2011 Calendar..

A few days back I visited the museum to see the painting exhibition of renowned artist Cheong Soo Pieng at the Singapore Art Museum..The paintings were enchanting!! What I loved about the paintings were elongated limbs and torso, almond-shaped faces which are signature of his masterpieces!! 

I really loved his style and incorporated it in my new sketches :) Now my ladies have almond shaped faces and big eyes as well!!

I made a few more sketchs.. then digitally painted them . Last week I sat down every evening  to I put them all together..  I finally by Sunday I had made my very first 2011 Calendar!! Yipee!!

 All the paintings are associted with the months.. For example.. Polka dot French hens in April for Easter.. Ganesha for Ganesh Chaturthi in September..and so on..

Here's a sneak peak of the front page of the Calendar..

 I think they would make a pretty Christmas/new year gift!!

I am linking it to Met Monday  !!

Christmas decor

In Singapore Christmas is a month long festival..The city dazzles from Nov to New year.Every year Singapore has a theme for the tropical Christmas ..this year it is Christmas in love!! There is lot of music,dance,night feasts, Christmas floats and lot more events happening in the city!! 

Getting into the mood I have decided to decorate  my apartment for Christmas early this year!! In this tropical country we don't need a fireplace.. but I am kind-of missing having one since I had one in Zürich.. Can you believe I actually (by mistake) brought the firewood we had in Zurich with our shipment to Singapore.. hmmm..That's another story!! So to fulfill my desire to have a mantle ..I have decorated the new mahogany cupboard top which we bought recently. It also serves as a divider between the living area and the dining area.. This is how it looked like till a few hours before..

This is now it is looks like now..

All decked up for Christmas...





I brought 3 plants of Poinsettia this weekend.. Two of them I placed at the end of the cupboard top.Decorated them with some golden ornaments around the base.







On one side I kept a cute little carriage full of presents and gifts..I had bought it from a Christmas shop in Schwarzwald area(Black forest) in Germany!!





On the other side I kept a silver leaf near the pot..I just love the colors..the striking red and the golden ornaments!! It looks very festive!!!





In the center I kept my crystal reindeer on a wooden box!!  I love this reindeer ..It from a Christmas market in Zurich.. It looks so beautiful.. its pose, shape and the bells to its antlers/horns are very pretty..I fell in love with him the moment I saw him!!!

I placed some tiny pine cones near the box.. It is actually a tea &spice box which I got as a Christmas gift from a online grocery store(migros)  in Zurich!! 





How can I forget my cute Santa candy jar... I love him to bits:)




Joining the parties at th Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday, with Diana @ The Girl Creative for Just Something I Whipped Up  ,with Cindy @ Cottage Instincts for Make it 4 Monday ,Marty's Tabletop Tuesday , Becca @ Blue Cricket Design for Show &Tell , the Lettered Cottage for Holiday home linky party, Gina @ the shabby chic cottage for Transformation Thursday , Sharon&Rekha @The key bunch for December Carnival , Emreen@ Liven things up for Its Festival time ,Cindy @Romantic home for Show &Tell  Friday , Robin@All things heart and home for all things merry and brite and Lori @bedifferntactnormal for Show&Tell!

Weekend getaway!!

A glorious sunny day in June in Zürich.. I really love the fact that before shifting to Singapore we got to enjoy the best weather in Switzerland and left just before the start of foggy dull autumn days!!

I haven't seen beautiful clouds like these ever in my life!!! super white..puffy..soft..as if God lives in these clouds!!!

We drove to Rapperswill that day .. Here is another post I did of the quaint place!! This was our favorite weekend spot!!  I love the   cute little shops in the village which sold folk art and craft!! 

This one is more contemporary version of the traditional folk art of scherenschnitte !! 

Aren't these cute!! Cactus in these super cute pots!!!

The pretty village looks even prettier in spring with sunny skies!!!

For more beautiful locations visit Skywatch!!

Have a nice weekend!!!

Tomato topiary tutorial

A few days back I was watching how edible arrangements.com make their fruit baskets on Food channel . That gave me an idea to attempt making a fruit basket.. My goal is to make a fruit basket like this.. hmmm.. thats lot of work.. My laziness gave me idea :) why not to make a easy tomato topiary instead of the fruit basket!! 

So this what the topiary looked like at the end of the trial.. 

For this you need: 

 Baby tomatoes or cherry tomatoes

A small pot(the orange should just sit on it and not go inside)

Orange ( which is not too ripe or juicy) 

Tooth picks

Start piercing toothpicks into the orange. Fix tomatoes into the tooth pick.





Place the orange on the vase. 





Continue piecing toothpicks in it until the entire orange is covered.




This could be decoration for the table or You can also serve mozzarella cheese sprinkled with basil leaves and the tomato topiary as a starter or appetizer like I do.. See here!!


Linking to Motivate me Monday!!

Christmas table: DIY Napkin rings

Continuing with the earlier post of Christmas decoration inspiration today I am going to show you some cool and easy DIY napkin rings ideas!! As I always say all the items for decoration or table setting are usually available at home you just need to look for them!! These simple and beautiful ideas are exactly this!!!

                                                                                            Courtesy: Martha Stewart 

Bring Christmas to your table with these napkin rings made with felt holly leaves and jingle bell .. You can get the template for the leaves here. Trace these on white felt sheet. Cut them accordingly .Fold and iron to give the leaf like effect. Tie the bell and the stems of the leaves with a cord!!

                                                                                                   Courtesy: Woman's Day

This one is perfect for any seasonal ( summer or spring) or nature themed table decor!! A perfect setting for people on this side of the globe where it is warm and sunny during Christmas:) A quick setting using seasonal fruit.. Tie the stem of kumquat and some leaves with a red cord..!!

                                                                                                                                                                                 Courtesy: Canada Living

A 10 minute napkin ring DIY idea !! Glue grapevine wire around paper-towel tube and fix a red bow to it!!!  Looks pretty isn't it!!!

                                                                                                                  Courtesy: Real Simple

Don't have much time on hand .. want to make something fast with the napkins ..This could be the solution!!  Turn a tray into table mat and tie the cutlery with ornaments!! Simple..you can ask your kids can do this as well!!

                                                                                          Courtesy: Country living

Another fantastic quick DIY idea !! Roll the napkins and tie a Christmas ball or ornaments to it.Fix the place card in a pine cone from the garden!! Simple yet so beautiful!!

                                                                                             Courtesy: Country living

How about something different.. Instead stacking the napkin in usual flat style, why not roll them!!! Napkin Pyramid with Christmas ball and green leaves .. You know what I think add a small pine cone and use pine branch to it !! 

                                                                                                                                                                                          Courtesy:  Martha Stewart 

Last but not the least ..Isn't this cute!!!! Bells made with crepe paper.. I just love this idea!! Red bells look striking on the white crisp napkin...You can get the instructions here.

Don't forget to view all the earlier posts of Christmas inspirations and easy projects ;

Christmas table Decorations

I was looking for inspirations for Christmas table decorations..I found so many fantastic ideas ..I am totally inspired!! I want to share them with you all so you will feel inspired as well..Its a long one so I will divide it into two part..Let's start with part one!

                                                                                                                                                                      Courtesy: Wunderweib

For this decoration, you need a blue cloth napkin, lily, White& red cord, berries sprig and some pine. The entire table should be around blue,red and white theme. The table cloth is blue with red ornaments spread around. The serving plates are blue or white. The white & red cord is tied around the stems of the glass with berries.. It looks so elegant and stylish!!!

                                                                                                                                                         Courtesy: Essen und Trinken

The color theme of this Christmas table is white..The cloth napkins are white.. There are tiny glass birds sitting next to the napkin ..pink for ladies and white for the men!! The centerpiece is so pretty with pine, candles and birds on it.. I love the way the place mats are arranged under the plates!!!

                                                                                                                                                               Courtesy: Essen und Trinken

This table decoration has the traditional Christmas color theme- red and white. The red embroidered linen napkins with plaid ribbon gives a quaint vintage charm to the table. It is so gorgeous !!

                                                                                                                  Courtesy: Martha Stewart 

This stunning white and red table setting theme looks fabulous with the stunning red carnation centerpiece with a red ribbon tied around the base!! It is minimalistic and stylish!!

                                                                                                                                                                         Courtesy: Wunderweib

The red and white theme continues here as well.. The table runner on a white table has a brilliant effect.. The single amaryllis flowers in glass and the pine cone candles provide a neat and stylish centerpiece.. I like the idea as it is less space consuming as well as simple arrangement and yet so radiant!! Don't miss the beautiful chandelier made of a metal ring candle holder with silver ornaments hanging to it!!!

                                                                                                                                                               Courtesy: Essen und Trinken

The green and glittering gold theme dazzles this table setting. The green and orange ornaments, the greenish candles and the golden  vases compliments the theme fabulously..The two linen table napkins rolled together along with a red berry's branch completes the festive setting!!

Are you saying you are already inspired ..wait.. look out for the next part  of Christmas table setting here !!! It has even more fabulous ideas!!!

Have a nice weekend!!!

Breakfast table

A great way to start your week is have a sumptuous and healthy breakfast with family.. We rarely have time to have breakfast together.. there are few days when we both have time to have breakfast together so I try to make it special..

The checkered table cloth is folded into a table runner ... it gives a feeling of picnic table!!

I have a collection of hens.. I love French hens and have looked high and low to curate them.. This one is from Villeroy and Boch.. I made a tomato topiary ..This was my first attempt .. I think second one will be better!!

Thats all for today!! Look out for a tomato topiary tutorial on this blog soon..


Linking to Tabletop Tuesday, Tablescape Thursday, Show&Tell Friday!!

Freebies: Gift tags

Last week was very active..I have started jogging early in the morning around 5: 30 am ! It feels sooo good.. the air is so crisp and fresh in the morning..the breeze is cool ...It keeps me so positive and cheerful all day!! If you are feeling low in energy during the day try this..you will feel totally energized for rest of the day!!


This weekend we watched two fabulous movies - Golmaal and Unstoppable .. Both are highly recommended!! I have been trying my hand at digital painting. I haven't figured out much of the techniques .. The above one I had sketched earlier (long time back actually) and painted it yesterday digitally. I know I know.. I have lot to improve:)

I also made these Christmas gift tags. I have uploaded them on scribd. You can download them here. Cut along the dotted lines.. I print it on self adhesive paper and peel it and stick it on the parcel..Alternatively print on a card stock  paper, cut them and make a hole with a punch or with a needle and pass a ribbon or golden thread through it!!!

Linking it to Patty's Weekend Wrap and Susan's Metamorphosis Monday!!!

Rapperswil on Lake Zürich

Located on Lake Zürich , Rapperswil is a quaint little place with castle, cozy cafes, walks and tiny shops selling toys and other decorative items which are made locally..It was our  perfect getaway almost every week on a sunny summery day. We usually drove there via beautiful .. its a understatement..the villages are extremely beautiful ..with the blue snow capped alps as the backdrop.. the blue lake spread across..It is so wonderful to drive in Switzerland!!

It is possible to take a boat ride if you have the time,patience(lol) to spend 2-4 hours on the boat or if want to see all the small towns on the Lake Zurich ..!!  It is highly recommended if you are new or tourist in Zurich because it is extremely scenic and has many stops in between where you can stop and enjoy that place ...

I had a very busy week and hoping to start with Christmas projects next week!! 

Have a nice weekend!!!

For more travel locations jump to Skywatch!!!

Weekend Wrap

This weekend was festive and very happening one!! Lots of decorations, sweets, flowers, candles, lights, friends, festivities... In my home I did a  diwali themed decor with watermelon lantern ..then  some dazzling centerpieces with Chrysanthemums ...and some more festive centerpieces with candles which I shared with you on this blog .. Today I will share with you some more centerpieces I did on the weekend!!!

We went to the flower market and brought lots of roses, marigolds and lotus.. I floated some candles with rose petals .. filled my pumpkins with marigold!!!

This is on my living room's center table.. the yellow marigold, orange pumpkins and red rose petals and candles made such a striking centerpiece..created  festive mood for the evening...

I brought lotus first time in my life.. I have no idea how and when will these two bloom..I will definitely share the pictures if and when they bloom:) This is our dining table which you guys have seen in all my table decors..this weekend it was dazzling with floating candles in a copper vessel and some earthen diyas/ candles....

This is our puja table..In Zürich we didn't get marigold flowers or garland.. we were so happy that we could get a thick marigold and rose garland...sweets (boondi ladoo) and coconut as  offering ,  rangoli design on floors..lots of diyas, lights and candles..

In the balcony I lit a row of lights...

I took this picture today of the Diwali celebration and decorations in Singapore's Little India. The entire long road is dazzling with these decorations!!!!  

Hope you all had a great weekend!! Have a lovely week ahead!!!