Citara's

Citara's by Appointment this November

2011-10-09T13:38:00.000+03:00

Citara's Boutique is booking private appointments this November in California and Colorado. Schedule now to view our selection of pashminas, wraps and handmade jewelry from the bazaars and ateliers of Turkey.

We are also scheduling virtual trunk shows to help you fundraise for your favorite charity or cause this holiday season. 10% of all sales from trunk shows will be donated to the organization of your choice.

Motif Scarf Handbag

2011-04-15T18:25:00.000+03:00

European women know a trick or two about styling their look with scarves.

Not to be outdone, I found this fashionable idea for a handbag made from a scarf - don't you think it would make a great Mother's Day gift?

Guess what? We'll be holding a Mother's Day Sale and Open House on Thursday, May 5th featuring our delicious collection of silk Ottoman-motif scarves from Bursa.

You'll also get to browse through a variety of colorful pashminas and wraps on sale just in time for Mother's Day.

Even if you've already bought a gift for your mother, I'd like to invite to stop by and say hello.

And if you can't make it to our sale, send me an email to pre-order your gift or schedule a private appointment.

Nahil

2011-04-01T16:00:00.006+03:00

There is a little shop in Beyoğlu - you would miss it if you weren't paying attention.

Once inside you are instantly intoxicated by the scent of handmade soaps and mesmerized by skilled handwork on every shelf.

Carnation Sachet

Cop (m)adam Clutch

Floral Headband

Kaftan Sachet

Decorative Notebook

Rose Sachet

Round Sachet

Basket of Sachets

Soap Trio

Tree Sachet

White and Chocolate Soap

Citara's Çini Pendants at Nahıl

It was the perfect place for our cini pendants.

We just thought you should know - we wouldn't want you to miss it.

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Now, shop for Citara's Handcrafted products at Nahıl in Beyoğlu.

Istiklal Cad. Bekar Sok. No:17

34435 - Beyoğlu, Istanbul

Cevahir Bedesten

2010-08-25T21:08:00.002+03:00

The handmade glass nazar bead earrings did in fact bring her luck, so she went in search of more.

Winding through Kapalıçarşı, she made her way to the Cevahir Bedesten - the heart of the Grand Bazaar. There she found rows upon rows of silver sellers displaying the most glorious treasures in the shape of fine tassles, ornate shields and hand-meshed filigree.

Sterling Silver Tassle Earrings

Sterling Silver Shield Earrings

Hand-linked Sterling Silver Filigree Earrings

They took her breath away.

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Shop here for these and other Citara's handcrafted products.

The Start of the Journey

2010-01-04T11:03:00.001+02:00

It was her first visit to Turkey.

She came to make the biggest decision of her life. Would she follow love to an unknown place, or choose to be safe and remain alone?

Though sure of love, she was not so sure of Turkey. It was far away and so foreign to her native California.

But something there was calling her.

Handmade Glass Nazar Bead Earrings

Upon arriving a friendly stranger gave her a pair of sterling silver earrings set with handmade glass beads. He was one of the last glass masters and told her that wearing the earrings would bring her protection.

Handmade Glass Nazar Bead Earrings

She visited four shores - on the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Agean Sea and the Sea of Marmara.

She crossed the mountains from North to South and East to West.

She drank tea, ate sweets and savories, and had her fortune read in the bottom of a coffee cup.

They all told her to stay.

So she did.

And this is the story of what happened afterward ...

{photos by Rose Deniz}

Aydın Güngör Glass Jewelry

2009-12-28T15:51:00.001+02:00

Handblown Glass Bead Drop Earrings

Several years ago while traveling along Turkey's Aegean coast, we stopped in a small shop selling glass jewelry. The shop doubled as atelier for glass artist Aydın Güngör.

Having worked as a jewelry designer for many years, Aydın puts his training to work by crafting custom-made beads and stringing them together into necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.

Though he uses glass imported from Italy, Aydın finds plenty of inspiration from the Turkish village of Şirince where he works.

If you're lucky enough to visit Şirince, I'm sure you'll find your way to Aydın's shop. If not, you can find a selection of his designs in our online boutique.

Shop Aydın Güngör designs.

Handmade Bittim Soap

2009-12-14T21:12:00.002+02:00

I first encountered this divine soap when I partnered with KAGIDER for their "Bridge from Woman to Woman" project two years ago.

Bıttım Soap on Cemil Ipekci Tablecloth

The soap is made from the bıttım nut which is native to southeastern Turkey and prized for its beneficial effects on skin and hair. With no added dyes or fragrances, this soap leaves skin soft and smooth without irritation.

In a dish

An additional benefit is that it is handmade by a women's cooperative in Mardin, Turkey.

This handmade bıttım soap is available for a limited time through our shop at Nest.

Holiday Gifts from Turkey

2009-12-08T22:46:00.001+02:00

Yesterday I posted this Holiday Gift Guide on our Intarsia Concept blog. Not surprisingly, many of the submissions we received came from my Turkish networks, so I thought I would showcase those creative entrepreneurs here.

Not everything is necessarily handmade, but it's all inspired by Turkey in some way (yes, even the nail bar).

I hope you'll forgive my sparse editing from the original post and consider this the Turkish Digest version.

California Nail Bar

California Nail Bar - Relaxation and rejuvenation in a trendy shopping district of Istanbul.

Tales from the Expat Harem: Foreign Women in Modern Turkey anthology from editors Anastasia Ashman and Jennifer Eaton Gokmen. Available in paperback* or for your Kindle.

Single Daisy Silver Pendant

Citara's - Online handcrafted bazaar (that's us)

2010 Shibu Earrings Collection

Shibu Design - Unique natural gem jewelry (Sebnem makes her own beads!).

Beaded Necklace

from The Open Studio

The Open Studio - Jewelry designs inspired by ancient artifacts, modern hardware.

Vintage Ottoman Empire Necklace

from Bazaar Bayar

Bazaar Bayar - Handmade and vintage textiles and handknit treasures with a Turkish twist.

Silver Infused Sifa Yarn from The Knit Box

The Knit Box - Turkish yarn, patterns and accessories and community support.

Street Scenes from Behind the Bazaar

Behind the Bazaar - Introductions to authentic Istanbul artists and designers.

I hope this inspires you to consider buying some of your holiday gifts from Turkey this year.

The Harem Collection

2009-11-22T18:04:00.002+02:00

It wasn't until I wrote "Inside the Harem" for the Behind the Bazaar blog that I realized what to name this collection of stone and ribbon jewelry.

These pieces were found in the Cevahir Bedesten, the place to go for jewelry in Istanbul's Grand Covered Bazaar. Two friends and I were wandering the labyrinth of the Bazaar when these necklaces stopped us all in our tracks.

Each piece is designed by the jewelry designer of the shop and then hand-worked together by students at a local girls' trade school. He uses a mixture of semi-precious stones, roughly-torn ribbon, and accents of traditional Turkish colors like turquoise blue, pearl white, and coral red.

I was lucky enough to pick up some earrings and a couple bracelets before he closed his shop.

Now a selection of these pieces are on offer at Nest, where 30% of the sale of each purchase goes to fund microloans for women building craft-based businesses.

Nest Building

2009-11-16T16:35:00.001+02:00

If you take a trip to www.citaras.com, what you notice on the home page is this note:

We’ve joined our expertise with Intarsia Concept to make these unique handmade items available through Nest, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting women in craft-based businesses through the provision of micro-loans. Shop here for these beautiful handmade products and 30% of your purchase goes toward raising more money for Nest microloans.

With this post, I wanted to describe these relationships in more detail.

It was not long after moving to Turkey that I noticed the abundance of handmade items and the ability of Turkish women to make just about anything. That's when eBay was becoming a household name so I began exploring ways to sell product online. This is the short story of how Citara's was born.

Through Citara's I developed experience working locally with artisans, developed an eye for design and craftsmanship, and began to learn about Turkish culture and history. Since I was not a business student, I found myself scouring the Internet for topics like marketing, branding, and sales.

Little did I know that my future friend and business partner Figen Cakir was doing the same thing.

It was natural for us to form Intarsia Concept, a site and service that gathers and shares resources people can use to develop their creative businesses. As staunch believers in social responsibility, we have donated many hours volunteering with local artisans to share our experience so that they can also build their own creative businesses.

One result of our work in this area is that we have curated a collection of handmade Turkish products that we've put up for sale on the Nest website.

Nest is a nonprofit organization that empowers female artists and artisans around the world through a unique combination of interest-free microfinance loans, mentoring from established designers, as well as a market in which to sell their crafts.

We've found this relationship to be mutually beneficial in that we can sell local handmade products and 30% of the sale of the products goes back to Nest to be distributed as more microloans.

Shop here for handmade Turkish products that support the cycle of women's creative entrepreneurship.

Everyone wins.

Celline Paper Jewelry

2009-11-09T21:41:00.001+02:00

Image from Istanbul Design Portal

My friend Rose let me in on the secret of Celline paper jewelry by Selin Sarpkan. When I landed on her website I was transfixed by the collection and have to say that I've never seen anything quite like it. In fact, when I first tweeted about it, I remarked how much it looks like the fondant icing that is used to decorate cake.

Digging around a bit more, I read in this New York Times article that Selin was staffing the Artcitizens Shop during the 11th Annual Istanbul Biennial. I wish I had been able to meet her and see her pieces in person. How amazing they are.

Image from NYT Globespotters

And I wish I could show you more photos here, but you'll have to go see for yourself on her site. There you'll find things like earrings, rings, and brooches so well-crafted you'll want to run to Istanbul straight away to add them to your collection.

Truly inspired Selin. Well done.

Intertwined

2009-10-14T15:53:00.001+03:00

Please meet Denise Spencer, an American jewelry designer married to a Turk and owner of Ichiche. As you can see by her unique pieces, Denise has been influenced by her cross-cultural and cross-continental life which is where the name Ichiche comes from - it means intertwined.

Haseki

I met Denise through the Nest organization where she is a supporter of their microloan program.

Personally, I love to see how Denise interprets Turkish into her jewelry. Using semi-precious stones and precious metals, Denise makes very bold statements and alludes to a regal Turkish life.

Gediklik

In fact I find it interesting to see how an "outsider" (like myself) sees Turkish culture because oftentimes they have a different perspective than a native would. They pick up on details and subtleties that people raised in that culture sometimes overlook.

Halvet

In reading about her on her site, you learn that Denise has a "bohemian spirit" and thrives on "art, travel and adventure". It's no wonder that she wound up in Turkey where the bohemian spirit can be found in generous helpings.

{All images from Ichiche}

Five Reasons to Be Inspired by Handmade Turkish Artwork

2009-10-05T20:06:00.001+03:00

When I began collecting Turkish handcrafted products several years ago to sell through Citara's, I found myself mesmerized by the depth of heritage both traditional and modern artists have to draw on for inspiration.

Needless to say I was inspired as well and wanted to share five reasons why ...

1. Color

Citara's Semi-Daisy Silver Pendant by Fatma Vardar

There are certain colors in handmade Turkish products that are rooted deep in its history. My favorites are crimson red, cobalt blue and turquoise. Masters who worked to develop formulas for these colors would often write the recipes in code to keep them a secret.

2. History

Gold Hittite Medallion

Having been inhabited by civilization after civilization Turkey has a wealth of artistic heritage to draw from including (but not limited to) that of the Hittites, Assyrians, Phrygians, Lycians, Ionians, Persians, Selcuks, Byzantines, and Ottomans.

3. Method

Çini Artist, Meryem Cineviz

Many of the traditional artwork in Turkey is something that takes years to learn and years to complete - things like weaving, ebru (paper marbling), miniatures, caligraphy, ceramics and illumination. It is the kind of work that makes you sit down, focus, and get lost in the colors and patterns.

4. Detail

Ink, Colors and Gold on Paper from the Sabanci Museum Collection

Colors and methods are only part of what draws your attention, there is also the incredible detail in the patterns - the swirls, flowers, animals, shapes, repetition, geometry - it's intoxicating.

5. Story

İğne Oyası by Birsen Sönmez

And every piece has a story. The story of how it was made. The story of its history. The story of its rebirth in a modern age. And the story makes each piece so much more valuable and meaningful.

Oh, and how I enjoy learning those stories and sharing them with you.

The Silver Reflection of the Full Moon on the Sea

2009-09-18T16:02:00.002+03:00

Ay Tutulması (Lunar Eclipse) by Servisîmin

You can imagine it, can't you - the silver reflection of the full moon on the sea. In the Ottoman language they have a word for it - Servisîmin. This is the name of charming woman I met at the International WEL Summit in Istanbul this past June. She serves on the KAGIDER (women's entrepreneurship organization) board of directors.

Özgürlük 1 (Freedom) by Servisimin

Servisîmin joined us on our first Behind the Bazaar designer tour and it was then that she mentioned she is a jewelry designer. Though we got to talk a bit about her jewelry, I didn't get to see any examples until I took a peek at her website the other day. Now I'm planning a trip to her studio so I can see her designs in person because these photos just won't do. But I'll share some with you anyway.

Özgürlük Kuşları (Free Birds) by Servisimin

Inspired by the silver reflection of the full moon that gives its meaning to her name, Servisimin creates her pieces in precious silver and gold metals. she gives life to the metal in shapes that are quite fluid and feminine.

Öpücük 1 (Kiss) by Servisimin

I find these pieces enchanting and they remind me of something I might see in a gallery on the Monterey Penninsula - in Carmel perhaps. It just goes to show that the moon and the water have the same effect on people everywhere.

To see more of Servisîmin Cömert Birced's work, have a look at her website or her profile on Lebriz.com.

Needlework and Crystals

2009-09-17T17:21:00.003+03:00

One of the groups Figen and I work with as IC is a local artist collaborative. Last week during our meeting jewelry designer Birsen Sönmez showed me a new bracelet she designed and I went a little weak in the knees.

First of all I should explain that I have an obsession for a particular kind of Turkish needlework called iğne oyası. It is a done with a straight needle on such a tiny scale that I am awestruck whenever I come across any examples of it. It quite literally stops me in my tracks.

Someone told me that in villages (years ago, but perhaps even still) young girls would not always be allowed to leave the house without supervision. So they had to keep themselves busy at home as much as they longed to venture outside untethered. The oya was their outlet and they would sew their hearts' desires into each pass of the needle.

Some oya evokes sadness, some love, some desire or hope or longing. They are made in the shapes of flowers, fruit and lace-like patterns. They are the work of skilled hands and get passed down from mother to daughter. Dreams from one generation to the next.

So yes, I love oya. But I also love how traditions are revamped to be relevant today. As I mentioned earlier, when I saw these bracelets I couldn't get them off my mind and wanted to share them here.

I like the way Birsen has combined the hard-cut crystal with the softness of the oya. For some reason it really appeals to me. The dragonfly charm is not a typical Turkish motif but I like it here.

If you are any of the women in my family, please forget that you saw this post as you might be getting one of these as a gift sometime in the future.

For the rest of you though, what do you think of these bracelets?

If you've fallen in love with them as I have, they're available here at Nest where 25% of the sale goes to fund women's microloans.

Seramika

2009-09-16T00:45:00.001+03:00

After moving to Turkey I found myself looking for a new "career". For a time I was teaching English which unfortunately (or fortunately) just wasn't for me.

We have some friends in Antalya (which if you don't know is a coastal city on the Mediterranean Sea) who happen to be ceramic artists. Cihan has known them for years and years because he and Tufan have been scuba diving together since he was a teenager. I met Tufan and his wife Leyla when we got engaged and have loved them ever since.

But it was a particular incident on the patio at their home when I was feeling particularly underwhelmed with my life and where it was going. However in Leyla and Tufan's company I felt very much inspired and alive. If you visit their home you will understand why - it is the home of artists. On every wall, nook and cranny is some piece of artwork from their community.

There is color, texture, testimony, shape, shadow and vibrance. There is life in all that artwork and it totally inspired me. And I realized that I very much enjoy the company of creative spirits - but I didn't really realize it until that moment, when I was so uninspired by the rest of my life that I understood my life should have some connection to creative people.

And now that I've totally reminisced, what I really want to show you are these mini amphorae that Tufan made. I love them so much for their size and shape and color. As a diver in the Mediterranean, Tufan is inspired by the sea and its long history. It permeates everything that he creates which you can see if you have a look at his website. It's in Turkish, but you should be able to poke around comfortably.

A big thanks to Tufan and Leyla for giving me the opportunity to find my way. And for these teeny tiny amphorae. What do you think?

A Cobalt Kaftan

2009-09-14T17:04:00.001+03:00

It was several years ago when I first met Şeyda Aksu, the designer of this pendant. We met through a friend of a friend when we were just starting Citara's and I loved how she combined traditional motifs, shapes and objects with something that is functional and contemporary.

The pendant itself is in the shape of a kaftan and is embellished with the tuğra which would originally have been used by the sultan himself for authenticity. Şeyda has used cobalt blue in this piece which is also a very traditional color, but very wearable today.

When we visted her atelier we sat for a long time drinking tea and listening to her talk about her process and her inspiration. She was a charming artist with good design sense and a strong connection to her culture.

What spoke to me about Şeyda's artwork and style is that it represented what I've been trying to do with Citara's - that is to create a modern-day collection of handcrafted products that reflect Turkish culture and tradition while at the same time having a place in a modern wardrobe.

As an undergraduate one of my favorite classes was History of the English Language taught by one of my all-time favorite professors, Dr. Cory Wade. She asked us the difference between a dead and living language. A dead language, she explained, is one that may still be spoken, but does not change. It is fixed. In contrast, a living language is spoken, but it is fluid and changes as people use it.

And this is where my philosophy about preserving traditional culture through art stems from - that if it exists as it always has, it is like a dead language - people can still appreciate it, but they don't get to experience it. They can visit it in museums or history books, but they don't get to live it.

By bringing these traditional aspects of culture into modern day living, we get to tell the story again. But like putting this pendant around our neck, we actually get to experience the beauty of history while living in the modern way we are accustomed to. The traditions live on, but are adapted to something we can relate to.

Oh my - I did not intend to dive so deep into this subject, so I'll end with a very practical question for the fashionistas out there - how would you wear this pendant and on what occasion? I would love to get your ideas!

Pomegranates Aplenty

2009-09-11T16:50:00.001+03:00

I once heard that Eve did not tempt Adam with an apple, but rather with a pomegranate. This would not surprise me as I myself am often enticed by this gem-filled fruit. In Turkey it is common to see pomegranate seeds sprinkled on desserts which makes them that much more delectable, adding a tart burst of flavor to creamy puddings and custards.

But on the subject of artwork, it seems pomegranates have been making appearances everywhere.

These photographs are from an art center gift shop that we often visit. In a variety of different sizes, these crimson and emerald pomegranates stand at attention in tidy rows.

The white and gold-stemmed pomegranate in this photo was a gift to me upon the completion of a consulting project this summer.

My partner Figen has a matching one in red which I noticed she displays in her living room as I do. They are our trophies after months of hard work culminating in the inaugural International Women Entrepreneurship and Leadership Summit in Istanbul this past June. And we display them proudly.

I can't imagine an apple making the same kind of statement - can you?

For Turkish and Other Delights

2009-09-09T16:31:00.002+03:00

When you are served a cup of Turkish coffee, a proper host will serve it with a small glass of cold water and a petite dish of sweets - usually Turkish Delight. When presented in this manner, the simple cup of coffee is transformed into a satisfying experience.

On a recent trip to Istanbul I saw these dishes designed especially for serving the Turkish Delight that accompanies just such a cup of coffee. The dishes are so sweet, you could almost forego the chewy Turkish candy that would be served inside.

They are designed by Özlem Tuna and handmade by the craftmasters that she works with. The bottom is ceramic and the lid is hand-hammered copper that has been plated in silver. The lids are decorated with a tiny Ottoman tulip.

Each dish is small enough to sit in your palm - the perfect size to offer your guests a cube or two of the tasty sweets. You can also serve sugar cubes with tea, nuts, dried fruit or other small snacks.

Who says you need to serve coffee to pull out this darling little dish?

Love, Victoria

2009-05-07T18:47:00.009+03:00

This story I am about to share with you is a moving example of the famous quote from Mahatma Gandhi "You must be the change you want to see in the world". It comes to me from my friend Meg whom I met through the Global Women's Leadership Network. She is also a Women Leaders for the World graduate (in the class before mine) and her project is a microlending program called Lending Promise which she started in Nepal.

Last week I got an email from Meg recounting her recent experience at a breakfast event held in honor of the Dalai Lama's visit to San Francisco. She has given me permission to share this story with you which I give to you here in her words ...

"Thanks to Dean McCully, volunteer and fundraiser extraordinaire, I obtained two tickets to a breakfast this past Sunday in San Francisco to honor the Dalai Lama. Given that my husband, Art, has had private audiences with His Holiness in the past, he released his ticket to our daughter, age eight. We placed Art on a waiting list and amazingly, he got the last seat left for this event attended by about 400 people (quite different from one we attended eight years ago, at which the Dalai Lama spoke to an audience of 19,000 at the Shoreline Arena).

There was an odd dichotomy between the elegance of the venue -- the Ritz Carlton -- and the tight security measures, including metal detectors, bag searches, and even a bomb squad complete with police dogs. And cameras weren't allowed.

The Dalai Lama, Cisco executive Mike Quinn, a woman with a foundation that provides housing for Tibetan refugees in California, and a teenager named Sejil who started "Girls Helping Girls," a peer support nonprofit for girls, participated on a panel about giving. Perhaps Sejil's question was the most insightful: "Is there such a thing as true altruism, or are we all giving to get something in return?" His Holiness replied that it does exist and he emphasized the need for giving with nothing expected in return. Not only is this our responsibility, he said, but we will all find true happiness as a result. He got a few chuckles when he said that if everyone would help those who are less fortunate, we would all be rich. So, basically, the idea is to give without expecting anything and that in itself will generate a reward.

My daughter, Victoria, who was the only young child there other than an infant, stood out due to her age and attire, a traditional Tibetan dress (above) from Nepal. During the breakfast, I gave her pieces of paper and when those were gone, business cards, to use for drawing pictures when she became fidgety. Mistakenly believing we would see the Dalai Lama privately after the breakfast, Victoria wrote a note to give him: "You have peace in your soul. Love, Victoria. child." When she showed it to me, I explained that we wouldn't be meeting him. Despite the security detail and people filling the aisles to watch him leave, Victoria ran fast enough to reach a startled Dalai Lama. She handed him her note and received his smile and thank you in return (thus demonstrating what His Holiness had said).

Victoria's note was on the back of my Lending Promise business card. I can only hope that no one thought this was a publicity stunt. :)

Blessings,
Meg"

I would like to thank Meg for allowing me to share this with you. Not only is she taking action toward being the change she wishes to see in the world, but she is instilling those values in her daughter. And in honor of Victoria's altruistic gesture, I've just donated to Lending Promise. I invite you to do the same if you feel so moved.

Turkish Grameen Microcredit Project

2008-07-28T19:28:00.012+03:00

image credit: www.tgmp.net

This summer I met with Ruth MacQuiddy, Project Director for the Grameen Trust. We initially met a year previously when she interviewed Linda Alepin of the Global Women's Leadership Network for the Turkish Daily News.
The reason for our meeting this summer was to discuss ways for Citara's to collaborate with the Turkish Grameen Microcredit Project (TGMP), a private, non-profit organization that provides loans and savings programs to the self-employed poor of Turkey. Their mission is to supply people the capital and tools to work their way out of poverty which they accomplish by providing borrowers access to collateral-free microcredit and other basic training in order to start their own businesses.
The TGMP has 25 branches throughout Turkey and makes microloans on the average of 500 YTL (about 385 USD) to women living below the poverty line. Many of these women use the loan to start their own business, and one of the popular businesses is making traditional Turkish crafts - something Citara's knows about very well. From our interview the year before, Ruth was aware of our involvement with women and crafts and thought it would be a good way to support TGMP borrowers who use their loans for craft-based businesses.
As of July 2008, the TGMP had registered over 10,000 members with approximately 9,845 borrowers, all of whom are women. The cumulative loan disbursements totaled $11.4 million and cumulative savings deposits of about $460,000.
What impressed me most in my discussion with Ruth is that the TGMP is not a finance project, but a project whose aim is to help people lift themselves out of poverty. In the development of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, the institution on which the principles of the TGMP are based, Sixteen Decisions were developed in order to provide areas for participants to focus upon. These include:

The four principles of the Grameen Bank - Discipline, Unity, Courage and Hard Work.
Bringing prosperity to their families.
Not living in dilapidated homes.
Growing vegetables year-round both to eat, and to sell.
Planting as many seedlings as possible during the planting season.
Planning family size, minimizing expenditures, and looking after their health.
Educating children and ensuring they can earn money to pay for their education.
Keeping children and the environment clean.
Building and using pit latrines.
Purifying water for drinking.
Declining the dowry system and not practicing child marriage.
Preventing injustice.
Undertaking bigger investments for higher income.
Helping others.
Restoring breaches in discipline within the community.
Taking part in social activities collectively.

In Turkey, approximately 25% of the population lives below the poverty line. Efforts to reduce this number and help raise people above the line are ambitious and necessary. The TGMP is currently expanding its outreach in Turkey and is connecting with collaborators and supporters to increase the number of branch offices and members. We encourage anyone who is interested to contact the TGMP through their website and contribute to the important work they are doing for the poor of Turkey.
** Note: Facts and details for the TGMP came from my meeting with Ruth MacQuiddy and information sheets she provided me on the Turkish Grameen Microcredit Project.

Logo Pendant for Nest

2008-07-11T14:38:00.004+03:00

Our Iznik Tileware artist created these darling logo pendants for Nest. If you're wondering about Nest, it is a non-profit organization that gives micro-loans to women in developing countries to help start and grow their art and craft-based businesses. The first loan recipient was from our very own Izmit, Turkey! During founder Rebecca Kousky's initial visit to Turkey she loved Citara's collection of Iznik Tileware pendants and commissioned us to create some with the Nest logo. Here is the end result! To purchase these pendants click here and help support Nest's mission.

Female leaders feted at EMC event

2007-12-07T17:50:00.003+02:00

Once again we've been mentioned in the East Bay Business Times for our participation in the EMC Holiday Bazaars. Click here to read the full article.

First Trunk Show of the Season

2007-11-17T03:51:00.002+02:00

Hand-edged towels by Sevinc

We had our first trunk show on Friday at the home of Kathy Rasmuson in San Jose. It was a great opportunity to debut some of our new products which include the Cemil Ipekci designed tablecloths and tablerunners and the bittim soap from Mardin.

Greg & Michele with Cemil Ipekci designed tablerunner

Bittim soap from Mardin

Canan Erol Necklaces atop Lalay Holiday Towels

The event was beautifully styled by our friend, Rose Janisch, an interior designer and color consultant from Half Moon Bay. We are thankful to Kathy and her family for opening their home and to all the friends and family who attended. It is always great to see how people respond to these products and to have the opportunity to share more about all the Turkish artistans and crafters who make them!

{more photos}.

Santa Barbara Turkish Festival

2007-11-05T09:53:00.001+02:00

Thanks to our friend, Murvet, Citara's products were sold at the Santa Barbara Turkish Festival last weekend. Nearly 1,000 people attended the festival and enjoyed Turkish food, folk dancing, music, belly-dancing, and authentic Turkish products.

Murvet & Friend at their booth

What strikes me as I watch this video of the festival is how small the world is. There in California are Turkish immigrants and Turkish-Americans with Turkish heritage, rejoicing in their traditions. And here I am, an American immigrant from California sitting in our apartment in Turkey working on a project that seeks to connect people through this very thing. It gives me great joy to see it all coming together.

Thank you Murvet for this opportunity. I appreciate all your efforts on our behalf.

2007 Holiday Events

2007-11-04T20:55:00.002+02:00

We have just posted our 2007 Holiday Event Schedule on our website. This year's schedule is not as ambitious as 2006, but we are still excited about and thankful for the opportunities we have to bring Turkish products to the States. We would love to see you at one of our events, so have a look at our schedule to see if you can attend.

A Trunk Show for Social Change

2007-10-01T17:37:00.002+03:00

Citara's products will once again be available through Rose Deniz

at the following event:

Saturday, September 29, 2007
3 to 6 p.m.

Painted Light Photos & Framing
1742 W. Balmoral in West Andersonville
773.275.4121 paintedlightphotos@sbcglobal.net

Painted Light offers full-service custom framing and photograph restoration,
carries a variety of original and printed artworks, and features local and
sustainable gifts and treasures for the home and body.

To benefit Seed Fund grantmaking efforts at Crossroads Fund.

Featuring gorgeous handmade bags and accessories
from Turkish-based designer Rose Deniz.

Including wearable designs and accessories by:

Amy Andrews Designs

Imperfect Articles

Make-Out Goods

Minerva Jewelry

Fancy Patch Jackets

25% of all proceeds will be donated to Crossroads Fund.

Question? Call Sheila O'Donnell at 773.227.7676.

Citara's Products in Trunk Show Featuring Rose Deniz and Benefitting Nest

2007-09-13T22:20:00.002+03:00

Rebecca Kousky of Nest has organized a trunk show in Minneapolis this Saturday, September 15th. One of the designers featured at this trunk show, Rose Deniz, has included a small sampling of some new Citara's products to complement her new collection of handbags and accessories. 15% of all sales go directly to Nest to fund micro-loans for women in developing countries. Even if you can't attend, perhaps someone you know can, so please feel free to pass along this invitation.

US women's leadership network searches Turkey for partners

2007-06-15T22:45:00.001+03:00

WLW Class of 2006

During Linda Alepin's visit to Turkey this summer, we were interviewed by Ruth MacQuiddy from the Turkish Daily News. The article highlighted GWLN's efforts to expand its women's leadership programs globally and how this effort will begin in Turkey. I was interviewed with regard to how Citara's was influenced by GWLN training and the progress that Citara's has made since its inception. I particularly mention the importance of social entrepreneurship. The full article may be found here for those interested.

The Global Women's Leadership Network Influence

2007-01-01T23:15:00.001+02:00

Whole woman, whole leader, whole world

In July 2006 I graduated from the Women Leaders for the World (WLW) program presented by the Global Women's Leadership Network. It was a life-altering event and has had a major impact on Citara's.

From their website:

"The Global Women's Leadership Network (GLWN) is an international network of women leaders who dare to transform their organizations, their communities, and the world. Worldwide, women represent the largest untapped source of leadership. Through training, community building and in-country mentorship programs, GWLN is liberating women leaders to create a new world, built on human rights, gender equality, sustainable development and global integrity."

Originally we simply intended Citara's to be a commercial enterprise. Following my participation in the WLW program I became much more atuned to the potential of Citara's to be a socially responsible business - having a beneficial influence on the community we operate in. Since then, all of our decisions come from a place which respects all the areas we touch - the artisan, the art, the customer, the families, the community. We are also much more aware of our impact on the environment and our responsibility as global citizens not just to operate in the world, but to improve it.

It is with great thanks and appreciation that I acknowledge the Global Women's Leadership Network and the impact it has had on my own work.

EMC Corp. supports women's charity projects

2006-12-08T23:06:00.001+02:00

Sheryl Chamberlain, founder of the Women's Leadership Forum, and WLW '06 graduate, orchestrated a holiday bazaar at the EMC campus in Pleasanton, California. This was a great opportunity for Citara's to gain visibility among the employees at EMC as well as the local community. It proved to be a very successful event for us and we are grateful both to Sheryl, her team, and the generosity of EMC employees. For a summary of this event, you are welcome to read the article here.

News of Upcoming Holiday Bazaar at EMC

2006-12-03T23:20:00.002+02:00

Fundraiser to support female role models

By Lisa Fernandez
Mercury News

A technology company with its Western headquarters in Santa Clara is hosting a holiday arts and crafts fundraiser on Wednesday that pays special honor to female role models from around the globe.

About eight non-profit organizations and artisans will sell crafts from their communities, spanning from Africa to Peru, at EMC's Pleasanton satellite office, 6801 Koll Center Parkway, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The proceeds will go to the groups' causes and charities.

Some of the booths will be run by Melanie Gadener of Fremont, who will sell silk purses and scarves from Afghanistan, and Tara Agacayak, a Santa Clara University graduate who will sell Turkish art and jewelry.

``These are women who are committed to changing the world,'' said EMC global alliance manager Sheryl Chamberlain, who also is the company's women's leadership forum president. ``What better way to share and support their vision?''

EMC is a $9 billion technology company based in Hopkinton, Mass. Santa Clara is home to the company's Western regional headquarters.

Twenty Trunk Shows

2006-11-15T23:57:00.001+02:00

My first project upon graduating from the WLW was to plan a trip home to California and organize twenty trunk shows in thirty days. This project provided the opportunity for me to test my new skills and fulfill my vision of supporting Turkish artists. Though the goal was to hold twenty events, I managed only fifteen. But with those fifteen shows we presented the work of ten artists, we enabled an artist to travel to the States to personally represent her jewelry designs, we donated 10% of our profits to charity, and we promoted cultural understanding through our direct interaction with customers.

In addition to our online business, the trunk show will continue to be part of our business model. It is a great opportunity for us to connect artisan with customer and to get personal feedback for our products and the work we do.

Please check our site for the upcoming events schedule.

With love, Canan Erol

2006-11-10T00:54:00.001+02:00

Citara’s is overjoyed to announce it will showcase the jewelry and designs of Mrs. Canan Erol at its upcoming events this holiday season. We are fortunate to have Mrs. Erol with us for several trunk shows in November.

With a background in fashion design, Mrs. Erol has used her talent for color and texture combination to create amazing beaded jewelry. Each piece deserves close inspection because the details and methods applied result in a mesmerizing piece of artwork.

If you ask Mrs. Erol about a necklace, she will tell you its story – the history of the beads, the weaving or knotting technique, the way she felt as she created it – each piece is unique and personal and was created with love and joy. In her own words:

“I started beading jewelry as a hobby, but at the same time, I was in a position where I needed to earn money to help support my family. I decided to try earning money by selling my jewelry. My first pieces were bought by the dean’s wives at one of Turkey’s most prominent universities. When people wear my jewelry I feel very proud.

As I make each piece, I weave the things that I’m living and feeling into my work. What are those things?
- Happiness
- Success
- Accomplishment
- A sense of sharing and togetherness
- Healing therapy for the days I feel depressed
- Familial support

I am certain that when a woman wears my jewelry she feels the things I feel and live as I make each piece and this gives me a sense of connection to other women.

Before I begin working, I gather and prepare all my materials – all the beads, stones, and accessories. Whatever is in my heart and mind that day along with the talents that God has given me are what I weave into my work.

This work is my therapy and heals me. It calms my soul. It renews me. For this reason, I believe the people who wear my jewelry can feel the things that I feel when I make them.

When my mother was a young girl, my grandmother gave her a crystal necklace. When I started beading jewelry, my mother gave me this necklace and told me to use the crystals. I didn’t want to destroy the necklace, but my mother insisted, so some of my first pieces have bits of my grandmother and mother in them.

My little girl touches each piece. She inspires me. She is everything to me and I love her very much. She is my biggest reason for making this jewelry and all the money earn goes toward her education. The support I have from my family, from the gifts of my grandmother and my mother all contribute to my success and I am passing these on to my daughter in hopes for her future success.”

With love,
Canan Erol

Welcome!

2005-01-01T22:24:00.003+02:00

Welcome to Citara's!

We are located near Istanbul, in a little town called Golcuk on the Izmit Bay. Five years ago Tara moved to Turkey after marrying her Turkish husband and discovered a country full of beautiful treasures. These include Turkey's people, culture, heritage, traditions, art, crafts, history, food, music and on and on.

Inspired by the abundance of beautiful handcrafted products in Turkey, and motivated by her desire to start her own entrepreneurial enterprise, Tara created Citara's. At first just buying and selling ready-made items, the business has developed into a means of supporting local artisans, preserving heritage, and making cultural connections.

We intend to use this blog to tell the stories of our discoveries and highlight the people and products we encounter along the way. Hopefully you will come along with us on our journey!