Pia is a true creative and has some truly outstanding pieces in her collection. Her beautiful layered vessels are amazing. I really love the originality of her swivel trestles.
To see more of Pia’s work check out her website piadesign
styledbykarl
A PLACE TO SHARE INSPIRE AND DESIRE
Sowing seeds
When one sows seeds it’s normally a little wait for the vibrant colour part to happen, not the case with this bunch of beauties. Little packets splashed with such marvellous pictures of what’s to come. If only everything was packaged up in such no fuss packaging. I could see these pictures on a nice country kitchen collection of fabrics. Treasures I found it a small garden shop in India.
Happy Easter
Alisa Burke is a creative that is totally top of her league . Visit her website for total inspiration and eye candy to please everyone.
Varkala temple festival
On the last day of the Janardhana Swamy Temple Festival, a grand Arrattu procession takes place to add color and excitement to the festival. The highlight of the parade is seven lavishly decorated elephants.In Kerala, elephants are regarded as a symbol of pomp and prosperity, and no temple festival in the state is complete without them. In addition to providing prestige, the elephants also carry the statue of the temple god during the festival processions. The statue is carried down to the sea where it is bathed and cleansed . The men follow the procession into the sea in a frenzy of spiritual ritual. It was the most incredible celebration and to be party to it was something that will never be forgot. After the cleansing the elephants and the temple statue make their way through the streets and bless people’s homes on the way, finally arriving back at the temple in the early hours of the morning. Huge explosions of fireworks that rock the town greet the return of the statue back into the haven of the temple.
It was a long night of partying and celebration.
Backwaters Kerela
After an amazing trip down the Kollom backwaters I wanted to share a few images of the trip. The backwaters are large rivers and lakes that connect up with smaller creeks and inlets, a network that unites communities and industry alike. Small villages that make their living from fishing, dredging sand for building and numerous other cottage industries that go to make up wonderful colourful settlements. Munroe island is set in the backwaters and has a unbelievable population of 25,000 thousand living on a 10 kilometre island. The strong sense of community that one finds here is so fantastic, people connecting and working together in a way that shows a true passion for life. Meeting people that just want to share their lives and stories with you, introducing you to friends and family in such a selfless way, pictures alone cannot convey such heartfelt connections.
Flower Power
Words are not needed for pictures that speak for themselves.
Fragrant India
In a narrow lane in old Chochin a gem of a shop can be found. Vindy waiting to entice you in. The place had that feeling of being untouched for decades and was dusty and a little bit frayed around the edges, as are most places in India. However the treasures found inside were unexpected but totally marvellous . Vindy had the most intoxicating oil distillations I have ever smelt. Amber, Opium, lotus flower, musk and my all time favourite Oudh, a wood from the east distilled into a sticky heady attar. Beautiful little vials were filled and prices agreed.
Silence must be heard. Amit Romani
The Cow is such a highly regarded sacred animal in India , so for the vast majority of Indian people it’s something of a Hindu superstar. Often seen roaming streets and happily enjoying it’s own leisure time, the Cow has become much a part of daily life in both villages and cities alike. Artist Amit Romani chose the mighty cow as the subject for his latest exhibition at the Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai. Meeting with him was a real pleasure and his vibrant personality is eminent in his artworks. An accomplished artist that I’m sure will have a great and rewarding journey ahead of him. The pictures I took certainly don’t express the the real presence in this artwork.
Dharavi Mumbai
there are 2,000 slums in mumbai, and about 55% of mumbaikers live in slums.
dharavi houses 1 million in 2 square km.this would include professional workers and police officers.
the slum has a relatively low rate of crime – people are (surprisingly) employed.families are house proud and make the most of what we take all to often for granted, a roof over our heads and a safe place to sleep.
Plastic recycling, for example, is a tax-free, underground business in the slum. The workers make between £4-5 per day for 12 hours of work. Textile workers have it a little better for their skilled work: about £11 per day, but they also work more than 12 hours.
life expectancy in dharavi is 50 years of age.
The movie slumdog millionaire is not a real picture of real slum life and really only focused on the negatives. People may live in slums but who wants to be called a dog. It’s humbling to see how enterprising Everyone is and just what lengths they will go to make a better life for themselves.
ELEPHANT ISLAND
Visited Elephant Island today. A magnificent set of cave temples 11 kilometres of the coast of Mumbai. Dated to a period of c. 600-635 A.D. Dedicated to the Indian God Shiva, a true testimony of creativity , skill and devotion of the craftsmen who made them. It’s so wonderful to venture into a country that has a strong connection to what has gone before, and yet is one of the fastest developing countries of the 21st century .
