Here's a thought for you!

I am signing off a wee bit early this week! There is something cooking here at MDC but I shall share the details on that next week :-) For now, enjoy the weekend and I love you all! You guys give me a reason to smile everyday!!


Thank you! Have a fabulous Friday and an awesome weekend!!

Image: via

Corsica beckons...

This place has it all.......history, charm, romance and for the dreamer in me....a trip to Corsica maybe??? These are images of a beautifully restored Olive Mill dating back to 1878. This mill was lovingly restored 5 years ago into this gorgeous home! It has three stories of living space and includes original stone walls, chestnut doors, wooden beams and floors.

I love the old world charm and the stunning interiors. A perfect getaway don't you think??

I am one of those people..... I de -stress by redecorating my house and I dream about vacations......you get the drift :-)  Ah! to travel and see the world is the ultimate luxury! Here's a travel tip for you...sign up for the American Express Starwood Card. I can vouch for the number of vacations we have taken due to its fantastic rewards program. We have one coming up next year as well and I can hardly wait!

Here's a question for you..........practicalities and finances aside, what is your dream destination? I would love to know? As you can see....I have travel on my mind :-)

Enjoy your day!

Images: via

Mark your Calender

Hello there! I am excited, nervous and stressed out! and you might wonder why?? The reason...........my participation at the upcoming Annual Harvest Festival at the Country Village in Bothell :-)

Come on over and celebrate the arrival of Fall on October 8th and 9th, 2011. The festival will run from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Shop at My Dream Canvas will be there to present a unique range of Eclectic Treasures and Global Finds.

Country Village is located just two miles north of Bothell or one mile south of Canyon Park at 23732 Bothell-Everett Highway, or take exit #26 off I-405 and head south one mile. For more information, please visit the Country Village website or call 425-483-2250.


Click here for a more detailed description of the Festival.


Please wish me luck! Mark your calenders and I am eagerly looking forward to seeing you there!!

Images: My Home

Festivities.....

It is that glorious time of the year.......Navratri, Dussehra and Diwali will soon be upon us. Here's wishing you happiness and prosperity this festive season from my home to yours.............

Image. My Home

Linking up with The Weekly Stories at Colours Dekor and the September Carnival at the Key Bunch

Delhi...........

Seattle and Delhi are two cities I call home :-) I found this interesting article on Delhi via Marie Claire Maison and you can read it here! This article talks of Delhi through the eyes of Catherine Levy, co-founder and creator of the brand Tse Tse & Associates and Manish Arora, a top designer on the Indian fashion scene.
The article describes Delhi as "A mesmerising city, bustling, exciting and electrifying, bringing together different worlds like no other place in the world"

I could not agree more!

Image: via

Monday and a Giveaway Winner!!

A new week begins....and I am happy to announce the result of an exciting Giveaway here at MDC. The winner of the gorgeous blue Ikat Handbag was picked using Random.org and the lucky lady is.................. Kamini from Saffron and Silk! Congratulations Kamini, the bag will be on its way to India very soon :-) A big thank you to all my readers for the lovely comments, and for making the Giveaway a huge success.

Here's wishing you a wonderful week..............

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Hurrah for the Weekend!

Yay.... its Friday and sunny :-) It is also officially the first day of Fall! Do you have some fun plans for the weekend? I have nothing on the agenda accept the usual errands..... but I really don't mind! Sometimes, its nice to have a weekend with absolutely nothing to do :-) I might head out with the family and enjoy the  outdoors and the glorious weather before the rains finally set in!

On a more serious note. A lot of bloggers are facing plagiarism. Here's a request....please come up with your own ideas and DO NOT COPY other people's work without permission or due credit to the original source!

We all put in a lot of hard work and creativity into our work. Don't you think that deserves respect??

Have a great weekend!

Images: My home.

Ichbaan : A Feature

Good Morning! Today, I am happy to present Ichbaan, an emerging talent striving to make its name in the market for its unusual approach to design. 

The lady behind Ichbaan is Shruti Jain, a textile designer with an immense passion for Indian textiles. Shruti, after graduating from NIFT, Delhi and studying at London College of Fashion, worked in the industry for a few years, and subsequently launched her own luxury brand Ichbaan. Shruti says," Our creations are a unique combination of modern design and vintage techniques handcrafted in unimaginable fabrics and techniques."

Shruti contacted me for a feature on My Dream Canvas and sent me a few images of her work!  For more detailed information and to view their entire collection please visit them here.

 

Thank you Shruti and Good luck!

Images: via

Home Crush in Tarifa

A home located in the Parque Natural De Los Arconocales in Tarifa, Cadiz. Sounds exotic doesn't it? Sweeping views of the coastline and the Strait of Gibraltar adds to the charm! The home is filled with treasures from India, Morocco and Bali...and I love the open and airy feel to it.

Enjoy the view and have a great Wednesday!

Images: via

From the Archives

Yay! I woke up to sunshine after a few dreary days in Seattle! The entire house is bathed in this gorgeous light and I am loving it.  As I sit with a hot cup of tea and day dream...it seems so easy to forget the practicalities of everyday life!

As promised.... we will be counting down to Diwali right here at MDC! I have a few things planned that I am really excited about :-) Tablescapes, decor ideas and so much more! I am so looking forward to decorating the house with twinkling lights and lots of candles! Its going to be a fun time and I hope you'll join me in the festivities...............

I dug into the archives and here are a few images of the Diwali festivities from previous years. Though its a wee bit early but I certainly seem to have the festival bug in me :-)

Have you picked out your Diwali gifts?? If not, then do stop by The Shop at My Dream Canvas and indulge in some retail therapy during the festival season :-)


Enjoy your day....

From the archives.....

Images: My home

Entertaining NapaStyle!

Its the season for festivities and with that comes lots of entertaining! Diwali, Thanksgiving, Christmas and so much more.....
How are you gearing up and preparing for all of it?? I am loving these tabletop ideas and decor accessories from NapaStyle. Click here to view their entire collection and you might just love them as much as I do :-)

Would love to know which one is your favorite??

Have you signed up for the Ikat handbag Giveaway?? I have extended the Giveaway deadline till Sunday, September 25th. Click here to enter your name!

Images: via

Hello Monday!

Hello there!! I had a productive weekend and that makes me happy, content and ready for the week ahead! Friday I had dinner with some close friends and it was wonderful. Hubby stayed home and managed the kids while I enjoyed some quality time with my friends! Saturday.....hmm...I might as well let you know.....remember the aqua lamp I bought recently? Well, I drove back to the antique store and bought it's pair. This one is a lovely red!! I thought I will be sensible and not buy it but after two days of thinking about it.....I finally gave in! I got an amazing deal on both, so it helps ease the guilt :-)

Sunday of course, is a day for running errands. I have a long list of things to do before the Harvest Festival in Oct. Luckily, I got a few important things done this weekend. Most importantly, I found a canopy for my booth at the fair. Okay....now I know I am boring you with the mundane details of my weekend.....but hey it is my  shop's "debut" at the Harvest Festival and I can't help but be nervous!!!!

Join me for a cup tea and enjoy the week ahead...

Here is a shot of my new "red" lamp :-) The antique dealer gave me a few more details about it. It is from the 1920's and from Spain.  Don't you think it has a Moorish look to it?? I like to think so :-)

I do hope you have entered my Giveaway! An Ikat handbag might be heading your way soon :-)

Images: My home

Linking up with the Weekly Story at Colours Dekor!

Friday and Fall....

TGIF!!Hurrah for the weekend! Its been awfully quiet around the house the past few days. I am so looking forward to having everyone home! The weather has changed and autumn is here! Its getting cooler and fall is upon us.......

It is such a gorgeous time of the year. This is a shot of a tree I took last fall very  close to home!


Have a wonderful weekend and don't forget to sign up for my Giveaway!! A lovely blue Ikat could be yours very very soon :-)

Image: Anuradha Varma

A Summer to remember..........

Its beginning to feel a lot like Fall in my part of the world! As summer fades away........I think back to what a glorious summer it has been. My parents were visiting us from India and they left yesterday. The house was buzzing with activity all through the summer break. Friends and relatives visited us from near and far. There was endless cooking (mostly by mom) I can take no credit :-).....then there were day trips and longer road trips, barbeque's, shopping and endless chatting (my favorite part). My doorbell rang incessantly as kids dropped by to play. The park in front of my house was packed with kids enjoying the sunshine......oh! I could go on endlessly...... but you get the picture, right?? In the midst of all this my mom and dad  helped me reorganise and de clutter my house!! Thank God for parents :-)

I especially enjoyed all the trips we made...to the Lavender festival in Sequim, WA, the drive up to Hurricane ridge, the Canadian Rockies, Victoria, the numerous ferry boats and the incredible sunsets.....

Here is a snapshot of my summer.............and those unforgettable memories!

All images: Anuradha Varma. These images are copyrighted, please be courteous and DO NOT COPY!!

Joining the paty at Somewhat Simple, And then She Snapped.

Ikat rage and a Giveaway!!

As promised I have a Giveaway today in honor of my 500th post. A big thank you once again to all my readers for making this journey fun and memorable :-) The Ikat rage continues in the design world.....and my giveaway today has splashes of Ikat in blue :-)


The Giveaway is a blue Ikat crescent shaped Hobo from Tignanello. I have a similar bag and decided to get another one to share with one of my readers!! Now for the most exciting part....this giveaway is open to readers WORLDWIDE!! I will ship internationally so come and join the fun!

Now, for the other details......you have four chances to enter this Giveaway:

The First entry :

If you like what you see follow my blog and leave me a comment. If you are already a follower, just leave a comment. Please note if you don't have a blog then please leave your email address.

Second Entry:

Follow my Dream Canvas on Facebook!

Third Entry:

Tweet about this giveaway and let me know.

Fourth Entry:

Announce this giveaway on your blog and let me know.

I shall announce the winner on Sunday, September 25th. Good luck my friends!! You are going to love this stunning Ikat bag :-)

A big thank you once again.....

Linking up with A Beach Cottage, Savy Southern Style.

Aqua love :-)

Hello there!! Today I am sharing my new found Aqua love :-) Are you wondering what the first picture is ?? It is my brand new lamp.  I found it at a local antique store and I am super pleased about it :-) The lamp is from the mid 20th century. The antique dealer has promised to send more information about the lamp and I can hardly wait.


I saw it and simply fell for it! It is big, bold and dramatic. I just loved the color and the look..... I had no clue where it would go or how it would look in my home. However.......I can say I am rather pleased with the latest addition to my living room. A big thank you to hubby, mom and dad who needed very little convincing and urged me to buy it :-)

An aqua glow.........

 The cushions, I think, add a dash of color and go well with the lamp......

 

A shot of the entire room.....still not sure about the rug.....but for now I am smiling:-) Here's wishing you an awesome week ahead. I have not forgotten about the Giveaway. I am working on it and it shall be up soon...
 

Images: Anuradha Varma. Please do not copy.

Joining the party at Colours Dekor, Homemakers on a Dime, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, A Beach Cottage, Savy Southern Style. Trendy Treehouse, Shabby Creek Cottage, Somewhat Simple, My Romantic Home, French Country Cottage

Weekend wishes...

I am in love with the sunsets here in the Pacific Northwest. Edmond is a quaint town about 20 minutes drive from our house.  Here the views of the water, the incredible sunsets and the numerous ferry boats make for a magical evening.....


Have a lovely weekend my friends!!

Image: Anuradha Varma.

An Etsy Find...

Here is a lovely  jhumka (earring) that I just found on Etsy, at a lovely store called Jhumkas.  Aren't they pretty? It is the perfect look for the upcoming Diwali festivities. Growing up in India.....the countdown to Diwali meant numerous parties and lots of excitement! My cousins, friends and I spent a good amount of time discussing what to wear :-) It was always a lot of fun dressing up for Diwali.

Nostalgia is setting in as I recall those lovely childhood memories of Diwali and the festivities that surround it. The twinkling lights.......the delicious food, the fireworks......the endless laughter and being surrounded by family and friends!

For my readers here in the US....think of it as Christmas, Thanksgiving and July 4th.....all rolled into one :-) It is simply wonderful!!

Image: via:  Jhumkas

Croatia beckons...

Croatia.....another destination on my wish list! Somehow, I feel I will get there soon :-) Wishful thinking maybe......and yet the desire to travel is deep rooted within me so I can say someday!!!

As a couple "Mr S" and I share a common love....the passion to explore new places! Fortunately we did manage to travel extensively over the years.......so I cannot complain :-) I am not heading off to Croatia anytime soon and yet I can imagine myself there! Join me as I drool over this Mediterranean styled farmhouse close to the seaside resort of Crikvenica.

The owners left their stressful life in Germany to move here with their two children. Sigh!! What an utterly gorgeous way to live!

 

Images: via