Dream.Dream.Dream.

I am quite a dreamer. Its an OCD I tell you. Even before I have finished working on one project I start dreaming about what I'd like to do next. The minute I have baked one complicated dessert I am dreaming of the next recipe that I can challenge myself with.At times I also dream about running everyday and some day being able to participate in a marathon...well, this dream will sure take some time to turn into reality and lots of pushing too :)

When I came across this product here I thought this was the best DIY ever (if you want to make it). Ofcourse you can always buy it.

Get hold of a box and put a picture/object of what you are dreaming for or want to save for.A picture postcard for the vacation you've always longed for,keys for the driving lessons that you dream/need to take, pennies for the birthday gift for your mum or names of the authors for all the books you wanted to read. 

I think this is a brilliant idea. It constantly reminds you of your dream and the visual reminder on your shelf/wall will push you to achieve it. Plus its super cute!

It will also make for a lovely present for a loved one. Because sometimes their dream is your dream, right :)

What are you dreaming this morning?

Me? I am dreaming of another blog. Food Blog. A food blog that is very me. A food blog that is going to be called Orange Kitchens and will go live very shortly :)

Image : here

Teacupcakes!

What is this? A cake or a cupcake or a cupcake in a teacup? (Say that fast, will you?) Teacupcakes!!! Yes this is what it is! Aren't they so adorable? I just couldn't resist posting these here. I know many of you lovely readers are crazy tea-lovers too! Enjoy!

Image: here

A Store with an attitude : Play Clan

This weekend I happened to be at a fair organized by the Akshay Pratishthan . For those of you who are in and around Delhi and are suckers for anything creative or handcrafted, the name will be definitely familiar. They have been doing some really wonderful work all these years.  But today this post is not about them. Its about this amazingly creative and edgy booth I saw there. Play Clan. 

I have to admit I had not seen there stuff before. Yes! I am bending my head in shame right now. They have been around and this was the first time I saw their awesome products. Its a fashion, art and design store all rolled into one. I really loved all of their products. The India twist, the colors, the humor...

They say, " Play clan is a space where you don’t see the crazy designers but you do see what they like and what they make.  Hand picked items by globe trotting; carefully chosen design, art and fashion books; graphic novels and comics; art shirts; hand painted shoes; played upon cushions, funky journals & doodle notebooks, crazy creature lamps and countless other things topped with oodles of madness and passion is what you get here."

Winners of Elle Decor EDIDA Award, they have even been invited to participate at the Ambiente Fair at Frankfurt.

So, without testing any more of your patience let me show you some of their crazy-whacky-edgy-arty products.

Tees ( I love the shot!) &  lovely tote bags

Urban Wall Art & Cushions

Oh! How i heart their stationery line.

And now some shots of their store...

Some more!

They have a store at the Select City Mall, New Delhi. Yes! I will be going there soon. And guess what! you may even buy their products online here. They offer worldwide delivery. 

Want another good news! All shipping within India is FREE! Its an introductory offer. So hurry up and check it out! And yes, you may all thank me for this post ;)

All Images & information from their website

We are running out of space!

I SO very badly need to use all the wall space that we have in the house to store books. We've really run out of bookcases.Also the little one is very busy exploring the house these days, she loves the dresser and bookracks specifically. So we are currently reorganizing everything below the height of 71 cms! And will be doing that continuously for many many cms to come;)

My hunt for some ideas threw up some very interesting images that I am sharing with you.

I am really liking the use of branches for a shelf. Though how much weight will the real branch be able to bear is debatable. Which is where the branch imitation on the left comes in. Pretty and Practical.

I also like this zig zag bookshelf which makes quite a statement, art on wall. I am also liking this very simple shelf with the triangular bookends which make it so interesting. And how cute is this book annotation! 

A tree inside my home! Perfect for a child's room. And the right one, a complete contrast to the left but using the good old tree again. Perfect for any library or a den!

Completely smitten by this dainty-curvy-pretty bookshelf. And my favorite on the right. Love the rustic look.

Had to share this crazy & cute book seesaw!

So which one do you like? Just look at these animals walking in and walking out of the books. Superb! I am definitely going to twist this idea and shamelessly steal it ;) How do you like your bookshelves to look? Do you like them organized by author/subject or you color coordinate your books too? Do you like only books to make a statement on the shelf or do you like to keep pretty knick knacks to complete the look? 

Images :

Row 1: White vase branch, White branch

Row 2: Matrix, Triangular bookends, Book Annotation

Row 3: Green tree, tiered bookshelves

Row 4: Wriggly shelf, Rustic shelf

Row 5: Seesaw shelf

Row 6: Peeking animals

Dastkar 2010

Dastkar 2010 started yesterday and of course I had to be there asap. With DH travelling, Sara and I decided to go and have some fun! Sharing some glimpses of the wonderful Dastkar Mela! Its the perfect time for an open air thingie at Delhi, so all of you who stay in and around Delhi and love to see creative stuff, do take out some time to go there! Its on at the IGNCA Lawns, Janpath (Right opposite the National Archives, at the Rajpath - Janpath intersection) from the 12th to 21st of February.

And for those of you who can't make it to the fair, here are some glimpses!

The venue has lots of colorful elephants & cute little monkeys

Check out this wall art!

My absolute fav and seemed like the crowd's fav too!

Sondha, the Garden Shop run by Vinita Nath.

Though not a big fan of dry/ artificial foliage, I thought this looked pretty

I lost my heart to these wooden lanterns and bells

Aren't these kantha mosaics perfect for any child's room? Check out the detailing.

One of my all time favs, jugaad!

Cane baskets...ummm...no lamps!

Whimsical cushion covers & art on fabric by sumearth

Will these fishes fly!

Gorgeous! Isn't it?

Check out these colorful wallets & key rings

Beads, Beads and some more beads!

Images : Personal Album

Attention all tea lovers

Attention all tea lovers! This post is for you! Do you see that tiny t-shirt on the hanger! Thats carrying your tea! How cute is this! Really, I mean I am not a tea drinker ( I Don't drink tea at all) and I want to turn into one only for these!

Designed by Soon Mo Kang, oo...Adorable!

O God! Someone save me, I am dying seeing so much cuteness!

Just check out this box of tea hangers!

Image : yankodesign

Wood in Decor

I was for hunting for some dry wood in my local market for tomorrow night ( Its Lohri tomorrow, more about the festival later) and found myself looking at pictures where wood has been used as decor.

I came across this wonderfully artistic table at AT. Isn't this so creative? Oh! my heart misses several beats when I see such innovation and reuse of regular stuff. Remember the wooden coasters that I bought and posted here, those would fit in perfectly in woody decor too, won't they?

Image : Apartment therapy

Hold it tight!

You can tell by the way you hold your mug that there's more to drinking warm beverages than well drinking warm beverages. So says the designer behind this awesome stoneware mug. And I completely agree with Robin Egg who has made both the right hand and a left hand version of this Handwarmer mug , for lefties like me ;)

I really feel holding on to something HOT is as important as drinking something hot, especially in this weather. And this cute mug has been created keeping that in mind, it has a niche not only for the fingers but also enough space for both the palms to hold the warm mug tight ;) What a cute concept!

Image : isabellacatalogue

Indigo, sapphire or azure?

I came across these on Elle decor and though I am not a huge fan of blue rooms or blue accessories, these pictures with so many shades of blue got me salivating. I especially love the vases and the tapestry on the wall. Enjoy!

Images : Elledecor

Practical Tableware

Loving this neat-no frills idea. Tableware with grooves for flatware!

Image : normaldesign.net

Must have Glamour this Christmas!

What you see here is MUST HAVE Glamour this Christmas according to me. And if you can lay your hands on these, I am going to turn very very green with envy ;)

I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE these napkin rings, An awesome combination of Amethyst and Gold! Designed by Nate Berkus they are to die for! You can buy them here.

And this shimmery Silver Wreath is coming in my dreams every night. Designed by David Stark, it uses different sized silver balls. I would like to have THIS on my door all year round! You can buy this one right here.

Coffee? How do you take yours?

I came across these mugs and LURVED them! Someone match my coffee! Instead of asking people how strong do you like your coffee/tea, isn't it cool to ask them what color do they like their coffee/tea...brillant!

Image : Suckuk

Hello Whitechina !

I can see the universe conspiring...yes I am sure...Its a ploy to make me buy white china, otherwise why would I be coming across such innovative white tableware stuff everywhere I look ,when I have always disliked it. See more posts on white tableware here and here.

Just look at these babies...I LURVE these whimsical pieces of art. How about adding some humour to your wine glasses and plates. I am definitely going to use this idea and do my version of this...white china, here I come!

Images : Unfortunately I can't recall where the source

Creating masterpieces out of the ordinary

I am loving these masterpieces created out of everyday stuff. Just look at this whimsical chandelier made out of shuttlecocks...pretty isn't it? This one has been created by Designer Gitta Schwendtner.

I bet you can't even guess what this chandlier is made up of. Here...here... let me give it away, plastic bags...yes the same ones that have been banned at Delhi. Spectacular!! British Designer Monica Hughes has created this warm and feathery lamp.

Ooooo...these super cute blossoms are made out of spoons. Designer Francois Legault is the guy behind them. Won't they look ultra cool above my dining table or even in my kitchen?

My favorite...or wait, those cute spoons are my favorite too ;) Created by artist Tracey Johnson these lights are made up of wine crates that she collected. She cut them up to mimic branches of trees and retained the wine company logos. Wow, now that is really neat!

Images : MH

Painted Platters

Remember few days back I did a post on tablescapes with white china. All of you actually left comments saying your white tableware is still resting in the box that it came in. So when I stumbled upon these pictures I had to share this with you, hoping it will inspire the artist in all of us and convince us to air that white tableware NOW!

The story is that 1000 kg of porcelain crockery produced by the famous tuscan factory of Richard Ginori (since 1735) were put into the hands of the Italian designer Paola Navone. And this is what she did it with it!! Yes! she painted each piece and created art. And now these renewed "Seconds" are being sold by weight...yes you heard it right by kilos!!!

I'd like five kilos of the bowls and ten of the plates please ;)

Seriously, how gorgeous are these? I just love the casually painted look on these platters and of course the bright hues. And just check out the porcelain tablemat. I think I am going to have to buy some white tableware ONLY to paint it like this...hmm..I MUST ;) The ones featured above are my favorite...retaining the white and adding some color, which ones do you like?

Images : Metropolitan home

Potty about Pots Series

Alright ! Technically this is not a POT but since its part of my handcrafted ceramics collection, its here ;) Its a wall piece which I intend to get framed someday.

Wall art : Made by slab and coil work. Fired at 1200 degrees in a Gas kiln

Image : Personal Collection

Origami Footstools

No,this picture is not picked up from a origami book, these are sturdy aluminum footstools. Designed by a Polish Designer, Jakub Piotr Kalinowski, the clean lines and folds make me feel as though I will be able to unfold them if i really really tried ;) Don't you feel the same?

Image : Pointclick

I need these, this winter

I came across Papaver Vert a few days back and ever since I find myself going back to Patty Benson's site. She started her venture in 2007 combining her love for wool and home decor. You will not believe it but she crochets every single piece. Wow!! Each piece handcrafted and you know me, I am a sucker for anything that is handcrafted. So it was only to be that I became a BIG fan of her work and her. What I especially love about her work are the bright colors and how an age old thing like crochet can be made to look so contemporary.

Just look at these plant cozies...I am sure all my plants would love to wear one too.

She also does these lovely bowls and coasters as well

Just seeing them makes me feel so warm...how I wish to own her entire range this winter ;)

Images : From Paperver Vert