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My Family Moves to India

An American family moves to Chennai

Creativity

Wednesday, 7. October 2009, 10:27:07



I love this video. His talk was excellent.

I feel personally that creativity is one of the keys to happiness in life. Any way to make the world a more beautiful place is soul-satisfying.

One of the best qualities about India is the creativity of its people. I have never seen such ingenuity. Within their own framework, albeit different and limited by some western standards, they do marvellous works. I especially love what they do with textiles - the amazing colors, embroidery, and design astonish me. I still feel that the sari is the most feminine, elegant garment I have ever seen worn by women (although I can't properly wear it myself. :smile:)

Every time I go shopping for clothing here I look at the saris and think of the beautiful quilts, draperies, and other things that could be made out of that much fabric. I finally succumbed and made some pillows - my own attempt at creating - using the sari pallau (elaborate fold that falls down the back) and trim:


Part of the pallau (diamond patterned fabric), and some of the sari trim, paired with some brown silk.




More detail from a different part of the pallau.




Very American - patchwork with ruffles (made from the sari border). The grey is the original sari color; the brown, a separate fabric that goes with our couch. As always, the ruffles took forever!




Floor pillows for the kids to sit on! :smile:

I can't lie....I used a lot of stitch witchery! :smile:

Hong Kong Here We Come!Cast into the Caste System

Comments

Anonymous 9. October 2009, 21:50

Barbara writes:

Hi there

I thought you might like to check out my friend Mari's blog. I think you would get on quite well with her, even if she is in Aus.

http://www.vikinginoz.blogspot.com/

BTW - what is stitch witchery? You "foreigners" have all sorts of weird stuff!!!!!

xxxxxxxx

Teresa 10. October 2009, 06:07

Stitch witchery is fabric "glue" - you iron it between fabric layers and it melts into glue.

Anonymous 21. October 2009, 05:19

neha writes:

lol.. yup.. one of the million reasons im proud to be indian... the handicrafts that are made in india r works of art... n m sure they wont be found anywhere in the world... hands down...!

Anonymous 3. November 2009, 03:20

auntie mandy writes:

I looooove the silks. They are so beautiful. I still dream of those building of floor after floor of beautiful sarees. We must have inherited a fabric gene or something :)

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Chennai blogs I read regularly:

Friend's blogs:

  • A Whole New World blog

    A very, very insightful look into special needs parenting.

  • On Krista's Mind

    A very special woman who has brain cancer takes the time to uplift us all.

  • Chinese Starfish

    This outstanding woman gave up a good career to start her own orphanage in Xian, China, for special needs orphans. My heroine!!

  • Pam in Henan, China

    You have to read the story of how she saved her Chinese daughter's life....and has spent 4 years living in China trying to adopt her.

  • Cherilyn's blog

    Neat family who adopted from Kazakhstan, and unbelievably, lived around the corner from us in IL.

  • Barbara & Wayne's blog

    Read all about their travels! Barbara is one of my oldest and dearest friends.

  • Danie's blog

    Lots of moving around here!

  • Lynn and family

    Moving back to the US - we will miss you!

  • Marsha

    Sadly, tragedy struck and they too have moved back to the US.

  • Jennifer's blog

    Yes, they too are moving back! So sad.

  • Donna's site

    Moving, moving, everyone is moving....sniff.

Favorite Furniture Stores

  • Collections Unique, 110 ECR (below "Mermaid Swimming Pools")

    antique and repro furniture, pricey but nice

  • The Treasure, #170/2 ALM Complex, opp. Prarthana Theatre, Injambakkam, ECR

    same quality as Collections but better prices

  • Timber, Old No. 6 Rutland Gate, 4th St, Nungambakkam; also a showroom in Kilpauk

    beautiful imported teak furniture from Indonesia

  • Centuar Furniture, 18, 3rd Cross Road, Raja Annamalai Puram
  • Grand Teak, 19 (Old no. 10) II Main Rd, R.A. Puram

    solid wood imports from Indonesia

  • Tulsi Arterior, Nungambakkam

    made-to-order furniture and lots of nice ready-made peices. Custom upholstering.

  • Teak Heirlooms, New 19, 1st Cross St, Sterling Rd, Nungambakkam

    outdoor teak furniture as well as coconut wood furniture

  • Rani Arts and Teak, No. 8, Harrington Rd, Chetpet

    widest variety of all-Indian furniture and artifacts - but very pricey!

  • Mani's - New #31, Old #17 Royapettah High Road, 044 28133078

    GREAT PRICES on used furniture. He will polish it up and it will look like new.

  • Aurorachana Export Antiques and Furniture, Hope, Auroville, Tamil Nadu 9443220174

    I've saved the very best for last. This place is run by two Germans who've lived here 30 years. They do an outstanding job restoring and refinishing old furniture, as well as custom-make just about anything you'd want to buy.

Weather in Chennai