Colour...the essence of life !

A warm hello from India to my blog family ! I know I am guilty of being away for the past few days, for not keeping you 'posted', and for not sharing my thoughts off late in this little space of mine in the blogosphere.  I have to share with you though that it has been a whirlwind of a fortnight, landing in my home country, spending time with my family, painting the town red with my Ma-in-law regardless of the relentless heat, shopping at my favourite haunts in the city, catching up with friends and in between all of this, pausing to notice the lovely 'bursts of colour' that adorn our home here.

What does colour mean to you? I was reflecting upon this as I started writing this post and various thoughts came to my mind...colour could mean the presence of grandchildren in the world of a grandparent, the thrill and delight of playing with them and spoiling them... :-) Or it could be the bright blush of vermillion on the cheeks of married Bengali women during 'sindoor khela',a significant ritual observed in Bengal as they bid goodbye to Goddess Durga during Pujo every year.

Colour could be an assortment of whole spices to a chef, turmeric sticks, fiery whole red chillies and brown cinnamon sticks  arranged in clear glass bottles, sitting pretty on the shelves in the kitchen. A cheering crowd adds colour to a lifeless stadium just as a puppy adds colour to the world of dog lovers. Colour of course means pigments to a blank canvas and paint stained aprons for an artist, it also means flowers to a brass vase and marigolds to a 'puja thali'.

Colour to me is also synonymous with first rains in the monsoons as they quench the thirst of the parched soil, raindrops kissing the scarlet hibiscus on the bush outside the house, or with plants serenading a bare balcony and with trailing climbers on wrought iron railings or with bright begonia creepers wrapping themselves around a spiral iron staircase. Colour also reminds me of a ferry with a bright red sail in the middle of the river under star-spangled skies, and of 'sarangi' players in Rajasthan, wearing red turbans as they romance their musical instrument against the weathered walls of their village homes... :-)

And most importantly, colour makes me think of some gorgeous spots of colour in my mother-in-law's home, which beautifully accentuate the neutral shades of the wall, the upholstery, the tables and the consoles...

I love how the greenery here offsets the gleaming brass tones of the Buddha...

...and how this beautiful fruit bowl makes for such an exquisite centrepiece...

...or how the dash of pink brings out the best in the paisley upholstery on the couch...

...or how lovely the red heliconias look against the ivory curtains...

I simply love how the shelves in the dining room come alive with the beautiful colours and gold carving of this gorgeous teapot...

...and how these lovely white and blue knick-knacks add character to the marble top coffee tables and consoles in their home...

I love the contrast of this green butter dish against the beautifully polished table, this is used more for decor than for doling out lashings of butter on the breakfast table and I wouldn't have it any other way :-)

...and of course her enviable collection of Ganeshas, of which this is a small glimpse. I love the way the colours of this beautiful wooden one stand out against the others that have grey and black tones...isn't this simply gorgeous ? :-)

Colour exists in all our homes just as it exists in our lives, it enlivens corners and brightens our souls, all you need to do is look around you (and within you) and notice it. Life is also all about contrasts, so why should your home not sport the 'contrast' look? Think how well grey and pink go together, club the indigo with a bright mustard and consider adding some fuchsia against purple vignettes and savour the splendid results ! :-) And the next time you see a shade bringing out the best in a corner in your home, do share it with me. I would love to hear about it, learn from you how it makes your world a more beautiful place and in the process add a little more colour to my day. Until my next post, stay smiling, stay colourful. See you ! :-)

Images : Pratibha & Anil Madan

Travel triggered musings !

Hello everyone, it is soon going to be time for me to be on the road, and it is an exciting journey ahead for it is a path that takes me to my family and friends in India. Yes, am headed home for a vacation and while I am mighty pleased at the thought and have been busy finalising plans here and there, I just realised how much am going to miss every inch of our home here in Korea :-)

It is an amazing realisation for me how this tiny little space of ours, has grown to become home for us. I still remember telling you about the empty canvas in my first post on the blog, about how all that awaited me in this house were two plates and forks and a huge television (other than the world's finest husband of course, smiles). Well I would like to believe that we have come a long way since then and have gradually infused life into our apartment. 

Other than the few curios, some wall art, vases aplenty and a lot of colour around this place, what am really happy about is that there are 'ties' that have developed in the past six months, friendships that have been forged and a comforting familiarity established with the four walls in this home of ours. 

Is it possible to 'befriend' an apartment you ask ? According to me, yes it is, for you connect with every little corner of your home as you attempt to make it 'yours'. You stamp it with your unique sense of style as you customise how it looks and very soon you have your 'my most comfortable', 'my most relaxing', 'my most invigorating', 'my most peaceful' corners etc. earmarked for you. Before you know it, the concrete 'brick-mortar-woodwork' structure softens and melts, moulding itself to your decor fantasies and assumes a character and personality that is original, sui generis, one that you can relate to, love and cherish.

Needless to say, I will miss our place in the weeks ahead, miss how the mornings feel, how it feels to pull the curtains to keep the afternoon sun away, the joy of seeing my plants silhouetted against the silk fabric...

...or indulging in my OCD of plumping up and smoothening the cushions now and then...

...or coming home after running errands and just unwinding on the rug... 

...and relishing endless cups of tea in the living room..

...or picking up flowers from my favourite Ajumma's flower shop in the neighbourhood...

...and the happiness of seeing them glow in the lamp light as we spend a carefree evening at home, reading, thinking, talking over dinner...

But then again am happy since I know our place is in the best hands possible, my better half is super when it comes to looking after the home, in fact he is far more particular than yours truly about how things must be kept in place and takes prompt action if even one leaf in our plants looks like it is going to wilt :-) AND of course, I cannot wait to be reunited with my family, very specially with the four legged members who have been informed that they can look forward to seeing me very soon and that there are going to be a lot of biscuit treats so they must get that 'wagging' business in order :-)

Longing to write more but I have a long list of 'to-dos' to take care of, so I am forced to sign off here, much against my will. But I shall see you here again soon, I have a lot that I would like to share with you from the upcoming India chapter. Until then, stay happy and smiling, caress your home and nurture your decor dreams, and I promise to stay connected here :-) Till next time, take care.

A magical month !

Hello everyone, it has been a while since I caught up with you on the blog. Trust all is well with you and your loved ones and the weeks that went by have been special for you.

As for me, it has been a magical month with my in-laws visiting us and spending time here in our home. I definitely have gained in more ways than one, on the weighing scales for sure, some of my Ma-in-law's prize recipes tucked under my belt and happy to flaunt some extra laughter lines thanks to all the cheerful moments we shared together. Family reunions are amazing, truly, can anything be more precious ?! :-)

And now that it is back to the two of us here, I was thinking of all that has changed around us in the time that just flew by, noticing the seemingly small, yet significant alterations that have come around our home, and I am happy to say they look really nice :-) My plants for sure have blossomed in the warmth of the family being together...

It is the most pleasurable feeling to see a new leaf shooting out of a plant, a sign of new life which to me is also synonymous with no apprehensions and no biases in life...

A new leaf reminds you of freshness of thought, of another chance to grow and flourish, a reminder to keep the child inside of you alive...

And of course it is pleasing to the eyes and looks beautiful too, the glorious, inimitable colours of mother nature... :-)

The days that went by have been gratifying on other accounts too. Other than the fact that my 'rajma' and 'cheese balls' got an 'A+' in my Ma-in-law's report card (smiles, she is very kind and generous) I am happy to share with you that some of my artwork was up on exhibit at an international exhibition in Seoul :-) I have mentioned earlier that I love my time with my oil paints and love to romance the canvas.  My time off from work allows me to indulge in this passion more often now and I was very happy to see my work on the walls of the gallery, a moment that was made more special by the presence of my family here. The paintings are back home now and some of them have found a place on the walls here...feels nice (and quite unreal at times) to see them adorn our nest :-)

This is my whirling dervish, happily surrendering himself to his 'meditation in motion', ecstatic in his state of trance as he swirls and twirls in the open fields...

And another one that finds place in the balcony, a secret gazebo tucked away in a garden that opens into a meadow, the desire to keep spring alive in our home through the year maybe visible here :-)

And now after all that excitement of sight seeing, travelling around Korea, lots of cooking for the family, and of course the art exhibition, I am more than glad to just take it easy and relax at home, letting the lull overtake for now...

It maybe time to travel again soon, and until then am looking forward to some rest and repose in the surroundings that I love the most...looking forward to some 'me time', quiet and blissful evenings with the better half and last but most certainly in no way the least, spending more time with you all here. Immensely grateful to the Almighty for being so kind...see you again soon.

A beautiful feeling this...

I can never emphasise enough, how much I cherish the time I get to spend at home. It is where I (like most of you) relax, unwind and rejuvenate myself. It never ceases to amaze me how much comfort I draw from the hours I get to spend in our house. And these days, our home feels more wonderful and special than ever before, as we have my husband's parents visiting us for the first time in Korea :-)

I am sure you would agree that nothing can be more exciting than family visiting you, especially when you live in different time zones, many miles away like we do. As a result, I have been humming and singing aloud the past couple of weeks while crossing dates off the calendar, counting down to their day of arrival, identifying 'places-to-go-to' and updating my 'to-do-list', arranging and rearranging my knick-knacks around the house to get the perfect look, and of course, changing it to something completely unplanned at the eleventh hour, hoping to marry utility and beauty, to create an ambience that is warm, welcoming and comfortable for them to enjoy :-)

When you look forward to something so much, you invariably imagine and try to anticipate how the actual moment would be. But all that I had visualised in the context of their visit, has been completely surpassed by the actual joy of having them around us in our home !!! :-) It is the most reassuring sight to see my father-in-law reading on his laptop on the couch that is normally home only to a couple of colourful cushions, or to see my mother-in-law infuse grace and poise into our living room as she sips on her green tea and flips through a magazine.

This happiness however, is not just ours to experience, for it extends to all inanimate objects in our nook :-) I assure you that the table lamps and lanterns are emanating greater warmth nowadays through their glow, and believe me when I tell you the flowers have perked up in their vases, and are skilfully manoeuvring their fragrance to spread towards the direction of our parents' room :-)

Even the dishwasher goes 'rub-a-dub-dub' with a more lyrical and energetic swish, happy to serve those we love the most in this world. I would not be exaggerating if I said that every corner has come to life, awash with the love and warmth shared by parents and their kin :-)

There is more to look forward to over our 'morning cuppa', the conversation and chit-chat, there is a vibrant energy in our living room, even if we are just lounging around watching TV... :-) The elevenses are relaxed and enjoyable, over some coffee, green tea and a slice of cake (or two) :-)

Am always happy to cook for my family and planning a meal takes on a very special meaning for me these days. Must share with you that I was extremely courageous the other day as I tried my hand at making 'dahi-vadas' at home ! :-) To my delight they were much appreciated and enjoyed by everyone, another characteristic of parental generosity! :-)My Ma-in-law is a champion chef, and am trying to learn some of her trademark recipes while she is here :-)

As we make the most of these precious days, I believe there is more to this happiness than just their physical presence around us here at home, it is their love that envelopes our little nest, it is the sense of security knowing they are here with us, it is the reassuring air that parents have about them, that cocoons our home these days. No greater joy than this one, their being here has made our home more 'home' than it was, it really is a beautiful feeling, this ! :-)

Not just about Art...

Today happens to be Teachers Day in Korea. My move to this country has been synonymous with immense learning, both the untutored and tutored variety. This welcome break from the 'nine-to-nine' corporate routine has given me a chance to connect with some lovely people from whom I learn traditional Korean art forms such as 'Minhwa' painting and 'Hanji' paper craft. Needless to say they are supremely proficient in their fields, with decades of experience of the art, and of the style of imparting it.They are tough task masters, but patient at the same time, with just the right balance of hand-holding and letting go when necessary... :-)

I really look forward to these lessons, but not just for the wonderful skills am getting to learn from them. It is because these classes are more than just about the forms of art they teach. It is here that I get to meet people from all parts of the world, different backgrounds, different age groups. We engage in fascinating conversations about each other's culture, peculiarities of the countries we hail from, have delicious 'pool-in' lunches on a regular basis, thereby getting a chance to sample food from different parts of the world and learn along the way. I remember one time when I carried some home cooked biryani to class, and loved how much everyone enjoyed it ! The discussion about the cooking style, the spices and ingredients that went into making it was delightful...

 ( the 'biryani' we all enjoyed together in my 'Hanji' class)

Another thing that comes to my mind is how there is always some marshmallow or cake that my teachers give us during class, accompanied by lovely coffee or tea to keep the energy levels high :-) Drawing and painting go so well with music, and my teachers always play inspiring tunes in the background. On Fridays we tune into the more upbeat numbers on the radio, it's the weekend after all :-)

My 'Hanji' paper craft teacher in particular is someone I really admire and adore. She is like my local guardian in this country, making sure she comes to see me off to my taxi after class, instructing the cabbie not to drive 'Pali-Pali' ( fast in Korean ), ever willing to translate stuff from Korean into English for me, recommending nice places to visit around Seoul and in general very caring and warm. She has been teaching the art, which involves cutting out and piecing together bits of handmade Korean paper for nearly thirty years now, and is a veteran in the field. She has to be one of the softest, kindest and most humble souls I have met in life, and she is so much fun to be around :-) With her, the craft, which requires extreme patience and precision, becomes so much more enjoyable, time flies and I cannot wait to go back to her the following week just to enjoy those few hours in her company....

( That is a table lamp I made out of 'Hanji' paper, took many months of work,but my teacher's presence and support made it so much simpler, I think it was worth the effort, smiles )

...my art classes in Seoul are something I really look forward to, for my teachers make them worth much more than the expertise that they involve. I cherish my time spent with these talented ladies. Thanks to them I get to bring home lovely Korean craft that I make under their guidance, and create a bunch of happy memories with my time spent in their company.They truly are gifted souls, masters of their craft, and ever so willing to help out a 'Waygook' (that means a 'foreigner' in Korean ) like me...needless to say my journey in this country would be less colourful sans them, and I will remember them wherever I go.

 I do not know if they will get to read this, but if they do, I just want to tell them that Korea feels more like home thanks to them :-) Happy Teachers Day and thank you for teaching me and opening for me not just your art, but also your heart and your world...'Kamsamnida' !! :-)

As 'Mothers Day' approaches...

I hear coming Sunday is 'Mothers Day'. Can one day in the year even begin to suffice when it comes to telling your mom how much she is loved and how special she is ? I would think not. But it does make me want to write a bit about how mine is my inspiration, for the amazing human being she is, for all her attributes and specifically today, for her finesse in the arena of home decor, and how I see myself drawing on it subconsciously, as I set up our home here in Korea...

Ever wondered where your first realisation of a 'beautiful home' was ? I can tell you mine was in our own home in India, a home that my parents lovingly created, our very own little space in this universe that my mother nurtures and beautifies every single day with her natural artistic flair, her effortless sense of style and her beautiful warm personality.

Someday soon, and I have said this before too, I hope to take you on a virtual tour of our abode back home...in the meanwhile, as I sit in my living room today and write this post, I look around and realise how everything I have put together has such a strong reflection of my mother's taste, a reflection of all that I have seen her do throughout my childhood, things that I have imbibed without consciously making an effort to do so...

.

..it is in the way I trim the stems of my flowers, in the way I arrange them in the vase...

...it is there in my love for Wedgwood pottery, or for my natural affinity for all things ceramic...

 ...it is in my love for the texture of raw silk upholstery, in my love for earthy rustic cushion covers...

...it is in the way I arrange my knick knacks around books, for my mother 'always-always' has books as part of her decor :-)

..it is also in my dislike for crooked paintings on the walls (smiles) and in my love for natural light first thing in the morning, in my fondness for green vignettes in our home (even thought they are just a handful of pots as of now)...

... she taught me what contrast was all about in home decor (and in life of course), about how lighting makes all the difference to how beautiful a corner can look...

...from her I developed a love for masks, and learnt how taffeta silk makes some of the best artificial flowers :-)

...And most importantly, I learnt from her something that is integral to home decor- how your home must reflect your personality, and how important it is that when someone enters your home they should be able to see who you are through the way you have done it up. It could be simple, ostentatious, boho-chic, rustic, earthy, stark, warm...it could be anything, as long as it is closest to defining who you really are :-) 

So it is with all these thoughts in my mind, that I do my bit in setting up our place here. Of course, I will be bouncing off the floor, turning cartwheels and be unbelievably happy the day I can be even a shade as good or as gifted as she is. But as of now, am just happy to see how so many things in our home here, speak of her silently, how she is my constant source of inspiration, in the world of home decor, and in every other realm of life that probably exists !  :-)