S n i p p e t  *  18      A    C o l o r f u l    P u z z l e

Text: Divya Agrawal

Ever since the days started getting shorter these past few months, all color has been welcome to add more cheer to the now gorgeous, balmy afternoons.

And given how beautifully colorful this picture is, how could we not share this with you?

Very tricky at a glance, isn't it!

"Somebody In The Window" © Alessandro Rovelli

From the town of Le Treport, in the Normandie region of France. Wow! What a flourish of lovely tiled roofs, dormer windows and french balconies. 

Wish we could be there :)

T W I N K L E   T W I N K L E...

Text: Hina Nitesh
 

As your bright and tiny spark,

Lights the traveller in the dark.

Though I know not what you are,

Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

How I wonder what you are...

So goes the popular nursery rhyme and as we set to celebrate Christmas, how can we not talk about the S T A R S. The post that follows is a collection of stars... in our homes and on our beings. 

Below are some stars that we found perfect for this festive season. Hope you will like them too.                 

Image Courtesy: BohemianFindings at www.etsy.com

Image Courtesy: PuebloAndCo at www.etsy.com

I particularly loved these crocheted stars with such vibrant colours...

Image Courtesy: 4 lil beans on Etsy.com

Image Courtesy: Easy Nadia Patterns at www.etsy.com

Glass gives these stars an ethereal quality. They look as delicate as they probably are

Image Courtesy: SueSueSueCrafts at www.etsy.com

Image Courtesy: Beachy1 at www.etsy.com

Image Courtesy: LuxeGlassCompany at www.etsy.com

Image Courtesy: MapleApple at www.etsy.com

Graphically stars are represented in many ways and when it comes to the pattern being used in a product there are no limitations. 

Image Courtesy: arSFhomedecor at www.etsy.com

Image Courtesy: GlitterAndMasonJars at www.etsy.com

Image Courtesy: AtlanticCarpentry at www.etsy.com

Image Courtesy: KissaDesign at www.etsy.com

Image Courtesy: QuiltedCorner at www.etsy.com

Image Courtesy: Sparkyshoneyandmaple at etsy.com

As we end this post, we hope that the stars that you dream of reaching will be another step closer in the new year.

Wish you a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year 

Team OTDB.

Text & creative layout copyrights: Onthedesignboat   

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M o r e    i n    o u r    E t s y    s h o p !

Cool, breezy block printed shirts, full and half sleeves, with some eye catching detailing; in line with our philosophy of using indigenous textiles. 

Check out these latest offerings on our Etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/onthedesignboat

Image: On the Design Boat

Our Khadi shirts have garnered appreciation for their design, detailing and workmanship. 

We recently shipped one to Norway!

Image: On the Design Boat

Snippet*17  W O O L  for  S U M M E R

Text: Hina Nitesh

If I were to tell you that wool can be used for summer clothes, you will surely not believe me. But, I am not playing a prank. Rahul Mishra, the first non European recipient of the International Woolmark Prize has used merino wool to make clothes for summer.

The finely woven fiber comprises 90% wool and 10 % silk. The result is a sheer fabric which won the designer the honor.

Image Courtesy: www.arabia.style.com

The tree of life in yellow embroidered on the white background is one of the popular dresses in the collection. The embroidery in wool yarn for this collection was done by craftsmen in West Bengal and Chanderi

Image Courtesy:www.strandofsilk.com

'I wanted to change the notion that wool is a winter fabric'

Rahul Mishra

You can see more works from the designer at 

https://www.facebook.com/RahulMishra.in

Text & creative layout copyrights: Onthedesignboat   

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 R e a l   a n d   M y t h i c a l  -   A n    A r t i s t ' s P l a y

Text: Divya Agrawal

Artists's sketch books are a delight to peruse. 

They are a window to thought processes, a chronology of artistic evolution; a repository of ideas and inspirations. 

The canvases of our featured artist today, Betsy Walton, give one a feel of delving into such a treasure. Walton is a Portland, Oregon based illustrator & painter and her work portrays life in its multi hued mystery. One sees an abundance of motifs and forms in her work.

"Many of my paintings and drawings explore the tension and balance between the mysterious nature of our existence and the objects and environments we find in everyday life. My style is informed by a range of influences including Byzantine icon paintings, American folk art, geometric abstraction, and the work of many contemporary illustrators and painters." Betsy Walton on escapeintolife.com

 

 

Betsy's interests include "undersea exploration, psychology, mythmaking, and being in the present moment". littlepaperplanes.com

These interests are reflected in her illustrations which are replete with motifs of marine flora and mythical figures.

Betsy's grasp on color is intense. Her choice of palette captivates the viewer, pulling one into the complex maze of her imagination.

Betsy's work is special - it emanates the sensibility of a child coupled with the depth and grasp of a skilled storyteller.

"I work with a spontaneous approach and few expectations of specific results. I rarely sketch preliminary drawings before diving into a painting, in the belief that the image formed through the painting process itself will be rich, revealing, and vital." Betsy Walton on escapeintolife.com

Betsy's canvasses are like storybooks - I have enjoyed reading and interpreting them. Hope you have too!

Betsy's original artworks are available for purchase here. She also exhibits in the US and internationally.

All Images: Copyright Betsy Walton

Text & creative layout copyrights: Onthedesignboat   

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S n i p p e t * 16       W i n d o w   t o   m y   W o r l d

Text: Divya Agrawal

Snippets have been OTDB's design filled treats to our readers. 

After a year of bringing 'snippety' design from around the world to you, we've decided to expand the scope to include visuals that let you a peak into our, Divya and Hina's world!

The first in this series :)

 

A circular fenestration offers many possibilities, especially when it is a 5 feet diameter! 

After toying with the idea of a stained glass panel, I designed this window to hold my collection of ceramics, created over many years, and, books.

One of my favorite look-outs in our abode and the one that inspires me to draw, paint, design and create more!

Image: Divya Agrawal

S C U L P T E D ...

Text: Hina Nitesh
 

'A small cave, the kind of place where you feel comfortable, cozy

and protected from the harsh realities outside'

Grotto – definition (www.vocabulary.com)

A Sketch of the Grotto

The banks of Lake Huron on Bernyk Island, north of Toronto have been voted by the National Geographic as one of the best sunset sites in the world. The calm and peaceful site, dotted with large scale prehistoric rock formations, seems naturally designed for relaxation. So, it was perfect when Canada-based, architecture firm Partisans was asked to design a sauna here.

The majestic sunset

The architects were inspired by the concept of a Grotto – 'a cave embedded behind the curvature of streams, and thus discovered by those who would take the time to explore'. The 75 sqm structure posed a challenge for the architects as they had to not only respect the sensitive nature of the context but also respond to it.  

A large part of this free standing structure was prefabricated and brought to the site by a boat

The carefully thought of design offers unobstructed views and enhances the experience of the majestic sun set. Due to its specific properties, wood was chosen as the medium of expression. The design comprises simple panels of wood on the exteriors which blend in with the rugged rocks. 

Sky light brings in natural light

Drama unfolds as one enters the sauna and encounters sinuous organic curves flowing into one another forming the seating, the openings and the space. The interiors contrast with the rustic exteriors, transporting the visitors to a totally different place.

Organic curves help the spaces flow into one another

Cedar wood has been used for the interiors because of its resistance to rot, aroma, color and possibility of local sourcing. Adequate ventilation in the form of openings and fans have been provided to allow the building to breathe. Energy efficiency has been incorporated wisely throughout the design. Aluminum foil is placed between the wood panels and the surface on which they are mounted. 

Vents in the interiors allow the wood to breathe

As the architects explain, 'This allows for the wood to expand and contract evenly with even heat movement all around. The space behind the wood panels created convection currents that allow the skin to breathe through the ventilation pores that were carved into seats and seams of the cedar panels.'

Attention to details Image courtesy: www. designboom.com

The design is a reflection of the client's wish to have a space, '...that each time they enter it, it’s almost as if they’re rediscovering the space for the first time.'

Cut outs in the facade offer unobstructed views

All Images: Copyright Partisans unless specified otherwise

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S n i p p e t * 15 - A  P a p e r  H e r i t a g e

Text: Hina Nitesh

Photo Courtesy: www.abrandmadeofglitter,com

For over 1300 years, the traditional Japanese craftsmen have been making a special paper with the bark of the mulberry tree. Known as Washi, the process used for making the paper is known to master craftsmen who have inherited it from their parents. 

Warmth, flexibility, strength and translucency are associated with the paper. Washi is used for calligraphy and for making screens, room dividers and sliding doors.

Modern techniques used today for making paper are quickly replacing the traditional process. But it is thanks to the skilled Washi craftsmen that the paper is still alive and the old knowledge is not lost.

The good news for paper makers involved with Washi production is that it has recently been included in the UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage items.

W h e n    M i n d   m e e t s    M a c h i n e

Text: Divya Agrawal

Sewing has been a hobby of mine since long. 

As a child I would make soft toys, gathering patterns from magazines and the odd TV show (those were  pre-internet days) and tiny jackets and dresses for my dear dolls. The transformation of scraps of fabric into something with beauty and utility mesmerized me then and continues to so. 

The world of textile art is vast and magical. One can see textures, pattern and color woven across a collage of materials. Today's feature offers a peak into this world through the works of a textile artist, Sarah Walton.

Sarah is an artist extraordinaire.  She deftly manoeuvers thread with a sewing machine, over  a strategically placed patchwork of fabrics to create portraits and scenes from daily life. 

Sarah works with eye-catching, beautifully patterned fabrics and places them just right in her compositions.

These portraits also point to Sarah's fine grasp over translating human form across mediums and an eye for balance and detail.

These pieces could pass off for the works of a costume designer! I particularly like the lady in blue trousers.

A self portrait?

Exquisite detailing in the pieces above.

Sewing machine - Sarah's tool for expressing the artist within!

Some more happy moments on Sarah Walton's canvas.

We sure will be on the look out for more works from Sarah. Meanwhile, should you feel like adorning a wall in your home with Sarah's work, you may visit her Etsy shop here.

She also does commissions. You may get in touch with her here.

All Images: Copyright Sarah Walton

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