: An Indian Summer]