Revival of a Fading Handloom Tradition - The KHUN

The handloom sector in India is an integral part of our Indian cultural heritage. The array of textiles churned out by the Indian textile industry is not only reflective of the diverse cultural inheritance but is also symbolic of the prowess of our Indian weavers. Facing stiff competition from the power looms and the mill sector and plagued with drawbacks such as antiquated technology, working capital dilemmas and inadequate marketing capability, many textile art forms have begun to fade away.....One such fading handloom tradition is the Guledgudda Khana or Khun from North Karnataka. 

KHUN  - an art form to cherish. The woven fabric has an almost silk like sheen and is perfect to add that extra luster to your Diwali decor.

Typically used to make ravikes or cholis (sari blouses)  that pair well with Ilkal saris from the same region, their distinct weave creates an intricate brocade like pattern much like a honey comb. These  two-tone textiles come in a variety of jewel tones and cater to a niche segment in the suburban and villages of Karnataka and Maharashtra. I was introduced to this exquisite fabric by my mom who had her collection of Khun blouses that she'd team with starched cotton saris. 

On one of my visits back home, a wonderful and generous aunt who lives in Belgaum (Karnataka) let me help myself to some extra Khun blouse pieces that she had remaining after a pooja at her place. She knew that I'd find a good use for them and packed one in every possible color !!!

Khun Fabric cushion covers in intense colors elevate the festive ambiance in my living room.

A quick trip to the local darzi (tailor) and I ended up with these one of a kind cushion covers, that add bold punches of color to my decor. I have enough fabric remnants to make a table runner or more cushion covers in a patchwork style that I recently spotted on Jaypore. I was happy to see that it was making a come back. 

If you plan to incorporate dramatic colors to your festive decor, may I suggest you consider scouring your local fabric and textile stores that are brimming with inspiration. If you can't find the Khun, don't get disheartened, there is so much that Indian fabric stores have to offer. Just go with the flow and listen to your heart............  

In built borders make for easy mix and match.

If your short on time but want to recreate this look without the hassle of visiting your local darzi, then do check out the Khun soft furnishing range offered by Kale Nele .

I do hope that I've managed to jump-start the festive decorating spree with this vibrant post..........

Images: Clicked by Sruthi Singh. Please do not use without prior written permission. 

Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright.

The Key to My Heart

Valentine's Day - it's not that I need to pick a day to profess my love to the people who mean the world to me, it's just that the die-hard romantic that I am, I don't spare a single excuse to celebrate LOVE. Besides, with a 7 year old who loves chocolate dipped strawberries and is secretly stacking his V day-cards for his parents under his bed, it's hard not to share his enthusiasm. To rub things in further, I've had 2 dozen Valentine's goodie bags (for my son's school buddies) sitting on my buffet table for over a week, staring me in the face......

I also have my hidden motives to celebrate V-day. If the occasion calls for flowers and a break from the kitchen, then I've every reason to celebrate:) But this time around it's a little different. We're keeping it intimate with a home cooked meal (I'm the one doing all the cooking) and some soulful music......

To make things extra special, I decided to go the DIY route. The organic quality of handmade objects together with the time and effort you put into it, only says you wanna go that extra mile for your loved one. Deciding to make napkin rings with key charms that spell "the key to my heart", was just the thing. Instead of heading in the direction of red, I decided to do pink with hints of red. Aiming for an informally romantic ambiance, floral patterned napkins are paired with classic white dinnerware.  

Though Baby's breathe is usually used as a filler flower, I thought it was the ideal choice for a Valentine's Day tablescape. It's dreamy and delicate quality complement's the vintage brass creamer perfectly.

If you like what you see and want to create these simple, fun and easy napkin rings yourself,  you'll need: 
- jewelry making wire ( 20 gauge preferred)
- Your choice of beads ( make sure they can be strung)
- Charms with rings ( these can be swapped out to suit any occasion)
- Needle nose pliers
- Scissors
- A bottle/cardboard tissue tube to wrap the wire to achieve the coiled effect

Directions:
- Depending on the number of plate settings you want, cut the wire into 4 or 6 in no. with a length of 24 - 30 inches each.
- Form a loop with your needle nose pliers to hold the beads in place.
- String the beads and repeat the looping process to hold the charm.
-Finally wrap the beaded wire around the cardboard tissue role to create the coiled effect.

Coming up next is a garden tour you don't want to miss.
Have a wonderful day !!!! 

Images:Clicked by me. Please do not use without prior written permission.
Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright.

Diwali Tablescape Inspiration - Day 1

Hello Lovely Readers !!!! Today's post is SPECIAL. It's the 50th post for me and with that it marks my 4 months in the blogging world. I've enjoyed every minute of my blogging experience so far. I have managed to meet a lot of wonderful people through blogging and everyone has been nothing but supportive. Thank you lovely readers, my family and friends for being a part of "The East Coast Desi" and making this happen for me. Love you guys:)

We are now going to be kicking off the festive season with oomph and glamour that surrounds my favorite festival of all.......DIWALI. I enjoy every aspect of Diwali.........the jauntiness with which the victory of good over evil is celebrated across the country; homes as they blush in the warm luminescent glow - diffused by the innumerable lamps gracing every corner of the home; the performance put up by the flames as they dance the night away; the traditional sweets and treats that you gorge on knowing fully well that you have to deal with the guilt the following week; decking up in classic Indian attire and sitting down to a lavish and scrumptious meal with my family and friends.

While growing up, my family and I made a conscious decision to make our Diwali green and avoid the use of fire crackers and thus doing our bit to keep the pollution in check. To make up for the crackers, Dad would bring us all kinds of flowers that my sister and I would ask for. We'd use them for flower rangolis and flower arrangements to create a welcoming festive atmosphere. Another wonderful memory I have of Diwali was visiting "Pottery Town" in Bangalore with my mom and picking up terracotta diyas (lamps) to paint them in a kaleidoscope of colors. 

Here in the US, I don't have a Pottery Town to go to, but I'm happy that over the years I have managed to bring back a few traditional brass diyas with me, on every visit that I made back home. Most of them are ancestral pieces and are absolutely precious to me. However, we also have some fabulous stores like World Market, Home Goods and Amazon that have some fantastic Indian lanterns and accessories that you can buy to complement your Diwali decor without making a hole in your pocket.

The starting point for me to decorate any space is to decide on an accent color and take stock of what I already have and may need. This season, it’s the ocher's  and reds that are doing the talking at my place. Cushions, candles and flowers are coordinated keeping the accent colors in mind, giving the space a cohesive feel.

Entertaining is a huge part of Diwali at my place.While deciding on the tablescape this year, I decided to go with the plates that I found on a trip to World Market a while ago. I fell in love with the intricate paisley design on them in deep red and gold with a tinge of Indigo. The design reminded me of a Banarasi Silk sari that belonged to my grand mother (Nani). A quick call to mom back in India (she being my genie), confirmed that the sari border was carefully  preserved  and  my idea of turning the vintage fabric into one-of-a-kind napkin ring would be granted. And in no time, I had a package at my door step with these gorgeous babies in it. 

We just had the border of a once beautiful sari, as the sari itself was used up to make traditional Indian dresses called pattu pavades for my sister and I (while we were kids).The napkin rings add that extra special touch to my Diwali tablescape. Unlike any other store bought finds, these have a special significance to me. 

Fresh flowers are a must to make a place come alive and feel cared for. I like using one of a kind vases to house my flowers. This time, it’s a beer mug that belonged to my grandfather when he served in the military.Together with elegant brass lanterns and colored glass votive holders from World Market, the evening is sure going to be engulfed in a magical glow. 

The ambiance is just right and with the wonderful company of family and friends it can be nothing but Perfect. Do let me know how you liked the innovative use of vintage fabrics to create the napkin rings. I do hope, you have been inspired to create a simple yet elegant table setting for your loved ones. 

Coming up tomorrow is another tablescape inspiration that I plan to put together for a chaat night being hosted at my friends place for Diwali this coming weekend.

Thank you for reading and have a wonderful day !!!!!!

Images:Clicked by me. Please do not use without prior written permission.

Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright.

Autumn Decor with an Oriental Panache

Good Morning lovely readers!!! How are we doing today ????

Celebrating autumn and decor continues here on The East Coast Desi.

Autumn to me is like an Indian bride, decked up in gold and fiery reds.With vibrant autumn foliage, who needs blooms. And this coming from a person to whom flowers are a necessity. I've been on the eastcoast a long time but this particular season never seizes to amaze me.This year I thought of bringing the wonderful outdoors in, with the gorgeous Japanese Maple. I settled on this particular variety for their aesthetic appeal. (Decor tip: Incorporate seasonal splendor into your home decor.)

A lovely Italian vinaigrette bottle houses my maple for the styling. (Decor Tip: Don't limit yourself to the standard vase....if a particular shape or element appeals to you and it can be transformed into a vase go ahead and use it.)The Buddha painting is a DIY project. I'm not taking credit for the originality of the design as a similar one was available at Pier 1 Imports 4 years back. But I am going to be taking credit for creating a knock-off and for making a husband and his pocket happy.

The painting is Souvenir Du Tibet Wall Art said to bring good luck with it's 25 Buddha heads. I was unwilling to pay the price tag of $300 for the artwork. But my husband knew how much I wanted it. So he got me a canvas (3ftX4ft) and suggested I give it a try . I had my work cutout for me but since painting has a therapeutic effect on me, I was like, "OK let's get started ASAP". I created a stencil of the Buddha (using cardboard and a craft knife), 4 tubes of acrylic paints and 6 hours later...... we have artwork at 1/6th the cost. The imperfections and organic nature of the painting is something I love. I tried searching for the original Pier 1 painting and found this for your reference.

Once I got my Japanese maple from a local friendly nursery, the Buddha painting was the indisputable choice for styling the autumn vignette. The artwork rests directly on the console giving the setting a casual feel. (Decor Tip:If you have reservations about nails and your walls, this is the perfect way to exhibit art.) On a regular day, my Buddha painting adorns the stairway as you enter the house. It sets the tone for the Asian inspired decor. 

A gorgeous handmade woven bowl from one of my trips back home is a perfect accessory to hold the car keys, wallet and phone. I always like adding my jewelry as a decor element too. (The transparency of the beads against the light was beautiful and made for a great click.)

A close up of the Japanese Maple...... I'm sure your in love too. It's not hard to understand why it is a popular landscaping choice among plant aficionados. Another one of my favorite is the Autumn Blaze Maple.

Hope you'll are inspired enough to welcome fall into your home. Do you'll agree that we don't need flowers for the time being ???

Have a wonderful day and stay tuned for more on decor and Diwali inspiration coming soon.......... 

Linking up to: http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/tutorials/tutorials-tips-link-party-130.html

Images:Clicked by me. Please do not use without prior written permission.

Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright.