Diwali vignettes Rang Decor style....

Just few frames of how I will be decorating our humble abode this Diwali. My colour palette seems to be gravitating more towards whites, creams, violet and silver.

Mercury votives add the sparkle to the festival of lights...

 Vintage finds and traditional silverware makes interesting combinations.

 Float some candles.

...and some flowers!

Most importantly let your creativity flow, enjoy the process and savour the glow and joy!

Have a fabulous time with your family and friends with loads of happiness and laughter!

Diwali Ki bahut Shubhkanayein!  

Happy Diwali all you lovely readers of Rang Decor! Stay safe! Sending loads of warm wishes from a cold Minnesota:-)

( Images and styling by Arch. They are copyrighted)

Pinch a little...

I am referring to a technique used in pottery called pinching. It's a super simple way of making a clay pot. Here is a link to how you can make a pinch pot.
Recently we made it in my pottery class with coloured porcelain clay.

So I thought for this Diwali why not make pinch pot tea light holders? I remembered we had some Air-Dry Clay that we had used to make Ganesha this year. 

So quickly I made little clay balls that fit into my palm and made pinch pots that could fit a tea light. I loved the creamy white colour, so I retained it. 

If you like you can paint the tips or use coloured clay. 

 I moulded it in such a way that it gives a rustic, floral, petal-like feel.

 A peach and cream colour scheme comes together...

You can line it in a row or place it in a single tray with flowers.

Few readers asked about how to incorporate the fall decor accessories available here in the US.

Few felt/foam leaves scattered around the pinch pot tea-light holders gives it an autumn appeal. Add mini pumpkins or winter squashes around the tea lights.

You can get your kids involved in making pinch pots and the clay dries quite easily.

Hope you liked this simple DIY idea for Diwali. 

Have a beautiful Diwali filled with warm glow and happiness!

( Images and styling by Arch and is copyrighted)

Our Boring Halloween Mudroom!

If you were to ask my son what is second favorite holiday is, he'll quickly tell you it's Halloween!  He's at that age (7) where he wants things scary and spooky, not cute and childlike.

Sooooo, when I finished decorating our mudroom for Halloween (admittedly, the only room I splash a bit of spook around), needless to say, he wasn't as impressed as he has been in years past.

When I asked if he liked the new "BOO" garland, he said, "sure, it's cute, but, it's not scary ... at all."  Okay, fine.

What about the mice running here and there?!  Nope, boring.

Surely, the spider taking over our family wall and turning frames crooked with its huge web takes you "aback," right?  "Sorry, Mommy, but, no."

Yup, apparently, spiders aren't scary one little bit, especially when they're sparkly!  Who knew?  

Neither are the birds who are ready to attack.

Well, at least he approves of the candy,

especially since the eyeballs are edible!

Sounds like I've got my work cut out for me next year.  For now, our "cute and childlike" Halloween mudroom will have to do!

Thanks for stopping by our boring and "non-scary" Halloween mudroom!

Tiny Changes in our Master Bedroom

I owe our bedroom an apology, as I always tend to forget to share little goodies in here ...

whether it's orange pillows added for the season,

a pretty mirror that came home with me earlier this summer from Home Goods (that used to be white, but quickly turned gold, thanks to a quick paint job),

or, even a pretty new comforter set from Tuesday Morning and cute pillow from Home Goods.

When the gash on my "pleather" top flea market find ottoman got larger, I forgot to share how our faux animal rug came to rescue in covering said gash up!

And, when I added an orange runner to our painted bench, I walked right by it time and time again without my camera.

Remember when I added my World Market wing chairs to our dining room ... well, somehow they found their way in here earlier this summer ... they like playing musical chairs, I suppose.

Well, at least I can't feel badly about this piece, as it hasn't changed with the swipe of my paint brush ... YET, anyway.

The matching armoire has somehow also been spared from my paint brush ...

too bad I can't say the same for what "used" to be a square, white plate.  Yup, there aren't many things that I won't paint!  I'm sure you can relate.

Well, I hope that our bedroom forgives me for neglecting it.  I'll try to be better about that.

Please tell me you have a room that you tend to neglect, too!

Thanks for stopping by!

Than Monastery, Bhuj | Gujarat.

I just cleaned some virtual dust off my hard disk which housed frames from one memorable trip to Kutch, Gujarat in 2011. With that came some beautiful memories that has me writing a blog post.

Bhuj was our base for many small trips that we undertook around the region. 

Than Monastery is about 60 kms from Bhuj. A beautiful temple complex tucked away in the quiet countryside of Kutch district.

Than Monastery is situated at the foot of Dinodhar Hill and is dedicated to Dhoramnath.  
He is said to have performed rigorous penance here for 12 long years.

The temple is made with limestone, mud and plastered with cement and one can see bright vermillion colour smeared on various walls.

The care taker of the temple showed us his earring that was part of the order of the temple.

Our driver Akhil Bhai and the patterned shadows...

My colourful socks and some light and shadow...

Bright Vermilion Trident...

The limestone wall arches and contrasting vermilion figures.

While walking into the various chambers of the complex, we came across some stunning ceramic floral tiles.

...and marble inlay work on the floors.

It was interesting to see a sudden profusion of colours in the interior of the temple as compared to the plain limestone and vermillion on the outside.

The inner walls were adorned with Kamangari Paintings~ A dying art in Gujarat.

"The speciality of Kamangari art was that the paintings were done on on a wet plastered background so that they lasted longer. The artistes used brushes made from the bark of palm trees, using colors extracted from leaves, pebbles and clay mixed with gypsum."

~ extract from Frank Grey's article

Intricate 'jaali' work in the walls.

Such beautiful Kamangari Paintings depicting various mythological scenes.

We walked into a room that had magical light streaming through coloured glass and painted with Kamangari work.
I understand in the olden days the rich-class of people used to patronise the Kamangari artists who would paint the walls of worship and homes.

The serene and quiet temple complex with occasional calls from the parrots...

Vermillion smeared stones and symbols in the complex.

Every part of Kutch that we travelled to, has so much of history in terms of art, craft and architecture. I really hope the dying art finds patrons to revive it and caretakers to uphold such amazing cultural heritage of India.

(Images by Arch)