The Silver Reflection of the Full Moon on the Sea

Ay Tutulması (Lunar Eclipse) by Servisîmin

You can imagine it, can't you - the silver reflection of the full moon on the sea. In the Ottoman language they have a word for it - Servisîmin. This is the name of charming woman I met at the International WEL Summit in Istanbul this past June. She serves on the KAGIDER (women's entrepreneurship organization) board of directors.

Özgürlük 1 (Freedom) by Servisimin

Servisîmin joined us on our first Behind the Bazaar designer tour and it was then that she mentioned she is a jewelry designer.  Though we got to talk a bit about her jewelry, I didn't get to see any examples until I took a peek at her website the other day. Now I'm planning a trip to her studio so I can see her designs in person because these photos just won't do. But I'll share some with you anyway.

Özgürlük Kuşları (Free Birds) by Servisimin

Inspired by the silver reflection of the full moon that gives its meaning to her name, Servisimin creates her pieces in precious silver and gold metals. she gives life to the metal in shapes that are quite fluid and feminine.

Öpücük 1 (Kiss) by Servisimin

I find these pieces enchanting and they remind me of something I might see in a gallery on the Monterey Penninsula - in Carmel perhaps. It just goes to show that the moon and the water have the same effect on people everywhere.

To see more of Servisîmin Cömert Birced's work, have a look at her website or her profile on Lebriz.com.

Needlework and Crystals

One of the groups Figen and I work with as IC is a local artist collaborative. Last week during our meeting jewelry designer Birsen Sönmez showed me a new bracelet she designed and I went a little weak in the knees.

First of all I should explain that I have an obsession for a particular kind of Turkish needlework called iğne oyası. It is a done with a straight needle on such a tiny scale that I am awestruck whenever I come across any examples of it. It quite literally stops me in my tracks.

Someone told me that in villages (years ago, but perhaps even still) young girls would not always be allowed to leave the house without supervision. So they had to keep themselves busy at home as much as they longed to venture outside untethered. The oya was their outlet and they would sew their hearts' desires into each pass of the needle.

Some oya evokes sadness, some love, some desire or hope or longing. They are made in the shapes of flowers, fruit and lace-like patterns. They are the work of skilled hands and get passed down from mother to daughter. Dreams from one generation to the next.

So yes, I love oya. But I also love how traditions are revamped to be relevant today. As I mentioned earlier, when I saw these bracelets I couldn't get them off my mind and wanted to share them here.

I like the way Birsen has combined the hard-cut crystal with the softness of the oya. For some reason it really appeals to me. The dragonfly charm is not a typical Turkish motif but I like it here.

If you are any of the women in my family, please forget that you saw this post as you might be getting one of these as a gift sometime in the future.

For the rest of you though, what do you think of these bracelets?

If you've fallen in love with them as I have, they're available here at Nest where 25% of the sale goes to fund women's microloans.

Seramika

After moving to Turkey I found myself looking for a new "career". For a time I was teaching English which unfortunately (or fortunately) just wasn't for me.

We have some friends in Antalya (which if you don't know is a coastal city on the Mediterranean Sea) who happen to be ceramic artists. Cihan has known them for years and years because he and Tufan have been scuba diving together since he was a teenager. I met Tufan and his wife Leyla when we got engaged and have loved them ever since.

But it was a particular incident on the patio at their home when I was feeling particularly underwhelmed with my life and where it was going. However in Leyla and Tufan's company I felt very much inspired and alive. If you visit their home you will understand why - it is the home of artists. On every wall, nook and cranny is some piece of artwork from their community.

There is color, texture, testimony, shape, shadow and vibrance. There is life in all that artwork and it totally inspired me. And I realized that I very much enjoy the company of creative spirits - but I didn't really realize it until that moment, when I was so uninspired by the rest of my life that I understood my life should have some connection to creative people.

And now that I've totally reminisced, what I really want to show you are these mini amphorae that Tufan made. I love them so much for their size and shape and color. As a diver in the Mediterranean, Tufan is inspired by the sea and its long history. It permeates everything that he creates which you can see if you have a look at his website. It's in Turkish, but you should be able to poke around comfortably.

A big thanks to Tufan and Leyla for giving me the opportunity to find my way. And for these teeny tiny amphorae. What do you think?

A Cobalt Kaftan

It was several years ago when I first met Şeyda Aksu, the designer of this pendant. We met through a friend of a friend when we were just starting Citara's and I loved how she combined traditional motifs, shapes and objects with something that is functional and contemporary.

The pendant itself is in the shape of a kaftan and is embellished with the tuğra which would originally have been used by the sultan himself for authenticity.  Şeyda has used cobalt blue in this piece which is also a very traditional color, but very wearable today.

When we visted her atelier we sat for a long time drinking tea and listening to her talk about her process and her inspiration. She was a charming artist with good design sense and a strong connection to her culture. 

What spoke to me about Şeyda's artwork and style is that it represented what I've been trying to do with Citara's - that is to create a modern-day collection of handcrafted products that reflect Turkish culture and tradition while at the same time having a place in a modern wardrobe.

As an undergraduate one of my favorite classes was History of the English Language taught by one of my all-time favorite professors, Dr. Cory Wade. She asked us the difference between a dead and living language. A dead language, she explained, is one that may still be spoken, but does not change.  It is fixed.  In contrast, a living language is spoken, but it is fluid and changes as people use it.

And this is where my philosophy about preserving traditional culture through art stems from - that if it exists as it always has, it is like a dead language - people can still appreciate it, but they don't get to experience it. They can visit it in museums or history books, but they don't get to live it.

By bringing these traditional aspects of culture into modern day living, we get to tell the story again.  But like putting this pendant around our neck, we actually get to experience the beauty of history while living in the modern way we are accustomed to. The traditions live on, but are adapted to something we can relate to.

Oh my - I did not intend to dive so deep into this subject, so I'll end with a very practical question for the fashionistas out there - how would you wear this pendant and on what occasion? I would love to get your ideas!

Pomegranates Aplenty

I once heard that Eve did not tempt Adam with an apple, but rather with a pomegranate. This would not surprise me as I myself am often enticed by this gem-filled fruit. In Turkey it is common to see pomegranate seeds sprinkled on desserts which makes them that much more delectable, adding a tart burst of flavor to creamy puddings and custards.

But on the subject of artwork, it seems pomegranates have been making appearances everywhere.

These photographs are from an art center gift shop that we often visit. In a variety of different sizes, these crimson and emerald pomegranates stand at attention in tidy rows.

The white and gold-stemmed pomegranate in this photo was a gift to me upon the completion of a consulting project this summer.

My partner Figen has a matching one in red which I noticed she displays in her living room as I do. They are our trophies after months of hard work culminating in the inaugural International Women Entrepreneurship and Leadership Summit in Istanbul this past June. And we display them proudly.

I can't imagine an apple making the same kind of statement - can you?

For Turkish and Other Delights

When you are served a cup of Turkish coffee, a proper host will serve it with a small glass of cold water and a petite dish of sweets - usually Turkish Delight. When presented in this manner, the simple cup of coffee is transformed into a satisfying experience.

On a recent trip to Istanbul I saw these dishes designed especially for serving the Turkish Delight that accompanies just such a cup of coffee. The dishes are so sweet, you could almost forego the chewy Turkish candy that would be served inside.

They are designed by Özlem Tuna and handmade by the craftmasters that she works with. The bottom is ceramic and the lid is hand-hammered copper that has been plated in silver. The lids are decorated with a tiny Ottoman tulip.

Each dish is small enough to sit in your palm - the perfect size to offer your guests a cube or two of the tasty sweets. You can also serve sugar cubes with tea, nuts, dried fruit or other small snacks.

Who says you need to serve coffee to pull out this darling little dish?