Fabric Wall Art

Canadian winter has lashed its wrath outside so I am venting my creative fury onto you. With cold weather in the forecast and fire places working hard, our whole attention turns indoors. In my efforts to keep decorating wheels turning through these lousy winter days, I succeeded to uplift the room and my spirits by making these fabric wall art for our home that I have been wanting to share with you :). 

This DIY post is also perfectly befitting our first blog of the year as I represent the refreshed setting of our living room. With delicious doses of color, this newly done fabric gallery wall is adding pizzazz without depleting my new year’s décor mantra (learning new DIY & make the most of the things I already own). 

I was tired of staring at the same old wall. With a fresh frame of mind and some inexpensive frames I happened to transform these traditional blouse pieces and a beautiful kurti (dress) sleeves...yes you read it right...sleeves into art pieces. These pieces were not originally designed to hang up on a wall, but once I saw their potential, I’ll never want to take them down. 

Luckily I had a picture of wearing the same dress that I used here to make these art frames (trust me I felt so awful to cut up something so pretty). I also happened to click few phone pictures to show the process. Here is the collage of making of it.

I personally think, this is a great way to re purpose traditional clothes which are too old or damaged to be worn again, especially, if they have been handed down by older generations and have a personal meaning attached. An old saree, dupatta or any leftover small pieces will give a good kiss of color to your bare walls. Using embroidery hoops is also an interesting idea to show off a traditional piece of fabric. If not fabric, you can use curtains, shower curtains or even beautiful scrap book papers to make these frames...possibilities are endless.

I am fairly in the camp that believes that small punches of color makes a room come alive. With bold injection of juicy hues like these frames and cushion covers from Bristi, the decorative success is achieved more easily than expected in this living room.   

These frames can bring instant color, a custom look in your décor and can be a great update to any room with a pocket friendly budget. 

Go ahead, be inspired and start creating your own fabric wall art. Don't forget to share and tag me on my home decor feeds of Facebook or Instagram if you happen to make few :). Until we meet again, toodles!

P.S. Do take inspiration from another DIY gallery wall that is adorning our foyer. Here is the link. 

Effortlessly Put Together (Home Tour of Arati Jani)

In the midst of the lush green mountains and beyond the cotton candy clouds is a home of our today’s home owners, who are very close to my heart. Hailing from Ahmedabad originally, the Jani couple’s life has been a roller –coaster. Migrating from India to Africa, Africa to Canada and now finally settled in the quite lane of sunny Texas, USA, the couple has spent a good chunk of life leaving good friends and wonderful memories everywhere they have settled.  

Meet my mommy away from home – Arati Jani. Even though we are not blood related, even though I have only known her for a slice of my life, I always feel like her own. A woman who built me up, kept me strong and who also took my mother’s place when she couldn’t be there. With a significant influence, she has loved me as if I was one of her own, and some days made me really believe I was. 

With the mutual respect and good attitude, the incredible power pair Paresh & Arati, is never quite on the same page yet their romantic admiration in each other with each passing year is quite inspiring for many, including us. 

Arati definitely isn’t one to get caught up in the typical rules of design when it comes to home décor or fashion. She is resourceful, creative and inventive with her own taste. Since the couple’s lifestyle is now carried on a smaller footprint where casual entertaining and friendly gatherings take front seats, Arati has created a space where their easy-breezy and carefree lifestyle can be accommodated without much fuss and with lots of friends.

Crowd-friendly couple’s typical weekend is spend having friends over for small bites and drinks followed by a gala dinner with Arati’s tried and tasted recipes. This perfect sized comfortable dining area takes care of the couple’s entertaining where everything from silver wares to napkins and from pickle jars to table-mats are placed on the table for easy reach. 

And the personal touches continue on the gallery wall. The collage wall for display is an affordable way to transform a wall and at the same time express yourself. The family pictures (including me) featured above the dining are an assortment of sentimental memories and pieces that Arti is drawn to. A visual history is paired beautifully with the right context.

No-fail trick is helping Arati here to marry pieces of various styles and eras perfectly. Arati has used the pieces that she loves the best and have created memories with them rather than letting them sit in a cupboard and collect dust. Every piece in this mismatched collection that feels like a perfect set has a story to tell. 

This is the brightest and breeziest spot in the house. With a beyond comfortable mix of seating they flop down on their designated chairs, revel in the she,
er bliss of stretching out or reach for that remote and turn on the tv for a movie or a favorite program. 

Everything in this sunny window lined room feels comfortably lived in and well loved. The living room packs an amazing amount of function into a perfectly designed space. So much attention is focused on being comfortable with perfectly controlled lights of side lamps, well-placed tables to hold that milk shake (for Paresh’s sweet tooth) at night and a soft blanket for the chills of ceiling fan - quite impressive. By the way, can you spot an art piece (gifted to Arati) by our daughter?

Gallery walls can pose a bit of a intrigue. One more collage wall with the rich mix of frames, shapes and styles delivers a layered look while disguising television in plain sight. She likes mixing things that don't really go together but it totally complements the style of her house.

Arati is an everyday feeder. With her magic touch Arati has turned a cozy, compact kitchen into a hard-working, stylish and organized space which keeps home-made food in check for the couple. The kitchen has always been “hospitality central” in Jani’s home, where everything you need is at hand without rummaging around. Placed all up-to-the-minute convenience, she has made the use of the space around the cooktop. 

Texans tend to take advantage of every dry and beautiful day they get. Sometimes that amounts to an impromptu party outdoors with favorite neighborhood friends enjoying cocktails and feasting on local fare. When it comes to stocking the bar Paresh has only have one rule: "Don’t run out." They always stock up on ingredients for a signature cocktail and a special wine or two. They have enough to accommodate the mood and need of everyone when party spills over until midnight.

Other times, it’s a relaxed home cooked meal or a walk to a nearby golf course. Their big and beautiful backyard with dotted greens is their favorite place for their morning tea or evening drinks watching the stars curling up in their favorite chairs. 

Classic shape and neutral color are the best recipe that you can always update the look of the room by simply changing the accessories. Its truly Arati’s passion that made her builder basic space from plain to pleasing.  

Texas had never been on top of our travel list. We would take a light jacket and a chilly day instead fierce sun and tumble weeds but as soon as the couple moved there I had to reconsider my biases (we have been there already countless times). It turns out that alongside hot humid weather & cowboys, Texas has opened a welcoming home for us where we are always loved, pampered and fed lots of Mexican food ;).

Thank you Arati & Paresh for allowing us in your home virtually. Wish you the best of the world. Can't wait to see you soon.

With holidays approaching, hope my readers are ready to enjoy the most wonderful time of the year. I have one more home tour in pipeline so circle back and until we meet again here, stay connected on social feeds, toodles!