Guest Designer

 wow, the trip is nearing an end now, I am so very thankful to have enjoyed  my summer here in Turkiye.  here's some more wonderful art from the kiddo's.  Their teacher being my dear friend, Dilek.

don't you love that COFEE theme one?

admit one

 It's the weekend!  I can't believe I just have a little time left.  I am likely to go over to the Bakirkoy pazaar this Saturday and then maybe stop by Eminonu or go all the way to Ortakoy depending on how early I get going.  Though I think activity in Ortakoy goes on Sunday as well, so I may go there on Sunday instead.

The card base and ticket die cut is from American crafts and the ice cream die cut is from Pink&Main.  Mmmm, think I want some ice cream today. 

Hagia Sofia

 Happy Friday everyone!  Here's a Turkish theme card showing Istanbul.  This is the Hagia Sophia.  Currently it is under reconstruction, so there is much cover over the dome where they are rebuilding.  It went from being a museum to being a mosque a couple a years ago.  Now it's still a mosque, but for foreigners they still charge a high fee (1100 Turkish liras) to enter and you can only enter the top area (not the bottom floor anymore).

Hey you...

 Happy Thursday everyone. I hope you are all having a great week for the middle of July.  What is everyone doing this month?  I have been talking so much about what I am doing I haven't asked everyone what's going on.

Hello Sunshine

 Well, it's Wed, so you know what that means....yep, Fatih Pazaar....even though I have to control my shopping now, I just can't resist this amazing event this week.  There's a couple of ladies that I often run into who make the most beautiful handmade laces here.  I find it hard to resist!!

Summer Fun

 Happy Tuesday.  As the trip winds down I have to control my shopping more because I have FULL suitcases and have already gotten ready or shipped my packages home so I can't be buying MORE laces (which you know I want to do, lol.....)  EEEKKKK, so hard not to.  Ha ha.

GO SEE DO

Another lovely day to enjoy.  I am starting to sleep better, finally and relax more.  Of course, pretty soon it will be time for the trip to end and then start a new sleeping pattern as school will end.  I wonder what my new schedule and class will be like next year.  Hmmm.  well, no need to think of that now.  Let's just enjoy these last two weeks of vacation.

Guest Designer Turkish Kids

 Just two weeks let to enjoy. I can't believe the summer is nearing an end already. WOW.  I have some more wonderful art from the kiddos in Turkiye.  How sweet are they?

Friends

 Happy Saturday.  Hoping to get a chance to visit with my friends while I am here.  One of them is a teacher and she and I met when she was in the USA with her then husband while he completed his PHd at Texas Tech University.  She will have just a little time to visit as her mother lives in another city outside of Istanbul, so she will be leaving when school gets out to go stay with her.

Thank you

 WOW,  I can't believe I have been in Turkiye so long and I just have two weeks left.  LOL. I know most people don't even get a two week vacation, but I will miss Turkiue so much.  I am so spoiled.  I am so thankful to all the kind people here who have been so friendly and helped me and of course to my dear hubby.  Here's a thank you in Spanish, but let me write it here in Turkish-- Teşekkür ederim

Be a rainbow

 Ahh, Thursday, if I remember correctly today is the weekly pazaar in Cemberlitas neighborhood.  They don't have a lot of laces there, but they usually have a couple of tables that might be worth looking at.  Then I like to take the train to Sirkeci and either ride the Marmaray under the sea to Uskadar or take a ferry.  There's some lovely art stores there and that's a nice afternoon.

Time for a weekly Pazaar

 So it's wed now and the good thing about Wednesdays is the weekly pazaar in Fatih.  I am looking forward to finding some good laces there.  WOO HOO.  Every once in a while I get some really good stuff there, but even on regular weeks, I still may find some nice cheaper laces than what you would get at the retail stores in Eminonu.

Here comes the sun!

 Happy July 8th. Hope this day finds you well. I am looking forward to relaxing today and walking around a lot. It's getting warmer now that we are in July, but here in Turkiye, Istanbul in particular, it is still significantly cooler than in Austin where I come from.

Make Today Amazing!

Happy monday.  Hope you all had a wonderful weekend, thanks for checking in on me today.  I am betting that I will be going shopping today, lol, on a day in Turkiye, that's a pretty good bet.  Hmmm, what should we shop for?  lace?  yep, I think we should look for some yummy laces.  Either way, let's make today AMAZING!

Guest Designer, Turkish Children

 Here's some more wonderful works by the kiddos in Turkiye, I just love their beautiful artworks.  I hope these kids are having a wonderful summer and enjoyed their first year or "middle school" as we would call it in America.

Hooray for ice cream.

 Happy Saturday.  So, this makes it a month in Turkiye now.  WOW.  How awesome is that?  I am going to enjoy either the pazaar in Barkirkoy today or a crafting festival that is weekly in Ortakoy.  I can take the train all the way to the last stop and then walk a couple miles or wait and take a ferry all the way there.  Hmmm. Ferry is definitely easier...

it's summertime, so as the card says, HOORAY for ice cream!

Miss You

 Happy Independence Day to my friends in the USA.  Happy Friday to the rest of my friends around the world.  For my DH I want to send a little "Miss You" note.  Kisses Babe.

Whirling Dervish

 So as I am sure some of you recall, I was at my mother's home back in April and made a bunch of cards.  Some of those cards had a Turkish theme to them, so I thought I would share those this summer.  Here's one that has to do with my most recent trip to Konya

The man shown is called a whirling dervish, read about it HERE if interested.  The word Merhaba if I haven't brought it up before means Hello and of course, some Turkish Tea!

Nothing but blue skies....

 So today is Wednesday.  The thing to do on Wednesday is go-to the Fatih pazaar.  I must confess at least once I couldn't find it.  How crazy am I?  It's HUGE!!  and, well, it's RIGHT NEXT to the Fatih Mosque.  If that's not a landmark, c'mon.  I must have been crazy that day.  At any rate, now I know WHERE it is, and it's so HUGE, I know where inside that pazaar to go to find the fabric/laces.  Also, there's usually some ladies who do handmade work that you can go see in a couple places.  I should be able to walk from where my airbnb is to the pazaar, though technically I could walk it last year even though my friends thought that was crazy

Happy Birthday Hamide

Wishing a very Happy Birthday to one of my friends here in Istanbul!  Hamide, best wishes my Friend. I hope you have a wonderful day and blessed year ahead.  

Peace and Love

 Happy Monday!  I can't believe we are at the end of June already.  WOW.  How quickly time has passed.  I have 28 wonderful days left to enjoy.  what would you all like to see in Istanbul?  i have to say the Hagia Sofia is under reconstruction now so going by it on the train everyday is nice but not the same as before. (Dont' get me wrong, this is very necessary work, I am so happy they are doing necessary repairs.)  BUT, I miss that amazing site that it used to be.  I imagine it will now be this way (reconstruction) for YEARS and years.  Plus, for tourists like me, you can't even go into the base floor of the Hagia Sofia inside anymore.  Sigh.  The Hagia Sofia is mostly just a memory.  Sending everyone Peace and love today

Guest Desiner Mine Fiore

 Happy Sunday everyone, here's a little card that I got from a store here in Turkiye on Istikal street in Istanbul.  Istikal street is an iconic shopping area that I will visit every summer at least once or twice.  It starts at Taksim square and continues down to the Galata tower.  This card shows Famous Turkish Leader Ataturk.

Summer time memories

 Happy Saturday everyone!  My favorite thing to do on Saturday is to go to one of the largest street pazaars in Istanbul.  Pazaar because it's just a one day thing, as opposed to a bazaar which is typically a structurally built location and daily.  On Saturday one of the biggest pazaars is in Barkirkoy.  This pazaar is particularly important because it is very near the textile district so there's tons of things to find for me.  Pre-covid, you wouldn't believe the amount of lace, now, it's hit or miss.

Rejoice!

 Happy Friday everyone.  Well today I should be back in Istanbul.  I have a lovely 11 days in Eskisehir and Konya.  I can't believe I am at the end of three weeks in Turkiye now.  WOW.  What a blessing I have been given.

Life is sweet with you!

Taking the train from Konya back to Istanbul.  It's a long ride, but then I think how long would it be if I was going to the airport, waiting around, getting to IST, taking an hour long expensive ride back to the city.....might as well just take the train....I really hope they have WIFI. lol, man I am spoiled, lol

for you DH