Love For The Handwoven ❤️

When you buy something made by a person, there is something special and you do feel it. The consciousness with which a thing is made is often more important than the things itself. Handmade things are so aesthetically pleasing and even the imperfections in them add charm. I never leave a chance to attend any of these expos as it is a sheer delight to witness the rich handcrafted art forms of India.

Look at the beauty of these stitches : whether it is the vivid Phulkari or the intricate Kantha or the graceful Chikankaari, It feels like the colours, fabric, thread and myriad patterns are weaving a story. And each story is unique because a different storyteller weaves it. Enjoy the pictures :

Kantha Work

Phulkari

Phulkari

Kantha Work

Chikankaari

Chanderi

Banarasi

Wedding & Lifestyle Exhibition : Jhalak

“Jhalak” : A Hindi word which means ‘glimpse’, and a glimpse into lifestyle and societal trends is what I get at these expos. This one was held in the plush banquet of hotel Holiday Inn, Jaipur. With the festive season coming up, it was the perfect place to shop for ethnic outfits, jewellery, accessories, shoes and a lot more.

These exhibitions with their colourful textiles, beautiful ornaments and quirky accessories give you a chance to witness the real India that comes alive in her streets. There were shoes with Ajrakh and Kalamkari prints, Meenakari done on fabric jewellery, Phulkari embroidered bags and so many traditional crafts conceived in a contemporary manner.

Exploring India is incomplete without food and this is where these expos should work on. Jaipur has so many traditional delicacies to offer, adding them would make it an amazing experience.

Here are the pictures :

 

Decor : Anantaya

Anantaya is a lifestyle design studio that is centered on the philosophy of using traditional crafts in a contemporary style. The gamut of products designed include home decor, textiles, lighting, furniture, gifts etc. The store is located in the beautiful environs of Narain Niwas Palace, a place that provides a perfectly apt background for such eclectic products.

What I love most about Anantaya is the fact that there is a deep-rooted tradition behind each of their products, whose relevance has been so elaborately explained and then the product is designed in a completely unconventional way but nowhere losing on the origins. Whether it is the Cresent serve ware or the Lotus mirror, each item has been conceived not only from the beauty perspective but their being conducive to the overall well-being of a house.

There’s also a separate section dedicated to organic skincare with things like soap, lip balm, aroma oils, candles etc. The overall vibe of the store is very calming and uplifting. Visit Anantaya to buy things for your home or gifts for your loved ones or simply to witness the amazingly designed stuff 😊.

Here are pictures from our visit to Anantaya :

Wedding & Lifestyle Exhibition : Urge

Another expo in the pink city, but with a very elaborate and eclectic decor. Shopping is such a great experience amidst such vibrant spaces and with so many unique things to choose from. It was an amalgamation of apparel ranging from gotta patti to block prints, embellished footwear and quirky juttis, handbags and ornamented clutches, mobile covers, semiprecious jewellery and even some organic cosmetics.

Enjoy the pictures :

We have a separate category for all the expos that happen in Jaipur, here’s the link . Do follow us on Facebook and on Instagram.

Travel : The Naini Retreat, Nainital

If you remember our very first blogpost on Nainital , we did mention about covering the best places to stay as there are no renowned hotel chains in Nainital. The three best hotels to stay are : The Naini Retreat, Shervani Hilltop, The Manu Maharani. Here we are reviewing our favourite out of the lot, The Naini Retreat –

About the property : Historically referred to as the residence of the Maharaja of Pilibhit, The Naini Retreat Hotel is among the best heritage hotels located in Nainital near the lake. The hotel is situated on the picturesque Ayarpatta Slopes, providing a breathtaking view of the Naini Lake at an altitude of 1,995 meters. The hotel embodies an old-world charm along with visible impressions of contemporary luxury.

Dining options : Coming to the food , there are 3 options : Lake View, which is their multi cuisine restaurant serving Indian and International delicacies. It is the perfect place to enjoy you meal with a panoramic view of the lake. Next is Stella Bar, which offers choices of the cocktails and mocktails. And then there is Garden Cafe and Grill for a quick breakfast, brunch or a dinner.

Recommendation : It definitely is the best place to stay in Nainital as it excels on all the prime parameters : location, food and luxury. Coming to the pricing, it was at a lower rate per day than both Shervani Hilltop and The Manu Maharani. Valley view rooms at The Manu Maharani were priced at fourteen thousand rupees approx, which is exorbitantly high compared to the facilities offered. Overall, a highly recommended place for your stay in Nainital.

Travel Tip : Call the hotel for exact directions as the route given by GPS isn’t appropriate for four wheelers.

Mint leaves in drinking water

Decor : Gulmohar Lane 1

It was while doing our Homes of the stars post that i came to know about Gulmohar Lane, a bespoke furniture label based in Jaipur. They have designed a lot of stuff for Parineeti Chopra’s home in Mumbai, which came as a big surprise as most star homes and their objects are completely opposite of anything unostentatious. So this was followed by some research about the brand’s ethos and then finally a wonderful interaction with the couple who owns this amazing brand.

Shweta Mewara and Saurabh Ailawadi, both NIFT graduates who worked with some of the leading brands in the fields of design, interiors, retail and brand management. During these job years they switched cities very frequently, every time styling a new space and turning it into their abode. This is when they realised the glaring gap between the demand and supply of simple, elegant and affordable furniture especially the one which is customised as per demand.

So the idea of Gulmohar Lane was born, with the aim of creating furniture that is comfortable, high on quality and adds beauty to a home. When I met the couple, the brand felt like a mirror image of their personalities : easy-breezy and quaintly charming. The duo is very clear on what they do not what to sell, you would not find any synthetic upholstery and only natural fabrics are used. Same rules apply to the wood being used. It’s amazing to come across brands which are conscious about their ecological impact.

Here are pictures from our visit to their store in Jaipur :

(All pictures were clicked during our visit to the Gulmohar Lane Store in Jaipur)

In the second part of this blogpost, we will be giving you a glimpse into some of their different collections of furniture and upholstery. Stay Tuned. 😊😊

Wedding & Lifestyle Exhibition : Lagan Mandap 2nd Edition

It is very gratifying to cover the new edition of an expo, which you have covered before. It’s like a journey that you have completed as an experience collector and nothing can be more rewarding. As the name suggests, Lagan Mandap is all about the glitz and glamour of wedding shopping. Here’s the link to the previous edition of this blogpost . This time the exhibition was held on a much larger scale with lots of participating stores and beautiful fresh flowers based decor.

One could find everything needed in a wedding under one roof. There were a plethora of semi-precious jewellery stalls, embellished clutches, sarees, Indo-western gowns, lehengas, footwear and a lot more. Also they had some very eclectic gift wrapping and packing stuff, which is a very important part of wedding preparations.

Enjoy the pictures :

Lagan Mandap : Wedding Exhibition

Continuing with our wedding season series, here are certain pictures from another wedding expo – Lagan Mandap held at the SMS convention centre, Jaipur.

A Visual Delight : Part 1

January opens the box of the year and brings out days that are bright and clear. January is an amazing month to be in Jaipur, there are so many multifaceted exhibits and festivals that happen in the balmy days of this month.

Tourists from within and outside the country throng the city to witness its eclectic cultural heritage. The whole city is decked up like a bride during this period, also to commemorate the republic day of our country. For the part 1 of this series, we bring the majestic Albert Hall (Museum of Jaipur) to you in a plethora of colourful lights.

I think I better not write too much in this post 😂. I will leave you to take in the visual delight of these stunning images-

Jaypore’s Open House In Jaipur

I am an educator by profession but an artist in my fantasy life. There are so many handcraft traditions in India, that i fear one life will be too short to explore all of them. Even if i know i will not be able to explore all the paths, i want to be there! I love the idea that i still have so much to see and learn.

My love for Jaypore and its core philosophy is conspicuously displayed on the blog, it has been giving a platform to so many creative peeps to share their artwork with you. From the past few months, Jaypore has also started conducting expos in various cities of the country.  We have already covered their first expo,which was held in Delhi and also a blogpost on what all i purchased from it.

It was Jaipur’s turn to get its share of Jaypore’s magic. The expo was held in the beautiful surroundings of the Narain Niwas Palace. It was such a delightful feeling to witness so many handwoven/handcrafted fabrics like – banarasi, brocade, tussar silk, organic cotton, kantha work, ikat, block prints and so much more. Apart from the fabrics/apparel, there were hand-printed clutches, embroidered bags, silver/tribal jewelry, organic skincare, home decor etc.

The aesthetics of the expo were very charmingly done against a lush green backdrop, here are the pictures-

I have got a severe vacation itch. Some quiet time in a far away land. Hope that happens soon 🙂 

Jammu & Kashmir Craft Fair

Jammu & Kashmir is a shoppers paradise offering an array of ethnic arts and crafts. Be it Jammu, Kashmir or Ladakh – each region has an assortment of fascinating products for shopping. There are a plethora of things to choose from- pashmina and shatoosh shawls, walnut woodwork, handwoven carpets, saffron, almonds and paper mache articles.

Kashida embroidery from Kashmir was patronized by the royals of the Mughal era. It consists of intrinsic needlework in a wide variety of colours and patterns. The tensed situation in Kashmir has reduced its appeal as a lucrative tourist destination. Access to the Kashmiri crafts is now only through exhibitions and fairs held in various cities.

An exhibit of Jammu & Kashmir handicrafts was held at the lawns of Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur. Here are the pictures –

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Travel : Tripura Castle, Shillong – 2

In the first part of this blogpost , we took you through day one of our stay at the picturesque Tripura Castle in Shillong. For day two, we decided to shift to a treehouse cottage, which was situated right on the top of the valley. It is not place where life is dictated by smartphones or the obsessive need to browse through the many apps that exist on that device.

It is a place to enjoy what you have forgotten- the sheer beauty of being in touch with the planet and its many joyous sites. It was my childhood dream to stay in a treehouse and I couldn’t be more happier.

Here are the pictures-

Handloom Expo : Silk India Silk

Here we are with another expo, Silk India Silk, which was held at the lawns of Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur. Despite having attended so many exhibitions, I always get an adrenaline rush before going to one. It has the power to transport you to the dreamy world of Moroccan souks and bazaars. Collect the things you love, that are authentic to you, and your house becomes your story.

The feel of handwoven fabric. The texture. The weft and the warp. The intricacy of design. The symmetry and also the idiosyncrasies of handmade. The centuries old craft traditions that are reverently passed on from one generation of artisans to the next. The story behind each gorgeous yard of a saree. The wonder at the skill, the passion and the sheer hard work that goes into create something so beautiful.

Oh, the love for handwoven Indian textiles, you and I – we know what that feelslike! . Here are the pictures-

And because we love our textiles so much, we should do what we can to save them ❤️❤️

Evenings at Nahargarh Fort : A Photoblog

Silk India : 2017

Saree is one such attire which can flatter any one irrespective of their body type, skin tone or any other physical attributes. We have already done a blogpost on our unconditional love for sarees, not just as a dress but as a part of family heirloom which is passed on through generations. If there is a special occasion and you are in doubt regarding what to wear, adorn a saree and it will never fail you.

When it comes to timeless- classics, silk sarees rule the roost. Their sheen never fades away, whatever be the trend. The fabric of pure silk sarees remains the same over years and the times gone by add value to its vintage charm. Getting married into the army has increased my love for sarees exponentially and I can’t wait to have my own eclectic collection of the six yards. Silk sarees are our best friends because even if you are going to wear a particular saree again after 5 years, you would not be considered outdated as silk is evergreen 😍

“Silk India Expo” is held every year at the Birla Auditorium in Jaipur and one can find silk of almost every kind being exhibited. Whether it is Kanjeevaram from Tamil Nadu, Banarasi from Uttar Pradesh, Chanderi from Madhya Pradesh, Paithani from Maharashtra, Jamdani from Bengal, Kosa from Chattisgarh, Eri from Meghalaya, Tussar from Bihar, Muga from Assam – You name it and they have it. 

Hoping the pictures were a treat for your eyes ❤️❤️