Enter The Colourful World Of Crochet! For July 2017

Colour Stories

Crocheting is one of the most popular hobbies and it transcends all ages. It has several benefits such as increasing fine motor skills and also aids in counting. Learn all about the origin of crochet here

Crochet is the process of interlocking loops of thread, yarn, or strands of other materials using a crochet hook to make fabric, lace, clothes, hats, bags, jewellery, toys, shoes, etc. The name is derived from the French term ‘crochet’, which means 'small hook'.

History of crochet patterns

Though the earliest known recorded crochet patterns printed was in 1824, there is proof that women have been recording and sharing crochet patterns since well before then.

The exact origin of crochet is still unclear, as the skill was originally spread by word of mouth. However, it is theorised that crochet evolved from traditional practices in South America, Iran or China despite there being no evidence of the craft present before its popularity in Europe during the 19th century.

You can create a variety of textures, patterns and shapes through varying degrees of tension, dropping and adding stitches, and wrapping the yarn around the hook while stitching. You can also experiment with different materials such as thread, wool, yarn, rope, grass, wire, silk and more.

Mlle. Riego de la Branchardiere made crochet popular in Europe in the early 1800s by using old-style needle and bobbin lace designs and turning them into crochet patterns that could easily be duplicated. She published many pattern books so that her designs could be replicated. She is credited with the invention of “lace-like” crochet,” which is today called Irish crochet. This lace-like has common motifs like flowers, leaves and shamrocks that are arranged on a paper or fabric pattern and joined together with crochet stitches.

From 1900 to 1930, women started crocheting rugs of different types like car rugs, slumber rugs, travelling rugs, chaise lounge rugs, sleigh rugs, cushions, coffee and teapot cozies, hot-water bottle covers and potholders.

These days, crochet patterns have become incredibly detailed and intricate as seen in Frida Kahlo or Coco Chanel’s designs. Some of the common stitches known are chain, single crochet, half-double crochet, double crochet, cluster crochet and popcorn crochet.

You can learn this art anytime in your life. If you think it’s not your cup of tea, you can buy crochet décor accents and add some texture and dimension to your living space!

Colour Trivia

Colour Facts For July 2017

1. Grasshoppers have green blood. The circulatory medium of blood in grasshoppers doesn't contain red blood cells at all, which usually make the blood red in colour. Accessory pumps carry haemolymph through its wing veins and along the legs and antennae before it flows back to the abdomen. This haemolymph circulates nutrients through the body and carries metabolic wastes to the malphighian tubes to be excreted. The blood of the grasshopper is green because it does not carry oxygen.
2. Has anyone ever noticed that pastries come mostly in a pink box? Either in the movies or in a TV show, whenever a character buys a cake, donuts or other pastry from a bakery, it is nearly ALWAYS in a pink box. This is not mere coincidence. This is deliberately done because it is believed that pastries taste better when they come out of pink boxes or served on pink plates. Pink is believed to make us crave sugar and increase our sweet tooth. Next time you get a pastry, do check the colour of the box it came in!
3. Grapheme-colour synaesthesia or coloured grapheme synesthesia is a form of synesthesia in which an individual's perception of numerals and letters is linked with the experience of colours. Grapheme-colour synesthesia is involuntary, consistent, and memorable, like all forms of synesthesia. For instance, some synaesthetes experience colour when they hear sounds or read words. Others experience tastes, smells or shapes. Some people are born with synaesthesia, while others experience it after a stroke. Some experience after using psychedelic drugs such as LSD. Famous synaesthetes include famous singers Lady Gaga and Pharrell Williams.

Colour Quotes For July 2017

• I never met a colour I didn't like.

  - Dale Chihuly

• Who told you that one paints with colours? One makes use of colours, but one paints with emotions.

  - Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin

• All colours are arbitrary.

  - Carl Sagan

Colour Tips For July 2017

1. The best time to take up an outdoor project is when the weather is sunny and when the humidity is low. If you wish to paint bricks, replace any missing mortar before you start the process. Clean the surface of your bricks thoroughly with the help of a handheld wire brush and remove any stubborn build-ups. Wash the surface with a household detergent. Make sure the bricks are totally dry before applying a primer or conditioner coat with a brush, roller, or sprayer. Remember to use an acrylic elastomeric paint for a topcoat when you start with the final colour.
2. Painting can seem like the simplest form of home improvement, but some surfaces are trickier than others. Worry not! Even when it comes to really tough surfaces like hardwood flooring, there are paint tips to get the desired look. It's important to first sand hardwood floors before painting. If it's not an option, you need to clean debris away completely and at least sand away the roughest spots. Apply a direct coat of urethane floor enamel and apply another coat once it dries.
3. Painting floors can change the visual aesthetic of a room, and is a great way to give new life to outdated flooring. Since floors experience heavy traffic, suffering more wear and tear than other painted surfaces like walls, it is important that you take certain measures to protect your paint job. Despite debates about painting on linoleum surfaces, it can be done. It's best to opt for a durable, oil-based paint of the same type that you would for concrete. As with a concrete paint job, it is advised that the surface is cleaned thoroughly and an extended handle roller is used to apply the pigment. You need to wait for 24 hours before applying the final coat.

World Of Colours

Colours & Emotion For July 2017

1. People attach different meanings to colours. The psychological basis for understanding colour and its influence on emotions isn't understood well. There is no simple explanation for the interaction of colour and emotional response. Some evidence suggests that the light of different colours enters the eye and indirectly affects the hypothalamus, which affects the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland controls the hormone levels and perhaps our moods. Some experiments have suggested that colour may influence our emotions. One experiment showed that in a room coloured in red light, time was overestimated while in green or blue light, time was underestimated.
2. Emotions are commonly associated with various colours, but these associations vary among individuals and cultures. Associations may relate to how we view our environment and may stimulate our other senses. Colour suggests warmth and coolness. In one study, people in a blue-green room felt cold when it was 59 degrees F. but in the red-orange room, the temperature had to fall from 52 to 42 degrees F. before people reported being cold. In another study conducted, people tended to set the thermostat four degrees higher for comfort in a blue room than in a red room.

Colours & Fashion For July 2017

Most years the fashion gods in Milan and Paris release their collections about thrice a year for the rest of the world to follow. The Spring-Summer 2017 line seems to have brought out the child in each one of them for most high end designers and design houses like Emilio Pucci, Blumarine, Givenchy, etc. have paired bright colours with bright, come out vibrant monochromatic rompers, flowy bell bottoms in the darkest shades of red, zingy fuchsia, eye-popping greens and lots of tropical shades rule the market. So throw out your winter blues and bring in the summer to your closet!

Colours & Gems For July 2017

1. In the world of gemstones, no colour seems rare enough but sometimes stones are so stunning they still surprise us! Smoky Quartz is the national gem of Scotland and is called Morion there after its dark brown to black colour. Another lighter variety of this stone is called Cairngorm. A variety of Quartz, it is a silicon dioxide mineral found in shades of pale, smoky gray to deep brown, black, and yellowish-brown. Though Smoky Quartz can be nearly opaque, it is almost always transparent to translucent. It is mostly used in jewellery, or as a healing stone.
2. Chalcedony is a form of silica and is composed of quartz and moganite. It has a waxy look to it and is either semitransparent or translucent. The name is derived from the Latin word Chalcedonius. It is alleged that the word may be taken from the town Chalcedon in Asia Minor. The stone is most commonly found in colours of white, grey, orange, grayish blue, or shades of brown. Agate, Aventurine, Carnelian, Heliotrope and many other gemstones are types of Chalcedony. It was used in seals, weapons, breastplates etc. in olden times.

Colours & Nature For July 2017

1. Lotus berthelotii or Parrot's beak is known for its lobster-claw like flowers that resemble a parrot's beak.  It looks attractive with silver-grey leaves and contrasting shades of vibrant orange, red and yellow flowers. Native to the Canary and Cape Verde, the plant is vulnerable and protected by law. The flowering phase of the plant is quite short and is dependent on the temperature. It blooms well in cool temperatures and during spring. It completely dislikes hot temperatures and doesn't bloom in the summers. It is often confused with Nelumbo or water lily, a commonly known lotus. It is an exotic ornamental plant.
2. The Weedy sea dragon or common sea dragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus, is a marine fish that is related to the seahorse. It is found around the south coast of Australia, from Port Stephens, New South Wales to Geraldton, Western Australia and also around Tasmania. It has got its name from the weed-like growth on its body that work as a camouflage as it moves among the seaweed beds. It is long, slender and reddish-brown with bony plates of yellow and purple accents. It is also the aquatic emblem for the state of Victoria.

Decor

How To Change Your Interior Walls With Texture

When it comes to revamping one’s home décor, there are so many options to go for that one is spoilt for choice.

When it comes to revamping one's home décor, there are so many options to go for that one is spoilt for choice. The simplest no-brainer is to obviously give your home a brand new coat of shiny paint but what if you want to go down a slightly different route this time? Layers and textures have been around for a while now and they are gorgeous alternatives to slapping on paint. Because sure new paint is a big deal but newly painted, textured, walls will always be a bigger deal! Here are a few ways you can incorporate this design trick into your home!

1. Brighten a Subdued Colour Scheme
If you have chosen a monochromatic colour scheme, or one mostly painted in neutrals, textured walls are a great way to add a break to the constancy. You can opt for bold textures to contrast against the subdued backdrop and perhaps add a few similarly textured accessories to your furniture such as a rug or pillows for a unified feeling.

2. Stencils
Stencils are often overlooked as something to be used just to achieve outlines while drawing but they can definitely be used to achieve textures on walls too. Hold up stencils against walls and paint over them, and you can paint in the gaps using another complementing colour or leave the base colour to show through.

3. Textured Wallpaper
Another option to get textured walls easily is to use wallpaper. While you may have to opt for customized wallpaper if there is a specific texture you want to go for, this solution is viable since it is mostly fuss free. Instead of using the wallpapers on just one wall, texture coating the entire room will give it depth better and set the tone a certain way.

4. Touchable Textures
If you want to add oodles of drama and pizzazz to a room, touchable, 3D textures are an amazing alternative. You can get textured wall panels in the market which are sold in sheets. You can also get the desired look by texture coating i.e. using different brush and knife techniques on wet paint and letting it dry out like that.

These texture tricks help you to jazz up your living space a few notches higher and give your guests something to talk about when they come to visit!

Ideas To Update Your Kitchen Walls!

In this day and age, people are getting to spend lesser and lesser time to relax within the comforts of their home.

In this day and age, people are getting to spend lesser and lesser time to relax within the comforts of their home. With increased working hours, traffic snarls and bad weather it is rare for someone to be able to reach home at a decent hour and make themselves a good meal. Which is why, for those rare times that you do get to enjoy your home, you must make sure it is absolutely perfect for you to just kick back and make the most out of it!

A well decorated kitchen can be the difference between you dragging yourself there out of necessity and waltzing in to whip up your latest experiments with food. Good food is one thing we cannot do without as everyone already knows, but food always tastes better when accompanied by a great ambience. Here are a few amazing kitchen décor tips to bring out the culinary wizard in you!

1. Use Colours Wisely
There are certain colours in the kitchen that are difficult to change often, such as countertop or cabinet colours. While keeping those hues in mind, select a bold colour like orange or yellow to brighten up your kitchen and use it as an accent and paint the majority of the kitchen a neutral colour which goes well with the other two colour choices.

2. Focus on One Aspect
Kitchen walls are not kept bare usually as they are either sporting shelves, cabinets or covered by some electronics. To avoid the kitchen looking smaller than it is, try and restrict big furniture to one side of the kitchen leaving at least one wall free for you to design. Use a decal or a framed poster to make it pop.

3. Rustic is In
A lot of people tend to want to keep their kitchen homely and what better way than to pick simple yet versatile décor items? Slate boards make for great kitchen wall décor as you can chalk the day's menu, positive quotes or funny artwork on it whenever you like!

4. Personalize It
Your kitchen should be decorated according to your personal need and desire and not just according to the latest trends. Group a bunch of artfully written recipes, beautifully captured food and personal photographs in similar frames and enjoy the comfort and warmth they add to your kitchen.

There you go! Some simple and easy to implement kitchen décor tips for your next revamp!

Tips To Make Your Patio Better And More Stylish

With the sedentary lives most people in urban cities lead, it is very hard to manage to get some good. Fresh, air and enjoy a bit of sunshine.

With the sedentary lives most people in urban cities lead, it is very hard to manage to get some good. Fresh, air and enjoy a bit of sunshine. Even if there is a chance to go out, the scorching heat and complete lack of scenery makes it a hopeless task and one often returns more disgruntled than they left. But in case you already do have a garden/patio/balcony you aren't able to use to its optimum, fear not, for we have a few brilliant outdoor living design ideas for your home!

1. Historically Inspired
If you have a garden, you could take a leaf out of the Greeks' notebook and design a low stone seating area around a central attraction and plant trees and bushes around it too give it an enclosed feel, separate from the mundane life.

2. Bring on the Shade
One very important factor when considering outdoor seating arrangements is shade. If the area is not appropriately shaded from the sun, it may get uncomfortable. You can invest in a fabric canopy which looks wonderfully fairytale-like. You can also opt for big umbrellas on tables or attach them to the ground directly.

3. Conversations Need Couches
If you are the kind of person who entertains often or has a large family, having a large, yet intimate living design arrangement can be a big advantage. Armchairs stuffed with cushions and throws invite people to go sit and enjoy your lawn while encouraging conversation or some me-time!

4. Go Natural
If you don't want to choose from materials such as wrought-iron for your outdoor seating, you could definitely opt for more natural materials like wicker. Wicker chairs set a delightful mood of summer days and vacation and are perfect for curling up in with a cup of your favoured beverage.

5. Colour Schemes
When deciding which colour couches to buy or what kind of furniture to invest in, it is important to take in the surrounding colours so that they blend well and look cohesive. Choose citrusy shades of green and lemon yellow or cool blue ones on teak to play up the place to its advantage.

There you have it, five tricks to design your patio or garden area stylishly and make the most of the available space!

Colours & Ancient Sciences

Feng Shui For July 2017

In its calmness and grace, the water Feng Shui element is a unique power that can surprise you with its extreme potency. If used correctly, it is a powerful healer.

Decorate Your Living Space With The Water Feng Shui Element

Water is the only element that can exist in different states, whether it is liquid, gaseous or solid. Its tendency to transform itself is what makes the water element one of the most potent and influential forces.

Whether it is falling from the skies or running freely on the surface of the earth, water is the only element which can infiltrate the mysterious depth of lands known and unknown.

No wonder "Feng Shui" means "wind and water"!

How to use the most powerful forces of nature in your home with Feng Shui?

Here's the right way:

Water is crucial for life, so is the water Feng Shui element for your home and office décor. The best way to integrate this element in your home and office décor is to model it after the most basic way water expresses itself – flowing.

Invite refreshing serenity into your home with the limitless array of blue (the essential colour of water) and connect with life's delightful mysteries in a deeper sense.

An emblem of prosperity, the water Feng Shui element will not only bring positive energy in your space but will also calm and refresh your own energy.

The right place for it is the North, East and Southeast bagua areas of your home or office.

One of the simplest ways to bring a drastic shift in the energy of your home is to find the right colour. The best way to express the therapeutic, life-giving and enigmatic energy of the Water element comes in a variety of water features such as flowing shapes, images of water, mirrors, as well as numerous decor items.

Choose accessories that best complement your decor and elevate the overall energy of your home with the strong presence of water Feng Shui element.

Hope you find these Feng Shui steps helpful. Keep playing and creating a good Feng Shui home for yourself.

Reiki For July 2017

If you work in an office and get stressed with work and the work environment, you can get Reiki to help you. Read on to know how...

Wash Off Work-Related Stress With Reiki!

Dealing with an avalanche of mails, task lists, daily deliverables, crazy deadlines, paper work, presentations, conferences, tough bosses and annoying co-workers can get taxing and take a toll on you. You may feel that no matter what you do and how hard you try, you are unable to control the situation and may end up feeling helpless.

Worry not, because Reiki can help you get back on track and stay on top of your game. It will also help keep you calm and you will be able to enjoy your work too!

Here are steps to go about it:

Step 1. Breathe and spend a few minutes doing just nothing.

Step 2. Say something positive to yourself out loud.

Step 3. Start the flow of Reiki. Send the energy to yourself, your desk, chair, computer/laptop, pens, papers – or whatever office equipment you use. You need to visualise the energy touching the objects and eliminating the negative energy.

Step 4. Try to keep your thoughts quiet, and talk positively to yourself loudly.

Step 5. Let the Reiki flow for some more time and then get back to work, trying to keep your mind as clear as possible.

These five, simple steps are great for starters. You can alter them as per your wishes, adding a little bit of personal touch to it.

If you have a tedious presentation or a boring meeting to attend, you can use Reiki to help this situation too. You can start by sending Reiki to the presentation or the meeting before it starts. Just think of it, the time and location where it is to be held. If you feel anxious, which is something usually felt in the abdomen or the stomach, imagine or visualize the colours green or lemon yellow as it is believed to calm the body and relax the digestive system. It is here where humans store most of these emotions. Send Reiki for five or more minutes a half an hour before or at any time before, when you have time. While at the venue, use the power symbol and the mental/emotional symbol as you send the Reiki energy into the room and to everyone there. Do this inwardly with your mind only.

Using this technique, you will start enjoying life and your work a lot more than you currently do and exude positive energy wherever you go.

It is true that the state of energy in your work space has a direct affect on how well you are able to do your job. Make use of the power of Reiki to maintain harmony in your office and keep stress at bay!

Vaastu For July 2017

Make your office Vaastu-friendly by keeping in mind the principles of layout, design, space arrangement and spatial geometry. Take a look at some tips to succeed in your business…

Vaastu Tips for Successful Businesses!

• Office building should face the north, north-east or north-west direction as it brings good luck and positivity.
• The main door or entrance of the office building should face east or north. Remember not to keep any obstacle close to or in front of the main entrance.
• Welcome room of business centre should be in the east or the north-east corner.
• You should keep the central part of the office building empty.
• The owner's room should be in the south-west direction and he or she should sit facing north. It's advised not to keep any temple or idols behind the owner's seat. There should be a concrete wall behind the owner's seat and not any structure made of glass.
• The staff should work facing the north or east directions.
• It's advisable to keep the north-west zone of the office free from the elements. Since white horses represent financial support, it's recommended that it be placed in the North-west.
• Accounts department should be in the north and east zone. Employees who deal with bank and cash transaction should sit facing east and north direction. All the financial records should be kept in central north or southwest of the cabinet.
• It's advisable not to build a pantry or paint the north zone in pink or red colour. Free the south-east zone from blue colour and use green plants.
• Conference room should be in the north-west, east, north-east or north of the office.
• Frivolous decor should be avoided and only teak furniture should be used.
• You can place an aquarium with nine goldfish and one blackfish in the North-east direction.
• Electrical equipment should be placed in the south-east direction of the office building.
• Rich material such as velvet can be used for upholstery with sky blue and cream shades.
• Ambient lighting through fluorescent tubes is preferred. Conference room can have circular design in ceiling.
• Low VOC emitting carpets or rugs can be used in flooring. The carpet should be kept dry, neat and clean. Plain colours should be preferred.
• Sunny shades make workers feel cheerful. Using yellow, orange, royal blue, white or green is highly recommended in the meeting room.

With these tips, you can see success in your business ventures and ensure a regular flow of money.