Kiss and Give

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A bunch of flowers, dinner at a French restaurant, a dress from Burberry, Yves Saint Lauren perfume, silk scarf,... Give up these classical ways to make Her happy! They are very old fashioned methods, and do not enough to make Her feel Special. A thing that lasts forever and gets value by the time would be great.

Here are a few items to make Her the happiest one on Her Day, 'of Mothers'. You can also think it for your grandma, auntie, special one. Completely made in the hands of talented Turkish artists with love and patience. Put their hearts firstly before starting. Long hours past upon each one. Used silver. Designed unique. And, not to be found in anywhere else! Stitched, stitched, stitched to create the best pieces traditionally from unique Turkish art ( telkari :: filigree )

#1) unit price: $70

#2) unit price: $45

#3) unit price: $50

#4) unit price: $55

~Remember~
If a jewelry is not the mirror of the culture, how to tell it is an antique? Sure, it can not be told, however we know it only wears out. Be the owner of those lovely pieces 'antique' called, or gift to your most loved one on Her Special Day! I know you will.. she will.. everyone love to die:)

On A Bustling Movie Set: April

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Celebration of togetherness, we as the human. Entrance of Dutch Chapel in Beyoğlu situated on the European side. One of the oldest churches in town. Opposite the church is the Dutch Consulate.


Culturally enjoying the unique people of both nations, Turkish (left: nefise karatay) and Japanese (right) in the japan year activities.


Peace forever (Yeni Mosque, Istanbul)


Hearty welcome for the month of fire flower, lale (English: Tulip)


Vital running around the globe. For water!


Happy twist dance! Sold 2 pairs of filigree (Turkish: Telkari) earrings, handmade and one-of-a-kind. e-mail me for shopping and other models.


Hope for divine love (Blue Mosque, Istanbul)


New stiletto heel in the Bosphorus strait as beautiful as Turkish woman (Image: Melike Öcalan). Bridge construction, third one, soon to be built.


Oh my, happy tango! Called 'Rose', this handmade, one-of-a-kind filigree (Turkish: Telkari) necklace sold yesterday at price:$40, a young Istanbulian boy bought it. Please DO NOT ask the same model, because it is now out of stock. Within the month, 3-items were successfully sold, wow. e-mail me for shopping and other models.

For the last one year, I was waiting for her coming to Istanbul, impatiently, excitedly.. Finally early this morning, we met up for a breakfast at her staying hotel, Conrad Istanbul in Beşiktaş, European side. Above, frontside of the hotel, I captured today. Still yellow tulips on the left amaze us. I like Conrad because of offering stunning views of the city in the Bosphorus from the roof terrace, something like from paradise!

We, I and Kim (her gift above), talked, laughed, enjoyed, and shared many things from our zones. Just together. Just like two sisters:) She flied to Paris in the afternoon. She and her group, coming from different states in the US, already traveled in many places throughout my country; Istanbul in north to Antalya in south, from Cappadocia in east to Ephesus in west. Oh, a little Seattle (USA) weather covered Istanbul, what a wonderful day to end up my April:)


How was your month in a few words? Mine was vivace!

Light Breeze

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I always get great delight in reading Rumi's poems. Simply he speaks to the everyday experience. Brings love to the passion but not humanly love; the divine love, the spiritual love, love to God, to things created by God he is talking about!

Join me now, lets read one of his poems, Light Breeze, so begin to look at world with a different eye, drink the spiritual wine...

As regards feeling pain, like a hand cut in battle,
consider the body a robe

you wear. When you meet someone you love, do you kiss their clothes? Search out.

who's inside. Union with God is sweeter than body comforts.
We have hands and feet

different from these. Sometimes in dream we see them.
That is not

illusion. It's seeing truly. You do have a spirit body;
don't dread leaving the

physical one. Sometimes someone feels this truth so strongly
that he or she can live in

mountain solitude totally refreshed. The worried, heroic
doings of men and women seem weary

and futile to dervishes enjoying the light breeze of spirit.

from Soul of
great Spiritual Master and Poet
Rumi (1207 - 1273)



When we seek to free ourselves from human vices and weaknesses in order to acquire angelic qualities and conduct pleasing to God, sufism is the path and followed by Rumi's followers, sufis as we call, to reach the truth-God. Usually we refer this term "being a dervish" as its practical aspect in our life.

So we achieve our goal by living "like a dervish" in accordance with the requirements of God's love and knowledge and in the resulting spiritual delights that ensue. If you would like to have the cute whirling dervish icon, NEW dervish necklaces are ON SALE, as scheduled and written on my previous post here (Only Breath)

I think my photos above give you an idea how it looks like. Emerald green colored and HANDMADE from vibrant world-wide known Turkish Iznik tilework with relief technique, the necklace inlay 925karat silver sterling. Accepting your orders when or if you think to buy.

If You Love Rain Drops

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I received an e-mail. She was writing me from Toronto (Ontario, Canada). A Turkish girl studying for her doctorate studies there. She said that she found pretty gorgeous the items I posted on my blog, and continued saying she is very interested in 'rain drops' filigree (fine silver stitching, telkari in turkish) earrings. If I could send her more photographs of alike earrings, she asked.

Checking out my boutique-style collection, and only following 4-models were best fitting in accordance to her request. Replied her with images and models code (a), (b), (c) and (d):


Pretty nice, aren't they. Handmade contemporary earrings made from silver 925 karat. Light, sparkly, very feminine! These cool earrings are a warm weather delight you are sure to enjoy all the year, not only for a breezy summer night.

She then returned me with her buying interest on models GARCIA(a) and SEVILLE(d). Now you see the close-ups what she bought:

sold at US$ 40

sold at US$ 35

These are what you missed out. Please do not ask the same models (above) because both are out of stock!

But I have two more models ON SALE, (b)CAMELLIA and (c)DIVA, which are one-of-a-kind earrings with 'rain drops' for drop jewelery lovers, for silver lovers and especially quality lovers:

Camellia - Price: $40

Diva - Price: $45

I hope you have a great weekend to look forward to, and that you can start it today like me:) It feels like summer out here in Istanbul, super warm, ~22-24C (71-75F)!!! Warm weather, early arriving summer, the weekend, selling,.... Yay!



ps- for further lovely series of earrings and necklaces please e-mail me at welcometocrossroads {at} gmail.com Thanks so much for your interest as usual!

Day 2: Tulips

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No great thing is created suddenly.
~Epictetus (AD 55 - AD 135)

[ click on my photos to enlarge ]

Used as a café on the weekends, I enter in the Pink Pavilion at the Emirgan Park. It's two storey, classical Ottoman House. Not because of the pink tulips, but named for the pink color of cranesbill (=geranium) flower. Dreaming to live spring in this finely ornamented mansion among pink tulips, and continue visiting inside but I notice outside also heavenly heavily pink, pink, pink...

Not only the Emirgan Park is gorgeous to look at, but this store is as stunning as it can be! One of my most favorite shops in Turkey! Here are a few of my most liked tulip-inspired finds, attention for their tulip designs, prints and shapes:

white wine glass :: wine carafe

wine bottle :: palace style bowl (big size)

bowl - white&blue vase

candle holder :: water glass

vase :: vase

Really aren't these gorgeous? I want one of each products for my house! And such beautiful and unique designs.... oh! See the list and unit prices here

You can browse all stylish one-of-a-kind handmade products in Paşabahçe on-line store


ps- the site is in turkish. on-line shopping also available if you are interested in. if or when you need information about the products and/or shopping do not hesitate to ask me or send me an e-mail.

Amazing Outcomes in March

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Another month is closing. So much, so much over my expectations happened in this month March! There were many 'ups', no 'downs' for me. Interestingly plentiful as not compared with any month. How was your March?

Besides all positive achievements and happenings around me, my sales also increased! Oh my! One more SOLD just after 3 pieces of dervish necklaces went away.

Last year in May, I sold the first item of this filigree pendant to a customer (in Germany). You can read sales report here. The second and last one of the same pendant took interest of a customer at home (in Istanbul). His reason sounds so good. Said to me that the gentleman bought this 'Bosphorus' pendant as a gift to his wife because of their wedding anniversary, oh so cool.

Unfortunately it is now OUT OF STOCK. It won't be available to put the same on sale. Because it is one of rarest models which has a very limited production, I am sad.

Here is the same model but embedded black stone. You can dream of having this gorgeous one:) Let me remind you that is the only-and-one in my stock list. You would better to hurry up if you are interested in buying.

~Product card about this jewel of 'GRAPES'~

A fine work of 925carat silver stitching as it is known 'filigree'. Original and traditional to the Turkish handicraft. 2,5in (=6 cm) length. It is to send out after packed nicely in its original box together with a high quality black velvet rope, so makes ready to wear immediately. Price: $35

My Spring Selection For You

'DAISY' filigree bright shiny silver earrings
Price: $30

'STAR' filigree silver pendant
Price: $30

............?............

Isn't it possible to extend this month a little bit? I really liked the plentiful days I had in, and I do not want March to come a close...

Only Breath

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Not Christian or Jew or Muslim, not Hindu
Buddhist, sufi, or zen. Not any religion

or cultural system. I am not from the East
or the West, not out of the ocean or up



from the ground, not natural or ethereal, not
composed of elements at all. I do not exist,



am not an entity in this world or in the next,
did not descend from Adam and Eve or any



origin story. My place is placeless, a trace
of the traceless. Neither body or soul.



I belong to the beloved, have seen the two
worlds as one and that one call to and know,



first, last, outer, inner, only that
breath breathing human being.


One hand is turned to the sky (the Heavens), and the other to the earth (mortal life)...

She was absolutely fascinated by the whirling dervishes and Rumi! She has never liked anything with dervishes before she saw the dervish necklace on my site. She continued to say somehow it touched her deeply.

Less than two weeks passed since she bought all three necklaces that I prepared for her (above). One for her, and other two to be gifted for her friends. Made from world famous vibrant and gorgeous Turkish - Iznik tiles, emerald-green Dervish necklaces inlayed 925carat sterling silver. Read my post here

When she safely received them I found great mail in return that was really made my day; here's a few lines that I can't pass up:

" ...I must tell you that when I opened the little black box and I saw the Whirling Dervish I was moved to tears... It is even more beautiful than in the picture!!! I am so Happy! I wish there were words to thank you... I can see how much Love and Light you put into it! I already wore my necklace and I simply adore it!"

And she was closing her mail with one of her favourite poems by Rumi as above to share with me, 'Only Breath'. Her mail was as emotionally touching as that, but these cute little dervishes were a real good reason to build up a friendship among us. We are now looking to the future to share more under the glorious emotions reminded us by Rumi and semas (whirling dervish ceremonies). Thank you so much Lucie:)

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Get Noticed Before
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Please be kindly informed that these necklaces are OUT OF STOCK right now. For your new orders about dervish necklaces, dervish-theme t-shirts and dervish paintings oil-on-canvas please contact with me, or leave a comment here. Be sure that you have a valid e-mail so I can reach you easily. Thank you.

--------------------

Bilginiz İçin
--------------------

Eğer bu Derviş kolyelerden satınalmak istiyorsanız, maalesef şu an itibariyle STOKLARDA KALMAMIŞTIR. Ancak Derviş temalı bu kolyelerden, Derviş baskılı kaliteli t-shirtlerden ve hatta Derviş konulu yağlıboya tablolardan almak isterseniz benimle kontakt kurunuz lütfen. Buraya da yorum bırakabilirsiniz, size ulaşabileceğim geçerli bir e-mail adresinizin olduğundan emin olunuz. Teşekkürler.


(Apr 1) Updated to add:

NEW Dervish necklaces will be again ON SALE as of Apr 20, 2010. You are always welcome to place your orders. Thank you so much for your kind interest shown on this matter, I am really grateful.


20 Nisan 2010'dan itibaren büyük ilgi gören YENİ Derviş kolyeler tekrar satışa sunulacaktır, bilginize. Gösterdiğiniz ilgi için teşekkür ederim.

Dome Of Styled Gemstone

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I think nothing is more cherished than the promise of...

religious spiritual,

long lasting friendship,

commitment,

and love ever after.

It takes only a moment for us to make any promise but difficult times start how to express and seal our promise?

If you love Vintage Promise rings like me, you will adore my beautifully crafted ring! My new jewelry is giving off a whiff of vintage yet still managing to look perfectly modern. Best of its qualities, it is nobly look but rest is continuously a heartbeat flowing over my hand. A 2 carat CZ is in the center, and item is between a pair of baguettes and small round cut stones. I'm so impressed with its quality and brilliance! White gold rhodium bond promises all the romance and love I could ever wish for. Oh beyond words! Stunning from all angles as seen in my photos.

I think it is perfect for any occasion whether an engagement, anniversary or for a great right hand fashion ring! Absolutely gorgeous for a life more hopeful, fulfilled and beauteous one. Be sure to visit LuShae Jewelry to find the jewelry of your dreams --pendants, earrings, rings all available online--, or even buy the same of my ring.

What would life be without promises? I can not think about it.