On the Right Track

While Ronak and I were driving through France we got really into the songs we heard over and over again on the radio. From scraps of paper with scrawled names and fragments of lyrics, I finally got around to finding these tracks (some french, some hip-hop, some german alternative rock...) and compiled a soundtrack that will continue to conjure memories of this extraordinary trip.

Something to Write Home About

Shopping in Mumbai didn't offer the same feeling of instant gratification as other places, say Paris or New York for instance. But with an open mind and some patience, the city delivered quite a few treasures. Ronak and I got around in a Cool Cab (with our trusty driver Harish) and scoped out Mumbai's hidden gems, most notably Chimanlal's and FabIndia.

Located on a side street behind New Excelsior Cinema, we almost missed Chimanlal's unassuming entrance. The door to this paper shop was a portal into a world of saturated color and pattern, insulated from the sounds of traffic outside. The prices were so good, I left with a huge stack of paper and a guilty smile feeling like I had gotten away with something.

Next stop... FabIndia, a local chain that provides a platform for rural artisans to sell their handicrafts in the urban marketplace. I love the concept of this store and was happy to support their mission with my purchase. With my increasing interest in embroidery I was drawn to these pillow covers that showcase traditional Kantha stitching techniques. They look perfect in our bedroom and complement the pillow we already have from Anthropologie.

Snow Day

Merry Christmas

Fabric Animals 101

I came across the pattern for these adorable fabric animals while hunting for Christmas gift ideas for Ellis and Théo. The last time I made a stuffed animal was in my 5th grade HomeEc class.  So while I felt slightly intimidated to venture away from the comfortable world of 2-D sewing projects, I thought if I could make one back then, then it was certainly worth a try now. After a little trial and error, and a mutant lamb or two, I think they came out pretty cute.

Winter Garden

This is the first year I committed to planting a winter garden. It took some effort at first to get excited about evergreens, but when I came across the charming miniature varieties I got a boost to follow through with my plan. It's still somewhat bare compared to our garden this past summer and could use something draping down, like ivy... but once the harsh days of February arrive I know we'll be thankful to see these little tufts of greenery against the snowcapped rooftops.

Apple Bottom

The lonely apples hanging around in my fridge from apple-picking back in October made perfect stamps for homemade wrapping paper. After a night of experimenting I was so happy with the results that I suddenly saw fruit in a whole new light. Passing through the greenmarket I felt compelled to pick up some new shapes-- a teeny tiny crab apple and a firm bosc pear. I learned my lesson with the pear: No matter how much I blotted the surface, the pear was just too juicy to get a sharp print.

But that's okay, I've already moved on from fruit and am now eyeing root vegetables...potatoes, turnips, carrots. I have a feeling that they'll work the best with their firm flesh and low moisture content. I just wish I had a little more time before Christmas.