The Fall of My MacBook.

Yup. Stupid me. R.I.P beautiful Aluminum MacBook with Arabic on the keys. In a rush to clear the kitchen table to print more scarves I put my laptop on top of an unsecure pile of things and it tumbled to its death. I'm usually uber-careful with it, so I am labelling this a freak accident. The laptop itself still works, but the glass LCD screen is smashed to bits. Like a windshield of a car after a hitting a big fat moose.

I took it to the closest Mac dealer a two hour drive away. When he opened it, he winced and exclaimed,
"Oooh!"
The other employees chimed in with,
"Ouch!" "I bet that hurt!" "Oh dear!"

The result after pricing of different options is to go with a new laptop, which is currently in the shop, having all my info from the last laptop moved over. I loved my laptop. I stayed an extra two months in the Emirates to wait for it; so I got it the first week the new model came out. We'd been through so much together. It had accompanied me to every coffeeshop I'd ever spent time in in Istanbul. When I needed to upload something, it was there. It's been my social life, my educator, my entertainment, my connection to the world for the past year and three months. I will miss it. Strangely enough, I feel like I'm cheating on it by getting a new one. Is that weird?

I think it's mostly the pain for having to part with an unneccessary 1200 bucks because of a very stupid silly mistake. Live and learn!

But as my Dad said in the truck on the way up, "A problem you can fix with money is not really a problem." It's not like a member of my family or a friend is in trouble or sick or anything. It's just a machine at the end of the day. Though I have been in a grouchy mood for the past few days over it.

So instead of uploading new pictures, I will be spending time printing and coming up with new designs. Working with my hands instead of my fingers. Maybe it's not so bad to be computer-less for a few days afterall.

The ETSY shop is now open!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheCreativeCaravan

My little impromptu photographic studio- only during daylight hours!

Ta Daaaaaa! The Creative Caravan ETSY shop is finally open!

It's been a lot more work than I anticipated, but it's officially up today with my one upload complete. Break out the champagne! It's time this boat left the shore!

I've had to set up pay pal. I've had to figure out all the rules. I've written the shop profile, the shop policies, the write ups of each scarf, (They all have names now by the way, how chic!) I've ripped my parent's house apart using impromptu tools for my photographic studio. I though this would freak my mother out (picture an antique stool balancing on a rickety table for the perfect shot without any shake) but instead my parents have been on board and excited about my new venture. Five acceptable shots of each scarf, forty odd scarves- You get the idea!

I've been to the post office and learned Canada post is a bloody freaking nightmare for all Etsians. (That's what I am now! an Etsian!) I've solved the problem by including the shipping in the cost of the scarf. I've failed at uploading several times because I didn't have a certain piece of information needed and so I had to start all over again. Each time I scoured other people's shops, the ETSY forums, the community at large. And now it's up! And I am officially excited.

If you go to the shop and see I only have one scarf, please check back as I will be uploading the other scarves as I get them ready. I would like to put more body shots in but I need to find the right location and the right partner to take the photos. All of this takes time when you are living in a cedar house with natural wood walls (no light spaces) and stuck in Rural Canada in the dead of winter!

But on the bright side, The shop is open! The shop is finally open!!! Once the scarves are up, I may also upload the paintings. Why not? I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Here is a quick tour of some of the scarves that will be uploaded in the next few days and their smashing new names. (Check ETSY for the witty descriptions!)

"Ride Like the Wind"

"The Scarf of Living Dangerously"

"Leaf Me to My Dreams"

Each scarf comes with a Turkish Nazar bead for good luck and protection!

"High Five"

The hand of Fatima, or Miriam, or Khamsa, whatever you wish to call it.

"Eiffel in love with you"

Questions and feedback welcomed as always!

XXMelanie

Creative Caravan Goes to Canada!

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all the best in 2010!

The new and actual Creative Caravan, where I will be residing, writing and creating new things till Spring!

So this past month has been very busy for the Creative Caravan as we made our way swiftly to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, to rest our wheels in Canada for a while. It's good to be home, but it's been hard with all the festivities of Christmas and New year to get the Creative projects on the go.

Blessings to my neat freak mother who has turned a blind eye as Rene and I set up shop on the kitchen table. It's cold and snowy outside and the garage was just too cold to take over. I will be posting photos of the new scarf creations soon, along with a big announcement! Stay tuned!

Someone recently asked me if I will continue painting, and the answer to that is a resounding yes! I'm excited about exploring the Okanagan (where my parents live) through paint. Once I am finished painting my mother's Christmas present (Yes, I know, the Creative Caravan's wheels have been stuck in the mud on this one!) I will start the new series of Okanagan paintings. Though I think I won't forget about Turkey just yet- Still a few paintings to squeeze out there!

Stay tuned for the big announcement!

XXMelanie

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.

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.

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)

There's always time for Tea in Istanbul

It always amazes me how modern life weaves itself around history in Istanbul- how a little corner store can move itself into a five hundred year old monument, how old men drink tea next to an Ottoman fountain, or how I could be living above an ancient Roman cistern and not even know it.

"There is always time for Tea in Istanbul" in a playful take of that dichotomy, Generations of sultans having a chat in a local coffee shop setting. I imagine throughout the ages of the empires fought and won here, there was always time to stop for tea at some point, drinking it the way Turks like to drink it, in thin tulip shaped glasses which somehow, by the shape of the glass guarantees the liquid inside will be sweeter. Discerning eyes may notice there are only two spoons on the table. If you'd like to know where the third spoon is, you can find the story here.

Painted with fine details in the costumes after a recent trip to the Topkapi Palace to admire the robes of the actual sultans, I decided to paint the backdrop to imitate Ottoman miniature paintings that were originally copied for illuminated manuscripts. Ahhhh Tea. Sultans. History. Istanbul. Enjoy!