Year end wrap up!!!!

As the year comes to an end I would like to share with you some of the table settings I did this year which are my favorites and I enjoyed the doing them the most. 

All of the table setting and decorations I did using whatever I had available at home, from my travels and collections ,by quick DIY ,up cycling and restyling items...and didn't break my piggy bank just for a party(lol) 

Global cuisine

Swiss fondue table setting

My husband loves fondue and this fondue party was blue and white themed..

simple and pretty..

Chinese table setting

I enjoyed this one ..mainly the white decor.. It magically made us feel on a dull rainy day as if we are not at home but in a fine restaurant!!

 Indian themed party:

I totally enjoyed this one.. I think my pretty pink silk duppata/scarf dazzled the table .. It looked so gorgeous.. Click here to see more pics of the party!!

Doing this one was very therapeutic for me.. One of my best carved watermelon so far..It was a lantern.. Click here to see more pics of it how it glowed at night!!!

Lotus and marigold

I must have created almost 10 or so centerpieces for the festival of lights.. I used everything  I had that was related or matched the Indian theme... copper bowls, clay lights, marigolds, lotus!!!

This post was in continuity with the above post.. I did so many centerpieces that I had to divide and share the centerpieces in three different posts..  Click here to see more of this post!!

and some more Indian themed decorations in continuity with the two posts above.. If you need some inspiration for Indian themed party or decor ideas I think there is ample here:)

Now let's move on to some fall table decor I had done:

Spicy fall decor 

I did this one using spices like nutmeg,cinnamon sticks, pine cones and wooden coasters.. I used as much natural items as I could..

Pine cones centerpiece

Cherishing the fine memories of collecting pine cones in Zürich..

Fall fruits centerpiece

 I used the fruits available at home to create an instant and easy centerpiece..plus it encourages healthy eating habits..you know when you just want to snack..why not eat a fruit!!

Some of the summer themed table setting I did:

Beach themed table decor .. 

This is one I enjoyed the most..making marzipan slippers, origami boats, collecting stones ..It is always fun digging into my things to look for something matches the theme..

Ode to Summer table setting 

with alpine flowers and recycled tins.. the best part I enjoyed was tying the napkin with cord with flowers.. It looked very pretty!!

 Romantic table setting

I enjoyed doing this table decor with recycled glass bottles with doily necks .. one of those days when I didn't think any of the decor items at home matched the theme ..so  made it myself.. also enjoyed the cupcakes and the part which I never told anyone ..It was for my Birthday!!

Now for some tea:

Tea party decor 

I made this quick fix 3 three tiered cupcake stand .. I enjoyed this one ..it was simple and open..

Tour of my apartment in Zürich

I loved my apartment in Switzerland.. the best one we have lived in ever..I have lot of fond memories of that one ..It was on lake Zurich and we enjoyed living there!!

Next year I hope to have more parties, decorate and redecorate my house... hopefully my brain will come up with some more creative DIY ideas... and I want to make more friends in Bloggyland..hope to inspire and be inspired!!!

Here's wishing you all a very very happy, prosperous and successful new year!!!

Mentions & features!!!

As we are closing on the year I would like to take this opportunity  to say thanks to all my readers!! Your visits, sweet comments and lovely emails encourages me tremendously!!  

Thanks to Kayla of HGTV's blog-design setting for mentioning my blog!! It feels good to be mentioned on my all time favorite site's blog!!

Thanks to Nags of Meet my Kitchen things for featuring my kitchen things with lovely background and history of brass items!!! 

Thanks all you sweet people who have linked to my blog or DIY or some creative idea on my blog!! Its very sweet of you!!


Thanks to readers like sudha who have tried and tested my DIY!!

Thanks to all the readers who have written to me!! I enjoyed reading each and every email!! I have your On-Demand special posts almost ready.. please bear with me.. I will post them in Jan!!

xo,
P

Christmas in Singapore 2010

By now I guess everyone must be all geared up and prepared for the Holidays and some must be already on holiday!!!! 

Today I am sharing with some pics I took of Christmas decorations in Singapore.. Every year Singapore has a theme for the decorations.. This year the theme is love!! The streets are all decked up.. and so is every nook and corner of this garden city!!! The holiday spirits are on all time high!! 

Huge ornaments floating from the ceiling..

Stars hanging from trees ..Almost all trees on the major roads of this garden city is decked up with lights, stars, icicles or snow flakes!!

The dazzling Orchard road!!

These blue dazzling trees are lined up along the entire stretch of  Orchard road!!

Huge ornaments on a huge inside Takashimaya mall!!

Every lamp on the street has this pretty wreath on it!!

Teddy bear Christmas tree.. How cute!!

Huge ornaments...

on a  pretty Chinese style building !!!

Have you packed all your gifts.. I just finished mine!! A few more posts coming through this year from me..so stay tuned!!

I am flying today to meet my family..This time holidays are more special as my sis and DH's sis are also coming for Holidays from the US!! I am so excited that the entire family will be together!!! 

My little 4 yr old nephew is eagerly waiting for me as everyone has told him that Santa is coming with me:) He was very worried that how Santa will find him as he is not at home and the tree is not decked up at his home in the US:))

Joining the party at to Brambleberry cottage!!

Christmas table Decorations: DIY

In continuity with the previous Christmas decor post, here  are some more cool, easy, adorable ideas to decorate your holiday table .... ideas to give instant stunning look to your table decor.. to make the decor special  for  the occasion...to make that perfect hostess impression on your guests!!   Here are some Christmassy ideas for place cards..

                                                                                                                               Courtesy: Wunderweib


DIY angel napkin holder ..This one is made of aluminium foil..It's easy to make and looks so stunning.. Your guests will blown away be the pretty and adorable angels on their dinner plates..  Let's see how it is made...

Cut out the shape...Tape the back corners to create a funnel like shape..Take a shiny ribbon ..Fold it several times and cut into  triangles.. Stitch the triangles together and to the angel shape..Roll the napkin and put it in the gap behind the head!! Voila!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Courtesy: Country living


Don't have much time .. Here's something pretty - a pretty jar converted into a tea light holder with a wire coiled around it..The name tag is a simple tag but did anyone notice:) Dim the lights and enjoy the glow on everybody's faces!!!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Courtesy: Wunderweib

Remember the Christmas decor I did with poinsettia plants .. If you liked that one you would like this one as well... a simplest way to decorate your table...Give natural touch to your table decor with a branch of poinsettia plant..Write your guests name on it with a marker..Use napkins of matching color!!! 

                                                                                                Courtesy: Martha Stewart

Make paper trees and add stars will have the name of guest. Download the pattern here. Slit the pattern in the middle black line.. Fold in such a way that the part where there is green arrow should be inside and the red arrow one outside..

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Courtesy: Wunderweib

Use a snowflake cookie cutter as a napkin ring ..Attach a same colored name to it!

                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Courtesy: Martha Stewart

A cupcake candle and the cute heart with some greenery makes the pretty table  look more merrier!!

                                                                                           Courtesy: Etsy

Add some extra cuteness to your table by printing a printable merry owl greeting cards and use them as place cards. You can download these patterns here!!

                                                                                                                                                                                         Courtesy: Martha Stewart

How about a romantic table setting with scroll place cards with some berries ..

                                                                                                                                Courtesy: Country living 

I love this one.. Snow flake chocolate cookie with a few paper snowflakes on a lovely white and red table setting...Put a instant smile on your everyone's faces...Get the recipe of the chocolate snowflake cookie here.

                                                                                                                                                                                             Courtesy: Martha Stewart

These paper plate angels will be great family activity to do and will brighten up any family holiday table setting .. see how to make them here.

Watch this lovely YouTube tutorial to make a Christmas tree from your napkins.. 

Do check out my earlier Christmas decor posts here..

Skywatch

Thank God it is Friday!!

Have a nice weekend!!

For more beautiful locations visit Skywatch!!

Gifts for tea lovers!!!

                            This post is on demand. Finding gifts for your loved ones can be a happy as well as stressful task!! One of my friend who is going home for holidays wants to buy something which her family members would love as well!! They all are tea lovers..Honestly I am in the same boat!! So I found some great gifts which all tea lovers young and old would like.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   Courtesy:Susibell

Let's start with a cup of hot steaming tea.. I love this tea set and table setting amazing!! These doilies are pretty aren't they! 

Ok before we start ...Wanna know some facts about tea??

                                                                                                                                                                               Courtesy: 24.media.tumblr

That's not all!! It helps you combat with allergies as well.. Ashley at Design Sponge has some really great DIY tips for avoiding allergies with different types of tea.. Click here to see those tips!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Courtesy: Woman's day

Some more DIY home remedies for allergies at Woman's day!!


Ok enough of these remedy teas ..let's get something very creative tea variations!!! Something you can make/bake for loved ones.....

                                                                                                                                                                               Courtesy: Sprinkle Bakes

I am totally loving these chocolate chai cups !!! I found this on Heather's  blog Sprinkle bakes. She is super creative and experimental baker and dessert maker. Her blog is full of inspiring and beautifully photographed baking and sugar craft tutorials and recipes!!! Click here to  get step by step instructions to make this lovely chocolate cup and the chai latte whipped creme recipe!!!! A perfect treat for a tea lover who also has a sweet tooth!


 How about doing some tea inspired creative project ..
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             courtesy: Linna Xu

Get inspired by this creative and unique book-  Tasseology, the ancient art of tea leaf reading, including a history, instructions on how to perform readings and a symbol guide. Interesting!! It is beautifully conceptualized by Linna Xu. Check her portfolio here!!




How about prints of something related to tea.. 

                                                                                                                                                                                 Courtesy: Laura Miss

A pretty tea pot print from a lovely Etsy shop- Laura miss.

                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                               Courtesy:FredFlare

Submarine tea infuser .. How cute is that!! It would be a perfect cute gift for a tea lover..It is available here!!!

                                                                                                             Courtesy: Bettina.M

Tea inspired cushions .. How cute!! these are from Bettina's super cute art blog! She sells these on her shop here!!

Now the one below I am not sure is for sale yet .. This design won 3th prize in the "Beyond Silver" competition by designboom! The designer is Pablo Matteoda.

                                                                                                                      Courtesy:  Designboom

Its Sharky tea infuser.. You can see of Pablo's work on his blog!! I think it can make a cool gift for a young man who loves tea:)

How about tea towels..

       Available at and pic courtesy: Ericas

Eco friendly tea cup..

Available at and pic courtesy: Mocha

Make something yourselves.. Handmade gifts are highly appreciated always!!

                                                                                      Courtesy: Martha Stewart

Make this pretty customized tea sachets and gift box yourselves. Click here to get all the instructions from Martha.



Check out the  book below from Womans weekly- High Tea..It has recipes to yummy cakes, scones, pastries which you can bake for your tea loving loved ones!!!

All these is making me feel like curling up with a cup of tea and a nice book!!!!