Enter The Colourful World Of Embroidery! For January 2018

Colour Stories

Have you ever wondered how and where the art of embroidery originated from while looking at a beautiful embroidered cushion cover or a shirt? Read on to know all about it…

Embroidery is the art of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. It has been practiced for years. The origin of this art dates back to Cro-Magnon days or 30,000 BC. The fossilized remains of heavily hand-stitched and decorated clothing, boots and a hat were found during a recent archaeological find. In around 5000 and 6000 B.C, elaborately drilled shells stitched with decorative designs onto animal hides were discovered in the region of Siberia.

Chinese thread embroidery dates back to 3500 B.C. where pictures depict embroidery of clothing with precious stones, silk thread and pearls. Paintings, sculptures and recorded history show inhabitants of various ancient civilizations wearing thread-embroidered clothing.

During the 1100's, smaller seed pearls were sewn on parchments to decorate religious items and from the 1200's through 1300's, beads were embroidered onto clothing. By 1500 A.D., embroideries had turned lavish in Europe, as well as other parts of the world. From this period through the 1700's, elaborate thread and bead embroidery became popular. Bead embroidery was seen on home furnishings, layette baskets, court dress and many other items.

Elaborately embroidered clothing, religious objects, and household items was a symbol of money and status in several cultures like Ancient Persia, Japan, Byzantium, India, China and medieval and Baroque Europe. Traditional folk techniques were passed on in cultures as diverse as Northern Vietnam, Mexico and Eastern Europe. Professional workshops and guilds arose in medieval England, which made Opus Anglicanum or "English work," popular across Europe. In the latter half of the 19th century, machine-made embroideries in St. Gallen in Eastern Switzerland flourished. Elaborate freehand stitched thread embroidery declined in popularity with the machine age of the 1800's. Bead embroidery gained popularity alongwith the new needlework stitches of the 1800's.

These days, embroidery thread is manufactured in cotton, rayon and novelty yarns as well as in traditional wool, linen and silk. There is also something known as ribbon embroidery that uses narrow ribbon in silk or silk blend ribbon to create floral motifs. A lot of fashion designers feature richly embroidered clothing in their collections.

Embroidery has really come a long way. Hope you liked reading about its journey!

Colour Trivia

Colour Facts For January 2018

1. Did you know that the 'purple people bridge' is a purple pedestrian bridge that joins Cincinnati, Ohio with Newport, Kentucky? Purple was chosen as the colour for the bridge with the valuable inputs of the local residents. Purple was chosen for the bridge as the colour is believed to be a good colour for public consumption. When in Ohio, don't forget to make a visit to the place and photograph the beautiful bridge.
2. Eyes with extremely less melanin in the iris are blue. Eyes with a bit more melanin are green, hazel or light brown. And those with a high concentration of melanin are medium or dark brown. Eye colour is an inherited trait. We are sure you have seen several celebs and movie stars with purple and violet eyes. Most of them wear purple contact lenses with violet and purple eyes to catch the attention of people and be remembered. Violet eyes are very rare and only a few people with Albinism or Alexandria's Genesis may have that coloured eyes.
3. Most flags of the countries in the world have colours such as blue, red, white, black or green. Did you know that is one country, however, which has purple in it? If you are wondering which one, here you go! It is Dominica. The flag of this nation has a Imperial amazon or the sisserou parrot as it is also popularly known, with purple chest and head. The sisserou parrot is sometimes coloured either blue or purple (the parrot's actual colour). The use of purple makes the flag of Dominica one of the only two flags of sovereign states alongside the flag of Nicaragua to have the colour.

Colour Quotes For January 2018

• "When you reduce life to black and white, you never see rainbows."

  - Rachel Houston

• "Green is the prime colour of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises."

  - Pedro Calderon de la Barca

• "Think colour! Know how to imagine it!"

  - Gustave Moreau

Colour Tips For January 2018

1. Masking tape is a precaution taken during the painting process. No matter how careful you are, there may still be a void or two between the trim and the tape. If you expose the tape to paint, some is bound to get through. The trick lies in pretending that the tape isn't there at all. Don't ever force a lot of paint into the corner at an angle. What you should do instead is lightly load the paintbrush and run it down parallel to the trim.
2. Have you observed how paint works its way up into the bristles after a couple of hours of painting? If you don't wipe off the paint out of it, it will build up and cause your brush to get stiff and get deformed. After you comb all the paint out of the bristles, you need to run water down into the brush. You need to straighten out the bristles with a comb before you put the brush away. Always remember to protect the bristles by storing the brush in the package it came in.
3. Did you know that when it is time to paint a ceiling, a roller may not always be the best tool for the task? If the ceiling is heavily textured and if you intend on painting the entire room, a sprayer is much more efficient as it can eliminate the need for cutting in, which is one of the more time-consuming tasks in painting the interiors of the home. Simply spray the ceiling, and let overspray land on the wall and ceiling trim. It gives you the professional finish you want faster than a brush and roller. It is definitely going to make your painting projects go smoother and faster while giving you a professional-looking finish that will make you proud!

World Of Colours

Colours & Emotion For January 2018

1. There are studies that show that some colours influence the way others feel about you. So the question is whether you are sending the right colour message? When you wear a certain colour, choose a shade that will help you all through the day, giving you what you need to be your very best, whether a calming effect, a sense of confidence, increasing respect or some inspiration. The colour purple generates feelings of self-respect, dignity and self-worth. It is considered a royal colour and is associated with kings and queens, wealth and extravagance. Individuals who wear this colour or use it in their surroundings are drawn to its creative and spiritual qualities. It is a good colour to send a message out to the world that one is unique and special. This is a wrong colour choice if you want to blend in among others and not stand out.
2. White exudes a fresh, bright outlook, and represents cleansing and new beginnings. Putting on clothes in this colour makes one feel like being given an opportunity to start the day with a clean slate, as long as it has not taken on any discoloration from too much laundering.

Colours & Fashion For January 2018

Aztec prints add a lot of dimension and character to a look. It can be paired with many different pieces and it instantly adds that artsy vibe. Wondering how it came into being? It is not just an ordinary print; it has an important history. Ancient Aztec clothes were introduced to the world by the tribal people who formed the Aztec Empire in Central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica from the 14th to 16th centuries! This print has succeeded in making its mark all over the world and is seen in clothing as well as accessories.

Colours & Gems For January 2018

1. Apatite is a gemstone mineral produced and used by the human body. It is named from the Greek word 'apate', meaning 'deceit', since Apatite is similar in appearance to many other minerals. It is a mineral that is cut as a gem when found in clear crystals. It has a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale and is brittle. It is the most common phosphate mineral, and is the main source of the phosphorus needed by plants. The bones and teeth of most animals, including humans, are composed of calcium phosphate, which is the same material as Apatite. Apatite is a 'collector's gem' rather than a jewellery gem.
2. Benitoite is a rare barium titanium silicate mineral found at a few locations around the world but in gem quality in only one location in San Benito County, California. Infact, it is the state gem of California. It is a rare blue barium titanium silicate mineral, which is found in hydrothermally altered serpentinite. Benitoite fluoresces under short wave ultraviolet light appearing bright blue to bluish white in colour. The more rarely seen are clear to white Benitoite crystals that fluoresce red under long-wave UV light.

Colours & Nature For January 2018

1. Meet the Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia Linnaeus), the largest moth in North America. It is referred to as silkworm moths. It is a member of the Saturniidae, which is a family of moths prized by nature-lovers and collectors alike owing to their large size and colourful patterns. It is arguably one of the most beautiful moths. Both adult females and males flaunt a spectacular display of bold colours, including red, black, orange, white, grey and shades of lavender. Females have thinner and smaller antennae than males. It prefers deciduous trees as its host plants and fruit trees are its favourite.
2. Take a look at Eclectus. It is a very friendly and intelligent bird species. It is called as sexually dimorphic, which means that you can tell the sex of the bird by the colour of its feathers. Male Eclectus is a stunning emerald green colour, with bright orange beaks and red and blue under its wings. The females, by contrast, are mostly bright red, with black beaks and deep purple markings on its chests and tails. Earlier, this bird was thought to be an entirely different species. If you wish to keep it in your home as a pet, note that it demands proper attention and time.

Décor

Do You Know How To Choose The Best Colours For Living Room?

Fret not! We have got you covered! Read further to know some living room paint colour ideas and how to pick them...

Start Small
If you are unsure about where to begin with colour, try it out in a bathroom, a small area between rooms or an accent wall. You can seek inspiration from a rug, a few dishes, an accessory or a piece of furniture as a main colour or accent. Inspiration can come in any form, from anywhere - from the view from your windows or even from a tree that you love!

Think About The Mood
When picking a colour, consider the mood of the room. Choose hues based on the way you want to feel when you step into the living room. Pink exudes a feminine vibe while red exudes passion and boldness. Orange evokes cosiness and warmth, yellow exudes cheerfulness while green exudes tranquillity. Blue has a calming impact while violet is stimulating. You can manipulate the colours to your home's advantage and set the mood you desire.

Pay Attention to Lighting
Natural daylight shows the truest colour in a living room. Incandescent light brings out warm tones and yellows. Fluorescent lighting casts a sharp blue tone. A strong colour may be too bright and overpowering when used on walls or next to a large window, but it would be ideal for accent walls with indirect lighting in your living room.

Test Your Colour Choice
It is wise to test your paint choices on large areas of a wall or on a board. Try to go beyond your comfort zone and opt for strong colours or soft, deep neutrals as main or accent colours. Why ignore the ceilings? You can add a dramatic touch to them with a bold splash of colour.

Add Depth with Decorative Finishes
Spruce up plain and dull walls using subtle or dramatic texture. You can try various metal finishes to make your walls eye-catching.

Since you have learnt that different hues with its unique traits can have an uplifting or calming effect, it can go a long way in reflecting your personality too. Knowing how to best use individual colours can create a living room that you'll absolutely adore!

If you want to learn about the top colours for living rooms, click here: https://www.bergerpaints.com/colour-magazine/august/2017/decor/

How To Select Exterior Paint Colours For A Home?

Selecting a paint colour for your home’s exterior is quite a commitment as it makes the first impression.

Here are some handy tips to boost the appeal of your exterior house design and invite in your guests...

1. Understand the Architecture: The style of your home will dictate the best colour choices. You can derive inspiration from some historical architecture in the same style to choose the best colours.
2. Play around with your permanent materials: If you have an existing brick or stone foundation, patio, or accents, work with their underlying tones while choosing exterior paint colours.
3. Take advantage of technology: It's always a great idea to check online tools that let you see how a colour will look on the wall before you paint it. You can experiment with different colours and combinations to pick one that reflects your personality and one that complements the colour scheme of your home interiors.
4. Remember the details: When you choose a colour for your home's exterior, you need to pick at least two, probably three or four colours: The main colour, the trim colour for windows, architectural accents and possibly a fourth colour for the door.
5. Work with swatches: Invest in test sizes of the paint colours you are considering and paint some brush-outs on the exterior. Make sure to put some colour on both the north and south sides of the home, where lighting can vary dramatically, and also near any trim you are coordinating with. Take a look at the paint samples at different times during the day to get the best idea of how the finished product will look.
6. Introduce decorative textures: You need not play with just colours on your home exteriors. You can choose from a range of decorative textures that are available. You can combine textured walls with suitable colours for a unique look.

These are some of the ways in which you can choose exterior paint colours for your home. Just consider the surroundings and see what works best for you. Good luck!

How Do You Decorate Your House With Paint Colours?

Thinking of decorating your home with trendy paint colours? The options are endless. There's a world of paint colours out there for you to choose from. Get inspiration galore with these perfect paint colour ideas and learn how to spruce up your home…

1. What's the quickest, easiest makeover you can do to your home? Paint your front door a statement colour that stands out from the rest of it. Try a stunning historical blue or a striking ruby red – it is surely not something you see every day.
2. If you are colour shy, go with all-white walls. The absence of colour is as effective as the presence of it!
3. Use a variety of neutral shades and have fun mixing several textures in the rooms of your home to keep things interesting and visually appealing.
4. Modern paint effects like textures and stencils create interest and surprise. Think of these effects as unframed artwork adorning your favourite walls.
5. Add a splash of colour to neutral walls by choosing ceiling and painting them a different, often contrasting, colour from the main wall.
6. Give a new lease of life to your favourite chairs, tables, dressers, drawers and desks with a new colour or coat of paint. You will be surprised how quickly it will become your new favourite accent piece.
7. Make the kitchen pop by bringing in a bold colour. You can draw some inspiration from here:https://www.bergerpaints.com/colour-magazine/november/2015/decor/
8. If wallpaper isn't your thing but you love colours and pattern, then colour blocking may be just the technique you are looking for! All you need to do is pair contrasting colours and you can really make a statement in any room of your home without having to look for a tall furniture piece or wall art.

You just read how to give the rooms in your home a boost and create a brand-new look using paint colours. You can get the look you love while adhering to a budget that works for you.

You can decorate your home with these savvy ideas for an impactful update. Always remember that sometimes the simplest solutions can have the biggest impact so try these easy ideas to transform every room in your home.

Colours & Ancient Sciences

Feng Shui For January 2018

The New Year marks a fresh start. Make the most of this auspicious time by exploring what is happening with various Feng Shui energies in 2018...

Feng Shui Tips for 2018

Start off the New Year with some positive Feng Shui changes in your home or place of work to ensure that you and your loved ones will continue to be constantly surrounded with positive energy, harmony and good fortune.

The widely celebrated Lunar New Year falls on 16th February 2018 but as far as Classical Feng Shui is concerned the New Year starts with the first day of the Chinese Solar year which varies from 3rd to 5th of February every year. In 2018, the Chinese Solar Year begins on February 4th when the annual Feng Shui energy shift occurs, affecting the energy patterns of each and every building and its surroundings.

The best zones in 2018 are E (East) and SE (Southeast), because the energies of prosperity and favourable inter-human relationships are situated here. The advantage during the year 2018 is that these 2 favourable energies are next to each other, forming a larger beneficial zone. The common elements that support the 2 energies are wood and fire represented by green, light blue and red. It is recommended that you place active objects like TV, music, moving objects, wooden blinds, flower pots, wooden objects, candles or scented sticks. Keep the windows in S or SE clean and bright, without covering them with thick curtains.

The most unfavourable zone is S (South), which can bring bad luck and blockages. Avoid active objects like TV. SV (Southwest) is also affected by a negative energy, which can bring forth legal problems. Avoid keeping active objects in this zone. Placing bamboos in water is a good idea and the more bamboos, the better. The centre of the house has favourable energy, particularly for children. Ideally, the centre of the house should be bright, open and airy. Also, avoid placing the couch or the TV there.

Now that we have reviewed the challenging and ideal Feng Shui areas in the house for 2018, you can apply it to harness the potential of the year's energies. All the best!

Reiki For January 2018

Do you sometimes think about all that is not good in your life and end up with negative thoughts? You can get rid of all the ‘mind garbage’ and learn to express gratitude for all the good things in your life with the power of Reiki! Read on to know how...

Gratitude and Reiki!

What is gratitude? Gratitude is a positive emotion and sincere appreciation in acknowledging a favour or benefit that one has received or will receive. It means observing simple pleasures, thankfulness, counting your blessings and acknowledging everything that you receive asked or unasked. When you express your gratitude, you share something special. Gratitude builds humility as we recognize a service, an act of kindness or caring from someone else.

If you are unable to focus on the blessings in your daily life, Reiki offers ways to do so. A Reiki Gratitude Treatment can help drive away your negative thought patterns and assist in the discovery of the grateful heart even in the midst of difficulties and turmoil. It can empower you and make it easier for you to perceive and choose gratitude each day.

When you think about your blessings and gifts and say thank you, your heart opens and your mind is positive and receptive. When you are grateful, it is much easier to have a creative mind, which makes it easier to manifest your dreams. If you think about all the bad events in your lives, you can spiral into negative circling thoughts. Needless to say 'mind garbage', blame, mind chatter, negativity and criticism can distract and stress you out, robbing you of a full and happy life.

It is just a matter of training your minds to think about your blessings, but you have to make a deliberate choice to see them. This can be a full-time job in the beginning, but as you develop positive mental habits, it is bound to become simpler.

Reiki and gratitude are powerful tools that can change your thoughts instantly the moment you focus on your blessings. A grateful heart is one of the fastest ways to take care of negative thoughts, mind chatter and unwanted perceptions.

Remember to have an attitude of gratitude both before starting and ending self-Reiki healing. Just chant "I am thankful to the universal energy "during the self-healing Reiki process to develop a positive attitude and appreciate more.

Hope you find this article useful!

Vaastu For January 2018

The beginning of the year is a great time to focus on new beginnings and opportunities. As we begin the year, it's time to read about Vaastu and learn some tips to attract more positive energy in 2018…

Start the New Year on a Positive Note with Useful Vaastu Tips

1. Water with Flowers
   Water denotes wealth, which is why the water element should flow inwards as it depicts that the wealth also flow towards you. Keep a bowl filled with water, lemon or flowers facing the main door as it is considered auspicious. However, remember to change the water regularly.
2. Small Lamp/ Flower Vase
   Place a small lamp or a flower vase in the centre of your hallway as it has a welcoming energy into your home.
3. Convex Mirror
   Place a convex mirror on the outer wall of the entrance facing outwards for protection from negative energy.
4. Mirror at the main entrance prohibited
   A mirror that faces the main door is one of the major hindrances to any home. This is because a mirror facing the main door pushes away all the good energy that can enter the house.
5. Buddha at the Main Entrance
   Buddha that faces the front door is considered to keep the negative energies out of the home. Buddha has power to nullify the negative impacts at the house.
6. Bowl filled with Sea Salts
   Salt is considered a symbol of purification. It is also a popular mineral known to purify and cleanse homes that are filled with negative energy. Sea salt is commonly used to get rid of negative energy and to allow balanced flow of energy inside the home.
7. Family photos
   Place at least one happy family picture in your living room. If there is enough space, try to include as many happy photos of you and your family members in the room as possible.
8. Dining space never at the front
   Ensure that your dining space or hall is never at the front of the house and naturally exposed to everyone.

Hope you build a Vaastu-friendly environment in your home with these pointers and attract positive changes to your luck in the upcoming year!