Make these colorful Christmas Angels with block-printed paper this season! A fun project to do by yourself with a cup of tea or with your kids and family.

4. Fold your concertina paper in half and make a hole through the middle, cutting through all the layers. 

Sharing some powerful lines which recently inspired me to be more optimistic, hopeful and remain focused on building for the future:

“Conversations will not be cancelled.

Relationships will not be cancelled.

Love will not be cancelled.

Songs will not be cancelled.

Reading will not be cancelled.

Self-care will not be cancelled.

Hope will not be cancelled.

May be lean into the good stuff that remains..”

We may be socially distancing ourselves but we are not quarantined. Most of us are now either working from home or find ourselves spending more time at home as the world shuts down. Staying creative during these times could not only boost one’s mood but also invest in our better future.

Below are my top 10 things to do while being at home. Also sharing the work of few of my favorite artists, authors and chefs for inspiration. I am sure they would get you off your couch!

Note: This is not a sponsored post. I love their work and I love sharing good things with you ❤️

1. Pickling

I always wanted to learn that and now seems to be the most appropriate time. Pickling is a great way to build food storage reserves. It also seems like a fun and easy activity for a lazy afternoon. All you need are some glass jars, a pot, vibrant produce and some good quality vinegar, sugar and salt! 

Favorite recipes:

Pickled Shallots + Chiles by Athena Calderone, Pickled Cauliflower by Recipe Girl, Pickled Red Cabbage by Take Two Tapas 

2. Bring the Outdoors Indoors

They say – plants make people happy! While most of us living in cities don’t have the luxury of an outdoor space, we can still get our hands dirty and pot some indoor plants. It is truly satisfying to watch a new leaf grow, a bud bloom into a flower or using those fresh herbs into your favorite pasta sauce! I love bringing outdoors inside my home. 

Few of my favorite Instagram accounts to follow for some inspiration are:

Hilton Carter, The Jungalow, Succulent City and the Urban Jungle Blog, Homestead Brooklyn

Favorite spots in NYC to buy plants:

The Sill, Sprout Home Brooklyn, Union Square Green Market, Flower District in Chelsea

3. Organizing Bookshelves

This is my favorite one. I love spending time going through the books collected over the years and discovering a book which I had bought but forgot about! Also, arranging books is therapeutic for me. I love to use their color and sizes to add some visual interest to the bookshelves. Throwing in some different objects and plants can really make the bookshelf stand out and become the centre of your space. I have put together a moodboard with inspiration images to get you started.. 

4. Spa day at Home

Because we must take care of ourselves! Think essential oils, milk baths, fresh flower foot soak, your favorite scented candles, spa water, hydrating and rejuvenating face and hand masks, hair spa and some calming music. If you have company, throw in some massages you could give each other!:) 

5. Learning New Recipes

I am always looking for new and creative recipes to add seasonal produce to my diet. Learning new recipes and adding those to my repertoire is fun. I am not a very good cook per se and I don't enjoy cooking that much. But to avoid eating out on weekdays, a good recipe gets me going in the kitchen. It is like a new project for me! 

Below are few of my favorite chefs. Their recipes are fun, creative, healthy and focus on seasonal and local produce.  

Ottolenghi by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi, Green Kitchen Stories by Luise Vindahl and David Frenkiel, Eyeswoon by Athena Calderone, Half Baked Harvest by Tieghan Gerard, Bakers Royale by Naomi

6. FaceTime your Friends and Family

Social distancing does not mean isolation and disconnection. Social isolation can be especially unhealthy for older adults. Use this time to bond with friends and family through Facetime/video calls. Letting your daughter sing her favorite poem to her grandmother over FaceTime could be very comforting to her even though she knows that it might be the safest way she can watch her granddaughter grow for the foreseeable future. Spending time together over video calls is unlikely to feel as satisfying as being in the same room. But it’s better than nothing! 

7. Explore the world of fruit infused water

I love color in everything. You probably know by now if you have seen our textiles and pillows! Adding vibrant berries, citrus fruits and herbs can dramatically make the otherwise plain taste of water very refreshing. Added bonus - lots of vitamins and nutrients. Easy to make too. 

8. Composting

Now that you are likely to cook more at home, this is another fun activity to learn. With compost, we are creating rich humus for our plants. This adds nutrients to the soil and helps retain soil moisture. It is good for the environment too. They don’t call it “black gold” for nothing. I tried composting for the first time late last year and now my compost is ready to be used, right in time before spring arrives! 

Below are some helpful links for beginners:

How to Compost – Magnificent Garden Soil, 

The Best Compost Bins, According to Environmental Experts, 

Composting for Beginners at Home,

Home Composting 101

9. Simple DIY Craft Therapy

It's not always easy, or affordable to go to a therapist. But that doesn't mean you can't do a little DIY therapy on your own. Putting our energy into creating simple DIY projects can be therapeutic. Below are few ideas (Clickable links): 

1. A Concrete Vase made with a mailing tube

2. Romantic Floral Bath Salts 

3. Repurposing Shoe Boxes

4. Modern Clay Earrings

5. Propagating Plants

6. Clay Knot Paperweight

10. Discover work of some very talented artists! 

I adore art and artists. I am on a constant lookout to find beautiful handmade things. Filling my home with objects and things which tell a story, are made with thought and intent, is very satisfying . I love putting a face behind the object. While we all shop at big stores for convenience and familiarity, I find that small businesses put a lot of their sweat into what they make. They put a part of their soul in telling their stories and expressing themselves through their work. Big stores cannot compete with that. During such extraordinary times, if you are looking for anything for yourself, do check them out. Supporting small businesses can mean a lot to our small business community, now more than ever..

Below is not an exhaustive list, so please support your local artists and businesses and say no to factory made goods! 

1. Ceramics - From Fran, Micole Ceramics, Helen Levi Ceramics, East Fork 

2. Candles - Brooklyn Candle Company, Queer Candle Co., Lex Pott

3. Objects - Palorosa, Two Tree Studios, The Floral Society, Studio Carta, Sin Ceramics

Hope you found couple of inspiring ideas to do while at home (apart from Netflix binge and instagram gawking). I will post some updates on my projects on my instagram stories and grid, so feel free to follow along if you wish. Would also love to know about your creative projects, ideas and thoughts on how to be creative and productive during such times. Please leave a comment below, connect on instagram, or write to me on email. Also, do share with your friends and family and spread the love. A creative community is a happy community! 

Stay safe, stay creative.. Xx, Swati