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?

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?