Hey......anybody there????

I know I've been gone for a long, long time. Totally disappeared on you....just V.A.N.I.S.H.E.D. 
And........that isn't good at all, I know. But......for a good reason, which I will let you in soon, I promise. For now, I'm here as I couldn't resist popping in to share some Diwali sparkle. 
If you know me.....you know how excited I get about Diwali and where ever I am, I do my best to make it very special. This year is no different. The lights outside are already up and I have been busy putting together a few vignettes for lighting up my home:) 

Here are some from last year (might have shared them on the blog before, but who doesn't like to look at pretty pictures).......will be back soon to share more pictures from this year.  

Wishing you all a very joyous, bright, and safe DIWALI!!!
May the glow of the diyas brighten your life and bring you success and prosperity!

My Travel Diary: San Juan, Puerto Rico

I love to travel and when it comes to travelling to a place rich in history and art, the excitement is all the more. 

This summer, we took a trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico and I must say, the place is a gem of a vacation destination. I did not know what to expect when I landed here. But... it had soooo much to offer.....

natural beauty, old colonial architecture, beautiful arts and crafts....what more can one ask for from a vacation spot. 

San Juan is the oldest city on US territory.  The city has a Spanish based culture mixed in with African traditions. 

The cobbled streets of old San Juan, lined with brightly colored Spanish townhouses with wrought iron doors and windows; centuries-old forts with  impressive architecture; spectacular 

views of the ocean; lots of galleries with local modern art....all of these made my travel experience truly unique and memorable. I hope I can go back there someday. 

Here are a few snapshots from my trip. 

Images: All mine

A visit to an Antique store

As much as I would like to, I haven't had a chance to visit many antique stores.

However, on my recent trip to India, I had the pleasure to visit an antique store in Rajasthan, in the outskirts of the city of Jaipur. It wasn't any known place but my aunt had found it just by accident- almost like finding treasure:)

I was as excited to go as a little girl going to Disneyland.

The store housed a myriad of beautiful pieces, from lanterns to jharokhas, from old clocks to brass handis, from wooden blocks to carved furniture, and much, much more. I not only feasted my eyes but brought quite a few beauties home with me:)

I was a happy, happy gal!

Here are a few shots from my camera....while I strolled through the alleys of the three storied shop.

Images: Clicked by me

Covet

Spotted this Gorgeous looking Kilim chair on Pinterest, and I'm loving it:)

Via

PS: Hope you are having a great weekend!

HELLO....!

Hello!
How are you doing?

I've been gone for a long, long time.
However, I have had enough to keep me inspired.....
....been busy getting inspiration, Pinning, and browsing Houzz.

I came across this beautifully decorated New York loft and I just felt like sharing it with you all....

The style feels like it mirrors mine in so many way. The entire look is eclectic...with ethnic elements added all over. I'm loving the Chakki style coffee table, the low chair and the Ikat floor cushions. The bright pillows make the place all the more inviting:)

                               Eclectic Living Room design by New York Interior Designer Deborah French Designs

                                Eclectic Living Room design by New York Interior Designer Deborah French Designs

                                    Eclectic Bedroom design by New York Interior Designer Deborah French Designs

Find more pictures from this loft here at houzz. 

Weekend clicks

A few random clicks from my sunny weekend.....

Happy Monday and hope you have a wonderful week ahead!

Trinity

Today I'm sharing with you this trio of mirrors that I recently finished and now they hang in my family room. All three mirrors are sourced from Ikea- the simple, inexpensive malma, and then finished by yours truly:). 

The first in the series was done by me almost a year ago, the second one can be seen in my blog header...you can read more about it here. After the two, it just felt right..... to make one more and create a series. 

And so....I finally made the third one. 

How do you like it???

Helloooo......

Helllooooo there........how have you been....?

I know I've been MIA for a long long time....not just from my own blog, but I've been bad about visiting fellow bloggers too.... It seems like ages since I had any blogger connection.....

....and I don't feel good about it at all.

I do realize though.....the longer you go without blogging, more difficult it is to get back. I've had a few posts in my drafts folder for a while now...I meant to finish writing them and post them and everything......but God knows what went wrong........

Today seems different, just the right day to blog......

I woke up this morning and felt like talking to you all....about what my days have been like, what I have been doing during my weekends....and what I have in store.

The weather in my neck of the woods has been just perfect, .....although unusually warm for winters......highs ranging in the upper 70s (all my friends, living in the north, I don't mean to make you jealous, I do miss the winter chill sometimes).

We have been spending a lot of time outdoors, weekends are mostly made up of a trip to the park- my son plays with dad, while mum is busy clicking away, trying out her new camera (wink). The afternoons are spent lazing in part sun/ part shade out in the backyard. I do manage to sneak some time to finish some of my projects (more on that in my upcoming posts, I promise).

In other news, we finally finished painting our home office (any guesses on the color I picked...?). And now, the walls are all set for the artwork to be hung. Me...I've been conjuring up ideas for a cluster wall....let's see how that turns out.

So what's keeping you busy these days? Any thing interesting....talk to me!

Image: One of my many clicks

PS: Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Organizing Life

Hello... my dears....! How are you? Have you made your New Year's resolutions yet?

Another year is gone.....it's a time for new beginnings, another chance to make resolutions to improve on one's life yet again......

There is something about the new year that makes everyone think....re-consider their goals, both personal and professional......think about the past year and and think about what one could have done better.....(Do you have that kind of thoughts?)

As we roll in to the new year, I too, am awakened with renewed energy and new goals for myself.

One of them being more organized in life...and I'm not talking about organizing my physical surroundings here...I'm talking about getting mentally organized.

I'm a person who lives by the lists.... To do list, list of errands, list of home projects, shopping list...and if you are anything like me ....an ever growing list of DIYs. If something is not on my list, it tends to get lost in the business of everyday life. It's a bit much to keep track of. 

A friend introduced me to Cozi...It's an online organizer and a mobile app to organize your life.

Just the thing I needed....

via

It is my first time shifting from paper notebooks to an online medium.
I'm loving it so far....Let's hope it is a good transition.

How do you stay organized? Do you use any interesting apps? Do share...

Ten Thousand Villages

It was on my recent trip to Philadelphia when I was roaming around the city, looking for some unusual gifts for a few of my friends who I was meeting after a long long time, that I happened to find this store.

As soon as I stepped in, I knew I had to share it with all of you here. As I browsed through the products, the lady at the counter walked up to me and told me all about them.

Sure enough, I was all the more fascinated and so glad that I found them.

Ten Thousand Villages is a Fair Trade International Crafts supplier. They source crafts and handmade products from all around the world, especially to create opportunities for artisans in developing countries.

Every product purchased through them helps provide fair income to artisans.

Not only that, each product comes along with an information card telling the story about the product and the artist who created it. Isn't that so unique?

I thought this was the perfect place to pick up special gifts for my friends.

A few things that I chose.....

An owl shaped candle holder from Nepal





A terracotta dragon from Bangladesh

 

A bird wind chime from Indonesia

  

To read more about ten thousand villages and to browse their collection,

visit their website here.

They have stores all over the U.S:)

Musing about the year gone by...

The whole of December went in a flurry, with work load almost at its peak during the weekdays(phew!) and holiday parties every weekend. I was off from work between Christmas and New years and it was a lovely end to a wonderful year. I wanted to do a wrap up post for 2011 before the start of the new year....but all through out the holidays, I could not grab a few calm moments to put my thoughts together and express all that I has to say. But, it's not too late I guess....So...here goes....

As I welcome the year 2012, I can't help but look back at the year that went by. It was a year full of activity....doing things that I enjoy thoroughly....travelling, crafting, blogging and spending time with loved ones.

The year started off with a long trip to India for my sister's wedding. And what a memorable trip it was......Then there were vacations to Mexico and California in the summer, and a weekend getaway to the mountains up in Georgia. To top it all, a much awaited week long trip to Europe. WOW....what a year it has been!!!!

It has been a very fulfilling year and I owe it all to you, my readers. You are the one who gives me encouragement and inspiration to be creative. I indulged in quite a few creative projects and it was all because of the encouraging words that you write on my blog. Through this blog, I have found so many amazing friends, and I'm thankful to each one of you for being there.

I hope that the year 2012, will be even better, and full of inspiration, for you and for me!

Wishing you a very happy, prosperous and cheerful 2012!

Happy New Year 2012!