Kiran Ravilious New Linen Cushions

I have blogged about Kiran Ravilious block prints earlier on My Dream Canvas. I really like Kiran's work. Her latest range of linen cushions are fabulous. These cushions are printed and made in England. Kiran will soon have matching wallpapers and upholstery/curtain fabric on her site as well.

She uses traditional lino printmaking techniques to produce unique and vibrant hand printed designs on natural linen products.



To view her entire collection visit her website and her Facebook Page.

 

 

Images: copyright © Kiran Ravilious 2013

 

 

Spot My Design Crush

There is something in the room featured here that has caught my eye! Can anyone guess what it is? It is my design crush for today :)  I have fallen for the very innovative center table in this room. These modular blocks that look like crates look amazing in my opinion! I love the way it has been used to display books/magazines and other knick-knacks.




What do you think? Also, do drop me a line if you were right in guessing what I had fallen for :)

 

 

 

 

Images: via

A New Year Resolution For My Home

I am happiest when I spend time with my camera. In the middle of a crazy day I love to stop for a few minutes to take pictures. It acts as an instant stress buster. A cup of tea completes the picture:-) I am getting really tired of the winter and the dark gloomy days which is typical for this time of the year. Since I can't do a whole lot outside, I am trying to focus on things that I have been ignoring on the home front. My home is being cleaned out! I  have already made three trips to Goodwill last week to donate stuff. I am attacking every nook and cranny of the house and trying to get rid of things that we no longer need. I have a long way to go, but at least it is a start. I feel a great sense of achievement once I am back after dropping off the stuff. It makes me happy to be able to give away things to people who might need it more.

 

De- cluttering the house is an ongoing process for me. However, this year it is part of my New Year resolution. I hope I can keep this going for a while :) Do you have any tips to share about this process? I really envy those people who are disciplined and de- clutter on a regular basis.

 

 

This is a picture of my Turkish kettle. It is from the store called Loaded Trunk and I have blogged about them here and here!

 

 

Images: My Home

 

Joining Wow Us Wednesday# 103 At Savvy Southern Style.

Joining The Aloha Blog Hop at What Jean Likes.

From The Flea Market In Madrid

I love flowers and especially Tulips. When I spotted my favorite flowers displayed in a gorgeous shoe shaped glass vase, I just had to share it with you :) I love these colored, quirky, fun and beautifully shaped shoe vases. Don't you? These vases are from El Rastro, a popular open air flea market in Madrid.



Hmm........I wish I had spent time at this market when I was there! Here's wishing you a great week ahead!!

Image: via

Come Fly With Me To Cambodia's Islands

To shake of those Monday blues you need to Come Fly With Me to Song Saa, a private island in Cambodia! I hope you are interested :) This is Cambodia’s first luxury private island resort. Exotic luxury combined with refined elegance and stunning views...... Song Saa is a dream come true :) The protection of the natural environment and the support of local communities is central to Song Saa’s ethical charter. What's not to love about that!





I would be happy to wake up here!

Take a stroll down here!

Contemplate about my life here!

Dig into something delicious......yum!

So pretty and simple!

My favorite.....brass bowls and tea lights in a tree trunk...sigh!

 

 

Happy Monday everyone!!

 

 

Images: via

Weekend Perfection

I am so in love with everything about this image. I hope your weekend is going well?




See you around :)

Image: via

An Update From The Shop At My Dream Canvas

I wanted to do this post earlier this month but never got around to it! I have been meaning to thank those of you who have made something from my little boutique a part of your home! It really means a lot to me!

A big thank you to everyone else for all your encouragement and support!



The Shop at My Dream Canvas will have a new Spring/Summer collection later this year. For all those of you who have been asking, this is the last of the brass artifacts and white metal items that I have in stock. These items will not be back again. Please view the album on my Facebook page to place your final order.



Click HERE to view the products currently available. Please email me for more details.





A Big Thank You and here's to another New Year for The Shop At My Dream Canvas :)

 

  

 

Images : Copyright The Shop At My Dream Canvas. 

 

Smile This Weekend

Hello my lovely readers! This weekend do something that makes you happy. Remember to smile and spread the joy around :) I am happiest when I am on a road trip with my family. This image is from our road trip to the Oregon coast last month.





Here's wishing you a beautiful weekend!

Image: Mine and Subject to Copyright.

Cutting Chai By Sahana Singh

I have admired Sahana's style since the first time I read her blog. Today, I am happy to share her latest venture her on My Dream Canvas. Sahana Singh lives in Mumbai, India and blogs at Home Is Where The Art Is. Sahana is a self-taught furniture designer, interior decorator, photographer, painter, blogger, foodie and travel junkie. A gal after my own heart :)




Sahana has recently launched a delightful range of hand painted glass items.
Her products are quirky and fun and in my opinion an absolute treat. I can barely wait to get my hands on them :)  I adore her cutting chai series which is basically a  set of six glasses in different colours, stacked in caddies that are used to
serve tea.
The paint she uses is wash proof and food safe. In case you are wondering "chai" is the Indian word for tea :)



She has a lot more in store for us including her new range of rainbow bottles. Visit her Facebook page to view her products and to place your order. Sahana currently ships within India. I am hoping that by popular demand she will begin international shipping as well :)



All the best Sahana!



Visit Home Is Where The Art Is and her Facebook page for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Images: via. Copyright Sahana Singh.

A Restored Home in Carisbrook, Victoria

For those of you who have been reading My Dream Canvas for some time now, know of my love for old homes and restoration projects.  I am instantly drawn to homes with character and this one has an interesting past as well :) This home was discovered by the owners in a small town called Carisbrook in Victoria, Australia. Many of the town’s buildings date back to the1850's and so does this seven room building which was originally a butcher shop!!

Not sure how I would feel about that :) However, the home is filled with interesting things collected by the owners over the years. Little treasures, antiques and junk lovingly restored by them to create a home that is warm, cosy and well loved!

 

 

This unusual and striking artwork came with the house!

 

 

 

 

 

I love how recipes are written  on the chalk board splash back in the kitchen.

 

 

 

 

Such a pretty outdoor space!

 

 

Charcoal drawings by the owner hang beneath a landscape inherited from her grandmother. The cottage clock was acquired at auction.

 

 

 

 

What did you think of this house? I would love to know.

 

Images: via

Fabulous Finds "Arastan"

As I continue to sniffle away....I am finding it hard to stay away from  My Dream Canvas :) Its so boring being sick!!  I need to divert my mind and this week's Fabulous Find does just that :)

 My find for this week is called Arastan. This is a venture by Nisha Misra based in Bangalore, India. In her words," Arastan was born from my wanderlust and deep curiosity about the art, craft and architecture of the ancient silk route."Arastan is an online store that curates rare and handpicked treasures from exotic bazaars along the ancient silk route. Visit Arastan for more information.

Here are images of suzanis acquired from Arastan and used as upholstery. Click here to read the story of how these beautiful pieces were created.

 

Aren't they gorgeous!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Images: via

Heading Outdoors This Monday

Good Morning. Almost everyone at the MDC Casa is recovering from the flu. It has not been fun!! However, this beautiful image makes me think of Spring and of heading outdoors.

 

This is my kind of an outdoor haven. I would never want to leave :) Here's wishing you a great week ahead.

 

 

Image: via

Friday Musings

The fog continues to roll in around where I live. The weekend beckons and I am looking forward to it. This was not a good week for me and I shall not miss it!! I am looking forward to a weekend of doing absolutely nothing!!

This image is lovely
and makes me feel good. Kind of where I want to be :)



I am here to wish you a good weekend
my lovely readers.......

 

 

Image: via

A Basket Full of Books

It has been busy on the home front these past few days. Hubby and daughter have both been sick and are at home. We are in a deep freeze with icy cold days and foggy mornings. I am going a bit crazy juggling errands, volunteering at my son's school, getting physiotherapy for my shoulder and playing nurse!! I know  is going to get better, but for now things are a wee bit crazy at the MDC Casa :)




Its days like these when I want to retreat into a corner with a cup of tea and a good book!  Its not going to happen for me, but I like the thought of it :) This basket full of books looks tempting and so perfect!



What a lovely way to display books, don't you think?

 

 

 

I could spend an afternoon here with a good book!

 

 

 

 

I like the look of this room/ study. Very chic yet cosy and comfy at the same time :)

 

 

I hope you are enjoying your day wherever you are!





Image: 1 and 2 via, Image 3 via

Global Influences in Design

I recently wrote an article for iDiva.com and thought of sharing it with you today.

Here are some excerpts from the article and a few images from my home!




"There are many ways to incorporate global influences while designing your home. I personally don’t consider this style as traditional or ethnic. There
can be modern interpretations of culturally-influenced designs. Tribal-influenced design
is all about bold patterns and colors. However, you can present it in the modern
environment by tempering it with a lighter color palette and subtler details."




The editor of DÉCOR magazine is quoted as saying, “great design transcends
geographic borders, so now is not the time to be timid about getting away and
bringing back bits from abroad. Traveling with an open mind, a keen eye, and
a willing wallet is the easiest way to give your rooms a lived-in, many-layered,
culture-conscious look.”
I could not agree more!



You can read the entire article here!



For me each of these exquisite hand-embroidered fabrics come with a story. The bedspread in the first image, the one with the white base was bought by my mother for me.  I think it was the early 90's when I was still in college. We were travelling in Rajasthan ( India) and found this in a tiny village. The bedspread is over 20 years old but continues to be a favorite in my linen closet :)  The dark red rug is from Mexico. I found it at a night market by the beach. There are many stories I could share......but I will stop rambling now :) 



This is the time for craft revival around the world and that makes it an interesting time in the design world. Whether you incorporate just a few elements or more, bringing global influences into home décor seems to be a strong design trend for 2013.



What are your thoughts on this topic? I would love to hear from you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Images: My Home and subject to copyright!

 

 

Joining Tuesday Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia.

Joining Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage.

Joining the Aloha Friday Blog Hop at What Jean Likes.

Restoration Of A Galician Farmhouse

I love restorations and this one has definitely caught my eye. The restoration of this Galician farmhouse in Spain has led to a dramatic makeover. I love the use of colors, antiques and folk art and craft through out this home. This unique home has been designed by interior designer Javier Requejo. I think it is pretty fascinating to see how he has managed to transform a gloomy and run down farmhouse into something so striking!

 

What do you think? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Images: via

From Morocco With Love!

I have Morocco on my mind this Monday morning. It is a nice thought to have at the beginning of the week :) Here is something bold, dramatic and beautiful from my favorite store "The Loaded Trunk". The perfect images to shake off those Monday morning blues!



The Loaded Trunk connects you to a
global network of artisans and designers. Each item sold through The Loaded
Trunk is either created specifically for The Loaded Trunk, or purchased from a
local market across the globe.  I have been in contact with Roni from the Loaded Trunk. She has recently returned from a trip to Morocco with some pretty amazing finds!



Visit Loaded Trunk and enjoy your journey to Morocco! To read my earlier posts about this store click here and here!



These lovely images are from a photo shoot of the products in her home!



Have a great week ahead!

 

 

Images: via

January Freeze

I spotted this image on SylviaCPhotography via Etsy and love this wintry scene. It is such a lovely capture, and very aptly describes the weekend in store for me :) We are in a deep freeze and everything is icy and mixed in with a bit of snow!





The weekend calls for endless cups of Earl Grey tea, warm blankets and a cosy fireplace!

Here's wishing you wonderful weekend. Keep on smiling..........

Image: via

Photographer Marcus Lawett

For those of you who read my blog regularly know that I have my camera attached to my hip wherever I go :) Photography for me has become an all consuming passion. I am still trying to figure all the techniques. There is so much to learn and I am enjoying the entire process!



There are so many brilliant photographers around, and it is always a pleasure to come across their work. I have admired the work of Marcus Lawett for some time now. He is based in Malmo and you can click here to view his portfolio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Images: via

Come Fly With Me To Croatia

I have been dreaming of the sea after my recent trip to the coast! Watching the waves, the enormity of the ocean and the solitude tends to linger in my mind for a while :)




While, I have been fortunate to have travelled to most of Western Europe, Eastern Europe has been on my list of places to visit. I did spend a week in Prague a few years ago and I loved it. Though it is tempting to cover multiple cities/countries in Europe in a short period of time, I really enjoy spending more time in each of the countries. Hubby and I usually rent a car and drive around. We spend at least ten days in each place and sometimes even more! It is so much nicer as you get to leave the big cities and explore the countryside. Europe has so much to offer that we would probably need a lifetime to explore every corner of it :)





Lately, I have been fascinated with Croatia. I would love to visit Dubrovnik. "Come Fly With Me" as I take you to this beautiful city on the Adriatic sea.
Villa Orsula is s a blend of modern luxury and tradition in historical Dubrovnik. It was built in 1939 and has been completely restored and reopened as a luxury hotel in 2012.



I am drawn to the villa's beautiful setting, historical character and luxurious interiors. The first image just took my breath away!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Images: via