Un Deux Trois...already!

 Hello again!

This is me

Me, the blog 

[Mr. Blog for the uninitiated]

Thanking you

For sharing the most incredible three years 

Of my journey through the world of design and interiors

Wish me

For I turn 3 today

And be with me

For many more years of this fun ride

Signing off: Mr. Blog

[also known by the fancy schmancy name - An Indian Summer]

[some pics from my home]

Happy Birthday!

An Indian Summer

 With love: Bhavna

The person who actually updates you, Mr. Blog

[And for the record, your name is not fancy schmancy. It's quite nice. Go ask any one!]

Oi Soi Oi

Goodness Gracious Me!

If you ever feel like goodness graciousing in Vietnamese, just strike a confident pose, put on a worldly wise air, and with appropriate hand and facial gestures, exclaim 'Oi Soi Oi!' Go on, try it...no one's looking!

Oi Soi Oi is also the name of the company founded by Britt Goodall and Christina Thorboll. They work with artisans and family-run enterprises in Vietnam, and bring to us products inspired by Vietnam's day to day life and culture. Even though this store has already done a few rounds on a bunch of design blogs, I couldn't resist showcasing it here again. The simplicity of materials and products, the close similarity with the Indian craft traditions, the transformation of daily use items into decor pièces de résistance...made me go Oi Soi Oi many times over!

Delicately hand painted ceramics. Similar achar/chutney martbaans (pickle jars) and the blue glazed pottery can be found in Northern India

Recycled trinkets

All that is jute! Jhaado (small broom) in a fancy avatar, and a chaarpai (Indian cot/diwan) in the second last pic

Gorgeous embroidery

I spy a sandook (metal storage boxes)! 

The many uses of beautiful fabrics..

[All pics Oi Soi Oi]

Contest Contest

Sharing with you two exciting contests happening in the world of design:

British Council's Young Creative Entrepreneur Awards | India (& UK)

If you are an entrepreneur who is promoting, managing or running a venture centred on a creative sector, make sure you apply for this award. The YCE awards give recognition to creative entrepreneurship across the sectors of Design, Music, Fashion, Communication, Visual Arts, Screen, Interactive, Performing Arts and Publishing. If you participate, you get a chance to win a study tour of your respective industry in the UK, get to interact with creative industry leaders in the UK and also get to participate in a relevant trade events.

Find more information here and here.  

And here and here for UK participants.

Felicity International Graphic Competition

The primary objective of this project is to promote a debate around the basic theme of life in the community and how improvements can be made. The competition is an opportunity to express, manifest, symbolize and imagine solutions for a better city capable of improving the lifestyle of its inhabitants. The two ways to participate are via 'Intellectual Proposal' and 'Intervention'.

Find more information here

Craftmark - Hand made in India

Have you been searching high and low for crafts from India that are traditional yet innovative, exquisite yet sustainable, competitively priced yet follow fair trade practices? Well, look no further. For Craftmark is here. Just for you.  

Leveraging Craftmark as a brand, the All India Artisans & Craftworkers Welfare Organization (AIACA),  accredits genuine Indian handicrafts, encourages fair trade standards across the sector and supports new product development working with both grass root artisans and new designers, among many other activities that support traditional handloom and handicrafts from India.

Given below is just a sample of the treasure that you can find under the Craftmark umbrella..

And did I say 'Just for you' somewhere in the post above?

Yes, I did!

Craftmark has a special offer for the readers of An Indian Summer

Look through their catalogue, and their facebook group
And if any of the products interests you
You can reach out to Sharmila
[s.wood (at) aiacaonline.org]
For sales queries!

[Note: Some of the products may be subject to minimum order quantities] 

[All images: Craftmark]