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

Beautifully Subtle...

Sanganer is a place in Rajasthan that is famous for it's traditional hand block printing. Sanganeri prints usually consists of floral motifs and the colours used are natural dyes derived from Turmeric, Indigo plants, banana leaves and so on.
The colours are usually bright & vibrant which is synonymous with the colourful Rajasthan, hence it was a pleasant surprise when I saw these prints in subdued and in single colour in the Toast Catalogue Online. Check out their Quilts, Blankets & Throws in subtle colours. They have some lovely pillow and cushion covers too.

( images from Toast Catalogue)

life...

these days...

* a big fat green barbet starts it's musical duet with the cuckoos in the summer afternoons.

* a lovely cold glass of fruit smoothie, when I get home from the sun.

* the cool morning breeze caresses me while I cut and prune in my balcony.

* melons, strawberries, grapes.

* tabebuias and jacarandas. pinks and purples paint the skies and the roads.

* countdown for summer vacations begin.

* ice-creams are devoured just minutes after breakfast.

Before I leave here is some amazing eye-candy from Love Made Visible.

The beautiful Lakshmi Menon appears in the Hermes Campaign - Hermes Orange, Indian Pink.

Inspired by the painted elephants of Rajasthan. ( India sure is rocking!)

( images via Nirali Magazine, Love Made Visible)

Red, Blue & White...

Let me get over my 'Nilgiri Hills' hangover once and for all (for a while) with this post on 'Fernhill Palace'.* The name that brings to mind the colours Red, Blue & White.

* Chilly mountain breeze.

* Sunlight making my eyes squint.

* Mallika's excitement, my excitement.

* Forms, patterns, shadows.
* Shadows, patterns & forms.
* Ornate 'bulbless' lamp posts.
* Never seen blue like this before.
* A former hunting lodge of the Maharaja of Mysore but now a Welcome Group Hotel.

Pitch your tent...

...on the exotic desert sands of Rajasthan. Soak in the local flavour sitting by the bonfire and listening to the folk songs or wake up to call of peacocks just outside your tents...
The concept of Manvar Desert Camp dates back to the 17th century when Mughal Emperor Jehangir known for his luxurious lifestyle used to set up royal tents with all the amenities during their hunting trips. Manvar Desert Camp has 30 tents arranged in a semi circle around a central 'durbar' hall. The central dining area from where stunning sunrises & sunsets can be seen.The interiors of the tents are extremely luxurious with custom designed block print motifs & large teak wood beds. Huge windows with pull up flaps allow the fresh desert breeze to come in and nets to keep insects out:-)


Live like royalty from the bygone era. Spend some amazing time under the starlit skies of Rajasthan in Manvar Desert Camp.


( images from manvar.com)

Calm...

Sunset at Cauvery Fishing Camp, Bheemeshwari.

Have loads to share with you all...
Wait for me while I drag my thoughts back from our very relaxing and close to nature trip.

Meanwhile do check out my Flickr for uploads from the trip:-)

Kantha Work

I just can't get over these absolutely beautiful handbags & pouches with exquisite Kantha Embroidery on them.

You can buy it online here.

Beulah Farm - A Sweet Memory.

We had heard about homemade fruit wines made in a place called 'Beulah Farm'...so one day while we were holidaying in Kurumba Village, we decided to explore the hills and drove down to Kotagiri.'We saw a narrow turquoise blue iron gate with Beulah Farm written on it. As we rang the bell, a lady came and welcomed us inside.

* An elderly gentleman was feeding beautiful white pigeons.
* Exotic looking flowers & plants lined the place.
* The windows & doors were painted in lovely turquoise blue colour.
* Yellow marigolds on planters near the windows. We introduced ourselves & he welcomed us inside his cute little cottage.* Then came a tray filled with bowls of homemade jams- Rhubarb, Pepino
* Yummy delicious jams & preserves.
* Homemade fruit wines or nectar as he calls them- dry rose, plum, pears, fig, strawberry, mulberry, peach and list goes on.
* A small tour of his lovely herb garden & small sprigs of the herbs were given to us while he explained the various species of herbs...fennel, lemongrass, basil, chives, oregano, lemon balm, rosemary, peppermint, spearmint (phew!)
* All the jams & wines are from his garden..he showed us his fig tree, pear, kiwi...
* Apart from that we entered a rose garden with amazing roses, black rose, green rose...
* Felt transported to a Neverland. Amazing.
Mr Eapen Jacob- an octogenarian, engineer turned agriculturist( says his card!)Fan-tailed pigeons.
Exotic Black Rose at Beulah Farm.
The delicious Strawberry Preserve we picked up at Beulah Farm.

All Saints Church, Bedford, Coonoor.

The minute I reached the old iron gate of All Saints Church, I felt the scene get transformed into sepia-tone and me being taken back a century.

* The sky was a beautiful shade of blue.

* Pine trees seem to frame the church into a memorable picture.

* Tombstones of many young martyrs who served the British army lay scattered around.

* A sense of peace & calm prevailed.

* A solitary bench at the entrance.

* A dog laying at the steps, looked up at us with disinterest and went back to sleep.

* The church caretaker opened the church door and welcomed us inside.

* I stepped in and a strange feeling of serenity & love for the almighty encompassed me.

* The caretaker's son & his friend were placing copies of the holy bible on the prayer benches for the evening.

* How beautiful. How touching. How memorable.

Erin Villa, Coonoor.

*Sigh*
I am completely at a loss for words.
Erin Villa is located in Upper Coonoor. Nestled in the lush green tea estates of the Nilgiris.We entered the place through an old wrought iron gate and were immediately transported to another world. Never in my life have I seen so many colours together in one place. *Sigh*
*Sigh*
*Sigh* *Sigh*

We were in ..'our dream'. A dream where...

* Pink bougainvilleas were drooping down to talk to their neighbour the white pansies.

* Lovely butterflies fluttered in the garden.

* Red, Orange & Peach hibiscus framed the doorway.

* Beautiful green benches lined the garden.

* At a distance the clouds were descending on green hills.

* My husband & me also became Mallika, and three kids wandered around the garden in excitement.

Needlecraft in Erin Villa is a place where the very nice lady Naaz sources & sells beautiful lace, embroidery & cross-stich bedspreads, doilies, tablecloths, towels, handkerchiefs and many gorgeous things from convents around the place.

To sum it all we came back with memories filled with colours, flowers & lace...:-))