Fun With Block Printing

Block printing is one of the most ancient fiber arts in existence. Did you know that its origins actually lie in the Indus Valley… some four and a half thousand years ago! The local craftsmen used teakwood blocks and carved some astonishing patterns.

And it may be a dying art right now, but here and there we see some fabulous block print work: like in traditional sarees.

But guess what? Options really start to open up for you when you apply this method to fabric and mix it with interior decoration.  Consider a table runner, cloth napkins, or some tea towels in fall colors! And the pattern on a large throw pillow would add a great pop of color to a neutral chair or couch: what we love most about this are the endless possibilities that you can work with to decorate your place.

Here we share a very simple way to produce a type of modern print you might find in contemporary settings. When done on paper and mounted in a frame, these prints make fabulous wall art for a variety of room styles.

What you need: some yarn, paint and brushes, and a few blocks.

Begin by wrapping a small wooden block with yarn. Then knot the end and use some tape to secure it in place. If you don’t have a block, not to worry, all you really need is anything “wrappable” in a shape of your choice.  

Once your printing block is ready, take a brush and apply your paint. The yarn can be pretty absorbent at first so you’ll need to experiment with how much paint to apply on a practice sheet of paper. It’s also a good idea to brush on the paint in only one direction so the yarn fibers lay flat.

And once you have your technique perfected, start stamping. To add interest, layer on some orange paint for a few of the squares as it gives the print some nice depth in real life.

So if you’ve got a little time this weekend, spend some time working on a little project such as this and create some art! Not only will you have a good time relaxing, but it’ll be something that you can use to accentuate your room with.

And remember: have fun with it!! 

Know When It’s Time to Throw Away Your Makeup

Getting rid of your beauty products can (and should) come at any time of the year. Disposing of beauty products such as mascara and lotions may come naturally to some; others might not realize the importance of cleaning out one’s makeup bag in order to maintain a fresh collection of products that are helping, not hurting us!

Just knowing how to apply makeup is not the only important thing, but you should also know when to toss your makeup and when and how to clean your products.

Remember: your makeup has an expiration date as well! Keep the below few points in mind when you are deciding toss away stuff.

Throw away cream blushes after one year and get rid of powder blushes after 2 years.

Powders generally can last a year to 18 months.

Toss your cream and liquid foundation after using it for 6-8 months.

Throw away concealers and cleanser after 6-8 months of use.

For mascara, toss after six months - Tip: For fake eyelashes, dispose after one use.

If you are sharing eye shadows you can get eye infections, you can spread pink eye back and forth from cosmetic to cosmetic, so be careful! Tip: Be sure to toss your makeup if you have an eye infection.

If you are a fan of liquid liner you need to remember that it needs to be replaced every three months.

Regular lipstick can last six months. However, lip glosses last less than that.

Test nail polish to see if it goes thin: If you take it out and it's clumpy and thick and drags through the nail, it's time to discard it. If you look at it, and there are rings of color, it's time to discard it.

Dump your lip pencils after 18 months of use.

Before you think about throwing away your brushes, wash your brushes with your shampoo.

Any change of color, smell or texture? Get rid of the item stat! And lastly, your makeup bag! If it's in good condition, put it through the washing machine; if it's seen better days, throw it out and buy a new one. Try to stash your beauty goods in a clean, dry area for the best results.

Splurging on longer lasting items is the best way to go and make sure you don’t buy too much makeup that you won’t even end up using! 

The New Black

Ever wonder how one day you wake up to find that pink is the new black?? How does the fashion industry flip on a switch and push something so blatantly onto us? Is there a science to it or just some fashion Svengali’s whim?

Well… there is actually a job designation termed ‘color forecaster’. That tangerine orange, that’s so on trend right now? Predicted by Pantone, the quietly ubiquitous American company that maintains color standards for publishers, designers, and the fashion world two years ago for the color of summer!

Color forecasting is almost as old as the fashion industry itself. In the late 19th century, color cards issued by French textile mills were snapped up by their American counterparts, eager for ideas and direction as to what might be the next color of the season.

In fact:  color forecasters get together twice a year in a super hush-hush meeting at the Pantone HQ with colorists that have traditionally worked with textile companies and others to set color standards. Over two days, these ‘colorists’ will each pitch a palette concept, organized roughly around a theme that has been chosen in advance.

The debate results in finding something more concrete: a story paired with a color and based on the cultural diversity of the forecasters who pick up on local trends that are seen on the streets and merged together to give a more global outlook.

And in case you are wondering: the results are published in Pantone View, a publication that is purchased by companies across a broad consumer landscape, from fashion designers to supermarket chains to the floral industry (yes, you read that correct: the floral industry) to see what word on the ‘new black’ is. A fine art, indeed!

Oh and while we are at it, enjoy this marvelous clip from Meryl Streep’s the Devil Wears Prada and the color cerulean!

It's Tiramisu Time!

We were really excited when our design associate Mehreen decided to delight us with tiramisu, probably the most famous Italian dessert and the coolest trifle, we'd like to add. I mean cream AND coffee together? Mmmm...we don't think it gets any better!

So roll up your sleeves and prepare to surprise a loved one with this sweet and bitter treat.

Ingredients:
- Cream Cheese - 1 box
- Cream - 300ml
- Vanilla Essence - 1 tsp
- Sponge Fingers or sponge cake (You can find the... fingers at large supermarkets like Aghas by the name of Vicenzovo)
- Coffee - Brewed (Strong)
- Icing Sugar- To taste
- White sugar- To taste
- Brown sugar- To taste
- Cocoa powder or grated chocolate

Method:

- Brew very strong coffee in a coffee press or on the stove, using approximately 4-5 heaped tbsp of ground coffee to 3 cups water.

- In a food processor or mixing bowl, add the cream, cheese, vanilla, and icing sugar and beat till soft peaks start to form

- Use approximately 300ml of cream to one box of cream cheese (the taste should be slightly sour, the sweetness depends on you)

- Add in approximately 3 tbsp of white sugar and 2 tbsp of brown sugar to the coffee; maintain a bitter sweet taste

- Once the coffee has cooled, dip the sponge fingers and start layering your dish with them

- Pour a few spoonfuls of the remaining coffee over the sponge fingers

- Top off with a thick layer of the cream mixture

- Dust with cocoa or grated chocolate. Let set in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving!

Daaman at Dolmen

Hey guys, we'll be opening our new store at Dolmen Mall Clifton tomorrow (the 17th of May). The store is looking great and we thought we would give our fans a quick peek inside. Be sure to come by any time after tomorrow and check us out in person!

Spotted On The Runway

We have been keeping our eyes on the Fashion Week 2012 runways and we definitely like what we see with the fashion trends. There were lots of neons, prints and a combination of solid and print separates.

What we love the most? Definitely the Palazzo pants. We love how you can dress it up or down and make it work with the tops already in your wardrobe.

Shirt length is no issue at all, either! Go for belted tunics (which are totally in as well) or collared shirts tucked in or full length. This piece can be stylized endlessly! 

Choose a sparkly top to go with a smartly tailored Palazzo for a high end night and a sophisticated look or a breathy cotton Palazzo for a comfortable but on trend look, pair with cork wedges for a summer day out in the sun. 

Versatility is key to dressing up smart, and with these pants you can do no wrong! 

And if you're looking to add a Palazzo pant to your wardrobe: be sure to check out quite the hot selling one we have available at our stores, or check it out online here! 

The 'I Never Felt this Way' Pin

We’re back with another super fun edition of Daaman video blog and really excited to see what you think of this cute flower brooch. This time we are using felt (and oh there are SO many amazing colors that you can choose from!) and a rivet button. Try this very simple technique for making this brooch, which you can use in a variety of ways: pin to your clutch, neck scarf or even your hat in the winters! Special shout out goes to Aqsa, our resident flower person.

-Grab you favorite color in felt, 5-6 inches in width

-Draw flower petals and cut out the design

-Sew the felt piece throughout

-Pull thread to bunch up the petals together

-Pin rivet button in the center

-Cut out a round felt piece and attach a pin to it-Glue to the flower cut out to finish off the pin!