Online shopping, supporting friends :)

Hello - Happy Independence day!

Today I would like to showcase a couple of my friends ventures. All of us at one point or the other think of becoming entrepreneurs, however due to various reasons we do not execute on our plans due to various reasons. It takes immense perseverance and risk taking ability to start something on your own - not to mention the effort!

so - here you go - support them & like their pages...watch them grow...you wont regret it!

Coral Jasmine:

A beautiful collection of curated designer sarees: these guys started yesterday - wishing them loads of luck & I am sure you will rock it!! be the first ones to support these girls!

https://www.facebook.com/coraljasminesarees
www.instagram.com/coraljasminesarees

 

 

Indiann Weaves:

 

My BFF from many years! love her taste in handlooms! She started about 7 months back. Rock on girl!

https://www.facebook.com/IndiAnnWeaves

 

 

 

Have a great weekend!



 

Handicrafts exhibition

I love all kind of crafts exhibitions, especially for the colorful displays and some unexpected surprises you bounce on sometimes. I also love bargaining with the vendors - Thats the best part of shopping in India?

Some pics that I clicked at 'Sampoorn' - a handicrafts exhibition held in Bangalore.

Colorful vases - My fav is the brown one in the background (behind the camel pic vase)

"Juti's" in all sizes, patterns & designs

I love these colorful woven baskets - especially the wooden parrot handles on top of the lids.

Ceramic stuff - I love the colors and the variety here. I have my eyes on the kids tea set which is to the bottom right side of this pic.

Copper handmade bells in different sizes

Designer dishes

If you like hosting a party or dining in style you need to get your hands on these beautiful designer dishes from ccgemz. I got a chance to visit their stall at a crafts show in Minneapolis. These dishes are decorated skillfully with glass gems and sterling silver wire. They look very elegant & stylish with a hint of color - nothing too loud.

Which one is your favourite? I love the jars & dishes from the 3rd and 4th pictur from top.

You can read about Woven & Braided jewelry and heat colored metal jewelry- the other treasures I stumbled on at the same crafts fair.

Heat colored metal jewelry

Another store from the Autumn Festival: Phoenix Designs

Very unique & innovative. Have not seen any like these before, a feast to the eyes! Enjoy!

Woven and braided jewelry

I finally managed to go to the Annual Autumn Festival in Minneapolis and have met multiple talented artists with creative hand crafts. I am going to blog about these folks in multiple posts.

The First in this series is about Jan-Ra Jewelry. This Artist makes silver & gold jewelry which is woven/braided and entwined.

Here is what Jan says about her passion on her blog:

"My journey here has been a bit convoluted. I have a B.A. in Biology and an M.S. in Wildlife Conservation. I used neither degree professionally, however, and spent 13 years as a licensed remodeling contractor. I have more power tools than most men! My need to work with my hands, however, has grown stronger over the years, and making jewelry is the current manifestation of that need."

Jan at work:

Pics from the Jan-Ra stall at the Autumn Festival. Unfortunately I do not have many close-up pics of the jewelry, however I insist that you look at much better pictures here and here. Adorable jewelry I must say, with an interesting twist!

Watch this space for more.

On my mind...

• I have not been posting much here.
• As I am away from home, I have not bought much stuff YET
• I have been trying to update Tangled Maze with my weekend activities. Check out when you have time.
• I might go to a crafts fair (I wish I could) sounds damn interesting! They promised "500 of America's finest artists & craftspeople from 30 states". So, watch out for more...
  

Downtown Minneapolis - this illuminated building looks much better than in this pic