Priyadarshini Obaiah's Question

Hi Readers,

Priyadarshini, a regular visitor to my blog has a question..........

PRIYA'S QUESTION

I've been a regular at your blog since few months...my sis gave me the link..I especially liked the posts on decoupage idea and technique ...Just last week, my 2 year old nephew ripped off the laminate from my centre table; there was a slightly raised edge, that i had meant to stick using fevicol, but he gave me no chance to do that :)Landing on your blog again this morning, I was stuck by this decoupage thing. I'm wondering if i can try this out on the center table.. instead of going for another fresh new laminate. Please let me know if this will work..i've never tried out such a thing ever. Your suggestion is much appreciated.
Thanks, Priya.

ANSWER TO PRIYA'S QUESTION

My Suggestion to your question is that instead of going in for a decoupage, you should try some mosaic work on it with broken glossy tiles. See the picture below.

(Picture courtesy: here)

You can opt for simple geometric designs such as these. If your table is square, think of a black and white chess design that can also be used as a chess board.

PROCEDURE TO DO THIS MOSAIC WORK

• Clean the surface of the table
• Come up with a design concept and simply draw it out with pencil.
• Decide on the colours of the design. If you are particular about the right colours, then simply buy 3-4 tiles in different colours and break them yourself. (TIP: to do this simply put all the tiles in a cloth bag and using a hammer, tap on them gently till all the pieces are broken) On the other hand, you can go to a tile shop and buy broken tiles in Kilograms. This will work out cheaper. But you will have to segregate the colours after you get it home.
• Decide the size of tiles that you will be using to achieve the level of details that you want.
• Prepare a mixture using adhesive cement and water. Glue your tiles onto your design surface one at a time. Make sure to leave at least a minimum 1/8 to 1/4 inch gap between tiles to fill in with the grout later.
• Make sure to allow the cement mixture to set the full recommended time before attempting to start grouting the gaps (the recommended cure time should be posted on the pack).
• After the cement has fully cured or set, it is time to start grouting. Start by mixing your grout according to manufacture instructions. Slowly spread the grout into the cracks. Using a sponge make sure to remove any and all excess grout.
• Rinse out your sponge often to avoid clumps dragging across the surface. Don't overdue whipping down the cracks or you will start to remove the grout between the tiles. Keep the surface damp at all time so the grout does not cure to fast as it will crack.

I hope this helps you. Please tell me if you do it. Also send a picture of the work done. ALL THE BEST.

BOMBE HABBA..............a festival of dolls....

'Bombe' means toys and 'Habba' means festival. Bombe Habba or toy festival is traditionally celebrated by arranging dolls and toys in a rack consisting of 9 steps indicating the Navarathri or 9 nights of celebrations.
During Navratri, it is customary in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh & a few parts of Karnataka (specially Mysore) to display "bombe" or "Golu". This is an exhibition of various dolls and figurines in odd (usually 7, 9, or 11) numbered tiers ("padis"). Generally, when people come to a person's house to see the Golu, they are given prasad (the offering given to God that day), kumkum and a small bag of gifts. These are only given to girls and married women. In the evenings, a "kuthuvilakku" (small lamp) is lit, in the middle of a decorated "kolam"(Rangoli), before the Golu and devotional hymns and shlokas are chanted. After performing the puja, the food items that have been prepared, are offered to the Goddesses.
Golu is adorned with dolls - predominantly with that of the Gods and Goddesses depicting mythology. It is a traditional practice to have at least some wooden dolls. There should also be a figurine of a boy and a girl together called 'Marapacchi' Bommai. On the 9th day (Saraswati Puja), special pujas are offered to Goddess Saraswati - the divine source of wisdom and enlightenment. Books and musical instruments are placed in the puja and worshipped as a source of knowledge. Also tools are placed in the pooja - as part of "Ayudha Pooja". Even vehicles are washed and decorated, and puja performed for them.
The 10th day, "Vijayadasami" - is the most auspicious day of all. It was the day on which evil was finally destroyed by good. It marks a new and prosperous beginning. New ventures started on this day are believed to flourish and bring prosperity. Kids often start tutoring on this day to have a head start in their education.
In the evening of "Vijayadasami", any one doll from the "Golu" is symbolically put to sleep and the Kalasam is moved a bit towards North to mark the end of that year's Navaratri Golu. Prayers are offered to thank God for the successful completion of that year's Golu and with a hope of a successful one the next year! Then the Golu is dismantled and packed up for the next year.

Please see a few pictures of one such celebration in our house.

Some more pictures will be shortly uploaded.....

KITSCH is in...............

Kitsch is a German word denoting art that is considered an inferior, tasteless copy of an extant style of art or a worthless imitation of art of recognized value. The concept is associated with the deliberate use of elements that may be thought of as cultural icons while making cheap mass-produced objects that are unoriginal. Kitsch also refers to the types of art that like-wise, are aesthetically deficient (whether or not being sentimental, glamorous, theatrical, or creative), and making creative gestures that merely imitate the superficial appearances of art through repeated conventions and formulae. Kitsch (English pronunciation: /ˈkɪtʃ/, as in German) is a German word denoting art that is considered an inferior, tasteless copy of an extant style of art or a worthless imitation of art of recognized value. The word was absorbed directly into Yiddish with the same meaning. The concept is associated with the deliberate use of elements that may be thought of as cultural icons [1] while making cheap mass-produced objects that are unoriginal. Kitsch also refers to the types of art that like-wise, are aesthetically deficient (whether or not being sentimental, glamorous, theatrical, or creative), and making creative gestures that merely imitate the superficial appearances of art through repeated conventions and formulae. Excessive sentimentality often is associated with the term.
Kitsch was applied to artwork that was a response to the nineteenth century art, whose aesthetics convey exaggerated sentimentality and melodrama, hence, kitsch art is closely associated with sentimental art.
For more info on kitsch, please click here. Some pictures of kitsch for you..............

(Photo: click here)

(Photo: click here)

(photo: click here)

(photo: click here)

So, do you like kitsch interiors?..........write to me or email me a picture and I can add it to this post.....

Unusual Office Spaces...

I was thinking about spotting some pictures to explain the use of contrasting textures. That is when I came across some beautiful pictures of some office spaces that I would like to share with you. The first 2 pictures that you see is a modular office furniture system designed by Aksusuardi Studio. For explanation of the details of this furniture, please click here.

This is the office of Maycreate design lab. I love the way, the designers have played here with colours and different textures. For more information and pictures of this, please visit http://www.thisaintnodisco.com/I think most of you are familiar with this one. Anyways, for people who are not aware, these are some unusual office spaces from Google. I love them.... For more info and pictures on this, please click here.

What is your opinion of an interesting office space.........something that is theme oriented, dramatic and unusual as against a traditional, formal, streamlined one.....please express your opinions here.

Using Contrasting Textures, Patterns & Colours to create a harmonious look

Creative activities has no boundaries. Although it is important to follow certain guidelines in achieving harmony in a decor, one need not restrict their creativity. What I have created in this collage is used a combination of 4 colours (tetrad) like Yellow, Violet, Red-Orange, Blue-Green (all complementary on the colour wheel). In addition to this, I have used various textures like a stone wall, blue-green carpeted floor, a fabric sofa, feathery fleece floor lamp, some porcelain vases etc., I have combined both contemporary & country styles of design to create this harmonious look.

(Photo Credit, Click here: wall, picture 1, picture 2, picture 3, cushions, sofa, vase, flowers, table, lamp1, lamp2)

If any one of you also admire contrasting textures, contrasting styles and contrasting colours like me.........please do write back a few of your ideas in creating the same.