Frozen moments my star-filled sky

Underneath the moonlight we breathe in the cold night air, on a cloudless night where stars, like shamelessly flirts wink at us. A barn owl gives us a hoot and flies by, puzzled at the new night intruders sitting on top of the world, with the crisp sea breeze whispering secrets of sailors at sea.

Amidst the incessant chitter chatter of nocturnal birds and animals, we knew at this very moment in time we were making a beautiful memory- as we lay splayed out on a terrace top, making wishes on the deceptive twinkling lights of aeroplanes in the sky for the lack of shooting stars. In these delightfully refreshing moments it felt like the hands of time slowed down to standstill, moments frozen for eternity, for us to rummage through over the years.

Like the moonbeams bouncing of a shimmering, slaty sea our conversation bounced effortlessly from the utterly nonsensical to more heartfelt deeper sorts. Over the years I've realised how these moments come along less often than they used to and there's an urgency of sorts to create the space and time to allow for the unravelling of these moments in time that leave a lifetimes imprint.

Colourful tapestries of memories!

“Do not ask your children
to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such striving may seem admirable,
but it is the way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
tomatoes, apples and pears.
Show them how to cry
when pets and people die.
Show them the infinite pleasure
in the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself.”
― William Martin

I absolutely love this poem!! We live in this crazy whirlwind concrete jungle, where it's a dog eat dog world, it's so rare to find people who can find pleasure and joy in the little things in life, the seemingly ordinary things that often go overlooked. My favourite people in the world, are the one's who in some way resonate and believe in finding and celebrating the little moments in life. I believe it is these small moments, that weave themselves into colourful tapestries of memories that last a lifetime!

Here's to making the ordinary of come alive!

Happy sippin!!

"I took a walk into the woods and came out taller than the trees"

- Henry David Thoreau

Inspired by the mesmerising, reclusive animals and birds that live in the nooks and crannies amidst the dense thicket.  Our woodland creatures, hand-painted sipper family is growing fast!! Meet the new adorable members, Dusty the honey loving grizzly, Mimi the colourful  gobbling turkey, Bandit the rascal racoon and Luna the coy deer.

Drop us a line if you'd like to give these quirky babies a new home. Happy sippin!

BANDIT THE RACOON

MIMI THE TURKEY

LUNA THE DEER

DUSTY THE BEAR

Soap bubble blowing into the winds of time

My most cherished childhood memories are made of these - seemingly endless summers... where we sat under the shade of Guava or Mango trees creating worlds that didn't exist...rivulets of lava to hop over, or lakes filled with dangerous crocodiles and piranhas. Forest children living in a bungalow smack dab in the middle of a city- where we'd forage for food, dig pits to keep our imaginary food cool in the sweltering summer heat, grind leaves in the hopes of making gravies, collect inedible berries and seeds we'd relish in our minds eye. We'd spend our days watching guppies grow up in front of our eyes, in our front yard pond as mud skippers went about their skipping unabashed. Garden lizards and squirrels were an endless source of excitement as we lay in wait like little ill equipped stalkers watching their every move.

Those were the days when we'd let our imagination run wild, little wild hearts with wilder imaginations. Palm trees became umbrellas to shelter us from the harsh summer sun, we'd climb trees like baby monkeys, rest our aching bodies on their limbs only to get bitten by vicious ants and other insects - bee stings, bites, scratches, tumbles and falls were the norm. Those were the days when we'd wear our bruises proudly, little stamps of victories and testimonies of summers lived to the fullest.

When the sun rays got the better of us, we'd take shelter in the magical beckoning arms of books, so many stories of whimsical lands, adventures and delightfully refreshing tales of children our age, setting out on adventures of their own, we'd live their lives like little voyeurs.

When sunset cast eerie shadows on our world we'd played dress up under the flickering light of vintage lamps - rummaging through the clothes of yesteryear, frills ohhh so many frilled dresses, gowns and other delightful treats our little minds couldn't even fathom. We'd weave tales of witches and dragons and act them out like we believed every bit of the fantasy. Many summer evenings were spent listening to the good old oldies, we'd belt out tunes like we were professional singers and dance with gay abandon, little did we know we were making memories to last a lifetime!

Every once in a while we did have to face our own share of trials and tribulations- be it waging the incessant war with deviant monkeys, like seasoned soldiers with an air gun in hand, we'd win some battles but more often than not lose the war. The fruits of our labour would be enjoyed in a dark and dank store room, as we were made to strip down to the bare necessities and devour juicy mangoes we managed pluck and salvage from our arch enemies- the monkey clan. Messy children given free reign to indulge in the fruits of nature.

We'd tip toe like sure footed goats along our bungalow walls and every once in a while spring across boundaries to our neighbours terrace tops, to quell our curiosity, a tumble or two was always on the cards for one of us unfortunately.

Long nights we'd spent on the terrace top, under a sky full of stars spinning stories or singing at the top of our lungs like there wasn't a soul in sight, nights speckled with evading deviant monkeys, mosquito bites or watching barn owls and fruit bats go about their nocturnal business.

There memories I hold close to my heart with so many more... Yesteryear... if only we could all go back in time relive these beautiful moments.

Wild hearts and laugh lines

We'd like to bounce off moonbeams right now.

Transcend into ethereal worlds,
Throw caution to the wind and go with  natures flow,
Spinning tales of the wonderful adventures to come,
Dip our feet in the pool of wonder,
Sit on the steps of possibility,
Love, live and laugh till our stomachs hurt,
With a glint in our eyes, the world is our wonderland,
We are the dreamers and the doers,
Wild hearts and free spirits,
Treading lightly and living fully.

This one's dedicated to all my fellow creative souls, who add a beautiful dash of crazy to my life!!

When the weather Gods complied

"Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere and sometimes in the middle of nowhere you find yourself."

Mumbai weather has been awesome off late, we thought we'd milk it for all it's worth and took our spanking new range of customised lids for an outdoor shoot. Here are some of the pics from one of the most fun, crazy and impromptu shoots we've done.

A moonlight tryst

We sat there baring our souls,
Licking our wounds as we spoke,
We came undone, the warp and weft giving way,
Each thread, each fiber once taut with tension,
Loosening with effortless ease,
Threadbare souls, naked, exposed,
We built castles in the sky,
We saw each other under a moonlit night,
Hoping the sun wouldn't rise.

Dusk shadows

I visited an old haunt the other day, tucked away in this concrete jungle there are serene escapes for those who look hard enough. My little sanctuary- it's a lush paradise where the sound of crickets drowns out the drone of city life, where colourful frogs croaking in glee, as grey herons bicker over nest space and if you're lucky you can catch a glimpse of striped wild piglets go about their business with wanton abandon.

It's a place I would go to daily for an evening run- run fast, run hard, run till it feels like every muscle in your legs are on fire, your lungs feel like they are about to explode and the wind hits your face till your eyes tear up. It's a delightful cocktail of physical exhaustion and  feeling alive. It's also a place where you can either rummage through the clutter of thoughts in your head and hope to file them neatly or it's a place where you can choose to just don't need think - not a thought in your head or a worry on your mind.

What I also love about my green heaven are the old abandoned buildings, mere skeletons of what they once used to be and etched on their walls are the small telltale signs of the people who once called this place their home. Instead of window grills today all you can find are beautifully woven tapestries of creepers as nature reclaims what was once hers. Enormous trees, who I'm sure have a story to tell as their roots spread deep and far, untouched and left alone for decades. There's an indescribable beauty about this spot in the middle of a bustling city like Mumbai, it's pure and so rare.

Every time I visit this place, I have this urge to bottle up the smells, the sights and my emotions into a jar full of memories, just incase I might never get to experience them again. It's always bitter- sweet to walk away from a place I was once so familiar with.

My heaven- I promise we'll meet again and if I can help it, it will be much more often.

Dance beneath the stars as you drink in the night!

" Dance beneath the stars as you drink in the night,

Let the thunder overtake you as lightening fills the sky,

Feel the force of nature penetrate your skin,

Spin with the world as the magic sinks in"

                              -Christy Ann Martine

With a whole bunch of new projects to work on and a spate of changes, the last couple of months have been exhausting and exhilarating all at once. But we are the wild ones, who love a challenge and pushing ourselves out of our comfortable cocoons, here's one of my latest helmet designs. 

This spanking new helmet design is a customised piece I've been working on for a while now for someone who is the epitome of a free-spirit and wild soul, she's one of the nicest people I know and it's my honour to be a part of something she holds so close to her heart. For Zena my warrior princess friend, true biker at heart and a beautiful soul!!

Final helmet design coming soon!!

Drop me a mail if you'd like to know more about our helmet range.

The timekeepers rainbow web

Ostrich feather-duster in hand, she delicately dusted the cobwebs in her mind.
Rainbows caught in webs woven over the years.
Some taut some giving way to to the erosion of time,
Each colour reflecting a shade of the past.
Memories delicately woven,

Some so fragile a whisper in the wind could destroy,
Waiting for a gust of wind or thunder storm to blow them into oblivion.

Shake woman, shake

Wild moon woman,
You were not made to be tame,
You are an earthquake
Shaking loose everything that is not soul
Shake woman, shake

This lovely poem captures the spirit of our latest hand-painted helmet! She's all soul, fierce and a head turner- introducing 'Bewitched' in collaboration with the awesome grease monkeys at Garage52.

With a city gearing up for thunder showers, pot holes and and flooded streets, for the nature and adventure junkies, raindrops are music to our ears, a seamless segue urging us to pack our rucksacks and hit the highways to chart our own paths and follow the sounds of nature, as it beckons us to throw caution to the wind and seek out inspiration. In the spirit of testing new waters and listening to our calling we'd like to give you a little sneak peek into what goes on behind the scenes, the making of this bewitching beauty!

With a heavy heart

It's been 18 years since this tiny little, less than three kg doggie came into my life and took permanent residence in my heart. I've seen him grow from a boisterous young puppy into a full fledged Casanova. From the sweet nothings he'd whisper in my ear to get a good belly rub, to the number of times he'd crawl into my lap to take a quick nap, Scotty most certainly knew how to charm the ladies, his doleful eyes and slurpy licks will forever be etched in my memory.

 Last morning he breathed his last as he left this world and a huge void in our lives. Death is painful but watching someone you love suffer for weeks on end has it's own intensity of pain. So at 3 am when I got the message there was a sense of relief, he doesn't have to suffer any more. Sir Walter Scott is now free to frolic with his grandma, mom, sister and daughter in doggie heaven.

It's in these painful moments I've come to realize how much being there for each other matters. A tightly knit family each grieving the loss in their own way, as we laid his frail body on the cold steel table. I felt a lump rise in my throat as I watched  the attendant carry him away, a piece of my heart died as my favourite, handsome, flirtatious love left us all forever.

 I will never hear the pitter patter of his feet again or hear him bark or yodel again, I'd never feel his cold nose rub against my neck as he'd try and snuggle up against me under the sheets, there are so many never to feel experiences the gravityof which hasn't sunk in just yet. 

 Today as we cremated his remains we tried to look at the bright side, recollected all the lovely moments we shared with him, a tiny little dog with a universe of love and caring to give.

On the way back home I found myself clinging to Astra more tightly than usual knowing all to well there will come a day when I'd have to feel this feeling again. But  for now I'll take all the memories of the Yorkie clan and tuck them away safely to relive for eternity.

Here's to Sir Walter Scott, my love you've lived a full and happy life and brought so much joy into our lives, you will forever be missed. 

Skid marks and paint splatters

Rev up your engines and brace yourself, because we are about to take you on a trippy ride!

Two distinctly different worlds are on a collision course to create a brand new range of products, Pyjama Party Studio is thrilled to collaborate with the awesomely talented crew at Garage 52 to work together to conceptualise and design a whole bunch of quirky, offbeat products for bikers.

Like tattered tapestries, woven from the same thread, the biker grit and grime finds common ground in our paint splatters and creative chaos. The common thread that ties this collaboration together is the underlying spirit of adventure, testing unchartered territories and the pushing of boundaries. Here's a sneak peek into some of the work we've done so far, there's a whole lot more in store! You can check out our respective work at Garage 52 and Pyjama Party Studio

Watch this space for more updates! DM is if you'd like a customised helmet or would like to know more about what we are upto!

A snippet about Garage 52

Garage 52 - The Motorcycle Collective

A creative hub for the motorcycling culture in India, Garage 52 is not just a workshop. It's a space that caters to every motorcyclist’s needs. From building one-off custom motorcycles and restoring vintage machines to DIY motorcycle mechanic courses and ride planning and motorcycle theater; we are recognized nation-wide as thought leaders and trendsetters in the cultural motorcycle space.

 What's in store

When truant clouds wreak havoc

The sun is beating down hard on a city that is sweltering and seeming more listless with each passing day.  Beads of sweat organise themselves into a millions of rivulets that run down my spine unabashed, they leave a city feeling stifled as each droplet on a million faces catch the last rays of sunshine as night falls. All I can do is helplessly gaze at a sunset sea, as the last rays fall unceremoniously into a seemingly calm sea, only to send it into a shudder of glittering shivers. I begin to curse myself for ever complaining about the monsoons, the floods, the clattering of windowpanes as the rain pelts down and shamelessly robs me of a good nights sleep.

I've always had a love-hate relationship with the monsoons, I dread the dampness, the longer hours I need to work on my artwork to make sure they dry in time. The filth that finds it way up from open drains when the city goes under, which I must add, is a promise Mumbai always manages to keep. But I also find myself each year, towards the fag end of summer, earning for the rains in an attempt to bring some respite from the harsh summer sun and relentless humidity.

A couple of weeks ago the sultry silence of summer was broken by blots of lightning and thundering clouds, as  I lay in bed listening to natures delightful lullaby I felt a dash of excitement and anticipation, the monsoons were near at last. I suddenly loved the monsoons and couldn't wait for the city to smell, feel and evolve into something less dusty and sweaty!

Every monsoon I love how the leaves on the trees turn from wilted shades of brown to brilliant greens. I love the ever changing sky filled with sometimes heavy, dark clouds about to burst and shower us with abundance and sometimes scattered with little grey clouds playing hide and seek, almost waiting in the wings to pounce on unsuspecting people below. I love making a hundred cups of tea and sipping on them as I read a book and slowly allow myself to transcend into another worlds.

I think most of all, I love the changing of seasons, it's something I look forward to, as I sit by my window trying to catch the small signs nature throws our way.

Art Collision

The last couple of months have been a frenzy of activity, with two spanking new product lines in the making, energy levels have been on a roller coaster ride of their own. With heightened peaks of exuberance to the inevitable drop dead exhaustion.

I'm so thrilled to announce that Pyjama Party Studio has tied up with Engrave to launch our range of affordable original artwork, here's the link to the e-shop on engrave http://engrave.in/pyjama-party-studio Do have a look and give us your feedback! Here are some of the behind the scenes pics and videos that went into the making of this range, do follow me on Instagram @rithika_kumar or @pyjamapartystudio if you'd like to see more of my artwork.