Tealight candles have become a big part of the Diwali illuminations in many Indian homes. I love using these along with the traditional oil diyas.
I wanted an interesting background to form a base for these candles. Coasters were one option but I zeroed in on traditional 'Kolam' stencils available widely in stores that sell 'pooja articles' or stalls near temples.
The patterns remind me of doilies that my mother used to crochet during my childhood:-)
A lotus shaped kolam stencil...
Some interesting design stencils...
(images by Arch)
hi dear Archana, i just found your blog and it looks amazing... i am a person who is addicted of Indian and Morrocan style and everthing about that :) my blog is Venuste Hayat means life in Venus... unfortunately it's in Turkish, but translation option will be avaible soon. by the way i am writing from Istanbul, Turkey. i hope you may visit my blog one day and finally i am little bit interested with painting nowadays and i'd like to find some Indian pattern as in your post. could you inform me about some links or smthing like that about those classical patterns and motifs please? looking forward to hear from you, best regards :) Venus
ReplyDeleteVenuste Hayat~ Thanks for dropping in at Rang Decor and for your kind words:-)
ReplyDeleteWill surely drop by your blog soon.
the simplicity of the 'kolam' pattern and the humble tealight... against the granite contrast makes it totally stunning!!i loved it!:)
ReplyDeleteHi Archna,
ReplyDeleteThese patterns along with the tealights look beautiful. I have some stencils too and plan to use them this diwali.
I just wanted to ask you about the tealights...i have only seen the ones that come in aluminium vessels, but the ones that u've used look transparent and very pretty. where did u get these from?
Wow these designs are Awesome. Thanks for sharing Archana. I will try to find these stencils in Dubai. they r gorgeous. U r absolutely right the use of tea light candles...actually here we light it everyday as I had heard lighting a diya or candle removes negativity. Love the colour combination of black, orange n white...
ReplyDeleteYou make things look so simple, elegant and beautiful, Archana. I wish I had those stencils here in Toronto.
ReplyDeleteYour ideas enliven Diwali.
Archana, thanks for sharing this....I don't have any stencils, but it looks like a fairy simple DIY. I might try this if I get the time.... it looks so elegant!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Did you make these stencils?
ReplyDeleteOh what an absolutely sexy idea Archana! I would have never thought of it. My mother in law gave me these kolam stencils last time I was in India and I turned it down wondering what I would do with them. I'm going to bring them back with me next time i visit India :)
ReplyDeletealways loved the small neat kolams on granite...love the look and the tealights give an exquisite touch to the setting :)
ReplyDeleteoh gorgeous Arch! gorgeous!! I have a few stencils as well.. and was planning to put them to good use this year.. Havent decided how.. But I surely will!!
ReplyDeleteHi Archana
ReplyDeleteThis is very very pretty.
Warm regards
Anu
Brilliant! The white on black teamed with the glow of lights look amazing. I've seen this idea using doilies to decorate cakes but never extended that to think of what you've dreamt up. So very creative!
ReplyDeleteHappy Diwali!
totally gorgeous idea Arch.
ReplyDeletefor a moment i thought the T-lites were placed on a coaster.
sure gonna hunt for these stencils and use them this diwali. :)
Bindiya
Thanks everyone:-) Glad you all liked it.
ReplyDeleteDo give it a try!
The tealight candles usually have a metal base, these ones with transparent base was a gift.
They are from Bath & Body Works.
Very nice Archana! it looks grand!!This time in B'lore will shop for rangoli mould...!
ReplyDeleteMangala
what a wonderful idea!.. love the white kolam powder against the black granite .. lovely 1
ReplyDeleteCame back to tell you that I got these small tea lights in little glass moulds, I got 5 of them for two dollars Yayyyyyyyyyy! Though they are vanilla scented. :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Love that this is so simple yet very stunning :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Archna...I 'll check these at bath & body works. thanks for letting me know.
ReplyDeletearch, this is so gorgeous!! looks like powdered sugar, so fragile. i light tea lights all the time. you just gave me a new idea. never heard of rice powder/kolam before. will think of a suitable substitute. and check out the asia store, just in case ;) my favorite asian blog never ceases to delight me.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful ideas, really loved all of them, would be coming again again looking for simple yet very pretty ideas. Happy Diwali!
ReplyDelete