The Healing Magic of Arts & Colors

Anyone who knows me all knows how much I love colors & anything that looks, feels happy and cheeruful (like my favorite cartoon character - Rainbow Brite & Care bears haha) so when I saw the photo of this chair I was instantly charmed by this colorful & stylish design .... but after learning more about the story behind it, I was more than charmed... I was truly INSPIRED!

It all started out when an pediatrician name Sidney at Cook Children's hospital in Ft. Worth, TX. Who saw this Australian Vogue Living magazine's editorial, thought it would be a great idea to buy and old chair, have it re-done in plain canvas, then let children loose on it with sharpies to share their own ideas and inspirations. It was obvious from the beginning that this would be a wonderful way to raise money for children's charities. Sidney had initiated the idea that Cook Children's hospital was in need of a palliative care program, and now that this program is well underway, she is still involved in fundraising.

The chair certainly became more exciting and meaningful when some of the young patients helped to design it... loving the mix of children's artwork with the formal chair. Such a wonderful way to raise money for the children's charity - an important Palliative Care Program. The Palliative Care team helps the children with symptom and pain relief, and also provides much needed psychological and spiritual support for the children, their siblings, and parents during these difficult times.

The team consists of physicians, nurses, social workers, child life specialists, psychologists, and spiritual leaders...which unfortunately is not adequately funded by insurance companies. The chair is one of the items that will be auctioned off to raise money for the Palliative care program at the hospital.

The chair project started with Cook Children's hospital to let some of their patients design a chair. Here are photos of the kids at work.

Without any artistic traing ( of course not because they are all young kids haha) it's just amazing to see how they use their creatives minds and imaginations to mix unexpected color combinations to create this fabulous piece of art!

Even tho each kids are all with life threatening illness and going through intensive treatments, it's amazing to see the inner world of theirs is still this colorful, happy place, filled with rainbows, flowers and magic!

Here is the finished product!!! (4 coats of clear lacquer were applied to seal the chair and protect the artwork. It also gives the chair a rich deep shine) Bellissimo !

BIG Cheers to all the wonderful creative people involved in this charity project!

We often got lost in our busy lives and forgot to count our blessings! How fortuned we are to have good health, friends & family who loves & cherish us and just be able to wake up each morning to start a brand new beginnings is just amazing! So let this beautiful "Feel good chair" story inspire us to be thankful of what we have and to help others who is less fortuned than us! because after all, we can all be a "Channel for Grace" to share our love & shine some lights onto others!

Here are two of my favorite charities that I work with often, why not check out their website and see how a little donation of money, time or even shop at their online store can help those terminally ill children's wishes come true!

Click above photo to visit Make a wish foundation official website

Click above photo to visit Make a wish foundation official website

Until next time, think of something to be thankful in your life and pass on the love & light to others!

XOXO

Alan + Mei-Mei the pug :-)

~ Stuff launching and happening ~

Meera Dabir

From designing and making props for movie sets, to creating magic on the walls of homes and establishments of many high profile clients in India, to now doing a masters in design in London - Meera is clearly in pursuit of creative happiness! When she started in India 10 years back, she used what ever paints and pigments were available and experimented with and invented her own techniques and colour concoctions, making sure that effect looks organic. Steering clear of the commercial synthetic effects, such as walls mottled using a spray gun, she aims for effect that is well blended and subtle and looks like as if there were worlds lurking beneath the surface - like an abstract painting; not like a pig dressed up for the county fair! She firmly believes that the thing with building colourscapes, is like poetry - it's all about feeling.

You can see more of Meera's work here, and if you would like to engage her services as an artist/designer, or consult with her, send her an email

Hayan Maani

Hayan Maani is a multi talented artist from Jordan, and his work covers a wide array of design directions -from paintings and calligraphy to logos and advertising, all within a journey of over 20 years. He firmly believes in the power of expression, individualism and originality. Take a look at his site for some incredible work of art, the bronze sculptures being my personal favorite.

Sonal Nathwani

Sonal's work reflects a blend of Asian and European influences and sensibilities. She was born in Malawi to Indian parents, and grew up in England, and polished her innate talent at a fine art course at the renowned Charles H. Cecil Studios in Italy. Take a look at her gallery to view her lovely paintings

Plum Pretty Sugar

Charlotte Mills runs and owns the brand of Loungerie (bedding, loungewear) called Plum Pretty Sugar. The fabrics and inspiration, both are from India. Her creations, specially the loungewear are deliciously dreamy and summery. You can buy these from her etsy shop.

The Loaded Trunk

Doesn't the name 'The Loaded Trunk' sound exciting? It reminds me of treasure hunts, and when I looked at Roni's online store, it was like a treasure hunt come true! Incredibly beautiful rugs, fabrics, art objects - all collected from different parts of the world, specially the orient. You have to go and take a look....and buy me a rug while you are at it ;-)

Roni: I'll be seeing you in six weeks. Give me a shout when you land in India!

The Style Saloniste

Dianne Dorrans Saeks, the very well known author of many design and style books, wrote a beautiful tribute to the legendary Rajmata Gayatri Devi, the incredibly beautiful and famous former maharani of Jaipur. The article is a fitting tribute to a princess who has been a symbol of Indian erstwhile royalty for the world. Thanks for sharing the article and your experiences, Dianne.

New blog alert : Mocca & Me

Interior inspiration from Netherlands, a blog written by Natascha Roobol. Click right here to get new insights and ideas for your home!

Rachel Leonard

Rachel is multi-talented person, writing a blog, making jewelry and also working on art projects. Her blog is very aptly named 'My Right Brain' :)

Gypsy Girl Guide

Alessandra de Souza is a photographer, writer and film producer with a 'gypsy' heart! Look through her beautiful site for her photographs, writing, and her exciting adventure: Journey to Jordan along with Tara of Paris Parfait fame! Also take a look at her etsy shop for photographs from India..

3 Bees Paperie

Celebrate the upcoming festival of Eid and Diwali with beautiful cards from 3 Bees Paperie!

thank you for sharing your work and talent with me and my readers!

Designer Guns & Chainsaw For Gaudy Campy Tramps

Ok ok! We all have weakness for those fabulous goodies from our favorite designer brands and love treating ourselves with something pretty from their collections. But normal fashionistas like the most of us usually get a latest " it " bag, cashmere sweaters, shoes or sunglasses from our favorite designers, but if those items no longer tickle your fancies, then why not pick up these "Gaudy-Fab" items from the artist Peter Gronquist for his art exhibit "The Revolution will be Fabulous" in Los Angeles! So you can be shooting caribou in style! haha.... each weapon looks god-awful. That said, I'm sure they'll sell like hot cakes. Oh wait, they have.

I think my favorite Gaudy Weapon will be the CHANEL bazooka! haha

xoxo

Alan + Mei-Mei the pug

Couture Craziness - Fab or Drab?

We all loves those Couture houses in Paris! The beautiful beadings, hand-finished seams and hems, houndreds of hours to finish one garment ..... but as the economy gone bad worldwide, it's hard to see those couture houses we loved are closing it's doors or licensing their names to try to make it.








In the 80s and 90s there was an explosion of licensing agreements whereby fashion houses lent their name to all manner of operations producing lower value goods from perfume and eyewear to pens, scarves and watches, as a means of drawing in more income than ready to wear and Haute Couture could generate. As time has progressed and fashion houses have restructured and rebranded themselves, many of these residual licenses cause image headaches for brands, as they sap away at a brand's exclusivity and often bear little or no resemblance to the creative direction the current head designer is trying to set.




We have to admit to deriving a small amount of pleasure from knowing that while Christophe Decarnin is producing astronomically priced, trendy clothes that have celebrities and fashion editors alike seemingly enthralled, a company somewhere else is (legitimately) producing 'executive gift' Balmain pens which retail for around €38 and, to make not too fine a point of it, fail to conjure up the trashy rock glamour that Balmain so feverishly pushes season after season at the moment. And if pens aren't random enough for your liking, there are always Balmain hair extensions, also made under license:


Recently the bad news of my idol, Christian Lacroix has also filed bankrupcy, I really hope he won't be selling his name to some cheap licensing deals and see a "Lacroix presson nails" or a "Lacroix wig collections" !!

xoxo

Alan + Mei-Mei the pug

Wash away..

..your monday blues

...on a Tuesday morning

In bathrooms inspired by India.

[Image courtesy: Debi Treloar, Indenfor, Paul Massey Photography, Maryam]

You Got Mail!

Have you visited my new blog as yet? If not, let me ask you why. Why?

What is stopping you from clicking here right now, this very instant, and spreading your love (and some world peace while you are at it) at An Indian Summer Likes?

Do I hear nothing? [well, I do have selective hearing]. Alright then, go right ahead. Don't be shy. Click here!

:D...even before you tell me, filing this post under shameless self promotion...

On a more 'sober' note, Thank you all who have been visiting me and leaving me notes and sending me emails. Yes, tumblr commenting is a bit confusing to those of us used to other blogging platforms. So responding to your questions via this post: In tumblr, if you have an account, you can 'like' a post (the way you do in facebook), and also 'reblog' the post. But you do need to have an account for that. You will find these icons on the top right of any tumblr blogs' page once you create your own tumblr account. If you don't want to open a tumblr account, fret not! You can leave a comment via the disqus commenting system...and no, you don't need to have an account for that. Just click on the post heading (date/time in this case), and you will find the comment form.

Hope this helps! See you around soon :)

And while we are it, a big shout out to the growing An Indian Summer tribe on Facebook! It is really awesome to finally 'see' you. And of course 'An Indian Summer Gang' is going great guns...we are 15 short of hitting 300 followers as of right now. So hurry up, join in. I have always liked the number 300 :)

[Image from An Indian Summer Likes]

Dream a little dream...

for me

Sweet dreams till Morocco finds you

Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you

but in your dreams

whatever they be

dream a little dream for me

[Original: Dream a little dream of me: Mamas and Papas]

In these bedrooms...

Did you dream?

[Courtesy Bab Design]