It was Holi, the Festival of Colours in India on Monday coinciding with the Full Moon this week. The Holi Full Moon stays high up in the night sky, which is a rarity for the full moon. Bonfires are lit on the night of the Full Moon as part of the festival. This festival celebrates the onset of Spring, and a large amount of colour called ‘Gulal’ and ‘Abir’, both dry powder and mixed with water is thrown by folks on each other in celebration. There are Myths associated with this event in relation to Lord Vishnu preserving the Earth and saving it from evil, and as good defeats bad, there is a lot of traditional sweet Gujhiya eating and singing and dancing too! Along with the festivities, a copious amount of Bhang is consumed, almost always mixed in some food, so watch out for the delicious smelling Bhang pakoras and the sweet smelling Bhang Lassis! The effect remains for hours if not days, but almost always is innocent fun. They say on Holi even enemies become friends. What better way to spread good cheer and peace than celebrate together!
The weather is still lovely and cool before Holi in India, and it starts getting warmer soon after that. It is best to visit India in the winter as the weather gets too hot otherwise. We love India however, so we would be happy to give you any tips and advice /help ( if any is indeed required ) as we love it there as much as we do here!
We have discovered that you can join in a European version of the event too, at www.Holifestival.com. This was started by Jasper who visited India during Holi and loved it so much he re-created it here!
Jasmine White London loves the celebration of colour and this is reflected in our selection of vibrant product range, especially in Indian Street where we try and capture the sight, sound and life on India’s streets. For us life is a celebration, so go out there and make merry with lots of colours-everyday! “Holi Hai!”
Indian Street Design cushion by Jasmine White London
Whilst working on the new Stars and Birds of Paradise range, we decided to do an ‘everyday’ bag, a tote – one that you actually will find in use all over the world! People use what is called a ‘Jhola‘ bag in India to lug their everyday belongings – from clothes to food to toys. What has been glamorously adopted as a “book bag”, used to be the common man’s everyday humble ‘lug’ sack/ Jhola before taking on its new avatar.Dress it up or down, our ‘Jhola’, for that is its name, stands firm as the new staple among your belongings. You can dress it up or down, and glamourise it with sequins, pins, badges and charms, it remains pretty (available in all our designs and colour variations), sturdy, foldable and washable. We put in a gusset on each side so it can expand and is ready to carry your personal belongings, shopping, books or toys.
Return of the Jhola indeed! An every day bag we just can’t be without, more so now with the banishment of plastic bags. Hurrah!
We are delighted to be part of the wonderful 91 magazine again, with a picture and link. The issue is all about craft this time, which certainly gets the juices going for any would be crafters! It’s also lovely to see that we have had quite a few clicks from our bubble – so hello to all you new folks visiting Jasmine White London for the first time. Keep a look out as we are about to launch lots of new products across our ranges as well as some new ranges that Supriya has been working on over the last few months – birds and stars have something to do with it, all ready for Spring and Summer 2014.
http://issuu.com/91magazine/docs/craftspecfinal
Well, 2013 has been about us steering the business and reorganising ourselves for a re-launch! What started out as a hobby selling scarves and pashminas and jewellery to friends and family took a life of its own. Our friends came to us looking for exquisite gifts you couldn’t find everywhere. At about this time last year I decided I wanted to produce my own designs and ranges which would make lovely gifts to homes they adorned.
So I got started in January with the designing, which took absolutely ages, as I wanted every aspect of what I wanted to be perfect. Most people who indulge themselves in this fashion will know how exacting it can be, although at the same time watching your design take shape gives one immense satisfaction. Thats how Leaping Reindeer and Indian Street came to be, and we have a kitchenware range in these.
Along the way we joined up with new /old friends and took their advice on a variety of things, and developed ideas where we thought it was right and on we went.
We pre launched our vibrant enamelware range in the summer at the Wimbledon Village Summer Fair which was extremely well received by our customers.
We relaunched the company and presented our finally completed designs to trade at Top Drawer in September 2014 where we were very well received indeed, for which we are grateful. It is satisfying to see the fruits of your labour being appreciated by your peers.
Since the re-launch of the company and our online store, we have been going from strength to strength (with a lot of learning, organising and hard work thrown in). This is in no small way thanks to our customers and stockists (and our extended Jasmine White family working behind the scenes). So on New Years Eve, we say bye to a year that was all about our renewal, and say hello to the New Year 2014 knowing we need to march on forward and keep doing more of the same…Wishing you all a very Happy New Year 2014. #NYE2014
A small absence from the blog as we have been busy doing some select Christmas fairs for the season, and we especially enjoyed meeting new customers at Presents Galore, Newmarket in aid of MacMillan Cancer. Our handpainted papier mache Christmas decorations enjoyed a special reception as we kept on having to replenish stock during the fair. Our customers enjoyed picking through these decorations as each one is handpainted to a unique design.
Interestingly a trend for the black Christmas baubles was apparent as well as the bell shape. The bells do have small bells inside which tinkle when moved that customers are always charmed by and bring on a smile!
Our New Leaping Reindeer range did especially well tea towels running out on the second day of the show with our oven gloves catching up fast. Bespoke Leaping Reindeer table runners also a popular option. We are able to have made customised lengths within a time frame.
Some local Christmas fairs in London and the countryside where we had a repeat of the same; the festive spirit is certainly about!
As our bit of ‘loving and giving’,
we are not charging for shipping on orders over £60 to mainland UK and offering 15% off our very Christmassy Leaping Reindeer range on purchases over £20. We are also offering freegift wrapping on orders over £60. Our last order dates before Christmas will be Wednesday 18th December to guarantee delivery. However, do contact us directly if you want to discuss other delivery options.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and thank you to all our lovely new customers.
Best wishes
Supriya
We were able to lend a few of our enamelware products to a stylist and journalist who’s terrifc blog we have followed for ages. The Treasure Hunter.
The project was for Closer Magazine showing one room decorated in two ways. Our green mug made it onto the small folding table with the sunflowers.
See here to spot our mug! A fun refurbishment of this blank canvas – a white room.
http://thetreasurehunteruk.wordpress.com/2013/09/18/one-room-two-looks/
Christmas fills us with wonder and magic, and what better way to capture the magical delights of the festive season other than reindeer leaping across the sky? A table linen range where my inspiration came from my son’s complete and utter joy in Christmas and everything it brings!
When I think of him looking out of the kitchen window with his nose pressed to the glass wanting to see Santa and his reindeer pulling a sleigh full of gifts for him, and eagerly tracking Santa’s arrival on the internet (such is the magic, technology has to keep apace with it too), I could not think of a better way of depicting the season.
Santa’s Leaping Reindeer bring gifts, but also in cases of people separated by distance and time, messages and news spreading love and cheer all around.
The script and ‘NOEL’ in the background add to the magic by bringing messages of love and hope which transcend distance and seasons. To me this is a very personal design, at once capturing the innocence, wonder and delight of Christmas.
As Christmas is big and noisy and loud in our family, we have created a range that caters to the special occasion that brings families and loved ones together. We want you to keep these for years to come, and keep enjoying the magic of Christmas.
Let the Leaping begin ….
Leaping Reindeer Table Linen, Kitchen Textiles and CushionI designed the table runner so that it co-ordinates with the table cloth and napkins for a suitable festive feel!Pure linen, super comfortable cushion with leaping reindeer by Jasmine White London
Our new original design Indian Street is where I wanted to capture the sights, sounds and life on the busy streets in India, including the noise! “Horn Please!!”
The ‘Horn Please’ is not once but twice, and in case you missed it, there’s ‘Beep Beep’ juxtaposed with the images of autorikshaw and the trucks.
“Horn Please!” from Indian Street by Jasmine White LondonRead More
Whilst working on the new Stars and Birds of Paradise range, we decided to do an ‘everyday’ bag, a tote – one that you actually will find in use all over the world! People use what is called a 
