♥ ♥ ♥ Handmade ♥ Heartfelt ♥ ♥ ♥
The "Urban Jungle" style is not new to décor, but I think it's worth remembering these days. We may need more than ever to incorporate the exterior into the interior of our homes , and this is the perfect trend to achieve it.With this style, the use of indoor plants goes up one more notch, becoming even excessive at times. As its name says, it almost consists of transforming your house into a kind of jungle . The vegetation and the green become owners and lords of the place without a doubt.Via My scandinavian homeIf so much green overwhelms you or bores you a little, you can always follow the philosophy of the trend but add some flowers . You will get some contrast, more color and variety. In addition, today they are very easy to obtain, there are even companies that deliver flowers to your home .Via Ok GirlsVia Cote maisonThis style of interior decoration is not only attractive and pleasing to the eye, but it is also beneficial for the health of our spaces and those of us who live in them. It is well known that plants at home purify the air and provide us with a natural flavoring . They can also serve us for many other aspects of the day to day if we have aloe vera (for example, since its utilities are almost infinite) or varieties that are used in the kitchen.Via Sophie RobinsonThere are many ways to follow the "Urban Jungle" trend , it is not simply to put plants in any way in every corner of the house. You can create some DIY (do it yourself) to hang pots, build vertical gardens, include the plants in the wallpaper on the wall ... Let's be green and creative!Via The interior editorNow that we have reviewed this very style of decoration, do you dare with the «Urban Jungle»?
Without going to those extremes, one of the biggest problems we find when decorating our floors is the size of the spaces. Locating a new sofa, a closet or a rug can become a real ordeal if the available space does not accompany us. So without further ado, let's get inspired with some ideas to decorate our mini-flats .1. Light, your ally Take advantage of all the light you can. Cross off large curtains and blackout shades from your list. Let the light fill your home and bring warmth and spaciousness. If you have a small and dark apartment , start by giving it light. 2. Mirrors and reflectionsIf your home doesn't have a lot of natural light, try placing mirrors in strategic spots. Mirrors will be very useful to you on a day-to-day basis and thanks to their reflections, you will achieve clarity in areas that previously lacked it. In addition, they will give you a more spacious feeling, it is the easiest way to increase a room (even if only visually).3....
The stamping stamps is one of the oldest techniques for textile printing world. Used widely throughout East Asia, it has been native to China since ancient times as a method of printing on tissue and paper.This technique was already used in the 7th century by the Chinese and was also very popular in India, where the cotton prints that popularized this practice on the European continent come from.Stamp printing uses blocks of wood with different shapes and carved patterns in relief that are then impregnated with dye to be applied on fabrics. In Africa, pumpkin carved stamps, used in Europe until the end of the 18th century, were popular. Today the possibilities are endless and even stamps are used that were not originally intended to print on textiles, as is the case with those made for scrapbooking, but which with the appropriate inks and procedures, are very effective when stamping on. these materials. Stamp printing has a long history. There are many different techniques, but essentially all of them are based on carving a material with a raised pattern that is covered in ink and transferred to fabric or paper. The carvings can be done in wood, linoleum or rubber. The stamps are first carefully prepared with a relief pattern that is carved out of the chosen material. For printing in several colors, different blocks are used, that is, one per color, playing to match the drawings or even sometimes overlapping them, producing different shades of color with the same impression.Just let your imagination fly and choose the design you want to print and of course the fabric to be used. The stamps can be acrylic, wooden or even make custom stamps, such as those that can be made in a few minutes using eva rubber . When choosing the fabric to be printed, it is important to take into account some factors, especially to ensure that the pattern is not damaged when the fabric is washed. Composite textiles containing at least 50% cotton or natural fabrics are recommended. Photos taken from: Google Images, Creative Commons LicenseTextile stamping with stamps is classic and has transcended time to be useful in different industries such as fashion. The steps to do so are simple and as long as they are followed properly, the results will be unbeatable.Put the textile ink on the base of the stamp. Stamp the stamp on the fabric.Remove the seal and allow to dry.Iron using a stick or thin cloth between the iron and the stamped and ironed drawing. Do this for 3 minutes so that the ink adheres very well. Do not use steam. It may seem like a manual and traditional process as it is extinct, but nothing is further from the truth. Stamping is one of the most common techniques even today in India, both accessories, garments and home textiles.
These are the keys to make confinement with your partner more pleasant.In principle, the possibility of spending more time with a partner should not displease anyone. However, when a prolonged coexistence is not chosen, but rather is the result of the confinement measures imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, our perspective changes. Life at home , once peaceful and balanced, becomes a source of stress and anxiety that we are not prepared to deal with. Here are some tips to help you make the best of your relationship during these uncertain times.1 . Establish rules of coexistence and schedules with your partnerBoth you and your partner need to remember that you both have work, friends, and commitments outside of the relationship. Do not expect that, overnight, he or she dedicates 24 hours of their day to you . The healthiest thing is to establish a coexistence schedule that marks some limits: what moments of the day will be dedicated to work or professional duties and which to having fun together?It is essential to respect these schedules. It also does not hurt to divide housework , this will avoid that only one of you carries the responsibility of maintaining order and cleanliness of the house.2. Avoid starting argumentsWhen we spend a lot of time with a person, it is normal that everyday behaviors that we have never noticed begin to bother us . Perhaps your partner has a bad habit of leaving his clothes on the floor or, perhaps, he is too fussy about cleaning.Whatever the case, every time his mania comes up, your patience diminishes and, little by little, you start to get the impression that you could explode… Stop there! Before you do or say something that you will later regret, take a breath and think a bit : is it really worth losing your mind over a question that you usually don't care about? If your answer is a resounding yes, then it is time to consider the next point.3. If there is something that really bothers you, say soThe foundation of any relationship is good communication. Expressing to your partner what inspires you about him or her, as well as what bothers you, is a fundamental step to maintain a healthy coexistence . This is especially true during these days of confinement at home: if you start to keep discomforts, it is most likely that at some point you will end up reprimanding in a non-assertive way. Don't be afraid to say what you feel .Living in confinement with your partner is not easy. However, with the right attitude, good communication and a bit of a cool head, living together at home should not cause stress.
With the arrival of new season, the need to renew the style of our home has gotten into our heads. However, the slope is becoming steeper than we remembered. Therefore, so that your whim does not evaporate with this month, we want to give you three tips to give your home a renewed style.Do not spend and renew the style of your homeIf you want to renew the style of your home without spending too much money, know that it is possible. After all, the reason why you want to modify the different aspects of your home is because the routine has ended up making it tedious. So why not make the change?Change the order of the furniture.Bring the hall to life.Change the pictures.Change the order of the furnitureThis detail is the most important. The living room is the place where we usually spend the time we have free. In addition, it is the one that gives us the best opportunities to modify the order. So it's time to roll up your sleeves and start playing.Move the furniture around. Modify which point is the focus. Turn the sense of the sofas. They are small details, but they will be enough so that, when entering it, the feeling is totally different.Bring the hall to lifeFirst impressions are always very important. Therefore, small variations in the hall entrance break with routine whenever you get home.If once you return from work, the feeling you find differs from the one that the routine has taught you, then it will be much easier for you to feel that everything is different.Change the picturesWhen the pictures of a home have been with us for a long time, they end up becoming invisible to our eyes. They are there, but it is as if they are not. They have been blended with the color of the walls.So a small change. Choosing a different one, which contrasts with the memory, will give you a new focus.These are the three tips that we want to give you in order to renew the style of your home without spending too much money. If you have been wanting to know more, we recommend that you take a look at our tips on decorating styles.
Striped fabrics, with geometric designs, bold, discreet prints, with warm, cold, dark colors ... etc. We have a whole range to dress the house with different fabrics for the home but first we must recognize all its characteristics to understand the world of home textiles.Understanding the fabrics for decoration , the different types of tapestries or the world of curtains is a must to know how to decorate a house with fabrics and that the result is satisfactory.Through the weaving industries, fabrics are manufactured through the union of fibers and threads in different media, finishes, colors, materials and processes in a traditional or industrial way. Distinguishing between them is a difficult choice when practicing decorating with fabrics when the different characteristics are not known, so we are going to review some key points of interest.Origin of the fabric and historyBefore the fibers of artificial origin such as polyester or nylon that are widely used in the sector of fabrics for decoration , there were those of animal origin such as cotton or linen, which were the most used in the 20th century for the manufacture of fabrics.Some materials have been used throughout history to make textile fabrics such as in the Crusade era that used byiso (very fine textured linen) or in China more than 6000 years ago and which used hemp for their manufacture.Great inventors developed innovative ideas about textiles over the years using different technologies such as the Frenchman Joseph-Marie Jarcquard, invented a loom with perforated cards in 1801, Wasimoto Tajima who invented the first embroidery machine in Japan in 1962 or Andrés Murillo who used the fabrics as carpeting or upholstery in the home in 1996.Composition of fabrics and fibersIn the manufacture of ecological fabrics, organic fibers obtained from cultivation are used without synthetic fungicides, pesticides or inorganic fertilizers, so they fully respect the environment.Among the genres that compose it, they have two types of fibers, such as natural ones with animal origin (llama, cashmere, silk), vegetable (Manila, hemp, cotton). And artificial with regenerated fibers (viscose), synthetic with chemical compounds (polyester) or minerals (asbestos).Types of fabrics and fabricsAlthough we have a varied range in the classification of fabrics and types of fabrics , composition and cleaning. Among the different fabrics, a distinction is made between its composition or raw material that forms it. The types of fabric for decoration represent a great field in versatility, not only in material, but also in the technology with which they are manufactured. Example home fabric rollersDry cleaning: They are some fabrics rich in silks, sophisticated and resistant for upholstery or curtains such as brocade (silver or gold threads), moiré (satin silk in the shape of water) or chintz (satin cotton with a face polished with resin).Hand wash: They are the most delicate and some stand out for their rustic appearance, such as burlap fabric (jute or bast), for curtains such as cambric (cotton or linen), tulle (mesh made of thread or cotton), originally from China such as shantung fabric (irregular wild silk) or with historical and literary patterned scenes (linen or cotton).Low temperature iron: They are distinguished in their labeling by the symbol of the iron with a single point on some fabrics such as corduroy (velvet with a weft), flannel (thick wool ideal for upholstery), tweed (soft wool with houndstooth and speck of color) or tartan (wool in the shape of a Scottish plaid).Machine wash: They are the most resistant to washing home fabrics such as chenille (very common in upholstery and with a velvety appearance), ottoman (thick shiny silk), piqué (cotton with geometric patterns in relief).Tips for buying fabricsUsing a number of patterns and complementary colors in fabrics can create harmony between the different areas of a room and give continuity to the rooms in the home. We leave a few tips and ideas for decorating with fabric:Decorate with coordinated fabricsGeometric designs, stripes, patterns, and solid colors can work together to give a room style and appeal. Fabric manufacturers make it easy to coordinate by designing groups of drawings, different fabric prints, and complementary solid colors that can be used in any combination.If you want to decide on the coordination, it is advisable to unroll the fabrics and compare them on both sides with natural light. Examine fabrics from various angles to judge design and color compatibility.Always choose the fabric from the same rollFabric rolls usually come in batches with different dyes, be careful!… To avoid problems with slight color variations or differences in the printing of the pattern, you must compare the fabrics for a single roll creation.Check the fabrics with drawings to make sure they are printed on the straight thread, this applies to all the ranges of decorative fabrics that we can use.Ask for a sample of fabrics in storesConsider where the fabric will be used and how it will blend with the other fabrics in the room. So you have to compare!Most stores have cutouts or swatches of the fabrics they sell for decoration. Sometimes, they let you take it for a short period of time, this option will give the opportunity to see the fabric in contrast with the others and with the light of the house, which can be very different from that of the store.If it is not possible to purchase a complete fabric swatch, it is advisable to order a sample from the roll or purchase a small piece before investing in a larger fabric cut.Tips for choosing fabric colorsNow it's time to give some useful advice in choosing the colors on the fabrics , it is useful to avoid wasting time or spending money in a consistent way:The colors that are already in the room. When shopping for fabric, a trick is to bring a small piece of paint from the room and a sample of the carpet or a small cushion if any.The wood tones in the room. The colors of the fabric can enhance the tones and richness of the wood.Color affects mood. Pastel shades, neutrals, and cool ones like blues and some greens are calming. Bright hues and warm colors like reds and yellows tend to stimulate. Dark colors create a cozy atmosphere.Colors alter perceptions. These appear darker in contrast to the light background, and lighter compared to dark surfaces. Warm colors make objects appear larger, while cool colors seem to move away. In general, avoid using strong colors in small rooms. We recommend reviewing the article of 11 tricks and ideas to paint walls that you have forgotten where there are several tips on color in rooms.Keep the room layout in mind. You may want to warm a cold room with warm tones or cool a warm room with light blue tones.Dirt stands out more on light tones than on dark ones.In the windows, pale colors diffuse light, while dark ones obstruct it. It is advisable to keep a length of fabric in the sunlight to see if the desired effect is achieved.Last, and most importantly, consider personal preferences. It is a matter of applying these tips and your own tastes to choose the colors and designs of the fabrics that beautify the home and reflect your personal style.As a note, from the article on color in architecture you will be able to see an App that will help you identify and save the color you like in an easy way with a simple photo.
About changing the sheets, everything has been said, from those who take the issue to the extreme and affirm that they should be changed every day, to those who make the change as long as possible.We are inclined to choose the day and the frequency depending on the circumstances of each person .Once a week during the winterIn winter, you sweat less at night, so your bedding lasts longer, fresh and clean . For most people one change a week is more than enough. This is especially so for those who have a habit of showering before going to bed.Air the bed daily, shake out the sheets and always make the bed before leaving home . This way, the sheets will be clean, fresh and will remain taut and stretched, which will make the feeling of getting into bed even more pleasant.If you like the smell of fabric softener that the sheets have when you wash them, you can prolong it using fresh bath water, preferably without alcohol. With a spray spray a small amount on the sheets before making the bed, and you will have that good-smelling feeling when you get into bed at night.What is the best day to change the sheets? This detail will depend on the customs of each person. For many, the weekend is when they are busy doing chores and putting in the washing machines, making it the best day. But if the custom is to put the washing machines during the week, then it will be the best time to make the change.Increase frequency in summerIn summer we all sweat more at night and that is why the sheets tend to stain more . As in addition, at this time of year clothes dry very easily, it is not lazy to change the bed more frequently.It is recommended to change the bed linen twice a week , for example on Sundays and Wednesdays. If you happen to sweat a lot on a particular night because it's too hot, an extra change can be made.One hundred percent cotton sheets are the coolest for summer and the ones that breathe the best . If you use them, the bed will be more pleasant and dry during the night, even when the heat makes us have the sensation of being melted in bed.The pillowcase, something very personalThe change of the pillowcases should be something independent of the change of the rest of the bedding . This is because most people sweat much more through the head than the rest of the body, especially when they sleep. This means that the pillow can have a smell or can even take on a certain tone of sweat.Changing the pillowcase will help increase the feeling of cleanliness when getting into bed. In order not to forget to change the pillowcases, buy several covers in a neutral tone, or to match your duvet cover. Get used to making the change on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays , so you will follow a constant order and you will never forget to change your pillowcases.Some people need to change their sleeves every day , during the summer . It does not have to be a problem and in the same way that we change our underwear, you can change the pillowcase to always have it clean and with a good smell, which will help to facilitate rest.To try to make the pillowcases last longer fresh, it is advisable not to cover them with the quilt , but to leave them in the air and turn the pillow every day.When hormones are revolutionizedThere are times in people's lives when body odor varies due to hormonal changes . This case usually happens during adolescence, in the passage from children to adults. The evolution that takes place in their bodies affects in all senses and, in addition, changes in smell also occur.If this is the case, you will have to change your bed more often when you sweat during the night. This type of reaction also occurs with adult women, when they reach the stage of menopause. Nighttime hot flashes can cause sheets to get soaked more often and need to be changed several times a week.In both cases and at least while the hormones do not stabilize, the exclusive use of 100% cotton sheets is recommended , which will help the bed to be drier and more pleasant at night.
The Raksha Bandhan (Hindi “Ties of Protection”) is a Hindu festival celebrating brother-sister relationships. It is celebrated on the full moon of the month of Shraavana, over July and August in the Gregorian calendar.The celebration is marked by the tie or tie of rakhi, or the union with a thread of the sister with the doll of her brother. Then the brother gives his sister a gift and makes the promise that he will take care of her. Traditionally, brothers and sisters feed each other on sweets.Examples of Rakhis used on the Raksha Bandhan holiday to place on the brothers' wristsThis does not only happen with blood brothers, but it is also done with adopted brothers, and even with cousins and good friends. Indian history is full of women asking for protection from men who were not their brothers or even Hindu. Rani Karnavati sent a rakhi (a thread) to the Mongolian emperor Humayun when she was threatened by Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. So Humayun abandoned the military campaign he was carrying out and went to his rescue.The rakhi can also be tied on other special occasions to show solidarity or affinity (not just between brothers and sisters), just as it happened during the movements for the independence of India.Bhai Tika Ritual, Raksha Bandhan in Pakistan, Nawab AfridiORIGINSThe origins of this festival are attributed to the following mythological incidents: Indra's fight with Vritra. Indra, the king of the gods, had lost his kingdom to the demon Vritra. At the orders of the guru Brihaspati, Sachi, Indra's wife tied a thread around her husband's wrist to ensure victory in the next duel. Draupadi and Krishna during Rajsuya yagva - After Shishupal's death, Krisna had her finger bleeding. Draupadi, the woman from Pandavas, took a silk son from her sari and tied it around Krishna's wrist to keep it from bleeding more. After this Krishna promised to return the favor. Many years later when Draupadi was to be disgraced because she was to be shown naked in front of the entire court by her evil stepbrother Duryodhana, she called on Krishna to help her. So did Krishna and then she stretched her saree so long that it was impossible for her to take it off.RANI KARNAWATI AND THE EMPEROR HUMAYUNOne of the oldest origins of the Raksha Bandhan, in documented history, dates back to the medieval era. During this period the Rajputs fought against the Muslim invaders.During this time Rakhi was a spiritual symbol associated with the protection of the sisters. According to the story when Queen Karnawati, the widow of the then King of Chittor, realized that she could not defend the invasion of the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, she sent a rakhi to Emperor Humayun.The emperor, moved by the gesture, accepted the rakhi considering Queen Karnawati as a sister and immediately left with his huge troops to give him protection.Celebrating Raksha BandhanTHE RAKSHA BANDHAN CELEBRATION IN INDIAWhile the Raksha Bandhan is celebrated around the whole country, the different places of it mark different forms of celebration. These celebrations take place the same day, although in some places they do not give importance to the theme of rakhi.Perhaps the most important way to celebrate Raksha Bandhan is when rakhi is tied. The sister ties a rakhi to her brother's wrist. This means that she asks for your protection and love. The brother must accept the rakhi and confirm his love and affection for his sister by offering him gifts and money. After this the whole family celebrates it with a feast.It is a family celebration where all its members who dress in their best clothes participate.Rakhi PurnimaThis is how the Raksha Bandhan is called in North and Northwest India. The word "purnima" means full moon night.Nariyal PurnimaIn western Inida and parts like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa, this day is known as Nariyal Purnima. During this day an offering of coconuts (nariyal) is made to the sea, as a form of respect towards the god Varuna, the god of the sea. Nariyal Purnima marks the beginning of the fishing period and the fishermen, who depend on the sea to live, make an offering to the god Varuna so that they can collect abundant fish in the following fishing season.Avani Avittam / Upakarman / UpakarmaIn areas of southern India such as Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Orissa, this day is celebrated by the Brahmin community as Avani Avittam day. In Karnataka it is known as Upakarma by the followers of Yajurveda. This is the traditional day of the beginning of Vedic studies.Kajari PurnimaIn the central part of India as in Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar this day is known as Kajari Purnima. It is a very important day for farmers and for women blessed with a child. On the ninth day after Shravana Amavasya preparation for the Kajari festival begins. In the Kajari Navami there are varied ritual performances that are performed by women who have children and last until the day of the full moon arrives.
Today we want to focus your attention on a detail that we often do not take too much care of, but which can bring an important leap of quality to your table if you give it the importance it deserves: napkins . Today we collect 15 great ideas for folding cloth napkins in an innovative, original and very decorative way.1. Fold cloth napkins: with foldingFabric folding is a technique that is very reminiscent of the classic Japanese art of origami , with which you can get your napkin to represent delicate shapes simply by folding the fabric in the proper way. It is painstaking work and not particularly easy, but the result is most amazing and your guests will be amazed. Dare to try!This beautiful rose is actually the simplest proposal in this category: wrapping the napkin in a spiral and accompanying it with fir branches and leaves, your napkin will be the most beautiful flower in the garden in the blink of an eye.Two different versions of this proposal for folding cloth napkins in the shape of a Christmas tree : in the first, the tree is presented vertically , supported by a support and adorned with a Santa hat; in the second, we bet on the horizontal presentation on the plate and the minimalist inspiration, since we dispense with any decoration.2. Fold cloth napkins: with napkin ringsIf you do not look skilled enough to face the folding of napkins, you can always resort to the use of the handy napkin holders. If you combine them with the rest of the elements of the table and the house you will give continuity to the chosen Christmas style, in addition to presenting your cloth napkins in a sea of cute way without complicating your life .A simple idea that is cheap and curious: use cookie cutters in the shape of stars as a napkin holder . It's super easy, and the truth is that it looks great!Ears of wheat, red berries and natural branches, a set that is given cohesion using a satin bow or a textile that makes a good match with the napkin itself.3. Fold cloth napkins: with pocketInsert folds into napkins to create pockets to put silverware or any other additional ornament. It is a super elegant idea and that gives a lot of play , since in the pocket you can put practically anything you can think of.Why not use the lettering and the chalkboard effect ? It is one of the star trends of the season and can give a very personal touch to our table.With these ideas you have a wide range of different possibilities when it comes to folding your cloth napkins. Dare to try something different this year by putting some of these proposals into practice, you will surprise everyone!
This time we are going to talk about other of the great protagonists of our catalog : the suzani.It is a type of cloth created by the nomadic tribes of Central Asia. Its name comes from the Persian word suzan , which means "needle". It is a cotton, linen or silk fabric embroidered with silk thread. Originally, the largest pieces were divided into strips that were then worked separately and joined together....
Making a dress is possible if you choose a good pattern, a fabric that is easy to sew and you have some notion of sewing.How many times have you seen a dress in a store window and have been tempted to design a model by yourself? Making a dress is not impossible if you have the fabric and a good sewing machine, or needle and thread, in addition to the guide of steps below, in which we explain how to make a dress at home.We cannot say that making a dress is something simple , or easy to carry out, but the truth is that with a suitable pattern and with some experience when sewing, you will be able to carry out your design and little by little, perfecting it, to the point of being able to wear it with pride.Steps to make a dress at homeIf you are determined to make your own dress, follow the steps below, but if you see that it did not just go as you expected, or as if it were a design taken from a store, do not despair. You must be careful and think that designing, cutting and sewing your dress is not something that you are going to do overnight.The first thing to keep in mind when making a dress will be to choose the fabric . It is logically recommended to choose the most suitable fabric, such as cotton , which is easy to work with, natural and that you can also find in all colors and patterns.The fabric should be washed before starting and thus avoid shrinking later, then it should be dried and ironed.Next, you should choose the model now, perhaps using a paper pattern found on the Internet or in stores, or you can use an existing dress to get at least an idea of how to create a new one.You must take measurements with the tape measure to know the length of the width of the dress, and then measure your hips, waist, sleeves, neck and shoulders, or use a dress that you have as a model and fold in half length, then extend it on the fabric also folded in the same direction and trace the edges with dressmaker's chalk.Now, cut the fabric leaving 1 or 2 centimetres more for the seams after having spread it well following the lines drawn, finally open the fabric to see the outline of the entire dress; the sleeves and the neck must be separated, if the dress covers them;Join all the pieces of the dress with the help of pins, and always start sewing inside out with the zigzag of the sewing machine to prevent the fabric from losing its threads.Turn the dress right side out and check the various seams.To finish your dress you have to make the hem at the bottom , folding the edge and following the measurements, sew the hem of the dress after checking that everything is the same height.Completely finish the dress with ruffles, trims, buttons and other details, and cut the excess threads from the seams.
We are fascinated by the ajrakh for its complexity and the mastery of the use of natural dyes by the artisans who carry it out. The ajrakh is a fabric traditionally cotton dyed with carved wooden blocks, using mordants and reserves in a long process. The colors used are usually red and blue with characteristic geometric and floral designs. Some historians attribute the origin of the ajrakh to the Indus Valley civilization some 4,000 years ago, relying on archaeological remains found in the ancient city of Mohenjo Daro. This civilization flourished on the banks of the Indus River, which supplied artisans with the necessary natural materials, such as cotton, indigo and blonde.About 400 years ago the ajrakh of the Sind lands was part of international trade with the Middle East through the Indian Ocean. At that time, some khatri communities , artisans working these textiles, settled in the Kutch desert in Gujarat, India. The ajrakh print is an ancient artistic tradition, the development of which has received the contribution of many cultures, such as the predominant designs of Iranian or Islamic influences, for its geometry and symmetry. In 2001, the village of Dhamadka, where these artisans used to settle, was destroyed in the Gujarat earthquake. With the help of the government and NGOs, a new village was established by the name of Ajrakhpur.What colors are used? The ajrakh with natural dyes is a complex process, use tannins, mordants and dyes. We continue to use very traditional ingredients such as myrobalan , lime, rusty iron, jaggery , alum, tamarind seed flour, chickpea flour, red clay, millet flour, indigo, blonde root, henna, rhubarb, lacquer, turmeric. But in recent times, there are natural ingredients such as Rubia cordifolia (Indian madder) that are increasingly difficult to get.Over the years the recipe for the preparation of dyes remains the same, but the preparation process has undergone a change. In the past, dyes were prepared by hand and in small quantities to meet local demand in the Maldharis . But with the increasing demand for ajrakh , the natural dye is prepared using simple tools like industrial blenders, etc., and in fairly large quantitiesTraditionally the ajrakh was printed on cotton, but now cotton and silks are used.
Considered a guru of home organization, Japanese Marie Kondo, in "The Magic of Order" , explains the way in which it is necessary to get rid of things that do not make you happy as a key to order.According to the author, the secret of the organization lies in the decision to throw away things that you don't need or make you happy. For this reason, in the book "The magic of order", he recommends starting with the easiest and organizing by categories. Never by place. For example, when it comes to throwing or organizing clothes, you have to empty all the drawers or places where you keep your clothes. This way you will decide if you throw it or keep it.Steps to organize your houseAccording to the Konmari method, clothing represents the first step in ordering the house . Later, books, papers and various objects will follow. Until finally reaching sentimental objects such as photographs or memories.The second step is to personally choose the objects. It is recommended to use your hands so that, when you touch them one by one, you know if you want them or not. You will be able to think if that garment makes you happy or decide if you discard it and thank the good times you lived with it.Third, it piles up the clothes that you no longer wear on a bed and by categories: blouses with blouses, skirts with skirts, pants with pants ... Also, first screen the clothes from another season and then classify the ones from the current season. To finish, order the accessories.When and where to startThinking about the ideal procedure, Konmari suggests starting early in the day , as that is when the mind is the clearest. You also have to choose a quiet place, without distractions or only with background music. Select your clothes so that nobody influences your decisions.Another important point of the ideal Konmari method to order your clothes is to arrange it vertically , since you will optimize the spaces without mistreating it.Use simple storage methods such as drawers or shoe boxes without labeling, to avoid noise in your closet .And sentimental objectsSince you have gained experience with your clothes, you can proceed in the same way with your valuables . Gather the photos, the memories and the letters among others, and keep only those that are moving for you. In this way, you will not stay anchored to the past. On the contrary, they will help you clean the space in which you operate and grow day by day.According to Marie Kondo, once you have found a way to organize and channel your objects in each of the corresponding spaces, you will have only the right amount of objects for you. You will achieve happiness and self-discovery and you will find more meaning in your life.
