POP india

2009-09-26T02:55:00.000-07:00

How wonderful! The story of Adia has now been published in the Indian Express. We're hopeful that its publication in India's second-most widely read newspaper will generate a great deal of interest in her cause, and those of similar children in India and worldwide.

A minor error in the article gave the address of this, my personal blog, instead of that of Adia's story. You can find this at http://thestoryofadia.blogspot.com

In other news, the Nutmegs Three are enjoying their time in Nepal, attending NGO workshops and finding ways to make their absence from Adia useful in various other charitable spectrums. The Nepali people are gracious and inspiring, and the tension of the past several weeks is swept away by breezes freshly arrived from the halls of ancient tamples and the heights of snow-tipped mountains. We're learning a great deal about conducting and NGO as well, and are forever taking notes!

We're also reveling in the delightful textiles and beads and other baubles which glitter in the markets, and selecting a few to offer in the Etsy shop soon, along with the prayer-flags our Aunties are creating for Adia and other such initiatives of handmade hope.

Internet shall be scarce as we accompany releif workers to more remote villages over the next week, but we'll be laden with delightful stories to share upon our return!

handmade hope!

2009-09-05T19:30:00.001-07:00

A new treasury of items donated by Adia's Auntys on the Etsy community. A marvellous selection of sundries for a good cause!

The Story of Adia

2009-08-31T15:00:00.000-07:00

Please take a moment to read the story of a small girl who has come into my life.

Adia is a wee girl who has been atrociously abused and exploited by her family. Her health is presently in a very critical condition and I and other concerned friends are doing all we can to raise awareness of her situation, and that of thousands of other female children in India and around the world.

I implore everyone to read her story, pass it on, and do anything else you may feel called to do to assist this child's desperate plight.

The Story of Adia

sky frames

2009-08-27T15:16:00.000-07:00

Collecting architecture and frames of sky....

Affixing bits.....

I also found great delight today in discovering this convalescence-home for vintage blenders, and dressing wee Lark like a strange superheroine cupcake!

More on the wonders of cupcaker'y on the morrow....

(un)veil'ed

2009-08-27T14:54:00.001-07:00

Visual accompaniment to the Great Veiling Experiment!

'well hum...this feels a bit odd...'

'but wait!'

'i do believe such a getup has dramatic potential!'

In short, I've begun an experiment in which I shall explore myriad aspects of wearing abeya and naquib - assorted sociopolitcal stirrings, gender issues, as well as greater themes of visual identity. I've oft wondered whether, for Muslim women, the veil is a sort of freedom, or a repression. Throughout my travels, I have spoken to women who hold both opinions, and am curious to see how it would feel to me. Another curiosity is in the concept of existing in the world without being contextualized by my looks. I will no longer be American, have red hair, of this or that fashion - I will be a non-entity in looks, and my only presence will be through my words and actions.

Eventually I shall collect my impressions into an article for publication, and will post the occasional update here for those who are interested.

sacred curios

2009-08-26T17:21:00.000-07:00

Snagged!

thru the ages

2009-08-26T17:12:00.000-07:00

I've felt a furtive need for a bit of utter frivolity of late to balance out all of the Great Large Important things transpiring....and I've found it!

Behold! a glimpse of the Nutmegs Three in 1956, 1962, and 1954, vintage yearbook style:

Such fun!

quantum lovelies

2009-08-24T14:43:00.000-07:00

Flurry and scurry! Quite the whirlwind life has been of late, pursuing and perusing various inflexions and effusions.

...and making pretty things from pretty things for pretty things!

adia

2009-08-24T14:41:00.001-07:00

Of late my life has been touched by a very small soul named Adia.

I am now doing all I can to restore her to health and bring joy to her future.

I've begun a blog just for her, wherein you can read of her plight.

Bless you for taking a moment to send your love and prayers.

bits, bops, and little blue boys

2009-08-15T13:30:00.000-07:00

A new frock! Miss Lady had a wonderful time modeling the prototype for a new dress I've made for my Etsy, a lovely handloom linen gown with a burst of colour made from bits and bops of scrap cottons and silks.

She's scampering around so joyfully of late, and has
acquired the dubious skill of picking up random effluvia from the ground....

..and of course, sampling it for its taste. Ah, unfettered sensory exploration.

While i was in a textile mood, I made another misprint scarf as well. I think this one is my favourite yet!

Today was Indian Independence day, and there was a merry atmosphere as the welcome breeze welcomes the many garlands of Indian flags which festooned the streets.

We celebrated another holiday yesterday, one of my favourites; Janmashtami, the birth of Lord Krishna! a very festive day indeed, everyone stays up all the night long feasting on sweets and ghee, playing music, and all of the little boys in the neighborhood compete for the most authentic costume. Happy birthday, Krishna!

tiny treasures

2009-08-12T15:55:00.000-07:00

Tiny, small, itsy, dimiutive, little, lilliputian, petite...here's a treasury of my favourite wee wonders!

bits and snippets

2009-08-12T14:56:00.000-07:00

I'm quite excited today, for I've finally listed a piece of my 'Serious Work' (whatever that may entail!) on my Etsy. A one-off from the larger body of work which I plan to exhibit in NYC this April, I'm delighted to share it with my Etsy friends first. The piece is comprised of one of the many Hindu illustrations which I find populating the rubbish-piles; I always scoop them up to save the dear little gods from such a gloomy fate. This one spoke to me of subtlety alongside boldness - I cleaned it up, restored some bits and pieces, and embellished it with pointilism to make it a lovely psychedelic extravaganza.

I decided to make my mark as minimal as I could, preferring to let the piece speak for itself and only adding to it to nourish its faded/vibrant essence. The role of the artist always fascinates me - ever searching for beauty to squeeze through a pen or coax to dance upon the tip of a brush or through a song. A thing is never at rest, static - but lately I strive to honour the pieces I find by merely augmenting them, careful not to bruise them with my heavy hand.

I've also been mulling over the new sources of inspiration which I've admitted into myself in my travels of the past year; some of which I went out in search of, and some which I had never dreamed of dreaming. A small snippet of these, all and sundry:

pastel peeps

2009-08-09T12:56:00.000-07:00

Contestant number one for The Cutest Thing Ever.....

a bowl-full of pastel-coloured baby chicks!

It was all I could do to not snag one and bring it home. So fantastic!!

nomadic notions

2009-08-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

Wandering about in search of treasure...or treasuries. Take a peek!

all and sundry

2009-08-07T12:04:00.000-07:00

Before I became a mum, I promised myself I'd not be one of those who unduly gushes over the cuteness of their wee one, unleashing a deluge of photos and updates of the little snippet's every move upon friends and strangers alike at every turn.

Alas, our dear Lark has whittled away such a resolve...I am quite convinced she has trebled in cute'dom since the last post in which she starred! I promise, I shall only do it this once. Perhaps.

Behold The Great Cute!

Another thing which I decided upon long before Miss Lady made her appearance in the great wide world was that I would expose my children to as many different cultures as possible, providing them with an expansive world-view. Despite the hardships that living abroad with a wee one can sometimes entail, when all the Nutmegs Three find sights such as these upon which to marvel, they make it all worthwhile!

in the works!

2009-08-07T10:50:00.000-07:00

Ah, a lovely day for a bit of a creative flurry! In celebration of finally cleaning up my studio, I decided to share a few peeks of some works in progress.

Remember that little spree of colour Miss Lark had a few days past? I finally found the prefect fabric to match the inspiration her jolly play brought me, and am stitching up some bright and vivid gowns for my Etsy comrades.

The dear little neighborhood chaps lately taught me how to make a zippy little kite, using nothing but a few twigs and an old plastic bag. I snazz'ed up the design a bit, using off-cuts of unused Hindi packaging cellophane and stalks of thin bamboo. Oh, how they zip about...such fun!

Next for a spot of whimsy. I've been thinking for some time of what to do with the wooden cats I scooped up to restore in Varanasi, and finally settled on one of my favourite ideas...anthropomorphism! These will be available quite soon for my fellow Etsians, custom-painted to bear the face of one of their family, friends, or any person of their choosing.

Madame Lark had a brilly time as well, mussing about in the powder pigments I used...and smearing them upon her face, of course!. Perhaps she's been noting the cosmetic adornments of our local Shiva devotees....?

Last was a delicate operation - a new arm for a dapper gent. I found him ready to call it quits at the burning ghats in Benares...fortunately I came to his rescue, and he's now quite spruced up and as good as new. He also introduced me to his lady friend, and though they love each other's company, she's boldly striking out to find a new home in the world at large.

I wonder what marvels tomorrow shall bring....my mind is all aflutter with ideas!

scraps and shoes

2009-08-05T13:44:00.000-07:00

Early this morning, we were awakened by a wee scuffling noise. Fresh out of a lovely dream, I gingerly peeped out from one eyelid....and what met my sleepy eyes but a bright burst of colour! Our little Lark decided to play with Mum's bag of fabric scraps, and was having a joyous time indeed feeling all the textures and marveling over all the vivid shades.

She took them about with her all morning, tossing and fluttering them in the verdant summer breeze. We had such delightful fun, and her simple glee in all the lovely hues was a perfect inspiration for a new line of wee wear. All this week I'll be working on the sundry frocks I thought up, and hopefully shall give form to my vision quite soon.

Yes, disposable diapers are icky. In our defense, we do not have a washing machine ;)

Next was a day out on the town in bustling Hyderabad. I do so love chubby little bare toes, but given the rather rough terrain of Indian streets and a small lady's increasing impatience with being carried about everywhere, a pair of shoes have become rather needful. We decided upon a simple pair of sandals, and from the choices we presented she liked best the ones with a big, blue flower. Best of all, they chirp when she walks! We spent the day pittering and squeaking all around Hyderabad's vast textile bazaar, indulging in visual and tactile delights as we gazed upon and pawed the lovely lush fabrics and scooped up a great large armload to take home.

No outing is complete without stopping by our favourite little corner-shop on the way home to select some delicious treats from the many jars that glisten upon the countertop. Lark is most fond of the soan pappadi, a sort of Indian candy-floss...and dig those beautiful cubby-hole drawers standing demurely in the corner. They'd be the prefect thing for all of my baubles and sundries, and I've oft wondered if I'd be able to construct my own of the same design.

Ah, India....never 'just another day'!

read all about it!

2009-08-03T23:52:00.000-07:00

Finally, I've snagged a new treasury! In honour of the many-dozen new Telegu books I've lately listed in Pulp India, I've chosen books for the treasury's theme - a lovely array of vintage kitsch, fantastic stories - and ones with places to write your own!

mandala sky

2009-08-03T18:47:00.000-07:00

A new design! After studying many varieties, I finally was able to make the perfect mandala which would be intricate but just right for screen-printing. I love the eye-catching effect that bright red has on blue, and was greatly inspired when i happened across a big lot of powder blue organic tees! Here's the results, available in my Etsy!

I've always been keen on blues - from deep cobalt to flashy turquoise - and the pretty floral blues of this new shalwar tunic remind me of the beautiful city of Jodhpur. I can't wait until I can visit there again - for now, I'll tide myself over by working with this lovely handloom organic fabric.

feautr'ed!

2009-08-03T15:32:00.000-07:00

How delightful! I've a lovely big front-page interview on Coriandr, where I prattle on and say silly things! They've done a lovely job of it....do take a peek!

Coriandr is quite a small marketplace for the nonce, and I've not seen any sales yet despite the exposure. It shows promise, perhaps, and I'm eager to see how the UK market will receive my wares.

Be that as it may, I do believe Etsy shall always be my main squeeze!

I found another lovely surprise in my mailbox today when the delightful announced that she'd featured my photography in her blog! She picked out the one that Mr.Nutmeg took in Turkey with me wearing my favourite fluffy pink dress, and I love it too...they were so much fun to pose for, and remind me of a lovely day spent wandering around the steep hills and beautiful bazaars of Ankara.

Such an exciting day, and how rewarding to know that people from near and far are fond of my endeavours!

montessori!

2009-08-02T19:23:00.000-07:00

Today I had the wonderful opportunity to observe a Montessori pre-school here in Hyderabad, and interact with the children while telling them stories about other countries we've visited.

Back in Turkey, Mr.Nutmeg and I both taught English as a Second Language for a spell. Unfortunately, the school wasn't a good match for us - a snooty private academy which asked us to give the students answers to tests so the school's rating would stay high. We found it unethical and resigned rather quickly, but we do still like to volunteer with projects involving children every now and then.

I went to a German Montessori school for a bit when I was young, and have always wanted the opportunity to implement some of the research I've done on the method. Today was just such a chance!

I snapped some lovely photos of the little scamps, which I'm happy to share with my friends from around the world:

after class, all the little girls changed into their fancy frocks. Indian children often resemble cupcakes with their meters and meters of fluff and lace.

I love this one of a wee lass relaxing on the slide. She saw me a moment after I snapped this one and played shy, so I didn't get a chance to line up a proper shot....

I love how the backpack is almost as big as this little girl!

A very fun day, and an activity we'll be sure to repeat!

three ages, three lands

2009-07-30T20:33:00.001-07:00

I've lately begun experimenting again with vintage textile jewelries. I shared a few of my designs on Etsy some months ago, and they went over quite well! Only two remain; one is my most demure...

...and one my most avant-garde.

Almost as lovely as the necklaces themselves are the stories behind them! When our little family lived in Turkey, our favourite way to spend the day was wandering amidst the winding back-alleys, seeing where they would lead us. One day we happened upon a group of people, all bustling about with brightly coloured fabrics and objects of all shapes and sizes. Drawing closer, we realised it was a real gypsy market - Turkey has a large population of Roma peoples, and from time to time they set up impromptu markets here and there to sell old things of their own or that they've salvaged from the rubbish bins. Very eager to take a peek at their wares, we drew closer - and found these textile strips amidst the old lampshades and knickers.

A wizened old lady was minding the table; we could see the palms of her soft and quick hands covered in henna as they flashed amidst her knitting needles while she spoke. We learned from her the story of these beautiful fabrics. Many years ago, in the days of the Ottoman Empire, when a baby girl was born the mother set to work right away on making her bridal garments. Years and years of intricate and loving work went into every bit of every frock, and these embroidered pieces were used as collars. Much later, when the rest of the garment had been marred by the passage of time, the sturdy cotton of the collars remained intact and were salvaged to be sold.

I love to imagine the surprise of those beautiful Turkish brides were they to see their collars wrapped 'round someone's neck today in their new reincarnation! We gathered a great armload, some to use for necklaces, some as cuffs, and others to incorporate into clothing designs. These textiles are quite special to us, in fact, because it was this happenstance meeting that started us upon the path of one of our most beloved projects to date - the filming of a documentary about the world's first sedentary gypsy camp.

I held on to the textiles for some time, waiting to find the perfect focal pieces to complement their colourful, elegant nuance. When we moved to India a bit later, one of our favorite pastimes was pawing through the whatnots and sundries in the great large bazaars of beautiful Kashmir. It was at one of these bazaars - I still recall the day quite well, a cloudless and golden sky with the first breath of summer in the air - that we discovered a wondrous cache of Kuchi jewelry.

The Kuchi peoples were Pashtun nomads of Afghanistan, well known for their stellar jewelry-making skills. I'd seen some modern replicas used in belly-dancing costumes, but it was quite apparent that these were the Real Thing. Heaped up in great mounds like so much dazzling treasure, we pored through their tangled mass. Many were damaged, often tarnished or missing pieces, but all of them were, so to speak, diamonds in the rough. We scooped up a huge basket-full and set to work repairing them to use as focal pieces on the textiles.

Contemporary Thai glass beads finish them off, adding a third land to the creation! I've named the line of jewelry 'three ages, three lands' to represent its lush history. So many hands for an item to pass through...it's quite like wearing a piece of history around your neck, and becoming part of it's fascinating story!

Another fun use for the textiles was found in the creation of this Ottoman headdress. The stamped-bronze top of an antique warrior's helmet is juxtaposed against delicate embroidery, mirrors, and beadwork...and topped off with a flowing, plant-dyed gauze scarf cascading from the brim.

I cannot wait to discover in what ways I shall use these magnificent textiles next - and of course, I'll be delighted to share when I do!

granted!

2009-07-28T19:17:00.000-07:00

Glee shimmers aplenty...I've been awarded a grant!

It's actually rather sizable, enough to fund about 10 projects over here in rupee-land...and also entails a New York exhibit of the finished piece next summer! It will be nice to exhibit in the States again - my work hasn't ventured farther than Europe for almost a year - and give us a concrete excuse to finally visit home.

I was a bit conflicted about applying for this one, to be truthful. I declared a boycott upon grants for some months since I felt the pressure of deadlines and aesthetic expectations was hampering my expression - but it is with a lovely avant-garde organization and I do believe we shall flow together nicely.

I'm starting a new blog to document the progress of the work, so if anyone's interested in watching it unfold, please do join! There isn't yet much of anything there, but I will begin updating it tomorrow when I recover from my paroxysms of joy.

Shall we celebrate? here, have some lovely Indian sweets....

( ! )

Holi Moli

2009-07-27T16:47:00.000-07:00

Splash! Shazaam! We finally picked up our Holi photos today. Holi is a festival where everyone young and old flocks together in the streets, pelting each other with water-balloons filled with myriad colours, smearing powdered pigments on all and sundry. We had a magnificent time celebrating it in Nepal's Durbar Square amidst the ancient temples - even the oft-stoic siddhus joined in the fun!

mishmash golden

2009-07-26T15:06:00.000-07:00

Another marvellous fashion love-affair betwixt East and West! I've finally found a use for the beautiful cruelty-free brocade silk I found in Varanasi. I love how this kurta/frock turned out so very much - and cannot wait to make another one for one of my fellow Etsians!

I decided it was the perfect frock to complement the golden afternoon - like wrapping a tendril of the sun round my body. We went off in search for more hand-painted advertising signs for the last finishing touches of our approaching book - and found a delightful collection! So enamored with them was I that I had to join in their fun.....

Behold the glorious kitsch! These are all part of a traffic safety campaign launched by the city of Hyderabad. It's rather a good thing that I'll never drive anything more formidable than a moped, because I'd be sure to cause all manner of traffic mishaps as I counter-productively stared at these wondrous murals.

Have you ever had one of those mystical days in which all the hues around you seem to complement each other perfectly and it seems as if a particular aesthetic is unveiling itself all around you? Today was such a day; more magnificent peeling paint yearned to present itself, for when we boarded the bus to swing by our favourite used-book fair, I found my eyes resting upon this glorious colour-scheme. My mind has harvested it duly, and I cannot wait to see what form it shall take in future creative whatnots.

Hyderabad has a magnificent nuance about its architecture which is almost reminiscent of Soviet Brutalism at times, but with a delightful exuberance all its own. I plan to document these stately structures quite soon - but for now, a peek at this beautifully surreal statuette to electricity.

Such beauty unfolding all over this magnificent land...the only difficult bit is deciding where to go next!

huzzah!

2009-07-25T12:05:00.000-07:00

What a lovely surprise! My kitschy Mr. Moustache poster has made it to Etsy's front page. Hopefully his new-found fame shall bring him a new home soon!

In his honour, I've composed the following ditty, a fanciful history of everyone's favourite lip-fringe.

The Story of the 'Stache
by Mme Nutmeg Click

the moustache was invented in a small, sleepy town off the coast of Venice by a strange and rather stout gentleman named Percival C. Higgeldypants, Esquire.

Mister Higgeldy was a man of little means, and he originally intended the moustache as a way to filter the flies and other debris from the soup he ate daily at a shoddy little cafe near the factory district. it also would keep his upper lip warm in the bitter winter chill, saving him the expense of buying a scarf.

never before had the humble denizens of this town seen so shocking a caterpillar growing across a man's face, and it drew many a whisper. the children began to accost him in the streets, singing a song of pure nonsense as children will, the words of which sounded like 'mussss - stash!' in reference to how it accumulated detritus from his soup.

though a sworn bachelor, he was pleased with an unexpected benefit of this lip adornment; suddenly the ladies of the town began to take notice of him. even mis Euglena Laudanum, the whole city's darling, one day made a ruse of dropping her glove as she walked ahead of him on the avenue - when he returned it, she looked up at him, transfixed by his mighty 'stache, imploring 'just once...can i TOUCH it?' soon he began to treat it like the asset it was, keeping it well-groomed and even waxing the ends into a droll little twirl.

all was not well under the sun for Percival, though. a bitter rivalry ensued between himself and his dear brother, Hampersand the third, a stationer by trade and a man-about-town. was envious of his silky lip-locks and the female attention it procured - not to mention the fact that he had to shell out five whole paperclips in barter for a new scarf! poor Hampersand was not blessed by the good Lord in the way of facial hair and despaired of ever growing one as splendid as his brother's.

one night Hampersand hatched a devious plot. he plied good Percival, who was, it must be admitted, a bit of a tippler, with the best rotgut the town could provide, and when he predictably slumped over in the sleep of the righteous, ZAM! KABLOOIE! Hampersand sliced that moustache clean off with his penknife, and Percival stirred nary a finger.

squealing with reprobate glee, naughty Hampersand rushed to his stationer's shop where he secured the disembodied moustache to a thick vellum with super-duper insustrial strength sock-it-to-ya paste. a bit of trimming, a string affixed, and soon Hampersand could wear his appropriated 'stache to all the houses of ill repute. surely he would be a hit now!

when Percival awoke he was shocked and not just a bit perturbed to find his upper lip bare as the day he was born. 'wherever', he thought in bewilderment, 'could a moustache have gotten off to?'. he searched for it high and low all day, feeling rather ridiculous, and reaching up frequently to twirl the edges of the phantom moustache that no longer remained.

the mystery was solved when his brother spilled into the door that night, a trollop on each arm, fresh from a night of carousing - Percival blinked, then blinked again, and recognized his brother's moustache as his own! all in a fury, he slapped him across the face with the nearest item he could lay hands upon, which happened to be a freshly-caught trout, knocking the much maligned moustache to the ground.

'my dear Sir!' replied his brother, drawing himself up indignantly 'i pray thee, be not so hostile to your own kith and kin! did not our Creator grace you with luxuriant locks upon your upper lip whilst granting me scarcely a hair? look, your prized moustache has already begun to grow again'. surely enough, when Percival peered into their crooked little mirror, he saw that a new moustache had taken the place of the old, with all its former glory.

"i daresay', continued shrewd Hampersand, a glimmer of mercantile joy in his eye, 'we could make a pretty penny selling these moustaches to the bumpkins of our town. i have super-duper industrial strength sock-it-to-ya paste aplenty, and your ability to grow a moustache is equal to none.'

thus Percival submitted himself daily to the ministrations of his brother's shears, and the fake moustache was born. quite a craze it was, too, winning first prize at the annual freaks, oddities, and curios extravaganza, and soon no up-and-coming dandy was seen without one.

i assure you that all i say is perfectly true in no less than 10 perfectly respectable alternate universes.

Huzzah for the 'stache!

tile'ed

2009-07-24T20:09:00.000-07:00

On my many jaunts around town, I often find these bright and intricate majolica tiles nestled in little nooks in the concrete or brick walls. Often decorated with religious iconography from a variety of faiths (Hindu, Christian and Muslim), they're beautiful random bits of public art! The vintage ones, which are quite rare, are hand-painted - but even the modern ones are a delight to see!

nesting

2009-07-24T19:46:00.000-07:00

I've been quite busy as a bee these past few days, restoring my beloved vintage Indian toys. My hands and jeans are all a lovely mess of the smeared vestiges of pigment paints, and I've quite neglected th several books which I've been reading, not to mention a great many other affairs. It's quite worth it, though, for I'm delighted to present several new families of nesting dolls, freshly reincarnated with paint and ready to delight all and sundry!

As much as I've grown terribly attached to them, I'm ready to set my new friends free to go off into the great large world and find lovely homes. Here's a wee peek at what you'll find in my Etsy shop over the next week; a dapper Arabic family and a charming young lass of the avant-garde!

a feature!

2009-07-23T18:40:00.001-07:00

How thrilling...I've been chosen for next week's 'Featured Seller' interview on Coriandr! I'm delighted, and am also becoming quite keen on Coriandr all around. Though the site is quite small at present it seems to be growing quickly. The ease of listing is unparalleled, and I also love the fresh, clean look of the site!

Do stop on by and peek at my shop...and I would highly recommend it to those of you who would like to expand your audience to the UK!

POP!

2009-07-23T16:04:00.001-07:00

I'm pleased to announce that we're now taking pre-orders for our Indian pop art photography book! We expect the first printing run to be in mid-October, and you can reserve your copy now in my Etsy shop.

For those who have just joined us, The Book in question shall be about hand-painted advertising art signs throughout India! This summer we've collected the best specimens we could find of the bright and vivid 'legal graffiti' that covers the walls all over this lovely land - and have compiled it all into one lovely volume to share with the rest of the world.

Here are a few which didn't make the cut, but which I love nonetheless and are part of our voluminous personal collection.

scample scamp

2009-07-23T11:33:00.000-07:00

Miss Lark was so kind today as to model this lovely organic handloom caftan, to share with other wee scamps on my Etsy! She loved the opportunity to muss about with one of mum's favourite decorations - and she's always quite the shutterbug as well.

We're always astonished to see how much more vibrant and robust (like a good cup of coffee, perhaps?) she looks in each new set of photos. Her toddler'hood has indeed begun, as she's now scuttling along merrily - in fact, a rare thing indeed it is when she'll allow herself to be held. I wonder what manner of lovely baby shoes Etsy might have...she'll soon need them!

I also (rather sleepily) modeled a lovely East/West fusion shalwar tunic i lately made...do take a peek!

cloudysky!

2009-07-22T16:05:00.000-07:00

A rainy and - could it be? - yes, blustery day today in Andhara Pradesh! A lovely stroll was had, snapping snippets of architecture and other sundry delights...

coriandr

2009-07-21T17:09:00.000-07:00

I've lately been peeking at a new internet-marketplace called Coriandr. Aside from the name which goes so nicely with my own, it seems to be a rather well put-together site, and one which is primarily marketed toward the UK crowd to which I've been longing to expand.

I've experimentally listed a few items there, and shall see how it goes!

stellar 'staches!

2009-07-18T11:36:00.000-07:00

At long last, I've snagged a new treasury, and decided to dedicate this one to the magnificent moustache! I think I've picked out some of the keenest lip-fringe on Etsy, along with my new great large Bhagat Singh poster.

Do take a peek!

fashion, Indian style.

2009-07-18T06:44:00.000-07:00

I've been taking especial notice lately of the delightful stencils on the backs of the seats on the local bus. As I've mentioned before, most everything is hand-painted here, and there's a lot of what we like to call 'acceptable graffiti'. The stencils which separate the ladies and gents sections of the bus are a beautiful example.

Most of the women here in India dress in wonderful colours and patterns, but in the city the style of the garments themselves have little variation. All women wear their hair in a long braid, the ubiquitous gold necklace-earrings-bracelet ornaments, and either a shalwar kameez (long top, almost dress-like, with loose pants underneath) or a sari.

In the smaller villages, however, one can still see many ladies decked out in the traditional styles, wearing heavily embellished, handmade clothing covered in mirror-work, embroidery, tassels, and all manner of beautiful decoration. We saw this beautifully dressed lady yesterday - she was asking alms, and we imagine she came for this purpose from a nearby village - and after asking her permission (and giving a generous tip), we were able to take this wonderful photo. You can see a 'modern' woman next to her, which is a good example of the juxtaposition of styles.

Oh, how I would love to learn the all of the secrets of traditional textile embellishment! I have thus far learned the art of tie-dying in Rajasthani style, as well as a bit of the Gujarat mirror-work lovelies. In fact, I'll soon offer some of the East-West hybrid styles which I've invented in my Etsy shop!

allison's wonderland

2009-07-16T20:52:00.000-07:00

I'm delighted to present the lovely Allison of AllisonWonderland on Etsy!

I met this savvy and talented lady when I featured one of her paintings in a treasury some time ago. Quite the friendly lass, we struck up a lovely conversation about travel, the ins and outs of painting, and all manner of other things...and she popped right into my mind when I decided that I needed a really stellar artist to feature this week. I have scads of respect for anyone who can work oils into a pleasurable form, and this she can do with aplomb!

A fellow expat (from California, living presently in the UK), I was delighted to find that we both have fathers with musical backgrounds, and partners who share and interest in typography. Uncanny, no?

Another interest we have in common is old Chinese propaganda posters. My favourite piece she's made is this magnificent pop-art Maoist gal. With a mysterious look in her eyes and a bright burst of colour behind her, one likes to make up stories about who she is, from whence she came...and how lovely to be a little ass surrounded by all that colour!

The next painting to catch my eye is this whimsical rabbit on silver leaf. Though of qujite a different flavour from Miss Mao, I can still see her distinctive style, especially in Big Bunny's charming face the jaunty turn of his ears!

A gander around her website reveals that she also paints expert murals, including some admiral specimens of trompe l'oel, and can pop off impressively realistic portraits as well. I'm quite fond of these two; the first for my delight in freckl'ed skin, and the second for its dreamy and evocative nuance. I'll surely keep her in mind, should I ever indulge in having my portrait done - her skill in capturing the essence of her subject is sublime.

Her delightful Etsy shop, in which you can see a diverse array of her talent, is as-yet undiscovered by much of the great large world . ..so do hop over and take a peek!

roundabout

2009-07-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

Another splash of images from the day-to-day ....!

(+&) We had to laugh when we noticed this amusing sign - on the restaurant across the street from the cafe we selected (which didn't feel the need to proclaim its negligible merits!)

sri sweetshop

2009-07-15T15:06:00.000-07:00

Here in India, everything from temples to tyres is advertised with bright Hindu iconography, and often businesses are named after gods and godesses. Sometimes this makes for some amusing names indeed, like the bakery around the corner, Sri Durga Sweets.

This is a picture of Durga.

Not exactly the image which comes to mind when I think of dainty frosted cakes, jaunty laddoo! Perhaps she uses her scimitar to cut all those cookies into such lovely little shapes.....

It's a quite interesting to live amidst a people whose religion is such a great and intrinsic part of society that their gods play a part in even the most mundane aspects of daily life. Brightly-coloured gods dance along the streets everywhere one looks, the epic tales of slaying demons and performing miracles are re-enacted at festivals. It's a vibrant, complex religion, and one which I have only begun to scratch the surface of in my studies.

Hinduism has appealed to me since I was quite young and felt myself aesthetically drawn to it more than any other religion. I begun to study the holy texts under the best guidance I could find (which, in America happened to be the International Society of Krishna Consciousness) but always yearned to learn more - ever more! I've had many exceptional opportunities here to further my understanding of this breathtaking religion, from the austere discipline of studying the sure lines of the Vedas to the rhythmic, intuitive sense of ritual and power inherent in everyday life.

I even have a 'Hindu certificate' which I had to obtain to enter certain temples! The nuisance of frivolous tourism has made matters such that one must prove their sincere interest, and it declares that I am an earnest student. There is always more to learn, as I find that each layer of the onion reveals hundreds more when peeled away - it may take many lifetimes for me to truly understand and take into my heart this magnificent and glorious religion.

many happy returns!

2009-07-11T18:20:00.000-07:00

We're finally settled back into our beloved Hyderabad! Our time in Benares was a delight, full of gorgeous architecture and marvellous people, but after a three-day train journey we're quite glad to be back in our cozy flat.

I've returned with two great large trunks of glorious wonders to share...but I shall tell you more about that later. For now, I've a peek for you at the beautiful city along the Ganges where we spent our days!

Swimming in the glorious Ganges again - yes, I did make myself rather miserably ill (again) for subsequent days, but the brief moment of absolute peace I found in the sacred river was well worth any temporal woes!

Here's the mailbox in which I deposited the several letters and postcards I wrote during my stay. I do so adore writing letters, and am always looking for new friends with whom to exchange epic missives - just drop me a note in the comments!

How very stately these two young Indian children are in their smart little school uniforms - and how very, very tired and disoriented I and the lass look after wobbling out of our train!

This jolly old man works diligently in this corner every day, repairing shoes in rain or shine (and a great abundance there is of both)!

A good friend who I met some time ago in Benares gave me a refresher course in screen-printing, and I brought back the works for making some of my own designs. This one (soon to be available at my Etsy) celebrates the droves of small wing'ed and many-legg'ed companions I have here in India - though it was a mosquito which buzzed past my eye in this picture, not a fly...

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Oh the superb day-glow kitsch of circus adverts! I love it when one of the many circuses come to town and I can collect all of their delightful posters.

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India is a city full of lingams - to be exact, phallic imagery which is worshiped in the name of Shiva. Mr.Nutmeg and I are not above the occasional mischievous insinuation...behold the multitudinous lingams in vertiginous size and colour!

The quarters in which we stayed were quite near this lovely shop where a group of friendly men spent all day stirring great large vats of dye while cracking jokes and munching sweet paan, finally draping the vibrantly-coloured garments over anything at hand to billow like great bright sails.

It becomes increasingly clear that the sublimity of Indian architecture could never be properly portrayed by the scope of my paltry lens. I've begun to experiment with capturing it from assorted angles to catch a slight wisp of its magnificence....

Benarasi

2009-07-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

(snagged in a rush from the Etsy forum-gush)

i must take a moment to pour out just a wee bit -

surely hyderabad is lovely, but i'm counting the days until we move once and for all to this glorious and sacred city (two months!!)

SUCH beautiful people, and each inch packed with the most beautiful architecture piled atop itself - such wonders as i have never dreamed of dreaming of dreaming of in my dreamiest dreams . . ...

my face is all smeared with vermilion which some rambling siddhu put on my face, i've stepped in mud and filth of vertiginous origin, and i've drunk myself silly on chai and walked myself in circles all day - and i could not be happier.

we followed behind a funeral procession tonight, the chanting family members of the jewel and tinsel-covered deceased born aloft on their beloved's arms, cheering them jubilantly into the next world and their next life. as we approached the burning ghats - their piquant atmosphere of joy amidst the sacred, mouldering wood and fresh ashes, we were jostled by a young lad of perhaps 10 who proudly proclaimed to us his life story in rather impeccable English. there we sat amidst the people hurried and drowsy and burdened and free, listening to the stories unravelled by this youth so eager and unassuming in his vision and ambition. our ways parted with a smile, perhaps to brush into each other many a time in our myriad journeys, perhaps never again to be seen .. .

the architecture here is truly amazing - i could never properly convey it in either text or image. both my words and photographs are paltry (here i who have been thinking myself so vast, a temple perhaps, an entire universe, am revealed as empty-handed) - i try to squeeze so much ineffable qualia in every pixel, every phrase...great large swaths of colour and inexplicable moments like the curve of a wizened old hand grasping metal jug which glints in the sunlight - oh, i could never tell! how small i must become to hold even the least bit of it inside of me without bruising it in my meagre descriptions....

i feel i have become part of this city with its pungent smells, its events both trivial and immense - the multitudinous array of dazzle and that which is raw and human. it is as if some great deity has forced my gaze - 'Look', it tells me 'it may be divine, at times it may not be pretty - it may be covered in lush silks or caked in filth - but this is LIFE, this is all that is'

i am enraptured beyond compare. . . .

bwehb!

2009-06-29T01:20:00.000-07:00

So, Miss Lady, nee 'Wurhb', nee 'Inga Gling' has decided upon a new sound by which to call herself. From today forward, her new name shall be 'Bwehb'!

Perhaps it will lead to a bit less confusion than 'Lark' does ...here in India, most people think we're saying 'lakh', which is the term for 100,000 rupees! Some also think it's 'laurkie', which is the Hindi term for 'little girl' - we usually let that one slide, amused as people are that we would give our child a Hindi name.

Here's Madame Bwehb in all of her tousle-headed glory, early-squirrely after our morning jaunt. We ventured out earlier than usual to take our walk before the sun woke up - as usual, he outwitted us and had already worked himself up to an arid 97 degrees. But oh! - dig this delightful wee vintage shirt which we happened upon while ambling in and out of shops to escape the rays, replete with kitschy neon glory. It made our trip well worth-while!

Just over fourteen months in the world, and dear Bwehb is growing like the proverbial chick-pea sprout...or perhaps a chickoo, as everyone likes to call her here. She's becoming more interactive by the day, and is increasing her secret cache of facial expressions by the dozen! She has her mischievous face....

...and her charming one .. . .

. ..her face of pure, unmitigated glee. ...

and a few curious, peculiar little looks thrown in for good measure!

One of her favourite games is make-believe, in which she'll keep up a running patter of little voices while she walks one of her toys - or any sort of random object - up and down the floor, or our arms. Much of the time she ends by pretending to eat it, or offers it to us to nibble - she's of a quite generous nature, and often tries to share with passers-by the many candies which are bestowed upon her by shopkeepers.

She's progressing swimmingly with her walking, as well - she can now sidle along the walls with ease, and take a fair number of steps unassisted. She still switches to crawling if she really wants to zip along, but is preferring to walk more and more each day...

It's quite astonishing to think that just over a year ago, she was a rather helpless bundle of wriggles who would move her hands in wide, graceful movements and scan the horizon every time she heard music as if she expected it to appear before her very eyes. We called her 'Creach' back then - shortened from 'creature' - in honour of her strange alien newborn-ness. I cannot help but wonder what she'll become next...a Fromble? a Plip? a Zimmer Plash? Only time shall tell!

per rubbisheria ad astra

2009-06-27T01:02:00.000-07:00

Remember the discarded pile of old deity pictures which I shared earlier this week? My wanderings brought me to the same place again this evening, and to my utmost surprise, a few of the pictures had been left by the scrap-dealer! The remaining bits were the ones in greater disrepair, but I snagged them anyway. All of the dust and scratches speak to me of their mysterious stories, well-worn and precious as the pictures themselves. One is so scuffed and worn that most of the image is obscured, creating a delightful abstract pattern - it's one of my favourites.

I found this a bit further down the street, its corner poking out of an apartment-building's trash heap. I braved the mouldering rice and old newspapers to pull it out, and could hardly believe what I saw! I was partially convinced that it wasn't indeed being discarded, but considered other possibilities; perhaps someone was moving their family heirlooms from one place to another, set it down to rest for a moment, and a heap of garbage was piled upon it as soon as they turned away, obscuring it forever! Such a fanciful story seemed somewhat more likely than anyone throwing away such a beautiful object, but the watchman assured me it was indeed in the rubbish and i could scamper off with it if I pleased.

I'll be scanning an even closer eye upon the neighborhood junk-mounds now that I've had a snippet of their bounty! I'll especially be on the lookout for larger Hindu images which have been nicely aged; some time ago I made this shadowbox and would love to find just the right god or goddess with which to make another!

I've been discussing curb-shopping and dumpster-diving a bit lately over at the Etsy forums, and have wondered if the present economic snafu has begun to coax the people in the States to turn away from a disposable culture. Ideally, financial need would lead nudge people into being less consumeristic and more innovative - and cutting costs by rescuing curious and lovely previously-used items from the landfill is an excellent place to start!

scoot!

2009-06-26T18:22:00.000-07:00

Mr.Nutmeg and I have long been admiring the stellar vintage scooters which we often see zipping about the streets. Cars are less common here than two-wheeled vehicles, and often an entire family will perch precariously on a single motorcycle or scooter. Ladies and gents alike drive them around town, and its beautiful to see the bright, fluttering flag of a woman's sari trailing out behind her as she wends her way through the busy streets.

It's quite common to see superb vintage Vespas here for quite a fair price, and we're thinking about purchasing one of these powder-blue lovelies:

We're also keen on some of the Bajaj styles, which are locally made. I adore this seafoam green one:

I'm not sure if I'd be too nervous to whiz about on one in the day's frenetic traffic, but they'd be a delight for night-time rides. Imagine flashing through the narrow little streets of an evening, the rain sprinkling lightly and colours blending into a kaleidoscope blur as they're carried along by the wind....!

The one caveat is whether it would be environmentally sound. Gasoline is relatively cheap here, yes, but the roads (and rivers, and green spaces) are already terribly polluted in many areas, and we don't want to contribute to the problem for our mere amusement. We've seen some which have diesel engines, and wonder if they could be converted to bio-fuel (for which there's plenty of fodder here thanks to samosas, pakodas, and all the other fried nibbles!). Otherwise, we'll be researching other ways to make a scooter as emission-free as possible - and we'd appreciate any tips from our lovely readers!

so sewable!

2009-06-25T17:47:00.000-07:00

I've been having great fun of late scouting out neat fabrics in the Hyderabadi bazaars. It's a beautiful sight to see hundreds of meters of fabric, resplendent in bright colours and patterns, draped on long tables and hanging all about.

The only problem, of course, is that I've accumulated quite a hoard! I'm often too timid to begin my intended sewing projects with the beautiful materials I find for the purpose, afraid to somehow spoil the lovely cloth. It's time to share some of my finds with my Etsy friends - I'll be listing some lovely textiles throughout the week, as well as a beautiful bunch of cruelty-free silks when i return from Varanasi.

I've selected some of my current favourites from my fellow Etsians to fill this treasury with materials I'd love to work with!

snips and snails

2009-06-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

We've finally unpacked the entirety of our many, many trunks of ephemera and whatnots, and have thus Officially Settled In to our new flat.

One of my favourite things about moving is having a blank canvas of a flat to decorate afresh; I always love to make new arrangements of my various snippets and baubles! We were overjoyed to discover that our home has floor-to-ceiling shelves built into every room, and I shall be sure to put them to good use.

No sooner have we feathered the nest than we must fly from it, of course...in a few day's time we must resume our journey to Varanasi. I'm excited to have the chance to share my restored wooden toys with a tangible shop in Portland, and as such, I must go collect a batch from the nice watchman who sets them aside for me at the Varanasi scrapyard.

We'll be back in but a few days - unless, of course, this favourite city of mine compels us to stay longer! We really must scurry back fairly quickly, though, because the time is drawing near by which we must procure the first batch of images for our photography book looms ever closer. We've happened upon some lovely signs here in Hyderabad, but not quite so many as we had hoped - we shall have to go on a serious sign-hunt!

i've amblingly attempted to anagram these letters all day - PFEUDHVM - but cannot determine what they may have been trying to spell!

One area which seems promising is the Charminar district; a primarily Muslim area, most everything is written in beautiful Urdu script, and many masjids, large and small sprouting alongside the streets. It reminds me, much to my delight, of Turkey when all of them call the salaat a few moments apart from each other, creating a lovely cacophony.

I like to say that this building across the street is covered with industrial sky...

oh brother!

2009-06-24T22:34:00.000-07:00

A brief pause for a trans-continental hullo to the most delightful brother ever a gal could have!

Brennan is 17, the captain of his nationally-acclaimed debate team, and plans to pursue a political career. We were best friends all throughout childhood, spending hours making strange music and faux-interviews with our micro-recorder, januting about town cutting capers and making impromptu speeches about billowing flags and the glory of toasters, and other absurdist and thoroughly enjoyable antics.

He's presently off perfecting his brilliance at boarding school in Virginia, but I hope he'll come visit me one day to spread our zany adventures around the world! Isn't he a handsome chap?

holy rangoli!

2009-06-24T20:15:00.001-07:00

I love the rangoli designs which are popular here in Hyderabad. Rangoli is a traditional artform in which one decorates the walkway in front of their home with intricate and lovely patterns. On my early-morning strolls, I often see women pouring out little pinches of powdered chalk to make these beautiful, symmetrical designs - they are often washed away in the fluster and bustle of the day, and created afresh each dawn. It brings me such joy to hover about at a respectful distance while the lady of the house expertly places her designs - it seems a beautiful example of creation without attachment, and a meditative morning ritual as well. No two designs are ever alike, and some have a geometric exactitude which is quite admirable.

I plan to try my hand at them soon - such a delightful public art project in which to take part! Here are a few of my favourites in our little neighborhood:

Behold our neighborhood cow! He's one of many, and his owner often paints his horns bright and festive colours when he brings him out to collect fodder and discarded rice each morning. Miss Lark is quite lucky to live in a city with its own wandering menagerie - she chirps and flaps excitedly whenever she meets a cow...or a goat...or a chicken - and she has many opportunities indeed!

Early in the morning, Mr.Nutmeg and I like to awaken slowly, little Lark clamouring all about in the family bed, and listen to the cries of the street vendors as they sing the songs of their wares. Sometimes we'll dash downstairs to buy a bit of whatever has the most appealing chant - the deep baritone of CHAI-AHH!, the slightly mournful CHA-PAAA-TI! ... one of my favourites is the champa seller, who peddles freshly picked garlands of flowers (and oh, their divine scent!) from the basket on the back of his bicycle.

So many delightful ways to begin a day - and so many things to enjoy. We'd never want to go to bed were it not for the excitement of morning!

misprint silk!

2009-06-24T14:40:00.000-07:00

I'm quite thrilled with the results of my newest experiment...misprint fabric! Many of you may know of my infatuation with misprinted illustrations, and I've discovered a way to bring the happy accident of misprints into textile form.

It began when I used a nearby scarf to mop up a mess of spilled plant-dye. When I opened it up later, it revealed a lovely pattern! It reminds me of those pictures we used to make as children, smearing paint on one side of the page and folding it to make smudgy butterflies, or the illusion created when printing-plates line up improperly for an illustration.

I've decided to put my collection of Benares silk scarves to use for the project, layering colour upon colour over the vivid patterns already on the scarves to see just how much dazzle I can fit into a square!

The scarves are of such beautiful and lush material, woven by hand from organic silk, and they're suitable for myriad uses - to tie in ones air, wear as a sash, or wrap 'round ones neck to bring out the colours of any outfit.

I've begun to list a few of my favourites in my Etsy shop, with more to come over the next few weeks. Do take a peek!

complete smut!

2009-06-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

I'm beginning to list the uber-racy Telegu novels I scored a few days past, and in their honour I've created this sultry little treasury of the best Etsy pulp I could find. Do take a peek!

here a temple, there a temple

2009-06-21T01:04:00.000-07:00

Temples are scattered all around my block, in varying sizes from the magnificent and towering to the dear and wee. They make me think of little nesting-temples. . ..

Here's the one by my favourite chai stand, the tallest of all:

Next comes the one near the champa-seller. ..

.. .and this tiny little smidgen of a temple (for a Hindu elf, perhaps?) nestled near the place where all the boys park their superb vintage scooters.

Such delight!

Urdu and Telegu and Malayalam (oh my)!

2009-06-15T01:33:00.000-07:00

We're tenatively settled here in Hyderabad to wander amidst its bautiful scented streets full of magnificent sights and sounds. Last night we unfolded ourselves on the long river-bridge to watch the people pass and let Miss Lark scamper about merrily to flirt with and charm the other children nearby. It seems a popular spot to hang out, with clicking chai and chat vendors making their rounds and grassy patches upon which to repose. In Kerala it was all efficient bustle, but here in Hyderabad, people know how to Hang Out properly - always a way to win my utmost respect!

The first thing I like to do when my feet hit fresh soil is, of course, scout out what manner of neat stuff is in the environs to paw through. I was lucky to wander into a district, trailled along by sweet pan shoppes and mysterious squiggled signs, in which a book-fair was in the works - huge piles of book, glorious books, heaped about everywhere .. . on tables, on the street, in great large baskets like delectable literary fruit!

Dig this 1960s Telegu sewing book in all its kitschy glory:

.. .and this Hindi one reminds me so much of the scene from a hotel window in Turkey!

This is how sleepy I look when I've dashed through a book-sale after a scant three hours of sleep. Gotta love the new-city adrenaline twingles!

I found some splendid Urdu specimens as well as some uber-racy Telegu thrillers, which I'll be listing over the next few days, both in my Etsy shop and the new Pulp Library!

peek sure

2009-06-12T21:19:00.000-07:00

A brief splay of images -

This is where we take our chai of a morning, a lovely little patio stand in front of a bright and bedazzling temple.

I found these gorgeous old deity pictures in ornate frames last night - IN THE GARBAGE. It was all I could do to refrain from shovelling them all in my bag and leave some for the scrap-dealer hovering nearby .. ..I did, in fact, snag that little Laxmi in the red frame!

Which is mightier? Muscle chicken, or towering empty-torso dude?

On the train. Oh glorious peeling paint!

Always I am astonished at how even the most barren landscapes have a flash of colour peeping through.

Four seconds later, an old lady gaped at me in utter befuddlement, wondering why I might care to photograph her laundry.

Assorted lovely-snippets:

We are, it seems, going to perch here in Hyderabad for a more extended time than originally we had planned. The lay of the streets, the smiles of the people have captivated me - and many times it has happened this way, that a city snares us whilst we're on our journey to another!

I really dig the sound of Telegu, the local language, and Hyderabad has some of the kindest people we've met in the great large world. A month, perhaps, will be enough to soak up a bit more of this magnificent city, and then we resume our journey onwards to Varanasi. So many lives to be lived, so many places to explore, and we've only just begun to break into our hoard of days....!

I expect the Etsy shop to be running as usual within the week.

shifting!

2009-06-09T00:04:00.000-07:00

Oh how I love the train .. .and a good thing it is, as I'll be spending the next three days aboard it as we move from Kerala to the very tip-top of India, the sacred city of Varanasi.

We fell in love with Varanasi and the beautiful ghats along the Ganges where women hang their brightly-coloured saris out to dry and the siddhus lazy about witht heir mantras for sale. The burning ghats are an especial attraction - the custom in most of Uttar Pradesh is to be joyous rather than sad at funerals, and all the family and friends of the deceased march through the streets, singing and dancing, to bring their loved one to the creamtion grounds.

We've packed up all our lovely ephemera into three HUGE steel trunks, and tomorrow morning we shall set off upon our journey. The trains are often crowded, and I always love to snag the uppermost bunk near the door and watch all the boisterous goings-on from my little perch. The old women always coo and fuss over Miss Lark, snacks are passed around by all and sundry, and there's something so sublimely comforting about going to sleep, curled up with dozens of other bodies, as the long, lanky train unwinds itself over the land. The atmosphere is always jovial, with everyone released from their daily work and obligations in the strange time-outside-of-time that travel always seems to have.

We'll stop for a brief spell in Hyderabad to visit with Mr.Nutmeg's childhood friend, then will settle into our lovely new rooms overlooking the sacred river. We're terribly excited about all the new varieties of whatnots we can find for the Etsy shop, which, by the way, shall be up and running as usual within the week.

Have a delightful time, all, until our return!

the small lady frock

2009-06-03T21:10:00.000-07:00

I've recently been getting into handmade clothing coloured with plant dyes. I've made some lovely dresses for my Etsy shop from organic handloom cotton, then dyed them with the bright and vivid dyes that produce such unique colours - far superior to their chemical counterparts!

Madam Lark's dear nanny calls this one the 'small lady frock', and a little lady she looks like indeed! I had quite a time coaxing her to stand still and not eat the necklace I'd given her as a prop . ..but I made a valiant effort and eventually got some lovely shots:

I think this pretty frock would be the perfect breezy and comfortable summer dress for any wee lady! Do take a peek!

bohemian chic - weekly review!

2009-06-03T16:34:00.000-07:00

I'm truly delighted to feature Miss Jiorji of Dinner with Picasso. Her blog is a beautiful treat for the senses, with peeks behind the scenes of her creations, striking photography, and interesting stories of her oh-so-lovely world!

I've always loved the bohemian-chic aesthetic, and I'm totally wild about some of Jiorji's designs. She works her magic on unique and beautiful fabrics to make quality garments which have a one-of-a-kind flair.

Oh how I adore this delightful frock - I do so hope she'll make more! The simple but flattering design would make one's natural beauty shine, and I would feel ever so pretty wearing it while I gaze over the city from a high rooftop.

Many of her garments make me think of dreamy days spent in the cafes of Montmartre, or the simple beauty of a young lass, alive with the beauty of youth and nature. It calls to mind whispers, bright sun filtering through leaves . ...Her palette favours muted colours which, though understated, are still strikingly rich and vibrant, and her materials are a lush array which would be delicious to wear - just the thing to make you feel a graceful damsel with impeccable contemporary style.

How perfect is this fresh, summery tunic dress made from vintage sari silk? I'd love to see what she would do with some of the sari material I've collected.

I'll admit it . . .I'm not usually a fan of tie-dye, finding it rather garish and cliché. What a pleasant surprise to see this modern and tasteful tie-dyed blouse!

She offers textile flowers, too, as the perfect accessory to top off her garments, or add a touch of classy whimsy to your favourite threads.

I love the flapper-style of this purple headband adorned with a big, bold textile flower!

Perhaps the most appealing thing to me in this great wide world is nuance and aesthetic, and I believe Jiorji takes the proverbial cake in this regard. Her photography matches the aesthetic of her garments perfectly (or vice versa), creating a beautiful world of hazy light, dawn and dusk, and sublime nature peeking through the city streets.

Jiorji will definitely be the first shop I'll visit whenever I'm looking for a colourful, feminine frock with a unique and upscale bohemian twist. Do take a peek, and delight in playing dress-up with some of her beautiful creations!

books ahoy!

2009-06-02T17:18:00.000-07:00

Magnificent!

We've just signed a contract with a publisher for our photography book!

Here in India (as well as Vietnam), most advertising signs are still painted carefully by hand, using bright colours, Hindu iconography, and lovely fonts to sell everything from toothpaste to tyres. We've been collecting photos of the best specimens of these and will be snapping the final selection when we move up to Varanasi next week.

Here's a wee preview of some images the book will include:

PULP INDIA

2009-06-01T18:21:00.000-07:00

Huzzah! I struck a great bounty of vintage pulp novels this week, and the collection has grown beyond what I could ever need... .so it's time to share! So as not to crowd out the other lovelies in my shop, I've opened a shiny new one just for these kitschy wonders.

Take a gander!

patching it up

2009-05-29T14:35:00.000-07:00

Eight million zillion little needlework stars and many finger-pricks later, I've made a lovely new patchwork bag in the style of traditional Indian quilts. It was, in fact, to be a quilt to begin with, but it became quickly clear that such a project was too ambitious for my impatience!

Too, I've a shiny new treasury to applaud the hard work of all my fellow Etsian who love to weave beautiful kaleidescope of colour piece-by-piece. Do take a peek!

chup-chup-chup

2009-05-29T13:27:00.000-07:00

Another trip today to a nearby coastal city to breathe the sea air (and paw through the junkyards for some more of these fantastic wood printer's blocks). Lovely sights seen, much fun had zipping down the winding back-alley roads, lined with colourful houses and shouting children, in a little chup-chup auto-rickshaw. All the rickshaws have names emblazoned on the front, sometimes quite amusing; today's transport was named 'Spirituality Banquet'!

We're thoroughly and happily exhausted, so I'll just share some snaps we took during our day!

the Thursday feature!

2009-05-28T11:02:00.000-07:00

I've decided to share the love and dedicate each Thursday to spotlight another fantastic Esty seller.

For my first feature, I'd like to introduce you to the lovely Dirty Bird Vintage! A new mum on top of being an excellent purveyor of vintage threads, her shop is my first pick for when I need a fix of Western-style threads (hey, a gal can't wear a sari all the time).

Tell us a bit about yourself:

Well in a nutshell, I am a 28 about to be the dreaded 29 year old mother and wife, that is my #1 job for sure, but I can not deny my creative and artistic side.. so I am a vintage explorer and artist (painter) as well. I like to think I lead a fun and colorful life trying my best to live each day to it's fullest and I know this is going to sound so cliche but it really is the truth, my goal is to try to become the best person I can be.

(I almost flipped when I saw this one; I have the same outfit with a few little variations, down to the exact same parasol!)

When and why did you start collecting vintage?:

Oh wow, honestly I can not remember, I know if you asked my mother she would say that it was waaaaaay back, she used to beg me to go school clothes shopping in regular stores but I would refuse to enter the mall with her, only letting her take me to salvation army or the goodwill (you would have thought she would have loved the prices). I also remember LOVING my grandmothers clothes and stealing them to wear to high school all the time.. Grams was a very stylish lady!

(I wonder how many Etsy ladies have the cahunas to model this little number? She looks so smart in it, and I'd love to score this one and see the looks on the locals' faces when I wear it into the Ganges. Or maybe this gorgeous Impressionist-print one?)

What are your favorite vintage eras? I have a soft spot in my heart for the late 1970s early 80s...everyone gives the 80s a bad wrap, but if you think back on the very early 80s..(the year of my birth by the way) it was the bees knees.. bellbottoms, afros, PLATFORM SHOES!!! Think Dazed and confused...That was 1979 inspired.

(this keen 70s dress is just the sort of thing I would've swooned over back in the States...and I'd have paired it with a big pair of granny glasses just like she did!)

what's your most awesome vintage find? Thats a tough one, I used to work at Wasteland SF, which had some amazing things, Maybe my Vintage ADAM ANT tee? I would have to say I still love my grandmothers vintage leather trench coat the best.

(COVET. Adam Ant is such a delight, as is this versatile tunic dress. Pair it with these fun cowboy boots for a truly unique statement)

describe for us a typical day as an Etsy shop-owner.: Hmn, with a toddler I don't think any day is typical, my sons whole goal in life is to try to see how vertical he can get, I won't be surprised if he conquers the refrigerator soon, so I am usually chasing around my boy until 6 when da da gets home and I have a little time to work.

(boy howdy, I hear you. There's nothing like bright colours and a busy mum to set off a wee one! This one would last about five seconds before Miss Lark demanded to play dress-up)

if you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?: Spain! Siesta baby!

(Spain's on my list, too, and I'd fancy this flowing Bohemian one for my trip)

so, which do you think is more important: intent, action, or result? Action For sure, you can intend on doing the right thing but never do it, and the results that follow your actions aren't always completely your fault.

Huzzah, she even answered my silly 'eternal philosophic trinity' last question! What a gal! More cool points for offering some plus size and free size frocks for the curvy ladies out there, like this funky orange top:

I'm awarding her a great large helping of blueberry chutney for her fair prices. Who doesn't love a fantastic find without having to pay exorbitant boutique markups? There's something for every pocketbook...even mine, despite the rupee-dollar exchange (hands off that long brown patchwork ditty, by the way...I'm saving my paisas for it)! Another thing I love is the wide array of eras, with the perfect frock for any look.

There's only one thing that could be improved in her oh-so-stellar shop, and a tiny one at that; I'm sure all her visitors would love to hear more about her in her bio! Then again, they can always just hop over here and read all about it.

Do take a peek at Dirty Bird Vintage whenever you need to find that perfect frock at an attractive price!

If anyone would fancy being chosen for next week's feature, drop me a line in the comments.

subjective, schmudjective

2009-05-26T10:16:00.000-07:00

Another epic Etsy -ism thread by the Nutmegs Two...

Do take a peek!

...it gets rather interesting around the seventh page.

What is art? What is kitsch? How many pages can an -ism thread last?

Who else digs this painting?

featured clicks!

2009-05-25T11:29:00.000-07:00

What a lovely surprise...one of our photo prints was featured on Etsy's front page!

Though the print shop hasn't met with nearly the success of the vintage and handmade one, (I don't think Etsy's much of a market for prints), it's always delightful when people have a chance to see my work - and Mr. Nutmeg in his snazzy David-Bowie hat! Though the shadow and pose turned out just right, it was actually a candid shot...he was searching for the word for 'imagination' in the Turkish dictionary. Interestingly, the closest word they have is 'untruth' or 'dream'.

Too, the lovely proprietor of the Forrestina Vintage blog has given me a marvellous feature...with an interview!! Do take a peek.

Today was an exhilarating flurry of dashing between raindrops and jotting off garments while I watched the rain from the window of my wee little sewing room. I'm still so enthralled with monsoon season! Such fun to plash about in, and so comforting to hear the syncopated patter on the tin roof while I'm humming away on Shakti.

The only drawback? My newest passion is restoring vintage marionettes, and it takes me about a week to sun-fade their garments in short bursts when the morning sun is shining. My newest one, for sale in my Etsy shop, is a double-headed man and woman puppet who I found in the scrapyard and refurbished with vintage sari scraps to preserve its shabby chic!

all gussied up

2009-05-24T18:58:00.000-07:00

I've snagged another treasury, this time to showcase some of my favourite vintage outfits from head-to-toe!

tumbl'ing about

2009-05-24T17:32:00.000-07:00

Mr. Nutmeg and I are fond of making 'Tumblrs', little snippets which, instead of using them as updated blogs, we turn into static chapbooks and installations.

Our newest is the sky birthed thunder

and we've also trills return'd

strange admixture

passe-partout

and alarming splendour

Have a look, and we'd love to hear your thoughts!

plash!

2009-05-24T09:16:00.000-07:00

Today we spent a lovely afternoon with Miss Lark's nanny and her family. We set off on the clattering bus early in the morning, and arrived in time to catch the end of a Malayalam church service (yes - 80% of Kottayam district is Catholic. I was surprised, too). We passed the rest of the day with their huge extended family (some thirty members), reflecting upon how fragile a survival unit the nuclear family really is - it was marvellous to be in a multi-generational household where great-grandparents doze in the shade while the wee ones play in their midst, all of the adults bustling around, cooking and clattering, or spreading out on the lawn in little groups for games and chatter.

The monsoon season is in full swing now, and nary a day goes by without a marvellous deluge of water to dissipate the hanging sun. I've always felt my best on muted, cloudy days where the scenery fades into monochrome hues, making the bright splashes of colour one happens upon seem all the more dazzling. Our walk home from the church through the rubber tree forest, huddling by threes and fours under big black umbrellas, was sublime - the perfect splay of gossamer lighting and bold silhouettes. Miss Lark adores the rain, and loves to feel the drops plashing all about her.

Miss Lady sported her reversible dress, which I finally finished in the wee hours of the morning after goodness knows how many ill-fated attempts. One would think a simple frock, double-sided, would be intuitive, yes? Several meters of ruined linen tells me it's anything but.

I planned to make more of these to sell in my Etsy shop, but on the advice from one of the gals in the forum, I believe I shall modify the design and make them apron-style. Now my mind is swimming with all manner of vintage apron designs to use with the heaps of bright, plant-dyed organic cotton I've collected.

Our day spent mingling with a joyous and vibrant family has made us a bit wistful for, if not home, an atmosphere in which we have community. Martin Heidegger says that 'one first must establish community, then distinguish oneself' and (though we may have scoffed at such a notion when we first set out upon the world at large, a pair of starry-eyed and idealistic iconoclasts) we're beginning to fully understand the implications of such a statement.

I'll be taking applications here for new members of a great large wandering troupe of all and sundry!

sundries galore!

2009-05-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

I've opened up my treasure box again to share some marvellous new lovelies on my Etsy! I think these new finds are the most exciting yet.

First, we've these splendidly carved vintage wooden frames. Back in the days of old, these were used to give one a glimpse of the visitor standing outside their door; too, they were used during Purdah so a woman could converse with a friend or travelling merchant without leaving the cloister of the home. A questionable practice indeed, but one which inspired some extraordinary woodwork, which I now present to you as a lovely decoration for any room of the house! I think these would make lovely gifts for any event that opens a new 'window' in one's life.

To what could these graceful scraps of fabric belong? Hop over to the shop and take a peek!

I'm quite jazzed about these fantastic vintage photographs. From the 1950s to the 1970s, they feature people of old in all their retro goodness. Such fun it is to make up elaborate stories about their lives. I'm especially curious about that fellow with the horn-rimmed glasses; he seems like the kind of chap who, though you'd never expect it of him, was the life of the party.

Take a look and delight with me in the bounty!

happy birthay Lark!

2009-05-22T09:47:00.001-07:00

Today is our wee one's first birthday!

Her party didn't occur as planned, stuck as we were between cities this morning. yesterday we went to a nearby seaside village to catch some waves, and missed our stop on the return train. The next one didn't come until four in the morning, and when we finally boarded it, we discovered too late that we'd been directed to the wrong one! There was nothing left to do but wait another few hours for the ferry to take us home, which was a lovely ride indeed through Kerala's backwater canals on a golden morning, waving to the women on the shores with their brightly coloured washing.

When all is said and done, it shall be a good story for her to tell later, of wending her way through all of India's various modes of transportation on her first.

Hanging out with goats on the train platform:

One year ago today, a few moments after her arrival:

Fortunately, mum has learned the errors of seaweed-locks over the past year. A gal's gotta jazz herself up somehow when her abdomen's the size of a jackfruit!

Happy birthday, Miss Lady!

shocking! outrageous!

2009-05-20T17:03:00.000-07:00

Time again for another batch of marvellous vintage pulp novels! Again today I braved the mouldering, book-strewn basement of my favourite educational goods store, and unearthed these lovelies to share on my Etsy!

i wonder why this sultry lady looks so melancholy...unrequited love? Insatiable longing? It's enough to make me study my Malayalam more diligently to find out!

surely she can't be pining after this portly fellow:

Though I'm usually a 1960s kind of gal, this oh-so-eighties periwinkle novel caught my eye. Meet the Indian Cyndi Lauper!

I'm wild about this one - dig the postmodern sci-fi aesthetic!

Don't forget about the book-of-the-month club, too - what could be better than surprise pulp all the year 'round?

astro logy

2009-05-20T15:48:00.000-07:00

Yes. The Etsy shop now has it's very own astrology chart. May the geekdom commence....

bits and baubles

2009-05-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

I'll admit it - I've grown quite fond of making treasuries - like creating virtual window-dressings! Here's my newest, a showcase of Etsy's loveliest vintage and handmade toys (and my new restored wooden nesting dolls

zippity zip!

2009-05-18T18:10:00.000-07:00

I'm delighted to present the newest lovelies in my Etsy shop - vintage school chart pouches! Everyone is so fond of these bright, kitschy charts that I decided to make them into something functional. Bring a splash of colour to your drab office, pull it out conspicuously when you're out on the town, or make your friends exclaim and smile - it's made to be eye-catching with vivid and colourful designs.

I've listed one this morning, and do check back throughout the next few days; Shakti and I will be making a great many more!

the wee gamins

2009-05-18T10:09:00.001-07:00

Oftentimes when Mr. Nutmeg and I are out on the town, we accumulate a following of scraggly little orphan scamps. They chirp at us merrily with their few English sentences, pull us toward the sweet shops and point to the biggest chocolate bar on the counter with imploring eyes, and love every bit of attention we give them. We've met children of all ages, some shy and some wily and streetwise, like this young chap we met in Nepal

yes, he's smoking a cigarette.
each morning when we made the rounds of the temples in Kathmandu's old Durbar Square, we found him patiently waiting for us to arrive, knowing we were always good for a dish of channa and a cup of chai. After breakfast he'd tromp along with us, pointing out the erotic carvings on the temples (placed there by a king of old to encourage people to increase the population instead of becoming Buddhist ascetics) and giggling, finally scampering away when he saw a group of his friends.

Lady Lark adores them, and they her - many street kids hover about her with an almost parental attitude, accustomed as they are to caring for younger siblings or stray children in their group.

they usually band together in a little raggedy troupe, with older children minding younger ones, and each with some skill to earn a few rupees for the day. some sell cotton candy or tourist curios, others shine shoes...some just steal your wallet - though they'll give it back to you with a smile when you catch them!

The unfortunate side, of course, is the deprived and neglected life which many of them lead. private and state orphanages both are lacking in funds to care for everyone, and often children run away from the orphanages, preferring the freedom of street life. Girls are lured into the sex trade, boys are employed at a pittance to do dangerous and tedious work. too, Nepal has difficult and sometimes contradictory adoption laws, making it nearly impossible for them to find a home, though India is very encouraging. Mr. Nutmeg and I just might adopt one and welcome a little one from another land into our family!

shimmer flash

2009-05-17T11:25:00.000-07:00

I've been experimenting with modern stereography. I made my favourite one with a picture I took of a charming old man; you can see the stereograph on my Tumblr.

I wonder if it's possible to make stereographs into lenticulars for Etsy?

cross-lingual delights!

2009-05-17T05:39:00.000-07:00

Delightful news! Our wee daughter, Lark, has begun to speak! Quite suddenly, a light-bulb went off in her little linguistic synapses, and she was excitedly chattering away. We spent the afternoon on a Kottayam balcony, pointing at and naming the various traffics that went by; later we picked out a colourful book and watched with amazement as she named the illustrations.

Her first word was in fact a Malayalam one, 'tata', said with a wave of the hand when someone departs. She may have already been speaking in other tongues - our learning of Malayalam is rather slow, it being amongst the most difficult Dravidian languages - for quite some time she's been repeating the words of her Malayali nanny.

We're glad she's been exposed to so many languages at such a young age - Malayalam is indeed a tricky one, comprised of words that, while not technically tonal, can only be spoken with a very specific inflection. Whenever we try to say a word we're corrected by someone who repeats a sound that sounds exactly like what we're saying, but the person thinks is different. It runs thus:

Us: Veeduh
Them: no,no, Veeduh
Us: yeah, Veeduh
Them:no no its Veeduh

Apparently it's quite the fine art of speaking.

She also heard a great deal of Turkish when she was but a tiny little snippet, and though she was too small to absorb any of it for her own vocabulary, she'll surely learn it more easily later in life from the imprint it made. In a few weeks we're moving to Varanasi, way up in the north, where Hindi is the lingua franca.

Perhaps by her second birthday we'll be able to give her the gift of a new passport book, her first one being filled with visa stamps from all over the world. We feel the need to travel is even more exigent when one has a wee mind to form, and we've a haphazard hierarchy of places we want to live for a spell; Vietnam, Romania, and Russia top the list.

Often we wonder if one lifetime will be long enough to visit all the places we want to see! We've never wanted to see other lands as 'tourists' but rather as world citizens, finding some meaningful work wherever we happen to be rather than bopping about aimlessly. Indeed, in many countries there's a distinct and sharp divide between 'tourists' and 'expats', the expats resenting the tourists because they haul their Western bubble and sensibilities wherever they go, and the tourists sneering at expats for being too close to the natives. We've joked about starting a tour group for places in India a visitor would ordinarily never see; the bath-houses frequented by labourers, seedy chai shops tacked on to the back of crumbling old buildings, the slums where kind and generous people, making a living off of scavenging the waste of nearby factories, invite one in for dinner and share their meager provisions with a smile.

Here's Miss Lark, almost a year old and already a globetrotter extraordinare!
She has also a blog of her own, Alouette, to document her blossoming from a mere little squidget to a charming young lass!

shabby and sleek

2009-05-16T12:43:00.000-07:00

A new Etsy treasury, juztaposing two of my favourite aesthetics - postmodern sleek and tattered shabby chic. Take a peek!

nutmeg is . . ..

2009-05-16T11:31:00.000-07:00

If ever you want to amuse yourself with something frivolous, Googlism is just the thing. I wonder if I can generate enough of these to compose a biography?

nutmeg is a commitment
nutmeg is a hallucinigen
nutmeg is firm
nutmeg is not a nut
nutmeg is well suited to both sweet and savory fare
nutmeg is your home base for winter enjoyment
nutmeg is extracted
nutmeg is favored by the chinese as aphrodisiac
nutmeg is sold ground or whole
nutmeg is doing wonderfully
nutmeg is very fresh
nutmeg is aromatic
nutmeg is a middle note
nutmeg is ingested
nutmeg is also applied in different countries
nutmeg is widely available
nutmeg is dangerously close to the toxic dose
nutmeg is a charming story that throws light on a neglected period of european history
nutmeg is removed from its hard outer shell by hitting it with hand carved flat mallets
nutmeg is zippier than the loaf
nutmeg is fumigated with methyl bromide
nutmeg is also inspired by what this event means for her
nutmeg is a level and wide doe
nutmeg is one of my favourite
nutmeg is insect pollinated
nutmeg is recommended to achieve the full benefit
nutmeg is much loved as a gentle flavor
nutmeg is the kernel of a peach

sea life in jars

2009-05-16T07:01:00.000-07:00

Sadly, Etsy has deemed that I must pull my vintage Indian science specimens from my shop, the reason being that I cannot certify their vintage state. I was rather surprised, as most clothes and housewares and whatnot one finds in a thrift store don't come with a certificate - but alas, the only word I have is that of the shopkeeper who puts them around the late 70s, and of course the neglected-for-decades condition in which I found them at my favourite educational goods store.

A great many people on Etsy were fond of them, though, so I've decided to offer them here on my blog to anyone who thinks they're neat despite their 'questionably vintage' status. Leave a comment and we'll talk.

First we've my favourite, the electric ray. His funny little eyes give him an almost cartoonish appearance -looks a bit like a toothless old man who's just had a bite of a lemon!

Next the elegant seahorse:

...and finally, the fuzzy little sea anemone.

Again, I cannot promise promise promise these are vintage. I only have the shopkeeper's word, and he's always told me true about an item's age...and really, who in the past 20 years has manufactured science specimens in glass jars?

If there's a particular sort of creature you've an especial hankering to posses in a glass jar, from butterflies to millipedes, frogs to fish, I'll be delighted to scout one out. Long live the stuff-in-jars revolution!

a peek through the derridascope

2009-05-15T15:24:00.000-07:00

Though it falls rather outside of the blog's scope, still I must share this image, it being one of the most amusing i've come across in a great long time. Amusing, too, to realise I may be the only person in at least a 100-kilometer radius who would find it so.. .. ..

at the market

2009-05-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

Each day I have a chance to visit the bustling market in nearby Kottayam. It's always exciting to hop on the open-window'ed bus and clatter down the street to the bazaar.

Shopping is usually done daily here to get the freshest organic produce right from the farmers who spread it out on blankets and tables like delicious treasures. Some vendors bring in heaps of bounty, and others just a few humble offerings, like the cheerful and wizened old green onion lady who ekes out a living with her few bright stalks.

This is the man from whom we get our 'sabalo', red onions. For no discernible reason and despite insistence to the contrary, the dear man's decided my name is See-See and calls out a merry greeting whenever we pass by.

Haggling is the rule here, and the shopkeepers are wily - they usually start off at twice the price, and expect to be talked down. Following the age-old rules, I come back with an offer ridiculously low, and we play the jolly game of give-and-take until we settle on a price - usually the exact same price we agreed on every other time!

The streets are covered in small temples, and sometimes even seemingly random cobblestones are made sacred, smeared with vibrant turmeric and vermilion and strewn with flowers. We like to buy a basket of petals from one of the many numerous vendors and make our offerings, stopping to rest sometimes in the shade of a huge and ornate temple where the siddhus pass their time selling magical mantras and old men play chess over endless cups of chai. Religion is a part of everyday life here, and people work and live in the midst of ancient temples like they would in their own homes.

Alas for my vegetarian sensibilities, meats are still sold by butchers and slaughtered before one's very eyes. Sometimes, too, they are sold to the priests of the temples to sacrifice to the fiery goddess Kali Ma, to praise her and appease her eternal dance of destruction.

Every few steps is a little family-owned restaurant, serving up whatever the day's special happens to be from big metal bowls, the bright cloths they hand in the doorways billowing invitingly and sending wonderful smells to tempt us in the street. A few rupees will buy one a delicious lunch of curried chickpeas, potatoes, or - my favourite - freshly baked samosas.

The market sells much more than foods, too - everything imaginable from textiles to housewares and even livestock is sold. I always snag a few new glass bangles for my collection, picking out the most shimmery and colourful designs.

On our way home is the daily ritual of a delightful cold coffee at the ubiquitous Indian Coffee Shop. Quaint and kitschy, the decor hasn't changed since they opened in the 1950s, and the second-story tables are a welcome respite from the teeming crowds below.

I'm always on the lookout for brightly printed grain sacks to buy from the scrap dealer, which I bring home and turn into sturdy market bags. This one has found a new home already, but two more designs are available in my Etsy shop. These quirky and re-usable bags are nice to the planet when you use them to do your shopping, Indian style!

wee ones

2009-05-12T13:37:00.000-07:00

I just snagged an Etsy treasury and filled it with the most charming wee lads and lasses I could find. Miss Lark is there, the loveliest of them all (of course), modeling her green felt mouse slippers alongside a cheery group of other squidgets from around the world. Go admire all of them playing in their little treasury boxes!

a journey 'round my skull

2009-05-12T08:15:00.000-07:00

The splendid Will of 'A Journey Round My Skull' was so lovely as to feature my pulp novel of-the-month club in his blog! Take a peek!

Be sure to check out the rest of his blog as well - it's brimming with the amazing vintage ephemera he's collected and shared. I'm especially fond of these fantastic snippets:

thanks, Will!

vintage of the month!

2009-05-11T17:58:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to introduce a delightful ways to make a holiday of every month: two fantastic vintage kitsch-of-the-month clubs!

one for pulp novels and the other for school ephemera, you'll be pleased as punch when you get a charming package of pop art lovelies from wherever I happen to be on the subcontinent, one for each month all year 'round!

do pop over to my etsy and take a gander! Non-Etsians are welcome as well; just drop me a line in the comments.

undersea wellwishings

2009-05-10T08:55:00.000-07:00

i sent my mum this mother's day card today (image courtesy of the fabulous Dorothy on Etsy). . . .

... .may all of you have a day as gay as a flapper and singular as a squid!

feminism the world 'round

2009-05-08T19:44:00.000-07:00

N. and I posted a snippet this evening on the Esty forums, examining a global perspective of feminism. essentially we stated that any ideology must contain a certain degree of flux, and both men and women must step up to re-evaluate and re-define the present concept of the feminist movement. we critiqued the points where we feel it could be improved, and lauded the ways in which it has been beneficial.

rather predictably, a great many people merely skimmed our short essay (i admit we can be rather verbose) and decried us as anti-feminist. quite to the contrary, we merely are wary of any -ism that sums itself up neatly, and as ardent agitators for women's rights, believe that feminism must never cease to evolve until all of humanity finds liberation.

we're very keen to hear the opinions of anyone interested in a lively and thoughtful exchange about feminism in theory or practice. you can read what's been said thus far in our original post, and reply either here or there as you wish.

an excerpt:

'i believe modern feminism is sorely lacking in scope. in addition to the various shortcomings mentioned in the original post, i believe it's been harmful in that it doesn't go far enough, is not radical enough. it placates women, letting them sink into inertia and contentedness with the thought that they're 'liberated' when most people, women and men alike, haven't any idea of what true liberation - from all social constraints - could be.

feminism, in order to be successful must be combined with a gestalt shift, encompassing not only the way we see and treat women, but also the way people interact as a whole, the way we treat our environment, our life ambitions, and why we choose to live the lives we do. it would necessitate a critical and radical examination of our innermost lives.'

the scrapyard

2009-05-08T07:53:00.001-07:00

i'm delighted to share with you my new favourite decoration - these magnificent vintage tin adverts! the metal scrapyard proves to contain a rich bounty of kitsch for the intrepid connoisseur, hidden beneath old farm implements, appliances, and all manner of unidentifiable scrap. it's quite a cool place to spend a day with the remains of what used to be useful instruments strewn in piles like the carcasses of strange metal dinosaurs, and the cheery man who owns the place with his admirable moustache waked into little twirls on the ends.

here are a few of my favourites:

sometimes i have a stroke of luck and find little empty containers that were used to hold beedis. i like to use them as wallets, or to hold our many spices in!

if i can convince myself to share, you'll see them soon on my etsy.

the Real India

2009-05-07T12:33:00.000-07:00

I'm often deluged with messages from people sharing their travel dreams with me, remarking upon how fantastic it must be to live in India. Which, of course it is; one of the most enriching and magical experiences ever shall I have.

I feel compelled, however, to share with all ye would-be travelers, how very Complex things can be here in this land of softly chuckling siddhus and madly cascading colours.

To give you a glimmer of what i mean, allow me to share with you one of my intimate, daily rituals. I call it 'The Grape Shuffle'.

This is how I obtain a handful of grapes (lovely concords, always in season, and implicitly organic!) from my kitchen.

1. Warily approach the grape bowl and gauge the amount of movement within
2. Close eyes, stick hands inside grape bowl all in a flurry
3. Shake hand madly and let ants, large and small, filter through loosely-clenched fingers, hoping they aren't the stinging variety
4. Wait until movement subsides
5. Eat grapes, rejoice in their flavour

I've chosen this mundane yet quintessential example to illustrate daily Indian life. Not hauling water during outages, not the rickshaw drivers who persist in offering their rickshaw as you bicycle down the street, nor the recurring power cuts or the heat. The Grape Shuffle tells it all; the promise of something marvellous, the trepidation, the bold surrender, shaking off the debris and enjoying the fruits.

In my time here, I've learned exactly how much I adore French films, vintage American dresses, and German philosophy, by merit of these being highly inaccessible. Conversely, I've cultivated a love for sweet pan, and refined my appreciation of peeling paint to an even higher artform. I've taken my first three-day train journeys here and fallen in love with bleary-eyed laughter through multiple languages in a crowded cabin at night, and also realized the immense significance of securing the top left bunk.

After growing up in a culture which expresses itself through its lack, we left in search of one that can speak to us through its fullness - and surely that it what we have found. India is teeming with Everything Imaginable, in all shades of the spectrum - a thing's apparent qualities become magnified in direct relation to its quantity; the streets speak to us with years upon years of the most poignant joys as well as unspeakable sorrows. The world both contracts and expands through such a lens, and we find ourselves sometimes small enough to hold such greatness, and at others too large to be gloriously swept away by the great magnitude that surrounds us. We strive to unlock the secrets of this land while knowing and hoping that we never will.

That said, I'll go dance about my little green kitchen with the produce again, and leave you with images...!

(more imagery for curious eyes in Zee Print Shoppe)

POP Asia!

2009-05-07T00:52:00.000-07:00

The world expands, and we along with it...POP India now includes POP Asia!

We have dear friends in Shanghai, which gives us an opportunity to venture off the subcontinent from time to time, and experience Asia with an entirely new texture. The early morning glow surrounding toothless old men who sit mumbling over their tea, the mangles english emblazoned on all and sundry, and the orderly expanses of neat little houses all in a row.

Once we imagined forming a roving tribe of gypsies with these friends and their little snippet of a daughter, comprised of families from many walks of life and nations, who would travel the world together in one big colourful band, singing for our suppers and finding home wherever struck our fancy. Sadly, the Adult World had other plans for them and has marooned them in Shanghai with jobs and obligations (glad we managed to escape its devious clutches!) . .. but who knows - perhaps one day our dream shall become a reality.

Ever mindful of my mission to bring you delightful curios from near and far, I've opened the lid of my treasure-box from China and you can now find marvelous ephemera from the old Orient on my Etsy, like these splendid propaganda posters:

and racy pin-up postcards!

supari models

2009-05-04T11:11:00.000-07:00

i'm in the midst of sewing a market bag from one of my favourite cloth banners, a bright and cheery advert for Chukti supari. it's my first project with Shakti and i do believe it shall turn out rather well!

i've always wondered about the Chukti supari lady, and her many sisters in the world of sweetened and addictive mouth-fresheners. was it the highlight of her career to be a supari model, was she overjoyed to know that her sultry gaze was to greet every workman who reached for a packet on his lunch break? or was it a rather embarrassing secret of her past that she contrives to sweep under the rug these days, like the starlets of old who would work as pin-up models to stave off poverty while waiting for their big break?

supari, for the uninitiated, is a preparation of betel nut often mixed with candy-coated fennel seeds and other sweet tidbits. i rather love it, and it makes the shopowners and workmen chuckle to see me buy the brightly coloured packets as it's generally considered a thing for the gents. most people here have become accustomed to my peculiar and foreign ways, though, especially as regards gender - unlike any other women in the town, i smoke beedis on occasion, tromp about unescorted at all hours of the night, and hang about chai stands. scandalous!

take a gander at my virtual kitsch museum, POPindia over the next few days to see an exhibit of the many wonderful supari packets i've collected throughout the land!

sewing shakti

2009-05-02T12:01:00.000-07:00

Joy abounds! I've a lovely new (second-or-thirdhand) pedal sewing machine!

I sew a lot of our clothes by hand, so now I can be more adventurous in their designs - and begin on the East/West hybrid styles I've been mulling...and of course the vegetable-printed vinyl ballgowns!

It's name is SHAKTI, proudly emblazoned on its glittery brown body which contrasts ever so beautifully with the blue fligree-patterned table.

Hop over to my Etsy soon to see some of the splendid wearables that Shakti and I will make together!

new shoppe

2009-05-01T15:18:00.000-07:00

Such excitement - a shiny new Etsy shoppe!

Nutmegclicks - not to be confused with it's derivative noun, Nutmegclick - features lovely prints from near and far. Now you can hang snippets of our travels in your home - we've listed a goodly lot of our images from India, Nepal, Turkey and the homeland, with more countries to come!

As a promotion to welcome everyone to the shop, all orders this week will receive a free handmade Indian ephemera picture frame along with your prints.

Do take a peek!

Lorry Splash

2009-05-01T08:46:00.000-07:00

Sometimes one has to take a step back from the chatter of their daily lives to appreciate the marvels that surround them. Today I realised that I've grown accustomed to being surrounded by beauty - my eyes only glance over things that once would have astonished me. I've not become inured to all the wonderful things I see, but I certainly neglect to give them their proper share of wonder.

My decision to move to India was an aesthetic one; I've yearned all my life to live in a land of such unparalleled beauty, from the kaleidescope of the teeming cities to the verdant and peaceful villages. I found myself today looking at everything through fresh eyes - that magnificent painted sign, the scraps of brightly coloured saris scattered on the pavement, the wall over there with peeling paint in such striking patterns. The colours, especially, are glorious - with properties only attainable by a rare combination of strange pigments and sun-fade; they become somehow washed-out and incredibly vibrant at the same time.

Indians love to embellish even the most utilitarian things. the best example of this is the lorries which deliver goods all across the country. The brightly painted flowers, animals, and gods have a unique flavour in each state, and the art is passed down from father to son over many generations. Such a joy to see them lumbering down the street, a big bright epiphany colour against the black pavement.

Today I went lorry-spotting and here's what I found!

bottl'ed

2009-04-25T07:13:00.000-07:00

Such a joy to drink a fizzy and (relatively) cool delight from one of these enchantingly quaint bottles. Filled and refilled with carbonated zip, these are standard fare at the local 'cool bar' on a hot summer's (or spring's, or winter's) day.

Usually one drinks them on the spot and turns them in, but I couldn't help smuggling a few away to add to my secret hoard of lovely glass containers from the world over.

A few of my favourites:

Sipping a 'Spicy':

spotlight!

2009-04-22T23:48:00.000-07:00

i finally coaxed N. to list some of his quantum tree illustrations on etsy - and a good thing, for they've been featured on the Earth Day front page!!

after days of dejectedly checking his listings for sales, he'll be so enthralled. Perhaps it will jangle him into another creative spree, so he can help me with all those Projects of Great Import which I'm constantly pestering him about!

Introducing Lentil!

2009-04-22T00:18:00.000-07:00

This precocious little snippet followed N. home from the market last night. Imagine my surprise when he presented me with a mewing, purring fluffball along with my green onions!

Rather scrawny and ill-kempt, she's not had adequate care for some time. Cats are rarely kept as house-pets in India; a handful prowl about each cluster of homes and people sometimes lay out food scraps for them. There's hot competition amidst the cat community for these prized morsels; perhaps our Lentil, being on the small side, was never able to wrest her fair share. We've put her on a diet of cream and fish whatnots (alas for my vegan sensibilities) to restore her to strength - such a delight to hear her muffled mews as she tries to express her appreciation while she sups.

We bonded quite immediately, lazily curled in my lap all evening, occasionally perking up to tangle herself in my sewing project. Even more starved for attention than food, she's constantly underfoot with graceful pitterpat paw-dances, and peals off a frantic miaow-alarm if left alone in a room for but a moment. She's inclined to be outgoing - so much that she's not yet learned to stay clear of Madame, who flaps and squeals excitedly whenever our intrepid feline comes near. Despite my constant admonishments of 'so-f-f-f-f-t' with accompanying gentle pantomimes, a wee girl's exuberance at seeing something smaller than herself is impossible to contain, so dear Lentil has been annexed to the kitchen pending the taming of the Lark.

All day I marvelled at this new addition to our little fold - a cat! We're the companions of a cat - and so unexpectedly as to be quite dazzling, indeed a small wonder that this lovely creature has selected us for friends!

I'm delighted enough to post the very first picture we clicked of her, despite my bleary-eyes, tousle-head, someone-just-got-out-of-bed visage.

miss lady

2009-04-19T00:57:00.000-07:00

Today I present to you one of Madame's finds; this spectacularly creepy 1980s neon green schoolgirl doll. Which is nearly larger than she is. But no matter.

the PANCUMENTARY!

2009-04-18T06:56:00.000-07:00

Sweet pan is one of my favourite Indian treats. With a flavour that I cannot begin to describe in the manner of comparison to other delicacies, it's made of a leaf wrapped skillfully around spices and sweets.

Often it's sold from carts, wheeled around to wherever sales are most opportune, which are embellished with all manner of paint and stamped tin lovelies. Pan is usually only eaten by men, and the shopkeepers are always amused when I jump in delight when I spot their brightly-coloured stall.

I've always been wild about the delightful tins they use to store bits and snippets of delicious things. When I found some at an old tin scrapyard, I just had to fill them with all the right ingredients and have a go at making my own sweet pan.

I don't think I'll be opening up a pan stall anytime soon, but I did make a reasonable facsimile of my favourite delight.

Now, behold the PANCUMENTARY - how to make sweet pan!

Arrange all your items - sugar candies, betel nut, rose gulab (a minty jam made from rose petals), masalas, and THE AMAZING MAGICAL POWDER.

Sprinkle a bit of THE AMAZING MAGICAL POWDER, white in colour, on the moist pan leaf.

Watch it turn RED when it meets the water!

Repeat several times with due admiration of MAGIC.

Embellish with betel nut (huzzah bright orange teeth).

and gulab, masala, other sundries ...

Fold in all three corners of the leaf carefully, tucking them under each other.

Your pan is ready to eat!

small and large

2009-04-15T02:30:00.000-07:00

When we're not searching out marvels and wonders around the globe, my family and I live in a tiny village in South India called Kanjikhuzy (pronounced 'konnie-currie', the name translates to 'rice porridge'). We're restoring a traditional Indian home there - once passed down through generations of an affluent merchant family who met with financial ruin, it cycled through a stream of negligent landlords then sat abandoned for some years before finally passing into our hands.

One has to be pretty innovative to find places to hang out in a village of three blocks. Once you've had a lime uice at the local 'cool bar' (not a trendy nightspot, but a place where sugar-syrupy beverages are served), the options come to an end.

Never one to spend my time in places of sanctioned amusement anyway, I like to skulk around beneath old buildings. Near our house there's just such a one as to provide that picturequely mouldering ambiance while sheltering one from the tumult of the street, a sprawling brick structure on stilts where men park their many scooters and vintage vespas.

Hiding underneath a doctors office and a photo lab, I often find wonderful bits of refuse to squirrel away in my bag and take home (there's an entire dumpster full of old pharmacy bottles and medical ephemera which I've not yet mustered up the courage to root through - must rememer to bring plastic gloves). Sometimes I find sheets of old photo paper, sometimes interesting pages of Malayalam script, all of which I duly hoard that I may Do Something Creative with them at some nebulous point in the future.

Yesterday one of the buildings above ground cleared out some manner of ancient machinery which I was delighted to find piled all in a heap, looking a bit like rejects from the set of a midnight sci-fi feature clustered together with their rows of bright buttons and meters and indutrial teal paint. Surely there's some use I can find for such curious devices; I could use them as spice racks to make our kitchen look like a 1950s spaceship mess hall, or fill them with papier-mache creatures and zibbledyzooks for dollhouses from worlds beyond!

I was a bit surprised, when arriving in India, to discover it wasn't the paradise of groundscore delights I had imagined it to be. Back in the states I had a long love-affair with freeganism, once taking a month-long pledge to survive only from what I could scavenge (living suprisingly well in the process!), and always dreaming of the exotic rubbish I could collect in lands afar.

In India, however, recycling needs no countercultural movement; it's a part of daily neccessity, and once an item makes it to the trash its already seen countless uses - cardboard can repair a shoe sole or a leaky window, an old umbrella stcked in a flat tire is a basket to display your wares at the market, and purchases at the shops are wrapped in yesterday's news.

Too, Kanjikhuzy is a tiny village, and I've discovered that certain characteristics are endemic to small towns all over the globe. People tend a bit toward the unadventurous and narrow, and trash-scoring is looked down upon as a bit unseemly at best. A nation struggling to improve their standard of living will often villify any practices that smack of poverty, and I cannot begin to explain to them the turn of events that would induce myself, a foreigner, to marvel over scraps of refuse strewn about the streets.

I still do find treasures, though - the cache of huge canvas political banners abandoned after an election, the gorgeous fireworks packages littering the lanes after festivals.

You can share the bounty, too - all of the items in my Etsy shoppe are packaged in the cleaner specimens of wonderous ephemera!

sundust

2009-04-14T00:43:00.000-07:00

Remember the aforementioned wonderous Place of All Delightful Things? Today I spent all afternoon amidst the dusty marvels, pawing through mountains of old books and exclaiming over scientific instruments galore.

Quite the marvellously disorgainized splay, books are heaped atop each other hither and thither from ceiling to floor. With no classifications whatsoever, one must simply plunge in and start sorting; sometimes you end up in a stack of racy Tamil thrillers, others amidst a pile of autorickshaw repair manuals. After countless afternoons begriming my fingers with dust and ink, I've yet to become acquainted with more than one small corner of the vast bounty. They're the overflow outlet for a local publishing house, and most of the books sit in huge mouldering bales - pulp novels printed in the 1960s that never sold more than a few copies. Most of them are in tragic condition, but it's well worth it when, after endless rooting around, you find one that's pristine.

Oh glories untold! Oh copious delights! The science section, equally pell-mell, is comprised of rows upon rows of rickety wooden shelves housing phials and flasks of all manner of lab chemicals. The sun is dazzling as it streams into the dim room and glints shyly off the amber-glass bottles; it would be perfect, carefully reconstructed pice by piece, as a science curio museum. I love to collect specimens here - an entire wall of preserved flora and fauna looms over the intricate compositions of labware.

I brought back plenty of lovelies to share; drop by my Etsy and take a peek!

first review!

2009-04-14T00:30:00.000-07:00

The lovely miss Kayla, of EclecticElement on Etsy, has given me the most wonderful feature review!

You can read all about it on her blog, The Eclectic Element.

Be sure to check out her Etsy shoppe as well, a marvellous assortment of vintage and handmade baubles and jewelery.

tids and bits

2009-04-13T01:11:00.000-07:00

Take a peek at what I've sold this week on my Esty!

These are so delightful, I'll be sad to see them go - but I do so love to share!

Vintage Hindi Embryology Chart:

Baby Octopus Specimen from India:

Restored Vintage Benares Nesting Dolls:

Do stop by this week; I'll be listing more fabulous specimens and educational posters!