Happy Holi

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Here's wishing you all a very HAPPY HOLI!

Happy Dussehra

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Happy Ganesh Chaturthi

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Here's wishing you all a very a Happy Ganesh Chaturthi

Free shipping: Ahkriti Jewelry

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY 

INDIA

Happy Baisakhi

Happy Rangali Bihu to all those celebrating 

Baisakhi in Assam, India

Image : via 

Fabulous Friday Finds: Kanjeevaram saris

Starting from today, I start a new series called Fabulous Friday Finds. I hope you will like them.

I love saris. Especially Kanjeevaram saris. To know more about these saris, read  my BLOG POST about Kanjeevaram Saris

Why do I like them? The vibrant colors that they come in, they way the sari  drapes and sit on your waist, they all do justice to make you look fantastic!

Source: modernrani.com via Surbhi on Pinterest

Source: minmit.com via minmit .com on Pinterest

The Kanjeevaram sari was also worn at the Oscars this year by the renowned Carnatic artist Bombay Jayashree

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Invest in just one of these saris, and it will last you for a life time.. You can make it like a family heirloom and keep it as part of your will to give to the one who is most worthy. 

So, if you ever want to surprise me and have no idea about what to give me as a gift - let me give you a hint - you don't have to go far, just go to the nearest Indian sari store, get a Kanjivaram and gift it to me.  In return, I will cook you a great Indian meal and 

Happy Ugadi

I miss my days in Bangalore, India. I miss the Ugadi celebrations with our neighbours. My parents being from Assam, made Karnataka their home and my brother and I adapted pretty well to our birth place learning Kannada and truly making Bangalore our HOME.


Anyway, to those who have no idea what I am talking about, Ugadi is a Hindu festival celebrated by Indians. In Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh they call it Ugadi.  Yug means the new era and Adi means the beginning and hence the words conjoin to make Ugadi. It is also known as Gudi padwa in Maharashtra .

I remember having a feast eating  Moongdal Kosambri (a mix of moong lentils with cucumber) Holige (sweet rotis made with jaggery and flour) and Hulianna (lemon rice)

Image courtesy: PaakaShaale

Get the amazing and mouthwatering Holige recipe at Paaka Shaale

Happy Durga Ashtami

The 8th day of the Navarathri festival is celebrated as Durga Ashtami. Its the day when the Godddess Durga is worshipped and also the Kanya Puja or Kumari Puja is performed on young girls. 

Here's a Durga Aarti that you can use

Ya Devi Sarva Bhutesu Shakrti rupena samsthita

Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah

Food Map: India

Here is a Food Map of India.  Not sure about the accuracy, but its  a great guide. I was born and raised in Karnataka and I must say, I absolutely l o v e the dharwad pedas (a sweet)  and bisi bele baath (a spiced mix of lentils and rice)

picture courtesy tastingcultures.blogspot.co.uk

Happy Independence Day India!

Happy Independence day to all Indians the World Over! 

Here's a beautiful poem by the great poet Rabindranath Tagore! 

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Shopping at Shopo

Of late, there has been a deluge of online websites selling Indian handmade goodies. And that's great news for people who live overseas because most of them ship international!

If you have not heard of Shopo, then you must check it out. From Decor accessories, apparel, jewelry and saris, you will be amazed to see the kind of wonderful Indian artists that they have got at Shopo. Beware its hard not to buy and you can end up making a hole in your wallet!

Papier mache lamp from Beeja at Shopo

Handpainted tray from Novel Ideas at Shopo

Vibrant ladles in the kitchen from Matsya at Shopo

And what did I buy?

The shopping bug hit me like crazy and  I could not stop myself this time round, I bought  a whole bunch of these cute coin pouches which I will use to give away special customers of Ahkriti. They come in bright colors like blue, yellow and orange.

Coin pouches from Matsya at Shopo

I also got a pair of these lotus shaped ceramic lamps too.

Tea lights from Matsya at Shopo


These tea light holders I bought some months back and I had to share them as well.

Tea light holders from Varnam at Shopo

All pictures: Courtesy Shopo

The Wedding Season

Its the wedding season and the family and I are attending weddings of 2 very special girls this weekend and early July. Daughters of our friends based in Toronto and Vancouver are getting married. I am so looking forward to meeting my family and friends  in beautiful Vancouver and of course enjoy the functions of putting mehndi, singing songs and dancing away. 

This is a picture of one of the Indian wedding invitation

I will be away from my blogging for a week. I will see you all in the second week of July!

Etsy Treasury:Trip to India by Bolder Bags

Hello everyone! Hope you all have had a fantastic weekend!

June seems to be very packed for me. Family and friends will soon be making their way to Canada from India, custom orders, wedding,  and a host of little projects coming up at home.

And speaking of India, my Jaipur earrings are featured in this Treasury by Marketa DiStasi of Bolder Bags. Check it out.

'Trip to India ' by BolderBags

Treasury tool by StylishHome.

How is June looking up for you?

Unique Indian Handicrafts at APORV

When Sudip the founder of APORV (pronounced a-poor-v)  wrote to me about his website, I decided to have a peek.  I was really delighted to find such beautiful handicrafts and designs that completely floored me. APORV partners with NGOs and SHGs in India to bring some of the best Indian handmade designs to us. Sudip also mentions with great pride that they have only handmade and eco friendly products and APORV was adjudged the prestigious Manthan Award South Asia 2010 

Come see what I liked at APORV

Gifts bags with Ganesha imprinted on them.

Handpainted Terracotta jewellery in beautiful colors

Handmade and hand carved decor or gifts 

Meenakari with Amethyst earrings

Tussar Stole

And just like what APORV in Sanskrit means Unique, there's a treasure trove of them.

Find APORV HERE

Like them on Facebook HERE


All images from and copyrighted by APORV

Akshaya Tritiya and shopping for Gold

Today, April 24, 2012 is Akshaya Tritiya- an auspicious day in the Hindu Calendar. It is said that on this day, Ved Vyas narrated the epic Mahabharata to Lord Ganesha who in turn started writing it. Hindus consider this day to be the day to start new ventures and buy gold.

And so I guess you will see a lot of shopping going on today.

And if you do have the time, do stop by online boutique Ahkriti

There are plenty of gold glam in my store. Use Coupon code DISCOUNT10 and get 10% off your purchase today! All one of a kind and totally handmade and designed by me Reshma Sandell

This is a handmade gold pendant necklace resplendant with pearls and coral.

Gold Kundan Pendant necklace with pearls and aventurine 

Crystals wire wrapped on gold hoops. Perfect for the bride's friends.

The Jaipur series

Handmade beads with gold enamel paints hanging from gold plated chains

HAPPY SHOPPING

Treasures at Anand Prakash

Last year, I found Anand Prakash.  I bought some fabulous bookmarks to give as gifts to  customers of Ahkriti and friends. This online store has  a treasure trove of unique paper products and especially bookmarks The brass bookmarks that I bought came in some great packaging as well. 

Intricately carved Brass Bookmarks

If you are looking to dress up your workstation or office space, you must add these gorgeous Indigo blue Journals

Add more chatter at the coffee table with these steel coasters.

I love the Scriptum range of handmade stationery products that has been introduced.  In this range,  I especially like the wrapping paper!

And of course what is stationery without some  handmade pencils

Currently, Anand Prakash only sells bookmarks online, but they do make limited editions of handmade stationery which is available at select stores in India.

Visit ANANDPRAKASH HERE


All images via AnandPrakash

Etsy Treasury : Remembering my birthplace

HELLO EVERYONE! I guess you have all had a fantastic weekend?

I had a lovely time with the family...got enrolled with the community YMCA and all gungho now to shed some weight and get more active!

Just thinking of some creative ideas for my next craft show and also thought of making a Treasury on some fabulous indian inspired goodies. Check these stores out too!

'Remembering my birthplace' by Ahkriti

Brings back memories! the land of my birth- INDIA

I Love You From Here To... HopSkipJumpPap... $20.00	Henna Mandala Tambourin... RedwoodHenna $45.00	Necklace "Indian s... bySalomeya $49.00
India Painting Agra Ori... BohemianHabits $130.00	Athaya - Sanskrit for T... theprettypeaco... $94.00	Bollywood Star Clipart riefka $5.00
Bollywood Sapphire Trib... pippijewelry $183.00	Bohemian Hippie Romanti... ethnocity $110.00	Keep Calm and Curry On ... KeepCalmShop $15.95
Indian elephant with go... OrderFromChaos... $15.00	The Darjeeling Limited ... Printwolf $17.00	Swinging - Girl in Rain... nidhi $29.00
HAMSA HAND Necklace - R... blackpersimmon... $24.00	Chaat Masala 50 gram ba... ChamelaGiri $6.95	PRINTABLE RUSTIC RANGOL... TheIndianPaper... $3.75
Upcycled Sari Silk Brac... GypsyIntent $29.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.