Here's wishing my awesome readers and friends a Happy New Year!! May 2014 be a year filled with happiness for each and every one of you :)

A big hug and thank you for stopping by....Anu

Image: My Dream Canvas

Heading Towards The New Year!!

2013 is making its way out and we are getting ready to usher in the New Year! This past year has been very eventful for me. It has been both good and bad. In some ways, I end this year as a wiser and stronger person! The most important lesson that I have learnt this year is to be grateful for what I have. Life is unpredictable and its best to cherish what you have. For me, its my family, my friends and my home! I am sure its the same for most of you! I hope your New Year comes around on a positive note. Remember to smile, cherish what you have and live your dreams.....





These are some pictures I took at a family Christmas dinner! I am sending some twinkling lights your way to brighten your day :)

A crackling fire, yummy food, family and good times....

Images: My Dream Canvas

Yarn Wrapped to empty bottles

 MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY BLOG VISITORS

Merry Christmas From Me To You

Hello there!! The Gifts have been wrapped and placed under the tree. There are cookies and milk on the table for Santa......and of course carrots for Rudolph :) We are tracking Santa's path via here! The excitement is mounting for the kids!!



I am her to wish you a Very Merry Christmas from my home to yours :)

Image: My Dream Canvas

Beautiful Spaces : Vogue's International Editors Home

I am not sure how I missed this!! I just spotted the lovely home of Hamish Bowles, Vogue's International Editor At Large and had to share it with you. He owns this colorful and whimsical apartment in Paris. I love the drama and elegance of this home.





My favorite room in the house is the bedroom. The framed paintings and the silk headboard make quite a statement. Personally, I don't fill up my walls with a lot of stuff but this looks good....don't you think??

Pretty flowers, a vintage photo, books and scrumptious macaroons.....what's not to love about that!!

To view pictures of the entire house click here!





Images by Francois Hallard for The World Of Interiors.

Countdown to Christmas

We are counting down to Christmas on My Dream Canvas! I am with my parents in India this year. We have a cute little tree for the kids in the living room! My regular decorations at home in Seattle are not up this year! However, here are a few images from last year to set the mood :)



Delhi is alive with Christmas decorations and I hope to post some pictures soon. I am a wee bit under the weather these days but hopefully by the time Christmas comes around.....all will be well! A trip back home to India is therapeutic. The endless chatting, the buzz of activity, meeting friends after years, eating yummy food and chilling at my parents home is the perfect way to end the year. I am missing hubby dear, if he was here, it would be just perfect!!



Its snowing in Seattle today and its a chilly night in Delhi as well.

While its cold and grey on the outside, things are sparkling on the inside :) What's your favorite Christmas tradition? Mine is definitely putting up the tree and hearing my kids squeal in delight as the ornaments are unwrapped and hung on the tree! 

Have you entered my Christmas Giveaway. Click here to enter to win a stunning lamp/diya from the Shop At My Dream Canvas.

Images: My Dream Canvas and subject to copyright.

Merry Christmas to my Blogger Buddies and Viewers!! I am back

Beautiful Christmas Decorative Branches which can also be reused for Diwali decoration next year.I found them at Micheals for $1.49 and branch.These add splash of colour and instant festive spirit.

Dollar tree Mini Wreath converted it into this beautiful wreath with the decorative Christmas mini balls from which I found them at Target.

 

This Year I purchased lot of decorative ornaments which are great quality and just for a dollar at Target dollar section.

A Giveaway To Say Thank You!!

Hello there! As I get ready to launch another collection at "The Shop At My Dream Canvas", I realize that I have a lot to be thankful for. The people I need to thank are " You". My loyal friends and readers who have encouraged me to continue on with my little store :) My finds are personal and they appeal to me. I feel very happy when I see my precious finds in a beautiful home! My Shop's story is one of a collector, home maker and a traveler. While my store is not big and not the most organised...... it is a venture from the heart :) 



The Giveaway today is a beautiful brass diya/lamp. I fell in love with it instantly and this diya will be a part of my new collection. If you like it as much as I do, then enter the Giveaway and this diya could be yours :)



Here are the details and a few simple rules: This Giveaway is for my readers in India and The United States.

You would need to be a follower of My Dream Canvas via Google Friend Connect. If you already are, leave me a comment to enter the Giveaway.

For additional entries (one extra entry for each of the following):

1. 'Like' My Dream Canvas on Facebook and leave a comment.

2. Tweet about this Giveaway and leave a comment.

3. Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment.

The winner will be chosen via random.org. I shall announce the winner on Christmas Day, December 25th 2013.

Good luck and thanks..............hugs Anu!!

Image: Shop At My Dream Canvas

Holiday Entertaining!

Its the 11th of December and Christmas is a few days away. I am sure many of you have holiday entertaining on your mind!! This country Christmas decor featured on Homelife recently caught my eye! The vintage decorations and natural linens look so elegant. Do you like it as much as I do???

Images: via

A Dream Canvas Update!

A big Hello from my Home away from Home! I am at my parents home in Delhi. The days are whizzing past as I spend my time with family and friends. Its hard to believe that I moved away from here nearly 14 years ago....it feels like it was yesterday:) I am grateful for all the wonderful family and family I have both here and in the States. With all the chatting and shopping I am not being able to blog regularly. I shall make amends soon.



I am working on a brand new collection for the Shop At My Dream Canvas and that keeps me busy :)

I am here in India to celebrate a very important milestone. My parents celebrate their 40th wedding Anniversary on the 10th. I am so glad I am here with them on this special day :) 



Here's wishing you a great week ahead! Do drop me a line, I miss my lovely readers and would love to hear from you!!

Image : My Dream Canvas in Delhi

Interiors By Erin Michael

I apologize for the infrequent blog posts off late. I am enjoying time with my family in a city where I grew up. I love Delhi and more so in the winter months. The city comes alive with music concerts and bazaars and I plan to make the most of it :) 



I recently stumbled upon the work of Erin Michael and had to share it with you. Erin Michael is a Sydney based Freelance Interior Stylist. Her work appeals to me as its stylish but with a relaxed vibe." She creates an effortless look by carefully selecting pieces she loves, blending them in her own style teamed with a creative color palette."



Click here to view her portfolio.

Images : via

Hello From Delhi

Hello there! I am sorry for this long absence from blogging. I have missed you all.  I am in India with my parents. First it was the jet lag and then its been family time. There has been a lot of good food, endless chatting....chaos and relaxation!




How have you been? I stopped briefly at a Winter  Weaves Exhibition and took this picture. I promise you many more colorful posts from India. So stay tuned....



I also wanted to wish my readers in the United States a Happy Thanksgiving!! See you around!

Image: My Dream Canvas

Take Me Away...

I have a gazillion things to do before an upcoming trip and am popping in to say a quick " Hello". I shall try and be regular with my blog posts. However, you know how these trips go....sometimes you just can't! I mean that in a good way :)



I am excited......and yet the endless chores are taking over my life! I guess, I shall relax when I am on the flight or when I get there :) Why is it that despite my best efforts at being organised, things get crazy before a trip. What about you? Do you have some tips/tricks up your sleeve to make the last minute mayhem before a trip go away??



Have  a great week ahead! I shall be back sometime or someday but for now take me away.......

Image: My Dream Canvas

An Evening Glow

I like to believe that I am an organised person!! However, off late, I have too many things on my plate. Nothing seems to get done!!! Yes, its one of those days for me.....sigh! Well at least, I am happy its Friday....... as I am sure you are too :) Here's wishing you a fabulous weekend from my home to yours. I took this picture a few days ago when I had some people over. Looking at it today, its helping me calm down a wee bit :) The magic of flowers and candles can never fail!! Right ?



Image : My Dream Canvas and Copyrighted!!

Fabulous Finds " Furbish Studio"

I recently stumbled upon a treasure chest of goodies. A store in Raleigh, North Carolina called Furbish Studio. The owner of this store is Jamie Meares. Meares is a sought-after trendsetter, designer, and blogger. In 2009, as an extension of her popular lifestyle blog called I Suwannee, Meares opened Furbish Studio. 

"Furbish offers a curated collection of fabulous finds for the home, including unique pieces of furniture, both old and new, inspired lighting, and modern artwork. The store is stocked with textiles in vibrant patterns and bold combinations, including bedding, pillows, rugs and designer fabrics. Coveted accessories and one-of-a-kind treasures inspire visitors to decorate their homes with easygoing flair."



Her blog and the shop are an absolute delight! I could spend hours at this store and hope to see it in person someday. I lived in Cary which is very close to Raleigh, after I got married. We do make trips back there every once in a while! For now, I am happy to browse the site online and so should you :) They also ship.....yay!!!



Sigh....remember my plan of owning my own little store with trinkets from around the world. Well.....her site makes me dream again :) I shall have a book store and a cafe as well :) Bye for now as I am off to daydream.........



By the way, this post is long has a lot of drool worthy pictures :) Pick your favorite and let me know? 

Images via: I Suwanee and subject to Copyright

A Very Cool Ipad Stand :)

I really like this very cool, elegant and stylish Ipad stand I found on VivaTerra today! This stand is hand-carved from sustainable sheesham wood by master artisans in India. The stand displays the beauty of floral mandala woodwork while displaying recipes - either on the Ipad or in a cookbook. What's not to love about that ? These items are created in collaboration with a non- profit fair-trade organization that helps impoverished, often physically handicapped carvers. 



Do you like it ??

Images: via

Lets Chat Today On My Dream Canvas

Its is getting really cold in my part of the world. Very soon, we shall see a lot less of sunshine. I am savoring it for now, as I know it shall not last long. In January, a few years ago, I recall it being cloudy and rainy for 21 days in a row. That same year we took the children to Hawaii to escape the dreary winter. We landed at night. The next morning when we opened the drapes, my kids could not stop blinking!! They had not seen the sun for so long that they were not used to it :) My younger one actually pointed towards the window and asked me what that was???  



Therefore here are a few sunny corners from my home :) Now you can understand my obsession :)



Now back to the world of design and decor! I have a confession to make, I am bored of decorating/ changing the decor in my house. There I said it :) For now, I am content. This is NOT because my home is immaculate but because its comfortable. What I need to work on is not the "beauty" of the house. This is not about the curios, the paintings, the flowers, the candles but my messy drawers and overflowing wardrobes :) Yes, there are corners and corners that are a complete mess, not visible on My Dream Canvas :) However, while it bothers me, I have to be honest, the thought of all that clean up, organizing and sorting is not fun. The decorating part is so much more exciting:) 



Do you feel like that too?? Are there others out there just like me?? How do you tackle this problem? I would love some suggestions and for you to share your ideas on the blog today!



So lets start chatting :)

Images: My Dream Canvas

Camilla Franks Designs

Camilla Franks is an internationally acclaimed designer known for her playful, vibrant and luxurious clothing for woman. The Camilla label brings worldly charm and exotic flavor to timeless fashion. I recently spotted these exquisite cushions which are also a part of her home collection. 



I love them all. Its the perfect look for Winter and can add the right amount of global/ bohemian vibe to your living space! Visit Camilla to view the entire collection.

Images: via

An Exciting November and Ideas For Holiday Entertaining

Wow, November is here!!! This year has gone by in a whizz. Temperatures are falling and the leaves are silently falling around me. Winter beckons.....



This is my backyard just before the rain and wind arrived. I guess its time for change! The backyard has a carpet of leaves but the tree is almost bare! I really enjoyed Fall this year. Winter promises to be fun too! I am off to India in a few weeks. I can hardly wait :)





I shall miss this sight.....

While browsing on the web, I stumbled upon these beautifully illustrated and hand drawn decal plates by Shanna Murray! They are available at West Elm. I am completely in love with them :) They look perfect for some Holiday entertaining, don't you think? The look is playful, rustic and elegant!

Image 1 : My Dream Canvas, Image 2 and 3 : West Elm

A Sparkling "My Dream Canvas"

 As the evening fades away,a weekend of celebrations comes to an end in my neck of the woods! However  the sparkle and shine of Diwali lingers on in my home! I miss my family a lot, especially this time of the year. I reminisce about my childhood years and my husband has to patiently hear it all :) Diwali was always a big deal in my house. I am happy to keep the traditions alive in my home here in the States. I hope one day my children will look back and remember the significance of this festival and all the sparkle and shine :)



Here's wishing you a great week ahead!

Image: My home this Diwali.

Diwali Greetings From My Dream Canvas

It is the middle of the night in my part of the world. I am here to wish all my wonderful readers around the world........A very Happy Diwali from my home to yours! May you and your loved ones have a bright and beautiful Diwali.



A big hug from me to you and thank you for stopping by My Dream Canvas!



Image: My home this evening!

Sruthi's Eclectic Home in Virginia

I am delighted to bring you a tour of a lovely home tour just in time for Diwali :) This charming home belongs to Sruthi. I have featured Sruthi's sun room on MDC before and you can read about it here.



I asked Sruthi to describe her home and her style in her own words and here's what she had to say "I am Sruthi, a blogger at The East Coast Desi. I live with my

Husband (Giridhar) and 6 year old son (Pranav) in Virginia. My husband Giridhar and I believe that

our home should reflect our personalities, style sensibilities and our Indian roots. Being away from

home (India) made us realize our love for all things Indian. That set off the basic eclectic theme that we planned to carry out throughout our home . We also treasure all the ancestral pieces that

we have inherited from our family. We like surrounding ourselves with

pieces that have traces of time and a story to tell."


Sruthi's home has a character and attention to detail which I like. My favorite corner of her home is definitely this one......I like how calm, serene and beautiful everything looks!!

"The art above the couch in the picture below, is a collection of hand painted palkis/palanquins that were bought at a craft sale back in Bangalore. They were framed with Fiber glass and carried all the way back here with "Fragile" taped to all sides of the suitcase."



Sruthi sounds like me!! I too have carried a ton of stuff back from India, nervous and anxious that they reach the States intact :)

"The knick-knacks on the coffee table are a blend of antiques that are family heirloom pieces and new pieces that we found on our travels. My prized possession has to be the lady with the lamp that belonged to my great grandmother. I also have copper pan daans, brass beer mugs and brass lamps that are heirloom pieces. I cherish them with my heart and soul. I have to say that I have inherited my style sensibilities from my parents who are avid antique collectors".

A lovely floral arrangement....

"Our basement is the only room that has a western influence. This is our media/entertainment room. We usually entertain a lot of guests here. In the winter with the fire place on, it’s a great place to cozy up. The sun burst mirror was a family project. We did it together and it turned out great".

Another favorite corner of mine from Sruthi's home!!

Thank you Sruthi for sharing your beautiful world with the readers of My Dream Canvas. Please leave your comments for Sruthi below. I am sure she would love to hear from you:)



Images: Sruthi via The East Coast Desi and subject to copyright.