Capturing Life Through Gond Art! For March 2017

Colour Stories

Gond art is all about the lives of some of India’s earliest habitants. Let’s take a closer look at this mystical and colourful form of art…

The Gond tribal community is one of central India's largest indigenous communities and their art form is all about their everyday quest for life. The word 'Gond' is a derivation of the Dravidian expression 'konda' which means 'green hill'; it consists of parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

The Gonds were the ruling class in many parts of Central India back in the 14th century. Gond kings ruled until they were conquered by Mughal armies and were forced to flee into the thick jungles.

The Gonds believe in decorating their houses and the floors with traditional tattoos and motifs. Both male and female family members participate in painting. The most interesting facet of Gond painting is the use of bright colours like white, blue, yellow and red. These colours are extracted naturally from plant sap, leaves, coloured soil, charcoal and even cow dung.

The yellow is taken from 'chui mitti' which is a type of local sand, brown from 'gheru mitti' which is another type of sand, green from leaves and red from the Hibiscus flower. The common themes in these paintings are vibrant depictions of local flora, fauna and gods like Marahi Devi and Phulvari Devi (Goddess Kali).

Traditionally, these paintings were made on festive occasions such as Diwali, Karwa Chauth, Ashtami and Nag Panchmi and depicted the rituals and man's relationship with nature. It was created by putting dots and lines together. The paintings are, in fact, an offering in the worship of nature, and are also a mode of seeking protection and warding off evil. Everything about the paintings is holy and connected with nature. Each painting has a story to tell and every artist has his own personal style.

These days, Gondi art has evolved and is expressed on paper and canvas by talented artists. It is also created on wooden trays and boxes, which is a hit in countries abroad. It is also very heartening to see the Indian government put efforts to preserve the Gond painting.

The Must Art Gallery is the world's first art gallery dedicated solely to Gond art. The gallery holds exclusive artwork bearing the essence of the tribes and encourages the tribal artists to express themselves in the language best known to them. The future of Gond art looks great just like the art form itself!

Colour Trivia

Colour Facts For March 2017

1. Did you know that pink was not always considered a colour for females? Way back in the 1700s, men and women both wore the colour. There is evidence of it referenced throughout history. In the 18th century, it was absolutely fine to wear a pink suit with floral embroidery. It was seen by many as a colour that went well with boys, the reason being that it was a stronger and more decided colour. Only in the 1980s did pink become strongly associated with femininity. Regardless of the connotation of the colour, it is clear that the earlier meanings have been reversed today.
2. Did you know that the very first person to ever have blue eyes lived around 6,000 to 10,000 years back? During that time, everyone had brown eyes. Today, if you have blue-coloured eyes, you share a common ancestor with every other blue-eyed individual in the world! Isn't it fascinating?
3. The finest cloth was dyed with red, blue or purple dye up until the 14th century. However, with the arrival of high-quality black dyes and the implementation of laws restricting coloured cloth to nobility, the wealthy Italian bankers started wearing black clothes as a sign of importance. Kings all over Europe began to take notice of this trend and soon adopted this black style themselves! Today, black is seen as the colour of power, elegance and glamour and is one of the most worn colours in several walks of life.

Colour Quotes For March 2017

• "Colours speak all languages"

  - Joseph Addison

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

  - Calderon de la Barca

• "Nature always wears the colors of the spirit."

  - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Colour Tips For March 2017

1. Ever wondered how to prevent a skin from forming over your paint can during your painting project? Lay down a thin sheet of plastic wrap, touching the paint surface. Alternatively, you can store the can upside down. Blow into the can before you put the lid on it. The carbon dioxide present in your breath prevents the paint from oxidizing. This is also the same trick used for printers to prevent a skin from forming on unused ink.
2. Did you know your lip balm could come in handy while painting your home? Here is a great trick for painting around windows using lip balm. Apply the lip balm on the glass pane of your window in the areas you'll be painting the trim. This way if any paint gets on the pane, it will be easy to wash it off. When painting doors, put the lip balm on the hinges and put plastic sandwich bags around the knobs.
3. Paint is a powerful tool that can enhance the architectural character of your home. It is a great trick to play down your home's flaws and highlight your home's best features. If you live in a historic home or one that reflects a particular era's aesthetic, it is best to stay true to that period. You cannot paint a bright colour that doesn't go with the architecture of the house just to make a statement. If your home has a classic style like Victorian, it is best to paint it in majestic jewel tones and if it has a farmhouse style, it is best to paint it an earthy shade.

World Of Colours

Colours & Emotion For March 2017

1. Although we have a plethora of words in our vocabularies which make use of colour, it is unlikely that we each perceive colour in the same way. Here is a look at some fascinating colour-related idioms with examples. Tickled pink is a colour idiom. It means 'to be extremely thrilled, pleased or delighted regarding something.' It is believed that the phrase refers to the fact that when some people get excited, they literally change colour, and their skin turns quite pink just like when they blush. The blood vessels dilate and more blood flows close to the skin, which is literally being tickled pink! The idea is of enjoyment great enough to make the person go pink.
2. Red in the face is another colour idiom. It means 'to become embarrassed about something.' The phrase 'red face' was already used in the late 1300s to refer to blushing due to shame. The white-skinned Europeans have a characteristic of temporary facial reddening that may be caused by embarrassment. The blood vessels widen and the white skin reddens. It is an unconscious reaction, and therefore people relate it to its cause.
3. Browned off is another colour idiom. It means 'to be annoyed or bored with someone or something.' This expression originated as Royal Air Force slang for 'disgusted' and 'depressed' in the late 1930s and had crossed the Atlantic by the Second World War. Gradually, it came to be used more widely as a slang synonym for 'infuriated.' According to one theory by Eric Partridge in his slang dictionary, it alludes to brass buttons on a uniform turning brown due to the lack of polishing. However, he has also noted that the word had the same literal meaning as 'buggered'.

Colours & Fashion For March 2017

3000 years B.C., the Chinese used to apply enamel on their fingers, leaving it to sit for several hours, which resulted in a pink finish on their nails. This was the beginning of nail art! The Indians also practiced nail art using a dye derived from the Henna plant. Egyptians were another civilization that used nail art early on. Interestingly for women, the colour of one's nails was used to identify what class in society one belonged to. The higher class wore deep shades of red while the lower classes wore pale shades. The Inca civilization was a step ahead in nail art. They painted images of eagles on their fingertips. One of the first designs to become trendy was the 'moon manicure', which involved painting the middle of the nail while leaving the moon of the nail unpainted, which is still considered fashionable!

Colours & Gems For March 2017

1. Iolite is a magnesium aluminium silicate mineral and its name comes from the stone's violet colour. It is also found in different colours like transparent, light blue and yellowy grey. It has been compared to light blue sapphire and is known as water sapphire. It is also called Cordierite and Dichroite. It was one of the first gems to be used as a compass. Its important deposits are found mainly in Burma, India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Brazil. It is believed to be a stone of vision and creative expression and is thus used in the healing of eyesight.
2. Labradorite is a gemstone which is a type of feldspar. It is named after the Canadian province of Labrador. It is considered valuable for its lustrous metallic reflections. According to Inuit lore, the Northern Lights used to be trapped inside rocks on the coast off the Labrador Peninsula. One day, they were found by an Inuit warrior who released them using his spear. Sadly, the warrior couldn't free all the lights and so some remained imprisoned in the rocks. This is the reason why Labradorite is found in the rocks of Labrador today. The iridescence appears as fascinating blue and rainbow-coloured reflections when light strikes the gem in a certain direction, causing a lovely sheen. Crystals with this colourful effect are used in carvings. This gemstone is believed to bring out the best in the wearer. It is also known as the self-esteem stone.

Colours & Nature For March 2017

1. The lilac-breasted roller derives its name from the fascinating tumbling and rolling flight that it performs during courtship. This aerial acrobat is a wonderful sight as its colourful wings are on full display. A lilac chest is the identifying feature of the bird. It has a pale pinkish-orange face with a whitish chin. It has elongated tail streamers with dull tips that wear away to show darker colours. When the wings are spread, they are absolutely eye-catching. The bird prefers to perch itself on bushy, savannah dry woodland trees and is considered to be a territorial bird.
2. The California Red-Sided Garter snake is dark olive to almost black. The head is olive, red or orange. It has prominent yellow stripe down the back with less prominent stripes along its sides. There are red bars alternating with the background colour on the sides. The underside is either yellow-green or blue. Interestingly, the stripes resemble garters men used to wear to hold up their socks. There is another theory that the name is a corruption of the German word for 'garden' which is why the snake is also called 'garden snake'.

Décor

16 Awesome & Easy DIY Wall Decorating Ideas

Here are our top 16 wall decorating ideas for you to spruce up the walls in your house or workplace, so get ready to get inspired…

There are literally thousands of different ways to spruce up the walls of your home or office. However, we have narrowed it down a little to our top 15 ideas and 1 idea thrown in for good measure! Take a look at these wall decorating ideas and get inspired...

1. Turn any fabric into pretty wallpaper by attaching it with a solution of corn starch or fabric starch and water. This way you can get the look of wallpaper without spending a lot of money on it.
2. You can brighten up your workspace or your reading nook by using your favourite wrapping paper on the walls.
3. Are you in the mood for travel or are you a travel enthusiast? Whatever be the case, plaster the walls of your favourite room in maps to get your wanderlust on!
4. If you are going for a grass cloth look, hang burlap on the walls of your home.
5. If you want to have an accent wall in your home, you can make it on your own using stencilled shapes.
6. For all the geeks out there, if you wish to achieve a cool out-in-space metallic look on a part of your walls, paper it with aluminimum foil!
7. Adding texture to your wall can add flair and character to your living space. Use a whisk broom to get this look without much hassle.
8. You can create your own pattern on the wall by outlining it using a cardboard model. The only thing you have to think about is deciding what pattern you want!
9. Wrap fabric around a rectangular piece of wood or Styrofoam and staple it on the back. Hang this on your favourite wall for visual appeal.
10. Create string art with embroidery floss or yarn and display it on a dull wall of your home.
11. Organize art supplies like crayons and colour pencils into a rainbow display on the walls of your room.
12. Get crafty with colourful tissues or crepe papers and hang it on the walls of your home.
13. You can make use of empty toilet paper rolls too. All you need is a bit of creativity, time and patience. You can make beautiful wall art by cutting these rolls, wrapping them in glitter or coloured paper and gluing them in any shape you want. You can stick them to a canvas and mount it on the wall.
14. If you are a nature-lover and wish to incorporate nature-themed elements in your home, you can display a few artistically aligned thin branches on the wall above the headboard of your bed.
15. Gone are the days when we used to listen to our favourite music on CDs. So if you have them lying around, you can use the old CD cases to make something different for the walls of your home. Divide an image into several individual squares to match the dimensions of the CD case. Print them and use tape to attach them and then mount the cases on the wall.
16. Take photos of your friends and family and cut out their silhouettes using black paper. Then arrange them in photo framed on white backgrounds and decorate your favourite wall with them.

Now that you have some wall decorating ideas, why not try out a few to adorn your home?!

Design Trend: Nature-Inspired Décor

Nature does make for a beautiful home, and although most of us won’t find it possible to live outdoors enjoying the glory and wonder of nature, here are a few tips to help you bring a bit of the outdoors into your homes. Come, take a look…

Nature makes a comeback this year as a design trend that can't be ignored! Now, we believe that the natural world makes for a beautiful home. But since it is not possible for all of us to live out in the open, we shall try to help you bring a bit of the outdoors into your homes and give you design inspirations that nature has to offer.

There are several ways to create a greener living space and add a trendy and organic touch to your home décor. Nature offers rich and earthy palettes, interesting textures and quirky décor ideas to spruce up the interiors of your house. So let's begin!

Nature in your Living Room

You can display small houseplants in different pot sizes in your living space. You can also make your own terrarium in small vases on side tables or shelves in which you can display flowers, small houseplants, mosses, and other natural elements.

Adding corals, seashells, pinecones, driftwood, mossy rocks, pebbles and branches can greatly enhance your living room. You can also try filling different jars with a single flower bloom, an elegant feather, dried flowers or potpourri. In fact, you can experiment with different ideas and get your creative juices flowing. You can fill a large glass jar till its brim with stones and shells in hues of blues, greens and greys for an earthy touch.

Textures like wicker lend an outdoorsy and rustic vibe. If you love the ocean, you can try gingham drapes in your living room for a beach-house vibe. Nature-inspired wallpapers can also add character to any living room. Use whites, beiges, pastels or any other soft colours to give a soothing and natural touch to your living room. Also, you can try reclaimed wood for an unfinished look as it adds textural interest.

Warm wood tones and beautiful wood grain are a natural fit in an earth-inspired décor. You can opt for dark woods and natural woods when selecting furniture and accessories for your living room.

Nature in your Bedroom

You can try botanical shades with complementary accent pillows to make your bedroom a relaxing haven. Bamboo headboards are also a great idea to add a natural texture to the bedroom. Decorative accent pieces like a sea grass floor lamp or a basket weave area rug can make the most interesting conversation starters when you have guests visiting.

Nature in your Dining Room

Nature-inspired tablemats and runners in floral patterns can elevate the look of your dining table. You can try wall art in shades of pristine whites, browns and aqua blues to bring an instant outdoorsy appeal while you have your meals. You can also combine two contrasting shades for an understated look if you don't want a bold colour palette in your dining area.

These are some of the ways in which you can bring nature and natural elements into your living space. It's all about some inspiration and creativity when it comes to sprucing up your home and here's hoping these tips on bringing some nature element into your home décor gets you started!

Yellow Makes A Huge Comeback

They say that all good things come to end. But that doesn’t hold true when it comes to décor trends. We believe that Yellow is going to make its way back into homes this year. Here are some decoration ideas for you to enjoy its revival…

Yellow has always had an image problem with regards to its use in home décor. Unlike blue, red or green, it has not been universally loved and accepted. However, we feel that this cheerful and energetic colour does not deserve this treatment one bit!

You can give your home a chic makeover with this colour if you put your heart and mind to it. Yellow is a generous colour, in the sense that it brings out the best in other colours and makes rooms seem brighter and vibrant. It goes with almost every colour in the palette, be it white, pink, blue, brown, orange or green. This hue can make a breakfast nook or a home office look warm and welcoming. However, it is a wise idea to pick one shade lighter than what the paint chip suggests while going for it.

When we say Yellow, it doesn't have to be just solid walls. Use it as a pattern to add some dimension to your room so it does not overwhelm. You can use varying shades of this perky colour for some contrast and use it with neutral tones like white and beige for a blend of fun and elegance.

Yellow need not be the choice of paint for your home either. Opt for sunny yellow accessories to infuse your rooms with some freshness. Pick a yellow area rug or a curtain in this colour to spruce up the living space or balance a dull or pale wall shade of any room.

You can try a bold yellow sofa in the living room and pair it with complementing accent pillows or display a yellow ottoman instead. It is sure to make your visitors talk and work as a conversations starter with its bold presence.

As for your living rooms, team yellow with other pastels for a sunny disposition. Yellow headboards and window treatments also look stunning in bedrooms. Even a striking yellow bookcase or a citrus-hued artwork with splashes of yellow in it can add visual appeal to any room. A pretty vase of yellow flowers can also do the trick!

Yellow tiles spell vintage chic and work wonders in bathrooms, as it is the place we go to refresh our bodies and minds. As for the guestrooms, why leave out yellow from them? It is often touted as a mood-enhancing shade and brings instant sunshine to a space, which is why it is a wonderful idea to invest in the colour if you wish to keep your guests happy and upbeat!

We hope these decoration ideas help you add the vibrant yellow colour to your home in style!

Colours & Ancient Sciences

Feng Shui For March 2017

Did you know that adding fish to your Feng Shui space can be beneficial to you? It is believed to attract positive Feng Shui energy into your home. Learn more about it…

Feng Shui for your Aquariums

In Feng Shui, Goldfish are known to represents prosperity and luck. Numbers and colours are important in Feng Shui, and it's no different when it comes to your aquariums. The suggested number of fish in an aquarium according to Feng Shui is nine. The best combinations of nine fish in an aquarium are eight bright-coloured Goldfish or Arrowana fish and one black or darker coloured fish. With the combination of eight red and one black fish, the fish symbolizes energy, prosperity and good fortune.

The Reason behind One Black Fish

A black goldfish is called a black moor. The one black goldfish is extremely important as it absorbs any negative energy that enters your home. Therefore, the black goldfish is symbolic of protection. It is believed that if the black fish dies due to an unknown cause like overfeeding, lack of food or under-oxygenated water, it is because of absorbing bad luck that was meant for you. In fact, several people believe in this theory and remove the dead fish from the tank immediately and replace it as soon as possible. There are plenty of Feng Shui practitioners who give their dead fish a proper burial and offer prayers or mantras for them as well. It is also common knowledge that black fish die more often than other coloured goldfish. However, that is due to biological reasons like poorer vision and inability to compete fairly for food.

The Importance behind the Colour of the Fish

One of the key Feng Shui elements of the fish tank is its colour. You can add red, golden and white-coloured fish for good wealth and fortune. Black, blue and grey can be used to convert negative Feng Shui to positive Feng Shui. When you decide on the colour of fish, remember to get at least one black fish to help you convert negative Feng Shui energy into positive. It is also believed to absorb any residual negative energy from the environment. A good alternative to the nine goldfish is a single arrowana. Their scales glisten like gold and silver, making them even more auspicious.

For those who cannot keep a fish in their home, a picture of a goldfish or a small statue of an arrowana can work as well.

Now that you know that a Feng Shui aquarium is a potent wealth cure, why not try it for your own home?

Reiki For March 2017

Crystals used during Reiki sessions are believed to heal and balance energies. Read on to know all about it...

Power of Colour Crystals in Reiki!

It is believed that the interaction between the stones and chakras helps return the chakra into healthy vibration, thereby healing the part of the body that is affected. During the healing session, these colourful crystals are placed on different areas of the body of the recipient. This way, each chakra is given a boost of its own vibration without changing its energies or the overall harmony of the system.

1. For the base chakra, choose a red stone to put near the base of the spine. You can also use two red stones of the same sort and rest one near the top of each leg.
2. For the sacral chakra, pick an orange stone and place it on the lower abdomen.
3. At the solar plexus, use a yellow stone, placing it between the navel and the ribcage. If there is tension in this area, a tiger's eye or a small clear quartz point can be placed at the diaphragm to help release the tension.
4. The heart chakra in the centre of the chest can be balanced using a green stone. A pink stone can be added as well for emotional healing.
5. For the throat chakra, use a light blue stone. Place it at the base of the throat, at the top of the breastbone.
6. An indigo or dark blue stone is best to balance the brow chakra in the centre of the forehead. Amethyst or another purple stone can also be used.
7. The stone for the crown chakra rests just above the top of the head. If you used a dark blue stone at the brow, you can use violet stone at the crown. If you pick an amethyst for the brow, use clear quartz at the crown.

It is also advised that while removing the stones once the healing is done, always remove the highest one first, leaving the lowest stone for the last.

Always remember that new stones and used stones need to be cleansed before they can be used again. Cleansing the crystals remove unwanted energy and restores them to their original clarity. It is essential that you clean them after every healing session for it to remain effective as it may pass on imbalances and prove useless in the next session.

To clean the stones, use dry sea salt in a small container and bury the crystal for a period of 24 hours. Don't use salt water as this damages softer stones. Alternatively, you can hold the crystals under running water for a minute and then place them in the sun to dry.

We hope this article helped you understand the power of colour and its impact on the overall well-being of an individual!

Vaastu For March 2017

Indian culture treats guests on par with God. Keeping that in mind, here is some beneficial Vaastu advice for you to incorporate while designing your guest room…

Vaastu for your Guest Room!

'Athiti devo bhavah' is a Sanskrit verse which literally translates to 'The guest is God'. In India, this verse has been the code of conduct for over centuries and just like the other rooms in the house, the guest room needs to be created keeping Vaastu in mind.

Best Directions for Guest Room

The best location for the guest room is in the northwest direction. If this is not possible, the second best options are south and southeast. However, remember not to build the room in the southwest as this is a direction which is reserved for the head of the house only, as per Vaastu. Building a guest room here can create trouble in the house. You also need to consider the direction of the door of the guest room when designing the room. The most ideal choices are the northeast door, facing the east direction; northeast door, facing north direction; southeast door, facing south direction and northwest door, facing west direction.

If the guest room is situated at 'vayavya' (northwest) corner, you must provide a window at the northeast corner, towards the north or in the west.

If the guest room is situated at 'agneya' corner, you need to keep a window at south or southeast direction. According to the principles of Vaastu Shastra, it is totally up to you to decide whether to provide an attached bathroom or not.

Best Colours for Guest Room

The most suitable colours to use in the guest room are white, coral red, cream, lilac, light blue, peach, green and light shades of pink. Remember to use soothing shades as it is liked by most. These colours are believed to maintain peace and harmony in the house. It is also a great idea to use such uplifting shades as accent points.

Try to keep the décor of the room minimal, sober and aesthetically appealing. Avoid trendy and funky décor for the room as not all your guests will like it. Remember to match the bed sheets with the colour of the wall. You can opt for velvet fabric instead of synthetic fabric while setting up the room.

We hope this article helps you with useful Vaastu tips for your guest room and helps you foster harmonious relationship with your guests.