Tuesday, November 17, 2009

The latest batch of scarves!


Detail from a fuschia scarf.


So the living room is a complete disaster and we had fun printing up a storm. I made some new stamps with bicycles, Eiffel Towers and little Japanese girls and I admit I went a little crazy. So here are the latest scarfs. If you are interested in a particular one, please indicate the photo number and describe the one you are interested in. We even have a few unprinted scarves left over in case you'd like to order something special!

XXMelanie

Photo A
Left to right: Coffee cups, Coffee cups, Islamic tree, Chintomani design.
The Islamic tree design is a design I have used for years- It comes from a detail on a wooden door in Egypt. The stylised Chintomani design is common among Ottoman art and architecture.

Photo B
Plain dark maroon scarf, scooters-coffee-camera on lilac, and two different hand dyed twisted scarves in grey and brown. We also have plain black scarves. All with the evil eye sewn into the corner.

Photo C
Butterflies-flowers on lilac, peace with the Istanbul tile, Istanbul tile and chintomani.

Photo D
Pink octopus, cameras-coffee, Istanbul tile, and Turkish tea cups on fuschia.

Photo E
Eiffel tower-camera-bicycle and coffee, Large Turkish tulip, Camera-Japanese girl, bicycle and Japanese peace, Fuschia henna.

Photo F
Butterfly-Japanese girl- peace, pink peace, butterfly-Japanese girl- peace and flower, butterfly and flower.

Photo G
Art nouveau feather, brown tear drop, lilac tear drop, green Istanbul tile.

Photo H
Maroon seventies bike, brick seventies bike, brown hand of Fatima, green scooters.

Photo I
Coffee and Eiffel Tower, hand of Fatima, funky bud, two toned flowers and Eiffel Tower, match box bike and coffee.


Photo J
Holy brightness! Bikes, Eiffel towers and Japanese girls.

Photo K
Hand of Fatima, tribal design, art nouveau feather, Islamic tree.

Monday, November 9, 2009

New Scarves! November 9th


#1: Fuchsia with coffee cups, #2:Hot pink with Octopi, #3: Fuchsia with Henna Designs

Rene and I have been madly printing, ironing, sewing, ironing again! It's been really exciting for the both of us to have so much interest in the scarves. Each morning I've been opening my inbox with orders for more scarves. We will try to find a way to continue after we leave Turkey, but we can't promise anything. So as it is now, first come first serve!

Have a look!

These are the scarves we have available at the moment. As you can see, there are lots of similar colours and designs so no two scarves are exactly alike. Please contact me with the number of the scarf if you'd like one. I will be heading to the post office tomorrow to sort out the costs of shipping. We can discuss payment options by email.

The price: 25 Turkish Lira (until Dec 1st) 25 Canadian dollars (after Dec 1st)

Thanks!
Melanie and Rene

#4: Taupe with Butterflies, #5: Beige Rumi and sprigs, #6: Beige with Flower mix


#7: Steel grey with flower mix, #8: Steel grey with Rumi with rust flowers, #9: Steel grey with Rust and blue flowers.

#10: Taupe Arabic coffee pots, #11: Beige scissors , #12 Taupe flower mix


#13: Taupe butterflies, #14: Beige tribal design, #15: Taupe Peace and flower mix

#16: Taupe Flower Mix, #17: Taupe Blue Butterflies, #18 Taupe Turkish Tea Cups


#19: Purple Peace, #20: Maroon Peace, #21: Purple Scooters


#22: Brick tea cups, #23:Brick henna designs, #24Maroon Hand of Fatima


#25: olive green scooter, #26: Royal Blue Cameras, #27: Light brown tribal design

#28: Taupe Coffee Cups #29: Brick Hand of Fatima, #30: Brick Tribal Design (Mixed Colours)


#31: Rusty Brown Hand of Fatima, #32: Taupe Butterflies.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Talismania Scarves!


The Creative Caravan is taking a small detour this month in to the land of Talismanic block-printed scarves!

Hand block-printed designs and the Turkish evil eye, designed to ward off jealous stares of others who want your new good-luck-infused fashionable scarf!

Rene and I recently took a trip to the Topkapi Palace and spent a lot of time looking at the talismanic healing shirts worn by Sultans. Inscribed with Quranic verse, The “healing shirts” were believed to be able to cure disease and to protect the wearer from evil. The Ottoman sultans believed their shirts would protect them like armor, and often wore them on the days they would be engaged in battle. Since there wasn't any blood on them, they may have actually worked!

Ottoman talismanic healing shirt.

Modern day talismanic scarves made with love in Istanbul: maroon 'peace' in five languages,
purple and red Turkish flower scarves designed and printed in our living room.

After leaving the Topkapi palace, we grabbed a coffee and talked about the shirts, my eyes rested on two women at the next table. One was wearing a Turkish evil eye bracelet, the other, a funky scarf that is the height of fashion in Istanbul these days. The inspirational discussion began, and before we knew it, we were embarking on our mission of creating good luck-infused and fashionable (and practical) lucky charms: The talismanic scarf!

Off to a good start!

Combining all of these good luck symbols and the idea of the inscriptions of the healing shirts, Rene and I came up with talismanic funky scarves, block-printed in Turkish inspired designs. Some have Rumi quotes, and all have their own evil eye hand sewn into the corner.

The evil eye army. We feel the power radiating off these little jewels, I swear.

The project has just begun, we are up to our elbows in carving block prints, printing scarves with fabric paint and sewing the evil eyes in a prominent place of protection. I'll post more pictures here as we go, but I wanted to share this special project with you before Christmas, as these work-of art-scarves are perfect for sending in the post.

The block I carved reversed in the mirror so you can read it:
"When I am with you we stay up all night. When we are apart I cannot sleep. Praise these two insomnias and the difference between them." `Rumi

I carve, Rene prints, with a little give and take here and there.

"We come spinning out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust." ~Rumi


The scarves will be sold in Istanbul in our Sultanahmet living room or at your place of convenience until the end of November,(at 25 lira each) and will be in Canada after that, at the Naramata Craft Faire on December 6th, and during a side trip to Vancouver and Victoria just before Christmas. (25 CDN including taxes.)

Contact me or Rene for details!
We really hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed making them.

XXMelanie (and Rene)