Creativity for kids from Ikea.

Thanks to the integration workshop conducted for the family last month in Stuttgart, the kids were introduced to the Hama beads. These beads help your kids to get creative and create wonderful patterns or designs. Seeing the work they did at the workshop I was keen on buying these beads for them. I was advised to go to Ikea.

In Ikea I found out they are called Pyssla Beads. So I got a box of the beads along with the moulds for the kids to continue their designing.

The beads are to be placed into moulds in any fashion or pattern you like.

Once done, parental supervision is required now, since the beads have to be pressed onto the mould with the help of an iron. Place the ironing paper(which is provided) on top of the mould and iron it well.When done properly, the patterns come out easily from the mould.

You can decorate the kids rooms with their creative art. Fridge magnets, coasters can be made too. More patterns will be shown in the future posts.

Home Decor from Ikea!!

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!! We finally have our pillows!!! After sleeping pillowless for 5 months, we finally made a trip to Ikea not only to get pillows, but a whole lot of other home decor as well. If you're an expat and wanting to do up your house, then IKEA is the place, for cheap home decor!!! Personally I do not like the furniture, but I give a thumbs up to decor. For those who think as to why I am including costs in my post, it is to help fellow expats who read my blog to get a fair idea as to how much things cost and not to let the world know, how much we spent!!!!!!!!!!!

Pillows here are quite large, unlike what we use in India!!! I feel as though I am sleeping on a cushion though...Take a look...Each cost 7.99 euro without covers.

I have always loved small square glass vases. You can fill them with pot pourri, fresh flowers, water with a floating t-lite....anything that you can think of!!! I was thrilled to see rectangular glasses and bought 3, 1 large and 2 small Here's what I did with the large one...I filled it with different layers of coloured sand and placed two lucky bamboo in it.  The vase cost 4.99 euro and the bamboo stems 1,29 each. The smaller vases cost 1.99 euro each.

When it comes to Kitchen, there isn't much of a variety in cutlery regarding patterns and colours. I chose to be neutral and went with white!!! Also got placemats to add colour to my recipe blog...:)

The jute mat costs 1.99 euro, the green mat 1 euro, white bowl 2.99 and the cup and saucer 3.59 each!! The salad bowl below was a dirt cheap deal. It cost 1.79 euro and the best part, it fits in my dishwasher...:)

 I have never found big glass bottles in India for storage purpose in the kitchen, We generally use steel tins or have to make do with plastic, which I am not fond of. I was filled with delight to see these beautiful jars, only for 1.99 each and got a few of them to store flour, muesli, sugar etc etc...

You can place them as you wish. They are designed that way.

And finally, something what we had wanted to do back home in our apartment in bangalore, but never got to doing it. Create a photo gallery on a plain wall. We are finally getting it done here and to begin we purchased these photo frames which have to yet be hung on the wall. Sine these were picked up by hubby, am not aware of the costs!!!

That was my weekend, a happy shopping experience at IKEA!!!!! Hope you had a fun weekend too!!