Flowers for the monsoons ...

Is it just me ... or do you feel it too ... monsoons are here (atleast in Mumbai) ... Rakhi is around the corner ... would Dassera ... and Diwali be too far .... :)


I dug up this old antique brass container ... reminds me of all the flowers I have arranged in it as a little girl ... trying to ape my mum ... as she arranged flowers in the drawing room ...

Well , brass things around the house ... always get me in the mood for Diwali ... I want to get all geared up ... start thinking of all the color schemes I want to use this year ... start collecting the cordinating accessories ... will it be Lanterns ... candles ... votives ... diyas ... what flowers are going to look gorgeous this year ...

... just wanted to add a bit of cheer to the cloudy ... and wet days ... and promptly my florist gets me my fav. white roses with a lil' blush of pink and pink oriental lillies ...

... no we don't get any dried willows out here ... I found some dried morning glory ... all dry and still clinging on the trees ... I love the mix of texture in my arrangements ....

... o.k so Diwali is still good two months away ... but I can't help myself ... I am addicted to celebrations ... gives me all the excuses to do up the place ...

And now to start triming all my candles ,shine up the brass ware... the feel is just right ( I am not the last minute kind of person) I enjoy preparations as much as the celebrations ... are you also feeling the Diwali excitment... are you also pulling out the brass lamps ... shining them up ... thinking up the menu for the family dinner ... uuuu ... what about the linen ... colors ... lights ... and loads of excitement ... well , do share with me if the you are getting in the mood for the festival season ... :)

Hurricane Lamps ... revisited ...

With the weather having cooled down significantly ... all my candles collection is coming out ... along are also coming feeling to entertain with the twinkly lights ... and I hit upon some old pictures I took for a crafts post I did last Chirtmas ... I know ... I know I should have waited till Christmas ... but I am so into lighting up the place these days I couldn't contain my urge to share these picture ... who knows I'll post them again as Chritmas ideas revisited ... hope you too enjoy some lovely lighting up ideas for that cozy do ... you are planning ... are you ??? ... :)

These beautiful hurricane lamps are made of paper...with tea light candles inside them. Make as many as you want and put them around in groups...the effect of the candle light is enough to set you in the mood to celebrate.

For this craft project you'll need... gateway paper,it is stiff and stands well (you'll find it at all big stationary strores that stock up for architectural students
... paper punch (christmas themed design)

...glue stick

...scissors

How to ...Cut the paper into different sizes you'd like (rectangles or squares)... punch one side of the sheet with the design you decide on (I found these beautiful double star design punch)...this side goes up(not down because then your candle will show through)...overlap the two sides of the sheet and stick them with the glue stick. You've madeyourself a beautiful hurricane lamp... put it over a tealight candle.