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Monthly inspiration, December 2018

Monthly inspiration, December 2018

The holiday season has arrived and we are celebrating in the style of Sweetlime. It wouldn’t be Sweetlime if there wasn’t a fiesta of colour on offer. We have bright multi-coloured pom pom garlands, lights and Christmas decorations and an array of Mexican mirrors, wall hangings and artefacts to brighten any interior. Carnaval coloured cushions and embellished and embroidered accessories make great gifts. For those who prefer a more traditional approach, our mixed metallic Christmas decorations, homewares and lights will add a little sparkle to your tree or for your table setting. 

This month, white seemed like a good choice for our December colour and we go to Goa in search of some winter sun. 

We can’t feature everything on our website, so if you’d like to take a look around our store, please contact us and we can take you on a virtual shopping trip. We are happy to do this before and after opening hours if necessary.

Thank you for supporting Sweetlime in 2018 and have a wonderful time over the holiday season.

With love, Elspeth


FOCUS

White, the colour of purity, clarity and peace. White is often considered to be a non-colour, however white is the sum of all colours. In the East, white represents death. In India widows wear white, white is seen at funerals and many Indian politicians wear white. It is a symbol of simplicity and represents the act of giving up luxury. Gandhi wore white clothes made of khadi cloth to show his rejection of British dress and encourage the production and development of clothes woven and made in India. 

White is also a sign of cleanliness and the symbolic colour of the Jewish Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. In the West, it is a symbol of purity as seen in christening and wedding gowns. Many Mediterranean villages are a sea of white buildings. They were whitewashed to reflect the sunlight in order to keep them cool pre.air conditioning. 

A few things to love about white: crisp white bed linen; food presented on a large white plate; a fresh white canvas or sheet of paper; white linen clothes on a sunny day and untouched snowfall.


TRAVEL

Goa, India

After many many visits to India, I decided that I should take a trip to Goa. Reluctant to go as it was, in my opinion, not India, I finally made the decision to add it to one of my work trips. There are various faces of Goa and yes, it has its own identity, but I was pleasantly surprised to find culture, charming architecture, great food, wonderful places to stay and a few markets, which are always a plus in my book. 
There are some fabulous boutiques dotted throughout the state, so I will just mention a few destinations. Take a look at the “Hippie-in-heels”  website for some interesting little shops in Panaji (Panjim); visit Private Collection boutique in Candolim for simple, but beautiful clothing and if you make up to Ashwem, then the beach tented boutiques are simply the best. Sweetlime jewellery can be found in Nana-ki alongside beautiful and colourful kaftans and beachwear. 

There are various markets to explore and this is where I have found some beads and precious pieces to incorporate in many of my unique and special statement necklaces.

With regards to where to stay, there are many hidden treasures throughout Goa, so I will highlight only a few gems. Vivenda dos Palhacos is a one-hundred-year-old house located in a little village called Majorda, in South Goa. It’s small and charming and each room is uniquely decorated. Charlotte, who is one half of the brother and sister team who own and run this boutique hotel is an absolute joy and having grown up in India, is a wealth of information. The hotel is also a short bike ride to an extensive and relatively quiet beach.
If you feel like treating yourself and want to escape to the hills, then Nilaya Hermitage is the place to go. It is a little remote, but their cars are available to ferry you around. The architecture and interior design are a mix of Moorish, Hindu and Gaudi-esque.  Shades of blues and hues of turquoise enhance the calming nature of this place.

Many grand mansions have been converted into boutique hotels. Often the owners are on site and they usually add to the experience. Sunbeam in Assagao and 1265 Crescent Villa in Candolim are fine examples of this.


NOTES

Sweetlime will be open every day through to January 6th. We will have reduced hours from the 7th of January to February 15th. Please check our website or call 01736 791 434 for more details.

 

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