Crazy Petunias

A pot filled with petunias.They are the most easy to grow ...if you remember a few things.Don't let them stand in too much watered soil...and put them in sunny patch.I usually plant 3-4 plants in about an 8-10 inch pot. ..and watch them go just crazy blooming.My personal favorites are pink and whites.But petunia come in so many colors...you are sure to find your favorite one.Seeing the new plants arriving in the market...I remembered this pot I grew last season.
If you are a person who likes to surround yourself with things that make you smile ...petunias are never disappointing.

Collectables... handcrafted ship models

I am a collector...always looking for my version of eye candy...collectables... and I firmly believe in travelling to have fun(collect).

Vacation time in Mauritius,I was looking to rejuvinate...after a hectic year as a new mom ... but besides the sun and the sand...I was looking for something else.The handcrafted ship model factories.

My brother-in -law, (stationed in Mauritius at the time and our host) ...was handy with his knowledge of the island country and we went to see this factory at a place called... Cupip ... as interesting as the name of the place itself.

Right from the moment you enter the parking...it is a sight for a collectors sore eyes...craftsmen at work...giving finishing touches to different ship models ...and very handy with the history behind the original ship.By the time you get into their display area,one is amazed at the finesse behing this craft.Ofcourse, the passion with which all the models are made is awe inspiring.There is attention to the very last detail that makes them look absolutely surreal .

This particular factory we went to had models of French ships...with the exception of a few British ones.The craftsmen ship ,the attention to detailing,and the beautiful pieces I saw ...I had to take one home. Cyril ,the one who took us around the place ,assured me what ever I picked would reach India without any problems.I picked the La Superbe, a 1784 French battleship.I love it and it has found itself a place on my crockery unit by the window...I love to see its sail flutterring away in the mumbai sea breeze.

Christmas around the corner

Christmas around the corner...we are all looking for lots of inspirtion for all the decorations to do... the tree to put up...and trim...find all those special ornaments to hang...think of the Christmas pudding...yule log...ginger bread man...bows for the wreath... cocktails for the party...the stocking fillers... gifts for the special ones...after all there's something so exciting about this time of the year....so start thinking up the colors for this years Christmas at your homes.Looking forward to sharing some fun ideas with all of you.

Magic by candle light

Light up the mood you want for your party... candles have that effect on almost everyone ...they just make people want to be around them...and when you are looking to charm and be charmed...candle light will do it for you.
We used these four inch thick,cream color candles...I just love collecting these unscented ones. And the whole room was magical ...

The story of a dining table

Starting a new home after getting married often means things are done on a shoestring budget. I have taken years to build all the pieces that are now part of, whichever and wherever, the place my family makes home.(yes we move often)
When it came to deciding the dining set …I knew I wanted to compose it myself. ( Yep, like a piece of art) For one, it had to fit my budget and the other, I didn’t want to feel that budget was a compromising factor.
There were some things I was quite sure of. I wanted a round table top and the chairs with arm rests. We often linger on with our conversations at the dining table (which I love).
Try using an architectural piece and you will know what a style statement it makes. I was eager to try out a shop on Mehrauli-Gurgaon road that used to get these beautiful carved stone pieces, from Jaipur. I asked him to make me an urn shaped pot …the height of a dining table base, but not with a narrow mouth. I needed at least 19 inches (approx.) to balance the glass top on.
This led to the next decision the glass top for the table. I was mostly suggested that a 12 mm to 14 mm thickness was ‘good’. But I wasn’t sure. I was more in favor of the 19mm thickness. I was scared thinner glass will have less weight and if someone bent over on the table it would topple . Remember, I didn’t have a very wide base to balance the top on. And thicker glass top would not be that fragile either. The stone base was not quite what I had ordered. But I liked the look of the yellow sand stone. I took it. When both the base and the top were delivered, I had these chairs I picked in a small lane of Ghitorni(mehrauli-Gurgaon road) waiting. After all the delivery boys left…. I cleaned the glass to a shine…put the chairs in and stepped back. Had there been a mirror I might have caught myself blushing. I really liked my new dining set.