A perfect way to wish Happy Deepavali !

Deepavali is keeping all of us enthralled at home by its magic wand and it lingers on even after many days.The creativity at its best and it reflects in the types and styles of arrangements at home.Some prefer the traditional decor and some have a combination of the modern and traditional arrangements.Any arrangement is a welcome in the special festive season.

Some simple arrangements which I love ,the mix and match of easy available materials are a delight in these arrangements.All fresh and fragrant ideas never seen before...Regal and opulent ,the lustre of gold has bewitched for millenia.Below you can see all shining ideas for your Diwali...Mix and match things you already have to create this colourful Indian look.

1..A very simple arrangement where in a swastik sign is made of kumkum and the arrangement is on a banana leaf with marigold and swastk diyas intermingled.

2..A small diya kept on top of a terracotta tea light holder and a small traditional south indian lam,with haldi and kumkum and marigolds on a brass plate

3..diya on top of the terracotta pot and sweets on the plate to the side of it and marigolds around the lamps.a silver coin of ganeshji and lakshmi devi kept near the small lamp.

4..A simple arrangement where in the sweets are kept in a big brass thali and a lamp is kept in the middle of the sweets.

hope you all liked the arrangements.will come back tomorrow with some simple decor..Entertain,circulate and celebrate this Diwali with your loved ones with full gusto.

Images and Ideas By Lakshmi Arvind,help provided by Gayatri Arvind

Please do not steal nor copy images

Celebrating love, light and happiness

Diwali gives us the wonderful opportunity to combine the different traditional decor items at home with a little imagination. South Indian Lamps which are available in different sizes and shapes, lend a picture perfect traditional decor in any corner it is assimilated. Marigolds as everybody knows, lend the beauty in its best and how about an uruli full of Marigolds surrounded by the the ghee lit lamps. Let it radiate the beauty and the divinity in the corners...

A very simple arrangement where a single lotus flower is used to enhance the beauty of the arrangement. Assorted scented candles available in pastel shades of pink, deep pink and lilac grouped together bring out the beauty in its fullness..

Images and Ideas by Lakshmi Arvind

please do not steal nor copy images

Blockprints, Marigolds and Diwali..

Diwali being just around the corner, even I am trying my best to have some ideas new and special for this time. Simple and yet traditional and very soothing to the eyes. Let these ideas heighten your festive mood.

Simply create the mood using block prints,blockprint patterns in Diwali. A simple and colourful blockprint pattern coaster underneath the big brass lota where my daisies are just uplifts the festive mood..

how about some intricate blockprints below the daisies?

isn't it interesting to have a holder space for a tealight in the centre of the blockprints?

yes they are called surya kiran lamps and they come in sets of four.

some small blocks and marigolds accompanying the suryakiran candles..

peacock blockprints and marigolds and the lamp

the lamp is lit

some marigolds in a round bottomed container looks cosy

the marigolds truly look divine

dont worry if you dont have candle holders,you can make use of wine glasses,invert them and place candles on top of the flat base

fill the wine glass with marigolds

Simple ideas that can transform your space,dining table and centre table and these are going to be part of my diwali decor..

wait for some more ideas ..

Ideas and images by Lakshmi Arvind

pl dont copy nor steal images

Bougainvillea and the Indian decor

As we know that bougainvillea is only the flower that blooms throughout the year with bountiful flower and make the environment colourful and magnificent. It can be used for various purposes like decoration of houses,interiors of houses, buildings, hotels, and apartments. The species of bougainvillea are characterized by their high tolerance to pollution, drought, pests, low fertility and other adverse conditions.

Although Bougainvillea has originated in South America, but approximately 50% of the present day cultivars were evolved and produced in India.

Images from my home

on the books in the lamps
on the centre table,a perfect morning
in green wine bottles,on the swing
on the centre table,in terracotta urulis

Images are from magazines and books
in hanging lamps
on the dining table
in beer bottles,long headed bottles
on the pooja mandap
winding around the windows and arches
both sides of the entrance arches
over the front gate

images and ideas conceived and clicked by Lakshmi Arvind

Image courtesy to India style and India contemporary

the festive season begins ...and its decor

Autumnal season begins with Durga puja and the festivities don't stop there.The festive season has just begun.Flowers and diyas and sweets overload.Enjoy your time.Happy Dussesra to all celebrating festival today and tomorrow.

I can imagine all my diyas with full of flowers,Can you all?

All images and Ideas Conceived by Lakshmi Arvind

Pl do not steal nor copy images from the site

my lovable antiques:sweet and tangy...

I am passionate about antiques.much of our travel is in the search for antiques. An old reading says Antiques are like old books. They hold a limitless universe of knowledge waiting patiently to be revealed. Like a red violin, waiting for it's next owner as it passes through history from generation to generation. And people who collect antiques are as passionate about their collections as they are about the pursuit and discovery of something old that brings them closer to the past.

There is no right or wrong way to collect antiques, but remember, items of good design and beauty are as important as price. Buy what you personally like and are compelled to collect, and incorporate these pieces into your homes in ways that fit your own lifestyle. This way the age-old passion for antiquing and cherishing the past will never fade or loose its patina.

Some of my prized possessions include the betel nut crackers and some brass hair accessories of the yester generations,some hair clips and combs which I am passionate about.They some times accompany my centre table.i treasure all antiques from home including the various lamps and brass lotas and containers in brass.

Getting to know the sweet,tangy taste of one of India's most exhilarating culinary delights.Betel chewing has been one of India's favorite culinary indulgences for more than 8,000 years, the betel leaf itself is also used in Hindu ritual worship, where it is prepared as an offering to the Deity along with coconuts, fruits, incense and flowers.

betel nut cracker has 3 peacocks on it,a very old one

two hair clips ,a brass spoon

hair clip in the shape of a fish and the other has got devi saraswathi on it,unique designs
an old brass comb,which has got unique designs of lord rama and sitadevi and hanumanji sitting bowing to them..
staged artefacts

Hope you enjoyed my antiques as much i enjoyed sharing them...

ideas and composition conceived by Lakshmi Arvind