Russian Mountain

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Riotous colors. Mad geometric patterns. You can skip the annoyance of reading a book, and knit a pair of Colored Happy Feet for yourself! Happy face is the mirror of happy feet, don't you think so:)



Sock knitting in Turkish way is very pretty and fun to what I know from knitters. And, it could be something new if you like sock knitting. Knitting from cuff down in Americas and also western Europe countries, however in Turkey mostly sock starting is at the toe, increasing until the foot width is well fitting, and going on up from there.



Here are five traditional patterns to knit; all wonderful, all great Turkish designs:











Those above the most unusual and vintage Anatolian socks are coming from my Antiques Collection. "Too beautiful to be true"! I always adore our folkloric wovens, but knitting is something like a Russian mountain for me, in particular above richness in no way I could make, nowhere else you could see.

Yeni Yıl

Preparations inside and,

for loved ones outside my house,

are almost finished.

Made a difference this year! I thought for those poor and hungry people around the world, and also many people who are squeezed for money because of the tight economy. Instead of purchasing UNICEF or Hallmark cards, I went to create my own greeting cards, 100% hand-made. Materials simply are daily newspaper, travel brochures, buttons, pine, red felt... It was fun weekend that enjoyed so much. Result is quite satisfying, and I advice you all to give it a try.



Meanwhile, did you start practicing? "two-thousand-eleven", or dropping the thousand and simply "twenty-eleven".. In just 19 days it will be the newest of years that I am impatient to hug (in turkish) Yeni Yıl, meaning New Year.

My Damask Rose Come to Life

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Routine matters are not my cup of tea today! I was looking for something to titilate me..

I thought to be busy on a craft, yes it does take time but a finished project of which I will be proud in the end. Separating threads, following the chart, sometimes horizontal rows, x-cross stitch, sometimes lo-----ngstitches.. it is just fun, I like it! On the plus side, the last thing is to go out because how crazy cold outside in the town and we may receive snow earlier in November if it goes like this.

Let me share a bit about this beautiful rose. Damask Roses resemble the old European garden roses in flower, foliage and fragrance. In the middle ages linen woven in this special way was initially imported from Damascus (of Syria), so the name Damask was born. Damask is a fabric with a pattern that is created by using a weave different from that of the background. Ireland, Italy and France are now the countries where the finest damask is produced. Bought this kit in London a short time ago, however I could not find the right time to start it.

A 3-day long weekend started for us. The 87th anniversary of Republic Day ceremonies and activities are everywhere in the country today, one exception in Istanbul because of bad weather conditions cancellation. As I am in charge, maybe I can finish up my Damask Rose bookmark until Monday..

My Content Images vs Where I Find My Soul

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Bir ömür boyu üzerinde konuşulmaya değersin sen, Bodrum...

I can talk about you for a life long, my Bodrum...

No other holiday resort in Turkey has the diverse image of Bodrum! For sure, it is not just about sea, sand and colourful night life. It's also about art and culture. It's also about antiques. Whether you are poor or rich, you will be amazed by the kind of spirit this so - special - city - has. Because the spirit is very dynamic and reach everyone in one way. If you let yourself go, you will be able to live Bodrum Life to the full and not say you have already been there and done that.

So this makes Bodrum to be one of the most talked holiday destinations in the country + being one of most talked (still talking) topics in my blog CR, you see:)




























This venue, the Dibekli Han Village of Art and Culture [turkish: Dibekli Han Sanat Köyü], is a new favorite among not Bodrum residents, but everyone, tourists to vacationers for its museum, exhibition salon, cozy art ateliers, interesting shops selling Turkish handicrafts. I hardly left this village after spending long hours on stunning pieces and works of innovative artists trying to understand how to achieve great art expression. The village located near Yalikavak. My summer was all about from swimming, suntanning to art, culture, history, communication, music, new people, discoveries that happened in only one place: Bodrum


BTW,

• be virtually active and visit the village now: www.dibeklihan.com
  

• best is of course to fly in Bodrum and reach Dibekli Han: (address) Yaka köyü, Çilek Caddesi, Ortakent - Bodrum.
  
  
• Why not coming to Bodrum in summer 2011? Think seriously about it:)
  

Queen Ortanca

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IN MY TOWN, Istanbul, there is an explosion of ortanca (English: Hydrangea)! With plentiful spring and summer rains they made a big splash blooming like crazy in this year. As you know this flower needs plenty of water. Pinks, blues, whites, sugar pinks and purples are filling the gardens, yards and parks... here they are:

Hydrangea Macrophylla l with wide variety -blue and pink

PeeGee Hydrangea l with white flowers

Oakleaf Hydrangea l with pale pink flowers

IN MY BALCONY, the profusion of blooming hydrangeas made me feel like it is summer at home, too:) There are of course many signs of summer, from the smell of tomatoes, fresh cherries, bermudas, windsurfers, häagen-dazs icecream to sandals but there is no sight than my hydrangeas bloom pink and blue throughout my mind... look at its quick growing up, most beautiful flowered plant in my little corner:









INSIDE MY HOME, I wanted to carry some effect of this most beautiful flowered plant that is originally discovered in Japan, symbolizing both gratefulness and pride. I was sure I would use my origami talent and.. it was big fun for me to make its star-shaped flowers in different colored papers by folding techniques; here is what I come up:











As for its name rooting; "Hydor" in greek meaning "water", and "angos" meaning vessel or jar, the name of this flower literally translated "water barrel". Representing heartfelt appreciation, extremely vigorous that blooms throughout summer into fall, there could be any better long-lived sign of summer?!


PS In Istanbul we used to see hydrangeas until the early weeks of December!

I Saw ¨¨ She Saw

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The 7th of june was my "TODAY". First thing to do in the morning is to make some tea and reading quickly the morning paper...


At that day I noticed an advertisement published on the newspaper. Coming from a very well known Turkish Bank and its credit card, called Axess...

Saying "Get +10% discount if you pay cash; get +5% if by installments. Do not delay your summer holiday."

In the end of my "TODAY", I found a few colorful pencils, a little piece of ribbon (for summergirl's hairgrip) and two embroidery spangles (for summergirl's earrings), see closely above or below. Oh, I was pretty ready to draw what I saw in the paper, on jun 7th..

Voila!!! Above is what I come up with. I like the summergirl even though she's a bit changed from her beauty but result seems as good as enough it can be:) Remember, I am very good at technical drawings and design, so do not expect too much from me for this kind of free style drawings:) I'm still developing my penciling...

Next is about hers. The 9th of june was her "TODAY".


I was wondering what the bird would bring from my partner in Erkerode, Germany..



Waited bird arrives today! Very nice piece of drawing showing about the wonderful paper objects from the designer Katrin Ruhnau that Mano saw in Quedlinburg...



Did you know Quedlinburg is a UNESCO world heritage in the Harz Mountains of central Germany. Read more here

Drawing my own "Today I Saw" postcard and sending it to my partner, I enjoyed and understood that drawing is something funny and not easy depending on what you want to put in. Most importantly I learned about Quedlinburg, new for me, because I did not know it before. Participating for the TODAY I SAW Postcard Swap at sweet Jill's and having met to Mano was great, thanking very much you both.

I think you'll be amazed to see all the TODAY I SAW Kreatif Postakartlari flickr page -all handmade and made with love, please jump in the group pool


Tell me what's that you SAW TODAY?