anatolian artisans plant a garden of happy colors. anatolian people have a great passion for decorating. this passion is reflected in architecture, furnishings, home accessories, clothing and carpet weaving.

the talent for decorative art and great technical skill is evidenced on everything from a simple 'bakrac', (a pitcher), a finely woven carpet to an exquisitely built 'konak' (a big house). the industrial revolution put an end to handicrafts in many places on the world. but when you walk through the bazaar in the anatolian cities you will hear the tapping of hammers on copper and watch the coppersmith at work. for centuries most textiles, including carpets used in the household, were homespun cotton, silk, linen and wool. most of the clothing was homemade from fabric woven in the house or village. the women would embroider the clothes and assemble them with very little tailoring.

the women would embroider the woven goods making everything from 'kusak' (belts) to bed sheets. 'igne oyas' would be tatted and sewn all around the 'yemenis' (head scarves made from cheesecloth), and end up looking like a bouquet of flowers.

even today when you walk through among the houses of anatolia the doors are still closed. the humming of the hand looms fill the alleys.