SAVE SEAWOODS LAKE

I sincerely apologise to all my friends and readers... for lack of posts of late and my not being prompt in replying to all your comments ... I genuinely have a reason.We are working at trying to find ways to save an enviromentally sensitive lake in our neighbourhood (which incidently happens to be the endangered mangroves that government of India is striving very hard at protecting and conserving)

Sadly though , in a maze of red tape and probably profitable realestate deals ... this lake is loosing out the battle to survive and not many are forthcoming to help this cause.

If you may be interested to know more about this issue ... you can join the group ...SAVE SEAWOODS LAKE ... on facebook.

We can do with help of any sort ... you can be residing in anypart of the earth ... but please remember ... every environmental issue concerns all of us alike ...

You can help by covering this issue in all the media you deal with ... do you know organisations who may be interested in supporting and intervening for this cause.

Write to our authorities... (you'll find the e-mail addresses on facebook group SAVE SEAWOODS LAKE)

Share your views with others on the group... encourage others out there by something more you may have to share ...

Help us mobilise media and public pressure on the local authorities so that they may take the decision that is best for our environment.

Please help ... this is about our environment ... its about our earth ... this is about all of us.

Indian brassware ... treasures galore ...

I have been flooded with loads of queries about the brassware you often see on my blog ... and so today I decided to take you all with me to my lil' fav. haunt ... and let you peak around the tiny little handicraft store that I find so much fun to go browsing ... on this trip I set my heart on this particular box ... :)

... I have been seeing this beautiful clock for quite some time in a far side of the store ... its origins being from some old Indian palace or Haveli ... you see what I mean ,when I say ...I go peaking into corners ...


... its a small store but Anita ( the owner) ... has an interesting collection ... and I always find myself eyeing something ... love this beautiful bell ... craved on it are different avatars of Goddess Durga ... hmmm ... I was intrigued ...

... brassware from different corners of India can be as different in styles ... as if from two different corners of the world ... this brass box is from tribal areas of Bastar (central India) ...


... and here are two people I love to go and meet ... with their warm smiles ( they are camera shy)... and their absolute down to earth nature ... I go all mush ... when they come up with the next interesting piece ... I can't drive a bargain for nuts and I end up buying more then I intented to ...

... what ever your taste in accesorising your home ... their is bound to be something for you in some corner or some shelf ... and I am definite some abrakophile out their would love this Cheeta in brass ...

... oooH! this deer siting on the floor ... appears to look right at you ... in a lovable sort of way ...

... heres another set of box collection from bastar ... the patina ... of brass is so playable ... shine it up ... pale it down ... darken it with age ... and everyone of them has a different charm ...

... I went all out of focus with this pictre but I had to put it here ... cause some of you wanted to know where I got my Diwali spoon shaped diyas ... well from right here and if you'd be interested in them just contact Anita ( I'll have her details at the bottom of the post) ... she'll ship anywhere in the world ...:)

.... Hmmmm ..........

... these were interesting ... I'm pretty sure plenty out there would love them ... small musical instruments ... well they really are Haldi and Kum-kum holders (used in Hindu prayer rituals) ...

... Umran ... he sure is as passionate about the shop and its treasures as is Anita ... :)

...and according to Umran ... having a lady with a pot, statue ... at home ... is considered lucky ... :) ....

...ahh! one of my fav's .. the traditional Indian oil lamps ...

... this here looked like another piece with European links ... another auction piece from some old Indian home ... the motifs definitely didn't look of Indian origin ... how interesting ... I love this mish-mash ... its all Indian and some of it is has history beyond India ...

... another piece I loved ... I do think I am getting carried away with the pieces I see ...

... a tribal Indian bullock cart ... and a typical Indian autorikshaw ... any abrakophile ... ooouuuu ... ing ... ;)

... another tribal piece ... I wonder if this is also from bastar or anothr tribal area ... their styles .. definitely distinct ...

... oh! and this was interesting too ... Umran insists that this is a 200-300 yr old .. Thai piece ... its broken... but I was intrigued to discover, its existence in Navi Mumbai ...

... had it not been for an indulgent pair of sunglasses I picked just the day before ... this elephant was mine ... ;)

... a tortoise box ... from tribal India ...

... Indian wine decanter ... wow... wee... old ... antique ... expensive ... no ... no ... I can't even think about it ...

... this piece at the entrance of the store ... I would love to know more about it ...

... I wonder if you liked some of the pieces ... a lot many of my readers asked me where do you go looking ... well no where particular ... try your local handicraft store ... emporiums ... you'll just get your way going from their ... the Indian brassware is so extensive ... there is so much treaure ... you really must go look ...

Hope you enjoyed my lil' haunt for the moment ... and hope it got you into the mood for some more shopping ... do share with me ... your side of the story ... :)

the store details are -

Istika ,Handicraft Shop

33,Bombay Annex C.H.S.,

Sector -17,Vashi,

Navi Mumbai - 400705

Ph. - 022 - 2788 2214

E-mail - umran678@yahoo.co.in

Another one for your shopping lists ... Collectibles by Patience Brewster ...

You ask me if it hasn't already stared to jingle in my head .... ???? .... well! ... Oh, hellllll .... YES ... and when it begins to jingle ... it for sure reminds me of Krinkles ...

If you love loads of fantasy in your life ... and Christmas lets you vent all that pent up imagination ... you are rightup my alley ...

... in that case let me share with you Krinkles , the creation of Patience Brewster ... the most amazingly creative woman ... I really think she works with her heart in her head and has loads of fun doing what she does ...

... I've been drooling over her creations for years now ... and every Christmas I get nostalgic about when I'd get to lay my hands on one of her creations ...and have my Christmas tree all done up with these collectables ...

... or have these gorgeous stockings which are part of her collection ... hung over my mantle ...

... This fat butt, eggplant krinkle is definitly one of my fav.'s ... :)

... and wait till you go and check out her reindeer range for Christmas ... infact, she has a kringle for every occassion ... :)

... easter Krinkles ... I'll take those as well ... put them in my shopping cart and zip them (I mean ship them) ... over to India ... ;)

... four calling birds from her 12 days of Christmas collection ... o.k pack these too ... :)

.... before I slip into some serious case of depression .. let me also tell you ... Patience Brewster doesn't just stop at these ... pop over at Horchow or Neiman Marcus and check out her full range of products ... Hope I got a lil' something new on that shopping list of yours next time you plan your trip to the US ... :)

Image Courtsey

image 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ,13 , 14,19 , 20 , 21 - www.fiddlesticksdallas.com , image 1 , 2 - www.interiordiggs.com , image 12 - www.patiencebrewsterkrinkles.com ,image 3 , 15 ,16 , 17 , 18 - unknown

It's been a Whole 1 yr. of blogging .... Thankyou all sooo ... much

Its been a whole year of blogging for me ... I really can't believe it ... it sure feels like a long long time ... there's so much happening in my life because of this blog that ... it couldn't have been just one year ...

And its so very human I guess ... when something makes you happy ... you feel like thanking everyone whose been there all along ... well ! there's someone whose never been mentioned enough for that ... its Sam ... my hubby dear ...

... if one picture could say it all ... its this ... thats really the way he is ... a fire ball of super energy ... and I am always trying to catch up.Well ... for a technology challenged Designer like me ... its having him around that things seem so smooth in life ... my laptop is always working smooth ... if its not behaving I'll have Sam up through the night fixing it ... he knows all about my camera ... my camera never goes dead ... he makes sure of that ... the baby gets put to bed if mommy gotta work late at night ... Aimee's late night walks are always taken care of ... o.k its the maids that he can't handle ... ;) aah!well ... that's another story... :)

I really have loads to thank him for ...

...And I have all the thankyou's for all my readers ... theres so much more that happens on this blog than just a blogger with ideas and readers with their comments ... I've made friends ... really great ones ... I am often taken aback with the kind of ways we all seem to want to share with each other ... encourage and be there for each other ... THANKYOU ... though some how it doesn't feel enough ... well, till I go and figure out another way and some more special ways ... hope you'll all come along and enjoy reading my blog and leave me your side of the story ...

... THANKYOU ALL FOR THIS WONDERFUL YEAR ...

Displaying your basic utilities ... guest towels

Nothing makes a bigger style statement, than seeing the very basic things of everyday living presented with a certain pizzaz ....

... heres a display idea for your very mundane ... but still very basic necessity of every powder room ... your guest towels ...


... add that pizzaz in what you display ... a clam shell to hold your guest towels ... and linen towels ...


... all starched and ironed crisp ... linen is an absorbant fabric ... you won't go wrong ... it makes for some great guest towels ... and throw in some fresh soap ... woww ... wee ...

... as simple as that ... you are bound to enjoy a simple zing that it'll add ... while you entertain your next guests ... if you too love such simple ideas to spruce up the home and add your special style ... I'd love to hear all that you 'd love to share ... :)