Manifest Destiny.in

Love at first sight... it does happen :)

Manifest Destiny, a dreamy collection of jewelry that is organic and stylish, made my heart go bumpity-bump. Check it out if you are looking for jewelry that is 'hatke' and not the usual run-of-the-mill stuff. Manifest Destiny will definitely make you swoon too... i promise.

Manreet Deol, the designer of these pieces and the artist who designs these pieces describes her collection as a "melange of Art, Fashion and Everything beautiful". One look at the designs and you will believe her.


Score brownie points! I'd think they would make a lovely gift... especially with Diwali just around the corner.

You can buy online here and connect on Facebook here.


Read on more... if you'd like to know more about Manreet, the talented lady who designs these exquisite pieces. 

An interview with Manreet Deol.

MG: Tell me something about yourself... in 20 words or less.

MD: About yourself' was hard to write... I need to develop some copy for this 

MG: I first met Manreet, exactly a year ago in Pondicherry. I managed to spend some time with her and found her to be a lot of fun, easy-going and easy to talk to. She studied at NIFT and then moved to New York where she studied at the Parson's School of Design. She lived and worked in New York for many years. 

She has made Pondicherry her home now and lives and works from a beautiful home near Auroville that is as lovely as the pieces she designs... I think she still carries a little bit of NY in her because her home kinda reflects that too... Along with her own beautiful organic style of design. I visited her home only once last year and i didn't click any pictures but i remember her house so clearly... the big unfinished canvas painting that was pasted with tape on the wall, the lovely white hammock in the balcony, the iron candelabra with jasmine flowers strewn, the colorful mexican flags, the wall with her drawings, the eclectic collection of books, the colorful red gingham checked mattresses and the ikea hanging lamps that were not hung, but used on the floors with some organic wire shapes she had made. (Oops... i do go on and on!!)

MG: Things you like

MD: I have a fondness for (in no particular order) booking plane tickets (love the people I meet when I travel! ) Scandinavian Electro-Pop music + Steaming Idlis with gunpowder + Wandering in the forest of Auroville + Mid-century Art.

MG: What else do you design?

I mostly design tableware  and other decorative objects - I just got done designing a 7'  tall candelabra and in the middle of a metal tableware collection for major porcelain company and a flatware line...

MG: How and where is your jewelry made?

All our pieces begin as clay sculptures that are then individually cast in Aluminum and Brass using the sand casting technique in Delhi. The soft raw organic nature of this process is perfect for our pieces. Another great thing about this casting method is that each pieces is made from its own unique sand mold that must be broken to release the piece. So in a way each jewelry piece is one of a kind.

MG: Your favorite designer / artist?

MD: I'm constantly inspired by the monumental and raw works of Richard Serra and Louise Bourgeois. I also love all the varied tribal traditions of the world such as the Gond paintings and the fantastic Kutchi jewelry... truly amazing pieces of art.

MG: Your collection... in your words...

MD: We create timeless pieces that are thoughtfully handcrafted and possess a soul that transcends style and cultural boundaries. 

~

Thanks Manreet, for sharing your story with me. Am honored and delighted to have you here. 

~

Hope you enjoyed this post. I am hoping to interview and feature more artists and their work here... send me an email or message me on FB if you'd like to be featured in my blog. 

iTokri and Sanjukta

iTokri has some pretty gorgeous things that i am loving right now. On top of the list is this lungi tunic that is gorgeous but, in my mind, steeply priced at Rs. 2799. What do you think?

5 gift ideas from iTokri... if you want to gift something to someone special or just yourself :)

1. This ikat stole... black, white and red is always magical to me! And most women would love it.
2. These lacquered wooden kitchen rolling pins and ladles (i have a rolling pin and love using it to roll my chapatis). Perfect gift for the people who love to cook. 
3. This red and magenta wallet. And these kitsch make up pouches. For your stylish friend.
4. This red applique work curtain is stunning. And these hand-crafted bottle gourd lamps.. For the house proud friends you know or those who could do with a little help in that direction.
5. And this bamboo wind chime. For just about anyone. They'll think of you every time the wind blows and the chime rings merrily. (Believe me. A friend gifted me a big wind chime and i love it's tinkling and bless him for the sweet gift every time it tings.)

PS: Am totally loving iTokri right now... it has a lot of the kind of things i like to buy / gift!

Earth Hour, Update

Last weekend I observed Earth Hour. Sat in my balcony with this candle for company until a really strong gust of wind blew the candle off; even though the candle was inside a glass jar.

{This strong breeze has caused problems before as well.} 

Earth Hour

Earth Hour is on 

Saturday, March 23

between 

8:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Are you going to participate as well?

{What is the Earth Hour?}

Packaging and the paper it consumes

Every time i cut open a package of a food product, i feel sad about the amount of paper and plastic that has been used to package it and the waste of resources that not only add to the cost of the product but also to the waste of precious natural resources.

The same feeling accompanies me when i buy a shirt - there are so many little pieces of packaging - paper, foam, card board, tags, thread, plastic clips, pins - they are just way too many things that are used to package it.

I travelled by train recently and was heartened to see that you didn't need to carry a paper print out if you have booked online. Apparently, we can save up to 3 lakh sheets in a single day alone. Of course, not many people know of this. I was pretty scared myself, wondering if some bull-headed TTE would insist i give him a ticket printout. Thankfully, that didn't happen.

I imagine there must be so many little ways we can reduce our use of paper and plastic products. I am no social activist but off late i try my best to reduce waste - whether in the amount of food i cook or the things i buy or the number of plastic bags i pick up from stores, even when they are giving it out for free.

Enough of rambling now... what i really wanted to do was share these smart packaging ideas.

PS: Would you a buy a product, if it used less paper / plastic in its packaging? 

Crafts Village Potlis

I am loving the new range of potlis that Crafts Village from Pune has launched. I got myself one already and everyone who has seen my use it is loving it.

They are priced at Rs. 200, so it's not a huge dent on the pocket.

Lovely for a gift. (You can buy a potli, a tee, some accessories and put together a gift bag your friend will love.)

{craft village products can be purchased here}

Designer Ed Chew made these gorgeous lamps with used tetra pack boxes. Amazing what creative brains can do with waste that would have only added to a land fill.

{via}

VillCart

This bamboo clock from VillCart is perfect for the children's room. It costs Rs 455 and would make a lovely gift. To buy this and other cute handmade products at reasonable prices, click here.

I placed an order for this embroidered pouch bag for my mother and these earrings too.

PS: Do you remember the Ganesha on a swing? It's available at VillCart.

Light from a Soda bottle

A soda bottle filled with water and bleach that's used as a light. How weird / amazing is this!
Thanks Saurav, for sharing the link.

Craft Village from Pune

I saw Ketki Matkar Torane's Craft Village on FB

a few weeks ago and I had to share these here. 

Simple, elegant and bright with a dash of gold. Sweet.

 I am going to be ordering these cushions very soon.

I think these would look lovely on a dark colored diwan / day bed

or combined with printed fabric cushions. 

the mustard-magenta combination makes me ooh. 

only it won't match anything at home. 

but i can just see it on a cream colored fabric couch.

a room that's all is cream with these cushions.

divine.

*****

Don't you think they are lovely?

If you want these pretty squares for your home, 

then you can contact her here.

*****

I took a lot of pictures this last week and also uploaded them. (Finally)

You can see my clicks with the DSLR here. 

I also cooked, played table tennis and partied a bit.

A nice week. A nice holiday.

What have you been up to? Do share!