An Indian Summer

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Under the weather :(
2008-01-29 14:10:00
It is unusually cold in Gurgaon this week...Ideal time to catch those 'elusive' viruses and bacteriasHang on a second...Is viruses and bacterias grammatically correct?I mean, are they the words.....That remain the same whether singular or plural?I will find outWhen my dearest unwell laptop recuperates!Yes, all this cold has not affected meBut my laptop is down with some virusAnd hence the absence from postingMy laptop plans to return from its sick leaveIn another day or twoAnd that's when I will be back too!You take care meanwhile.... [and I hand over Mr. Shaking Head's laptop back to him before he wears out the floor by his anxious pacing! Apparently, "I can't handle sophisticated equipment like laptops"!!]
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Bahut Shukriya...
2008-01-24 04:22:00
... Katie, Bronwyn, Selya and BudgetCasa for showing love to An Indian Summer Bazaar! Striped stole in the winter sun, on my favorite rug, with my favorite flowerStriped stole: Available in the bazaarFavorite Rug: Similar can be made availableWinter Sun: Priceless:-)The current lot of goodies are available for another 5 days. Make sure you have picked up what you like before the bazaar closes to prepare for next month![Bahut Shukriya means Many Thanks!]

As straight as it gets
2008-01-23 18:20:00
I am setting up my home office [fancy name for work table ;-)], and have recently picked up furniture very similar to images below. This place, where I picked up my desk and rest, is quite interesting. While they source and restore old and antique furniture from the corners of the country, they also custom make straight line contemporary furniture with wood that has been treated to look old! The result is quite must-buy-licious!And as I set up my work place, I might as well pick up something for nap place... (interieurs)Ofcourse, I also need a new rug, a lamp, a pen/paint brush holder, chair cushions...among other things before I can start 'working' ;-)I will share the pics of my home office when it is ready![Psst: Let me know if you like the kind of furniture as shown above, or old Indian furniture...am planning to debut small furniture pieces in next month's bazaar! Email me if there is something specific you would like)
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I Heart @ Bazaar...
2008-01-20 19:04:00
The bazaar has been up for five days now, and is getting a steady, good response :-)Readers, shoppers and fellow bloggers, have shared appreciation, suggestions, encouragement...hearing from all of you has meant a lot to me. Thank You once again!And a special thanks to Erinn, nay-k, Jo and Kim, Joanna, Linda, Barb, Shelly for giving a special spot to the bazaar on their beautiful blogs ~ Gracias ladies!Today, I thought I'll share with you some of my personal favorites in the bazaar... [From left to right- Code: D25-26; D06-07; P12; P13; D15; P21] I would love to hear what do you heart @ bazaar! :-)
More About: I heart , Heart , Bazaar

Random/Weird...Me?
2008-01-20 18:39:00
I owe this post to Bronwyn [of the fabulous Smoke and Ochre] for quite some time now. She tagged me to list '7 random and/or weird things about myself, and I thought...only 7?!! I can come up with a good laundary list of these things! ;-)So, here goes!I can not stand the 'Arial' and the 'Times New Roman' font. Especially 'Arial'. People who have worked with me for some time know that any document they send me for review, will get back to them with its font changed!My signature is not consistent. There have been multiple times when I had to write a new cheque just because my signature came out to be so different that the bank rejected the last one. Things that impact my signature: kind of pen, surface I am signing on, my mood...I like Cerelac. Love it actually. Ofcourse, I am in no way close to being a toddler right now...if I had been, I would have been quite a prodigy...writing a design blog at the age of 1! ;-)There are two things that I do when I am stressed. One: I clean....
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Getting ready for final launch today...
2008-01-17 11:30:00
First of all, a huge THANK YOU for the amazing response to the bazaar! I am overwhelmed by all the lovely emails and comments you have sent me...It truly feels like I have opened shop for my friends, and not an unknown virtual world :-)The update for today is:The bazaar would go offline from 11:00a till 4:00p IST. I will use this time to ready the bazaar for the final opening. From 4:00p IST (that is + 5.30 hrs GMT), you can start buying from the bazaar! ----------------------------------------- --------*Happy Shopping!* The bazaar is live now!
More About: Today , Final , Launch , Ready

An Indian Summer Bazaar is Live!
2008-01-15 13:13:00
With a lot of pleasureanticipation and excitementI invite you to the soft launch ofAn Indian Summer Bazaar Click on the link above or on the left sidebar to travel to the bazaarAnd do tell me how you like it! :-D
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This is Bazaar Reporting Sir. And Maam!
2008-01-15 07:40:00
Update [4:00p IST]:Well, the quick update is that after finally posting everything on the bazaar site [its a wordpress blog], and doing a quick UAT, I found out that a lot of pictures are not visible!! I can view them as the author, but others can't view them! :(Appreciate your patience hugely as I figure this out! And, if there are any wordpress experts out there- Help!.................................... ........Hello!Right now, as of this very moment, I am working very hard [I'll be modest some other time ;-)] to get the bazaar ready for today evening (ie evening India time). I know a lot of you are clicking on the bazaar link but can't get into the site...that is because I am working on it right now and have disabled access.Please come again in another 3-4 hours and voila! the bazaar would be open!See you then! Back to hard work now!
More About: Bazaar

Psst...Sneak Preview of the Bazaar!
2008-01-14 17:25:00
The bazaar is finally coming to town!Quick preview of some of the goodies you can buy from the bazaarThe Good News:I am getting closer to completing all the prep required to get An Indian Summer Bazaar online and running :-). Some %^&* logistics still need to be closed, for which my fingers and toes are all crossed and I am touching every piece of wood I can lay my hands on [while my best half works to figure them out]!If everything goes as per plan, and the Gods smile, and the birds sing, and all the good stuff happens, the bazaar will go online at 2p IST on Jan 15th! (yippee and yips!)The Not So Great NewsI am still waiting for the ^%&* licence that will allow me to sell within India. Can you imagine it is easier (relatively) to set up to transact outside India than within India! So, unfortunately, my fellow countrymen and women will have to wait for next month's bazaar :(What to expect in the bazaar?1. I have handpicked unique items straight from the craftsmen for the ba...
More About: Preview , Sneak preview

And then Ivanhoe said...
2008-01-09 14:49:00
My dear Masha, you paint so well!Adorable water colors from Masha D'yans who is originally from Russia, and now stays in the US. She is a professional graphic designer, and loves to paint and illustrate She also has a product line of cards, bedding, T-shirts and prints!Cathoe says: "I so agree with you Ivanhoe!"Find more of Masha's beautiful work here

Take a deep breath and...
2008-01-07 18:42:00
Be Calm. I need to do some deep breathingand, Relax.As I frantically try to set up everything for the bazaarNew bottlenecks come upWhile my explorer runs some god forsaken thing called active scriptsand nicely jams up my internetIf I had my wayI would turn all the red tape in the world to green tapeDon't know if that would help too muchBut at least it would be green......and eco friendlyTotally random. I know.This burst of randomness happenswhen I am very happyor very stressedWhat calms meislooking at images like theseCoz, I too have white couchesAnd through these imagesI appreciate their future potentialWhere am I headedIf I feel calmBy looking at nicely done interiorsWherever it isThe one consolation I have isThat at the least, the place would beAesthetically pleasingHa![some of my favorite images from Marie Claire]
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Rainbow colors for 2008!
2008-01-02 19:52:00
I wish 2008 , for all of us, is:V ibrantI nterestingB ountifulG reenY outhfulO ptimistic andR ewardingHope to see and hear a lot from all of you in this new year! :-)[images from Marie Claire, Mads, Mediterranean Lifestyle]
More About: Colors , Rainbow , Rainbo

Pretty Pretty
2008-01-02 18:45:00
I just couldn't resist these charming patterns from Galbrith & Paul. Reminds me of spring and early summer!Do check out their site for more designs and for custom designing of rugs!
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1790 miles, 6 months, and a birthday
2007-12-28 20:25:00
The weary but exhilarated road warriors are back, after covering approx 1790 miles across ancient cities, hidden villages, historic forts, luxurious palaces and forests of Rajasthan. And yet, there is so much more to this enchanting desert state that even as we drove back home, we started planning for our next itinerary into the depths of Rajasthan..There is nothing more I like than planning for the next road trip :-)We stayed at some unique places....some images below:Destination: Ranthambore (Sawai Madhopur)And we stayed at: Khem VillasOur cottage The view from the bedroomAbundant mums and marigold in the cottage verandaBeautiful furnishing from Anokhi (who are co-partners at Khem Villas) Uniquely carved leg of an outdoor cot, and a niche adjoining the outdoor bathPaper lamps and lanterns lighted the villasAnd as you can imagine, we loved the view!Destination 2: Narlai (between Udaipur and Jodhpur)We stayed at: Rawla Narlai The 17th century fortress (a former hunting lodge) is rig...
More About: Miles , Birthday , Months , Mont

101st post and other good things...
2007-12-20 11:00:00
Yes, this is my 101st post! It has been the most wonderful journey through the last 100 posts, and, I am already looking forward to my 200th post...in the very near future :-)Talking of journeys, a short journey/trip is getting me all excited! Wanderlust has hit again, and Mr. Shaking Head (i.e. The bestest hubby) and I are hitting the road to Rajasthan tomorrow :-)The national highway. Images of the road...during summer and during the monsoon :)We will be staying at an eco boutique resort in a wildlife sanctuary, and then, at a fort converted into a boutique hotel What I will bring back to you end of next week is a lot of images and experiences from the magical desert land of Rajasthan. Also, will bring back a lot of colors and traditions in the form of local art and craft for my home, and....for your home! :-)...Yes, I am going to get for you original craft straight from the craftsmen. These, along with other fab stuff, will be available through An Indian Summer's Bazaar!Do I he...
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Tiger tiger burning bright,,,
2007-12-16 16:57:00
In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Could frame thy fearful symmetry?Jungle. Deep and dark. Place where you go to be one with nature. Try to survive. And rough it out.Did you say rough it out?Nah! Not any longer!If Taj Safaris had their way, Jungles would be the most luxurious places pretty soon! Here, let the national bird of India (see below) and the national animal of India (see below the first below) take you on a tour of Bandhavgarh wildlife sanctuary and Pench national parkFor the .001% folks who just went 'duh?'!: A Peacock and Tiger s! I am just wild about this lounge!hee hee...i am so p(f)un(n)y Watering Hole for the Homo sapiensWow! I never knew charpai's can make such cool lounge cots!And if you recall what a charpai is from one of my previous posts, please pat your back...I am so proud of you! Just in case Moi Lady would prefer a table and a chair.. I am sure the lovely burnt orange will not attract hungry tigers..um...yes..I think I am quite sure. T...
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Vibrant Hues!
2007-12-10 17:04:00
How could I resist this? There was no possible way! :-)Julie Evans is a New York City based artist who has exhibited her work extensively around the world. Using Indian ornamentation and traditional miniature paintings as inspiration, Julie uses a Spirograph on wood panels or paper to come up with these exquisite paintings. She is a recent recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship to India and Nepal where she researched Indian miniature painting. Look out for her upcoming exhibitions in 2008!

The Wedding Story
2007-12-07 18:28:00
Late last yearTwo individualsdecide to get marriedAnd the rest,As they say, Is history!The Build up:32 weekends devoted to shoppingGuest lists tuned and fine tuned nth number of timesWedding venues seen, rejected and finally one selectedWedding dress all ready in August for a December weddingStrict instructions to the bride-to-be to maintain exact weight and measurements8 trips up and down Delhi, Mumbai and London'Project' plans created in excel sheets and shared across familiesCards specially designed by the couple in LondonGot printed in Mumbai and Then shipped to DelhiBefore they were finally couriered to the fine tuned guestsA week before the wedding :)Family averaged one minor emotional or logistical storm every two weeksEvery one week as the day drew closer...But, we waited in anticipationfor the..The WeddingLightsThousands of themFlowersWhite and YellowSatin and organza cloth streamersThe wedding venue looked like a dreamAnd the dream also hadUnexpected high velocity winds(...
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Will be back after a short break!
2007-11-25 16:51:00
I am heads (and hands and feet) down with the prep for my sister's wedding, hence the absence from posting new delicious stuff...I will be back next week once the wedding is all done...though, folks who know me by now, also know that I just might peep in and poke in a bit with a quick post during my break!In the meantime, why not view some whites with a dash of color?And, also visit this link for an addictive game designed to help end world hunger!
More About: Break , Back , Short

Iran
2007-11-20 19:08:00
I came across this photographer's work on Flickr, and kept coming back to his intense images of his beautiful country - Iran . A country rich in art, architecture, poetry, calligraphy and handicrafts, among other things. And, Abbas has captured all this seamlessly in his photographs...Imagine such rich colors and craft in your home! You can view more of Abbas's work here to get design inspiration from the Middle East.

An ode to color
2007-11-15 19:12:00
As we feel the nip in the air (and in some parts of the world, the nip must be quite nippy by now!), we are drawn towards warm colors. Possibly that's one of the reasons why I was so enchanted by Nikhilesh Haval's photography!Nikhilesh, an Indian based in the UK, specializes in travel, architectural, interiors and events photography. His work has appeared in many well known magazines, and his client list includes many Moroccan clients, as is evident by his rich portfolio.Such a good way to make a striking red wall even more dramatic Wall art that accentuates the room colorsCopper Samovar and painted trunk. Mud/plaster fireplace and lovely floor tiles Who could possibly resist a Greece inspired textured white wall? Warm tones of orange and yellowIsn't the chair quaint and modern at the same time?!! Beautiful shade of blue in the tiles Hint of color against whiteImagine having a cup of subtly flavored chai, while sitting on this diwan (day bed) admiring the gorgeous carpetHmm..Art ...
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I love you the best
2007-11-13 19:09:00
Better than all the restI love you the bestBetter than all the restThat I meet in the summerIndian summerThat I meet in the summerIndian summerI love you the bestBetter than all the restSong by Doorswhat a nice coincidence! Here are some more Doors! :-DGrand entry Door with faux jharokas (window)Entry way masquerading as a peacock Ornate door in a soothing shade of greenA door as a door is supposed to be...strong!And a beautiful entry to a humble abodeAnd when it comes to doors, you also think about...BoltsLocksand maybe a sentry or two if you like hiding treasures...This was a glimpse into some of the doors as seen in old palaces and forts in India...more towards North India. In upcoming posts, I will also cover doors from other parts of India :-)(Images courtesy: Jyothi Karthik Raja and Gul Chotrani @ Pbase; Meanest Indian and k3llissima @ Flickr)
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The day I welcomed Diwali, and You, to our home...
2007-11-10 19:47:00
Never have I been such an enthu pataka ('enthusiastic cracker' for the uninitiated) about taking pictures on Diwali ! But, I promised you, my beautiful friends and readers, that I will share images from my home, and I being quite the gentle(wo)man when it comes to 'published on net' promises, I did exactly that! And had a lot of fun in doing so too!Let me re-live with you the beautiful day it was yesterday, when we celebrated Diwali....Welcome...Lord Ganesha (made of brass) presides in his niche, content with the offerings of marigold. The two brass bowls belong to my grand mom. The smaller one was used by my mom for her meals when she was a baby and hence holds a very special value for me In anticipation...during the day:Took out the brightest of colors...in this case, a red bed cover and cushions with gold block print. A recently acquired rug now proudly hangs above our bed. The corner chair in my bedroom is one of my favorite places in our home during winters..Waiting to be li...
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Getting ready for Diwali...
2007-11-07 16:00:00
(Mysore Palace, India on Diwali )This is the time for my favorite festivalThe festival of light and wealth...Deepawalialso known as DiwaliAs we get ready to celebrate the festival,let me share with you some inspiration...Light up your nooks and corners using lotus paper lights, diyas (votive) and tea lights Welcome Goddess Lakshmi into your abode by making beautiful rangoli designs with color and flowers And why leave the table layout untouched? Take out your best glassware, and your grandmom's Kansa (bell metal) table setting! Add in some banana leaves, marigold flower and floating tea lights...And yes, don't forget the feast...including the mithai (sweets)! Touches that add to the diwali decor And some inspiration for how a contemporary home could look like, in a traditional setting on Diwali. I love the shloka (mantra) table with floating flowers in an urn. Bring out your brightest cushions and bedlinen...and this Diwali you have the perfect excuse to flaunt any textile which h...
More About: Ready

Some sleeping and some blogging...
2007-11-06 17:42:00
Hello World! I am back :-) Back from BostonAnd a whirlwind trip to London where I spent a great day with my sis and 92% brother-in-law 92% since the wedding is just round the corner ;-)At London, I heartedHabitat, Zara Home, Lush, Muji, Stables market at CamdenAnd,Masala Coke at Masala Zone! So much good work done at the workshop last weekwith some (ahem..) shopping thrown in(when I say 'some', that means that I had to pick up new luggage at Boston to fit everything in!) And now,I am soo glad to be back home! With Diwali this week(watch out for some pre-diwali and post diwali posts from me)And my sis's wedding in another three weeks!(will share some gorgeous wedding shopping in coming days and wedding snaps post the wedding)Yes, I AM glad to be back... with you :-)[images in this post taken by moi and sis]
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Reporting alive and kicking...
2007-10-29 03:14:00
Hi! You are watching AIS (An Indian Summer) News, and this is Bhavna, your news correspondent for the day! :) Some highlights of my trip so far have been:1. A great day spent with the team at my Cambridge office, followed by a fun evening of bowling and drinks2. Walking up and down the Cambridge Side Galleria so many times that I can now write an inventory of merchandise at each and every store! The lady at Bath and Body Works just might consider hiring me as their official 'moisturizer/eau de cologne sniffer'!3. Finding my shopping soul mate in a dear colleague...walking more than a couple of miles to get to the local Target, and shopping so much that we had to take a cab to haul back our booty! Got some awesome tableware...right now its all packed and stuff - will share these finds with you once back in India..4. Spending an excellent sunny day at Newbury street today 5. Finally got to visit Anthropologie, and spent some happy shopping time at Crate and Barrel and Pottery Barn...
More About: Alive , Kicking

Hello from Boston!
2007-10-25 05:08:00
Thanks a bunch for your messages! (Hello Affinity, Jo, Terri, Jessica, Studio W!)I just checked into the hotel after almost 23 hours between airports and flights (phew!). Now, I am ready to drop asleep right at this funky table in my room, after cheering Red Sox with fellow diners at Bambara (yes, that's the name of the hotel restaurant!) And, I am so happy with all the suggestions about shopping in Boston ....just can't wait for the weekend! :-D (thank you Christine, Tanya, Annie, Tara (I would LOVE to bike in this city!)And, how can I leave you without sharing with you a visual of what is on my mind... So, after 3.5 meals in a plane, I am soo longing for home cooked food with all the spices, the flavor, and the fragrance and the aroma...I know they mean the same thing, but need a word and my brain is sleep deprived right now ;-) .... you, ofcourse know what I mean! I think a spice box such as above could have fitted in nicely with my luggage...Well, adios till the next post! Do k...

Though we gotta say goodbye...
2007-10-21 18:37:00
for a couple of weeks..Darlings I promise you thisI'll send you all my loveEvery couple of days in a postSealed with a kiss!I am traveling to Boston (Cambridge) and London in the coming two weeks, and will be very busy with work ... hence the above ditty! I promise to keep dropping in a line or two, or share with you something unique which catches my eye...but most likely its going to be sporadic.In the meantime:New readers: do look through the archives for design inspiration..Old friends: there are some excellent blogs listed on the left..All: do keep dropping in a 'hi' or a 'hello'! :-)Leaving you with something that I been looking at, and admiring, then looking at again, and then sighing, and so on and so forth!If I ever needed to set up a home office, this is what it would look like! Me on the couch facing the window, and a laptop on my lap...and my 'office' is all set ;-) [From: 30elm.com]And, do tell me if you like the selections for this week (in the left pane)?P.S: Do...
More About: Goodbye , Gotta

Farah Mahbub
2007-10-18 18:40:00
Farah Mahbub, an immensely talented photographer and a faculty member at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, is from Pakistan. Her site is a delight - both visually and from a content perspective for people who are keen on photography.Presenting here some of her photographic gems, focused on heritage architecture from India and Turkey:Clock wise from top left: Detail from Delhi Red fort; Hauz Khas, Delhi; Red fort againAli Darwaza, Delhi; next two from Jami Masjid, Ahmedabad; Siddi Saiyad Mosque, AhmedabadFrom Turkey: Ysel Cami-Bursa; NurosmaniyeMosque; Suley maniyeMosque; Dolmabahce PalaceCappadocia, Turkey; By the road side in Turkey; Lodhi Garden in Delhi; Busra, Turkey[All images and information from Farah Mahbub]
More About: Farah , Fara

I wanna fall from the stars...
2007-10-16 12:48:00
Straight into your arms..All I want is a room somewhere....umm...maybe not!If you notice the 'I want to be here' image on the leftYou would know what is catching my fancy this weekJust give me a bed and a piece of skyand some million stars to gaze at..That's what I want... Sunrise on my pillow? And this is from where the above view has been viewed! Sometimes, I get cheetahs for company as I count sheep(and I think: do the cheetahs have vested interest in counting sheep with me?) Never far away from the gentle lap of ocean to nudge me into slumber.. With cheetahs, you might get mosquitoes too! Not a problem... dreamy mosquito nets solve all my outdoor sleeping problems! Ah! I spy a hut behind just in case it rains! 3/4th of a cave...works for this cave woman! Nothing.Nothing at all between that absolutely personal and peaceful conversations I sometimes need to have with the über architect who resides amongst the stars...I, I feel youHope you comprehend[Stars by Simply Red] [Image...
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