Semblance of Feng Shui & Vaastu Shastra

A lot of us believe in Feng Shui or Vaastu Shastra or either. Both the beliefs are a science of construction, architecture and in general help us to improve life. The Indian-derived Vastu Shastra is said to be the basis for Feng Shui and has recently gained Western popularity for its eco-conscious appeal while Feng Shui is based on the idea that everything in your outer surroundings affects the course of your life.

Although different, Feng Shui and Vastu Shastra share some common core timeless design approaches. A home is where you spend a lot of your time, let it reflect your individuality or the uniqueness. I will mention a few easy and doable tips to enhance your daily lives.

Surround yourself with things you like:



When you look at your things what do they say to you? Do you look at your furniture and/or art and say “I love that!?” This is where you should keep or get rid of things that don’t make you feel good. If you have negative associations with objects in your home then pass them on.



De-clutter your home:



Home can be where you go to rejuvenate. Environmental chaos can clutter your mind too. Remove all the unnecessary things and make your home more spacious and open.

Colors cue moods:



The palette to embrace is one that satisfies the range of human emotion: pink and orange trigger joy; green and blue create calm; red inspires passion; black and white embody grace. Decorate with colors that please you and positive energy will flow undisrupted.

Illuminating spaces:



The choice of lighting sets the tone for a room. Flooding the home with early-morning light refreshes the mind. Lower the lights and it will trigger relaxation.

Mother nature can come in too:



Going green at home can help you form a connection to the natural world. It soothes and refreshes the mind and body.

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Taste of Indian Heritage

Everybody talks about India and its heritage, culture, etc. Even though we talk about it, we tend to ignore the character of all the little things that make this country so versatile. I think I am a part of this negligence but things changed a bit when I visited this place called Choki Dhani in Pune. This place takes you back to who we are and how we have changed through the years. It is a fantastic combination of entertainment hand in hand with reminder our skill and tradition, long lost and forgotten.



It all started with a fanfare of the traditional dhols and a folk dance from Rajasthan. Just the grand welcome made such a difference to the entire visit to this place. I loved the beats of the traditional drums; they did make the audience move. Not only that, the rhythm got so many people on toes which ended up being a huge parade of dance and music! That was the very moment I realised how much of our own art is lost and hardly valued. I did make up my mind to see, study and observe each and every form of art and understand much more than what we actually see.

After the grand greeting we went to see the puppet show. I’ve always loved the vibrant colours of the puppets. They sure look charming with their string moves in their little theatre. While talking to one of the performers, he added that puppetry started off as a custom to ward off evil and to bring rain and prosperity in the lives of villagers. The play was based on the story of Amar Singh Rathore narrated by the members of the show. The performers produce sharp, trembling and shrilling sounds as a part of the dialogues of the play. Though I’ve seen this so many times, this time was different because I did not watch it for entertainment but as an art, so creative! I also came to realise that puppetry must also be an expensive form of art or entertainment. My curiosity did make me ask the puppeteer about the elements involved in the process of the show. He started off with a long list which in no doubt surprised me to the core. The art involves drawings, paintings, wood carving, carpentry, plaster cast making, clay modelling, costume designing, story, script writing, dramatization, song and music composition. It surely was beyond imagination!





Our next halt was an astounding performance of a rope walk done by a boy not more than 13 years of age. He was an antic entertainer who performed on the beats of the dholak. It was stunning to see the little boy balance, sleep, jump, sway and do all sorts of antics of the one inch rope. Later after the show, he said he came from a small village in Rajasthan where most of the people have ropewalk as their profession. He also said that for generations they have been performing and hardly remembers anybody who had not mastered the art of rope balancing. He got the maximum tip and appreciation from a lot of people. He certainly did steal the show. It was so unfortunate to see this art almost completely lost in time.



Followed by the rope acrobats, we entered a small theatre where a group of women presented the Bhavai dance. In this dance the veiled women move to the beats with nine brass pitchers over their head. They also have unusual skills like balancing and dancing at the edge of a sword or glass. It is so fascinating to see colourful dance which looks even more graceful due to its spectacular attire and dazzling ornaments.





And hence the evening of unusual events continued with mehendi and tattoo, followed by the chudi wala where he made lacquer bangles in the colours and size we wanted. The potter also stole the show by letting us make miniature pots. The whole evening was a blend of art and crafts, special and interesting in its own way. By the time we finished visiting all the affairs, it was time to have dinner. Our day ended with a sumptuous Rajasthani food of dal bhati, kheer, bjre ki roti with lasan chutni and a wide range of sweets. I wish I could write more and more about that evening but I will leave it to some other time. For now, the rope walk, dance and puppet show really impressed me above the rest, hoping to remember this day that opened my eyes to something so age old and prized.

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All about Wine!

Wine seems to be an emerging drink in India these days. Since I have designed so many wine holders and cellars, I realise everybody is bullishing about it. When I came back from the USA, I noticed something very ironic, all shops selling alcohol had hoardings saying "Wine Shop" yet did not have the slightest clue about the drink called wine. Even now, a lot of people mistake port wine to be the only wine in India. The whole concept of wine fascinates me due to its own ways and and process. Hence I thought, this time, instead of writing about the usual do's and don'ts, I will have a small quiz to make it more fun and interesting and a chance to get to learn more about this drink!

To see furniture related to wine, click http://www.lively-wood.com/bar.html

Wine Quiz - How much do you know of your wine… » Quiz Question Maker

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Top Tips for Laptop and Health

How many of us face discomfort while we work on our laptops? All of us right? Using a laptop all the time is not only inconvinient but can also lead to back pain. Since we can move a laptop around the house really easily, we neglect little things which can cause serious damage to our back. Before you damage your back, you might want to think about just how you use your laptop. Here are some suggestions.

1. Keyboards & Mouse
Ideally you should use a separate keyboard and mouse while working for extensive period. The screen should be at arm's length while the keyboard needs to be pushed closer to the body which is not possible as you extend your hands while working on the laptop. This leads to slouching causing upper back pain.



2. Stable Base
Always have a stable base for your laptop where there is support for your arms, and not on your lap. Use tables with one end suspended so that it slides under your sofa bringing the table closer to your body instead of you leaning towards the screen.



3. Posture
Use laptop holders or tables in order to adopt good sitting posture with lower back support.


4. Take breaks!

Take regular breaks. If you’re moving, there’s a lot less stress on your muscles and joints.

5. Good Habits
Get into good habits before the aching starts. Back pains build up slowly and can cause severe damage.

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Quick & Easy Monsoon Care Tips for your Home

All of us are awaiting the monsoons after the rising and scorching heat of the summers. Though we wait for them, we also dread them in some ways. Its just a beautiful thought of feeling and experiencing the lush freshness in the air but at the same time facing the mould and moisture on everything we see around us. Since we are stepping into this beautiful season, I thought I'll give you a few tips on what to do and what not to.

Closet Care

1. Use good quality camphor balls to combat moisture and insects.

2. Neem leaves help to keep Silverfish away which is a common insect seen during monsoons.
3. Silica sachets also keep the place dry and mould free.
4. If possible, install a low-watt electric bulb in your shoe rack. This will keep it dry and odour free.
5. Sprinkle a few clove pods among your clothes to keep your clothes from smelling damp.

Leather Accessories

1. If you have leather accessories, use it as much as possible in dry places. Do not store leather in plastic bags. Its best to store it in airy spaces.

2. Do not wipe it with a wet cloth. In case it gets wet, just let it dry at room temperature. Do not attempt to blow dry with heat from the air blower. The leather will loose its natural oils and lustre.

3. If your leather couch or goods catch fungus, take a tablespoon of dettol in half a litre of tepid water. Rinse the cloth in the water and wipe the fungus affected surface. Once it is dry, you can also apply a high-quality natural oil cream which can be bought in any leather store.

Carpets, Rugs & Upholstery

1. Whenever you get a chance, put your pillows and rugs out in the sun, so that the moisture evaporates and removes the musty smell. 2. The best thing to do is roll up your carpets and rugs and put some pouches of silica inside them.

3. Spray fabric freshner on the upholstery and rugs, they keep the surface dry and odour free.

Some general do's & don't's

1. Keep windows open. Make sure there is enough cross ventilation.

2. Put silica pouches next to electrical gadgets.

3. Do not let water accumulate anywhere close to you. Its leads to mosquito breeding.

4. Start your home projects like painting, water-proofing, etc. after the monsoons.

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