Good morning! As spring makes its way towards me, I have the desire to redecorate and de-clutter. In winter, I tend to display more things around my home and in spring, I feel the urge to clear them out. Does that sound crazy to you:)
I like to update my home for the season. Each space in my home has a few permanent elements and some that are temporary. For this reason I am very partial to a neutral palette for my furniture and my walls. I only need to change the pillows, add some plants and a few accessories to give the room a new look!
For Winter and Fall I like everything warm and cozy with a lot of layers. For Spring and Summer I like to remove the extra rugs on the floor, reduce the accessories and try and make the space look more breezy and open!
I strive towards making "my dream canvas" clean, refreshing, light and tranquil. I am trying to attack the clutter in my home. It is taxing work but rewarding. While, I am trying to clean the home on the surface, I am also attacking my closets, shelves and drawers :) Sigh! I am going to be working for a long long time.....
Do you have some ideas on how to effortlessly transition into spring?
The light this morning was just brilliant. I could not resist taking a few pictures to share you. I have switched to lighter curtains, added more house plants and reduced
the pillows around the house! Of course, I have added a new berber pillow:)
Images; My Dream Canvas! Subject to Copyright
Hello there! I could not let March end without hosting our first ever SALE at The Shop At My Dream Canvas! This month we celebrate two birthdays, yours truly and my little store:) To celebrate, and to thank you for your constant loyalty, encouragement and support, we have a one week sale going on at the store just for you!
Make sure you stop by and get what you want :) Remember these are one time buys and truly one of a kind!
Have fun Shopping :) Click Here to be directed to the store!
Its a cold dreary day in my part of the world! However, I am clapping my hands in glee looking at these gorgeous suzani pillows from Uzbekistan which are listed on The Shop At My Dream Canvas!
"Suzani" as you might know means needlework, but to most collectors, the word has a more specific meaning. "suzani" is synonymous with embroidery from Uzbekistan, in Central Asia. In recent years, there has been a remarkable revival of this old traditional art form. We are so excited to have these beauties as part of our collection!
Find them here!
Images: My Dream Canvas!
What is vintage?
This has been a question at the back of my mind for a few years. I have been fortunate that I have had the opportunity to use family heirlooms as part of my decor for years. Not all my heirlooms can be called "vintage or "antique" but quite a few of them can! For me, the attachments to these pieces are purely sentimental. They have very little to do with their current value. However, I have always been intrigued and fascinated with objects from a bygone era. What can I say, objects from my Grandparents' time and older fascinate me way more than ones from my parents' time :) My quest to know more about my heirlooms motivates me to do research on the Internet and read books about them. There are times that I have stumbled upon information that shows that some of the items I own have a ton of history and value. Some, don't. This process is becoming a hobby and I love it :)
The same thirst for antiques and vintage finds has been my inspiration for the "Antique Store finds at The Shop At My Dream Canvas." I have inadvertently used terms like vintage and antique in the past, but I try not to do so today unless I have evidence of the provenance. It has always been my endeavor to trace the history of each product that I list. I do my research online. I also grill the antique store owner while purchasing the product!
Off late, I am dismayed by the use of the term "vintage " across the blogging world and on other social media platforms! The Indian brass products sourced for "My Dream Canvas" are certainly not vintage or even old for that matter! They may draw inspiration from a different era but cannot be sold as a vintage item or as an antique. The style may bring out an old world charm but that is about it. Similarly, the silver toned items listed are not silver but a type of metal designed to give it a silver look. Please do yourself a favor and look carefully before you buy. The term vintage is being used frequently by businesses and online stores to give you the illusion that you are buying something old and valuable! So called "vintage textiles" and vintage products are everywhere and the term is being seriously misused!
At my end, I shall persevere to find out the history and vintage of the products that I source from antique stores and flea markets. If you are a buyer, feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions! MDC wants to curate a beautiful collection for you. A collection that you will cherish through out your life :)
During my research on the term vintage, I came across this article in Apartment Therapy which gives a pretty clear insight into this topic. I am sharing a few lines with you...........
"If antiques are things that are 100 years old or older, what are vintage pieces? The definition of vintage is trickier. According to Merriam Webster, the term vintage relates primarily to wine and is an altered form of the French word vendage, meaning "the grapes picked during a season." One of its secondary definitions is "a period of origin or manufacturee" (e.g. a vintage 1960s Mercedes) or "length of existence: age." Ruby Lane provides a much more helpful explanation, noting that "an item described as 'vintage' should speak of the era in which it was produced. Vintage can mean an item is of a certain period of time, as in "vintage 1950's" but it can also mean (and probably always should) that the item exhibits the best of a certain quality, or qualities, associated with or belonging to that specific era. In other words, for the term vintage to accurately apply to it, an item should be somewhat representational and recognizable as belonging to the era in which it was made." Ruby Lane also suggests that 'vintage' should not be used in reference to objects less than 20 years old"
What are your feelings on this topic? I would love to hear your views?
Image: My Dream Canvas
Tea time and day dreaming has been key to the story of My Dream Canvas! I day dream as I sip my cup of tea....I dream of far away places, and ponder over all the things I am grateful for!
My fascination for all things tea makes me hunt for tea treasures all over the world and here at home :) The Shop At My Dream Canvas has a sweet little collection of kettles. The teapots below are flea markets finds just for you. They are the perfect blue teapots for your wall :)
How do you make your tea time special?
The Shop At My Dream Canvas has a new feel to it!
Make sure you take a peek :)
Images: Shop At My Dream Canvas
There are some images that speak for themselves and need no explanation :) With Spring around the corner, this Moroccan inspired backyard soiree is just my kind of thing:) Featured on Style Me Pretty Living, I had a tough time choosing images to share with you. I am going to file this away in my inspiration folder to drool at them every now and then!
Here, we have been in the midst of a windstorm, the endless rain and howling winds are getting on my nerves!
Just looking at these images I feel relaxed and happy :) My own little escape from reality!
What about you?
Images: via
Hello there! I warn you, be prepared for a long post today :) A few days ago, I was chatting with a friend who is keen to start a blog. She asked me to give advice, share my experiences with MDC. While talking to her, I realized that there is so much that has happened since I began blogging in March 2009. Highs and lows, ups and downs but mostly an incredible journey!
My Dream Canvas happened quite by accident! My daughter was a few months old. I had made the choice to be home with my kids. While, I was enjoying this phase in my life, I missed my old job and all my travels immensely. I had always enjoyed writing and taking pictures, so my two pastimes came together to create My Dream Canvas!
Growing up as an army brat, decor has been a part of my entire life! My mom took immense pride in doing up the house". Our homes ranged from rambling mansions to tiny one room apartments. Each place was so different, and yet so similar. It always had mom's touch :) I remember all the homes looked warm, pretty and cozy! Today, as I live thousands of miles away, I want to bring that feeling here with me. For myself and for my family! To personalize my home, I weave my memories into my decor! Its as simple as that! As the years pass, we simply keep adding and layering it, to reflect who we are today!
The Shop At My Dream Canvas started because a few people told me that they liked the stuff I picked out for my home :) A simple idea that led to the creation of the online boutique which is my pride and joy! Every item in the store is personally curated by me and my mom. Today, I have stuff from India and a few other countries coming in. To add to that, I have plunged into the world of antiques and flea market finds. The response has been fantastic!
Recently, I found this image of a Dream Canvas "find" on Instagram. Priya has been a customer for a few years. She has amazing talent and a fabulous Instagram feed. She is a business Analyst by profession and in her words : an artist by compulsion" Do check her out on Instagram and visit her Etsy store! You will see what I mean!
Priya painted this wooden tray and placed an MDC find on it:) The brass fish ( soap dish) stole many hearts including mine :)
In her words "All my buys from MDC has been lovely"
I was thrilled to see my little fish so beautifully styled by Priya!
A big thank you to all of you who read this blog and make something from The Shop At My Dream Canvas a small part of your lovely home:)
You guys are the best :) Happy Friday and big virtual hugs coming you way.
I plan to do a series shortly on MDC products in people's homes!! Stay tuned....
Image: via
The vintage madness continues at The Shop At My Dream Canvas :)
Here is a quick update :) Browse The Shop At My Dream Canvas and find your treasure :)
Keep on Smiling!
Images: via
There are some images of homes that stay in your inspiration folder for that perfect day you want to blog about it :) This is the home of designer Madison Cox in Tangier! I have always really like this space! The home has a layered and collected look without being over stuffy! Of course the blooming flowers around and the vast expanse of sea outside the home certainly adds to the charm!
What do you think?
I am having a busy time coping with the store! Ah! The joys and sorrows of being a small business! In my case lets call it super small :) Also on the mommy front, my ten year old heads to camp for three days next week. What can I say, he has never left home and this is a bid deal for me! Sigh! I am like a mad woman trying to get everything organized for him! Yes, he is probably going to be that kid who has an over stuffed bag filled with gazillion things he does not need :) Lets not forget the instruction sheet I have ready for him as well :)
I am off to juggle my job an an entrepreneur and an anxious mommy!! See you around :)
Images by Oberto Gili for The New York Times via This is Glamorous
Hello All! Here's a quick update from The Shop At My Dream Canvas. Some shiny new vintage finds are now in stock at my little store :) Click here for prices and details on the products. Please click on the top left where it says "products" to view all the items.
These are one of a kind vintage finds and therefore they will not be available once its sold out!
Images: Shop At My Dream Canvas
Have you heard of The English Table? I am like a kid in a candy store ever since I stumbled upon this side! Their collection of goodies for the kitchen and the home is so beautiful. You have to check it out. I warn you, you could be here a while :)
Browse the site here! The best part they offer International shipping!
