Newly Listed: Sterling silver Citrine Gemstone Earrings

Sterling silver Citrine Gemstone Earrings Stylish Abstract by StaroftheEast
autumn fall foliage aspen nature photography nature's gold fine art photo by shannonpix
Ocean Photography, Maritime, Nautical Decor, Yellow Photography Art Print by LongForgotten
flower photograph sunflower yellow wall art decor Sunshine Flower by eireanneilis

Mad Hatter's Tea Party

Yesterday we had a lovely outdoors breakfast near the water, in the forest surrounded by mountains, these kind of luxuries are one of the things we love about living here :)

As it was not weekend yet we were the only customers, and apparently that left some folk hungry. Before any food arrived we got some company, clearly waiting for breakfast like we were.

Then some reinforcement arrived, like they got a text message saying 'breakfast is coming, meet me at table 4' from the other duck.

Then the staring competition started...

And some more company arrived.

Turtles are apparently also great in staring.

So good actually that if you had food in your mouth you would take it out and give it to them...

The turtle also called for some reinforcement...

Eventually there were 6 turtles...

And when breakfast did arrive, competition became fierce and strong.

But the ducks, turtles and fishes all caught their food in peaceful harmony.

Now that the guests were fed we could eat ourselves, yummmm.

Surrounded in green, with some cats...

And a chicken...

All of a sudden the ducks were making a lot of noise, I first thought that maybe a big fish was nibbling on their feet.

But soon it became clear that it was one of the seven sins, lust :)

One fella almost drowned the lady while trying to do some monkey business, and when he didn't manage it...

...another one pushed him off and finished the job.

The winner was very proud of himself and made some macho moves after the free porn show (which was, may I add, very short ) was over.

It was quite the show with all these critters, it felt like the Mad Hatter's tea party :)

Newly Listed: Woodland Skirt Vintage Girl with Deer in the Woods

Woodland Skirt Vintage Girl with Deer in the Woods Gobelin Fabric Clothing by StarsWear
Deer Photograph - Bambi - Dreamy Nature Fine Art Photography by TemporaryDimension
Squirrel,Wildlife photography, Cabin Home Decor, Nature, Fine Art by PamsWildLifeandMore
Autumn Nature Photograph -Autumn Wal fine art nature trees forest by Briole

Newly Listed: Sea Urchin Spine and Seashell Necklace

Sea Urchin Spine and Seashell Necklace - Tribal Jewelry by StaroftheEast
nautilus ... ocean sea shell spiral photograph modern beach decor print by leapinggazelle
Running in a dream Fine Art Photography Beach Seascape California art Birds flying by SammyPhoto
Tree photography, Woodland decor, Enchanted Woodland, Fairy Tree Golden Wood by MoonGardenArt

Newly Listed: Whale Tail bracelet

Celebrating the international legal battle that Australia began and finally won against Japan's slaughter of Whales. The Whales will finally be able to swim freely, FINALLY! Thank you to all those who have worked so hard for this cause.

Whale Tail Bracelet - Nautical Bracelet Beach Jewelry Leather and Metal by StarDelights
Mountains in the Sea by theaterclouds
On the sea - Illustration print by majalin
Humpback Whale Tail Slapping Fine Art Photograph Choose Lustre Print by BrandiFitzgerald

And Happy belated Easter everyone, hope you had lots of good food and fun time with family!

Newly Listed: Linen, Leather and Beaded Embroidery Tote

Sweet Life Tote Linen, Leather and Beaded Embroidery Tote Bag by StarBags
Flower photography. Nature. Pastel. Fine art photography print by BeatriceLechtanski
Peachy pink photography Spring landscape nature rustic woodland photograph by dorataya
Wildflower Nature Photograph Print - Do You Know Me by dsbrennan

Newly Listed: Abalone Pearl Necklace Kuchi Necklace

Abalone Pearl Necklace Kuchi Necklace Abalone Shell and Pearls by StaroftheEast
Fairy Leaves Surreal Photography -Minimalist Nature Decor Print Teal Purple Pink by GalleryZooart
New Orleans Door Art reservation Hall Door french quarter photograph fine art print by Briole
Beach Nautical Turquoise Saltwater Teal Ocean Fine Art Print by ShadetreePhotography

Our Creative Space...

I haven't been sharing our creative space for ages, which is a shame, especially when you know that we have at least 10 on going projects at any giving time, as you might imagine from the amount of new items that pop up in our shops all the time :)

Any way here is the one my mother is currently working on, with a funny super vintage little weave 'gadget'.

The results are fun and lovely detailed woven squares, which we will attach together once their are enough and transform in to a bag.

And to proof that I was not exaggerating when I said at least 10 on going projects at any given time, here are more than 10 only in the jewelry department, so without the bags and decor :)

Newly Listed: Beach House Driftwood Wall art

Beach House Driftwood Wall Art constellation by StarHomeStudio
Sea photography - Nautical landscape bathroom decor - seascape Etretat by RivuletPhotography
Tuscany Photograph, Italy Photo, Foggy Ethereal Landscape Photography by EyePoetryPhotography
Sailboat Blues by StudioUnderdog

Newly Listed: Amethyst Sea Urchin Necklace

Amethyst Sea Urchin Necklace by StaroftheEast
Jellyfish Photography - Fine Art Print - Purple Embrace by HilliaryCustomLiving
Sea foam Blue Sky White Clouds Photography Original Fine Art Print by viesereine
Beach Photography - sandpiper running on the seashore, home decor, bird wall print by LynnLangmade

Newly Listed: Sand and Shells Jacket

Sand and Shells Jacket Vintage Embellished Beach Jacket by StarsWear
Painterly Sea Urchin pastel fine art print spring home decor, wall decor by BonnieBruno
Beach Photography, Seashell Neutral, Spiral Sea Shell & Sand Water by findingfocus
Starfish Photograph, Beach Decor, Sand, Beach, Ocean, Coastal Decor by BreeMadden

Newly Listed: Natural Geometry Necklace

Natural Geometry Necklace - Ceramic, Seashell, metal, solder by StaroftheEast
Seagull in the fog by tonnamcguinn
landscape photography, monochromatic, nature, fog, foggy, trees, winter by NicholasBellPhoto
Chambered Nautilus Photograph Nature Art Decor Seashell Nautilus by machelspencePHOTO

Newly Listed: Cobalt Blue Wool Embroidered Vintage Coat

Cobalt Blue Wool Vintage Coat Jacket Embellished with Embroidery by StarsWear
Blue Wall Art - Photography - Home Decor - Travel - Penang, Malaysia by TBOphotography
Indian Girl watercolor painting print, Woman, Blue, Imperial blue, Cobalt, by SlaviART
Red Berries Glowing in the Moonlight Surreal Midnight Garden Botanical Photography by EclecticForest

Newly Listed: Bohemian Floral Bag

Bohemian Floral Bag Knit fabric and embroidery by StarBags
Nature photography, rustic, woodland birds in forest, wall decor by Raceytay
Abstract Art Geometric Modern Bright Color Print by LWilsonArt
Poppy Photograph-Nature Photography Home Decor Floral Wall Art by BreeMadden

Fool's Day

Fool' s Day

Today, the results of yesterday's municipal elections are being published in this beautiful country.

It is not a surprise that, once more, the sitting party has a majority of votes. Of course, stories of fraudulent activities in many of the voting places do the round. Like stolen bags full of votes, burned votes found at dumpsters and toilets, huge electricity blackouts during the vote counting, changing numbers in favor of the party of Erdoğan.

But the reality is, that they are the party with the most votes.

In 1994, Aziz Nesin, a great Turkish writer and military activist, declared: 60% of the Turks are stupid.

Well, how right he was.

The actual premier is involved in the biggest corruption scandal ever. Bribery and corruption have formed the warp and weef of Turkish society since time immemorial, but the magnitude of these malversations is unheard of.  But still he gets votes.

Many deaths have been since the beginning of the unrest in Istanbul, which started to save a few trees in central Istanbul became a cry for revolution for the entire country. Last of them, a fourteen year old boy that had been wounded by the police while he went out to buy some bread. To add insult to injury, the premier declared the boy a terrorist, because he had marbles in his pocket. But still he gets votes.

About sixty journalists are in prison, many for years without trial. In the mean time, the TV shows documentaries over the flowers and the bees, oh yes, and penguins, many penguins. But he gets the votes.

Twitter and YouTube are banned, and the premier's wife declared internet to be worse than drugs. But her husband gets votes.

The man wants to install the Shariah, the Muslim law. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Unfaithful and dishonest women would be stoned to death. There are no unfaithful or dishonest men. On the contrary, it is a virtue for men to have more wives. And still the women give him votes.

Votes are being sold for 50 Turkish lira. The party in question has about 30% of the votes, the rest being divided in a multitude of parties. Stupid does not begin to describe what is happening now.

I could rant all night, but let me instead leave you with one of Aziz Nesin's poems

“Be Silent”

Be silent; don’t speak.
It is a shame; stop your voice;
Be silent already.
And if speech is made of silver
Silence is made of gold.
The first words I heard as a child
when I cried, laughed, played were
“be silent!”
At school they told me half truths; they told me: “what do you care? Be silent”
When a girl first kissed me, they told me “Shhh be silent; don’t say a word”
Stop your voice; and don’t speak; be silent.
This went on until I became 20 years old.
The words of the grown up; the silence of the child.
I saw blood in the streets
“what do you care” they told me “you gonna get in trouble, be silent”
Later on my bosses got angry
“don’t get involved; keep your nose clean; be silent”
I got married, had children; I taught them to be silent
My wife was loyal and industrious and knew how to be silent.
She had a prudent mother who told her: “be silent”
During leap years my parents, my neighbors advised me
“be silent; don’t get involved; pretend you did not see anything; be silent”
We might have not had an envied relationship with our neighbors
But we were connected to them by
“be silent”
“Be silent” this person said and that one.
Those high up: “be silent”
Those below: “be silent.”
“Be silent” said our neighborhood
“Be silent” our city.
We swallowed our tongue.
We have a mouth but no voice
We even formed an association:
“The silent ones”
And there were many of us: a whole country, a big power
But mute
We were successful; we reached high goals; we received medals and rewards
Only with “be silent”
This “be silent” a great art.
Teach it to your children, your wife, your mother in law
And when you feel the need to speak
Deracinate your tongue
Make it stop.
Cut it off completely
Throw it to the dogs
It is an unnecessary tool when you don’t use it correctly.
You will sleep well at night this way; no nightmares; no doubts; no guilt
You will not feel ashamed in front of your kids
You will save yourself from having to speak
To say “you are right; I am like you; one of you”
But ahhh!
How
-Wretched me-
How I wish I could speak
But you will not
You will become a salivating verbalist
Cut off your tongue
Cut it off now
Become a mute
Since you are not gonna speak; you should dare that much.
Cut off your tongue.
This way you will be consistent with my plans
With my dreams
I retain my tongue amidst tears and cries
Because I fear that there will come a moment
Where I won’t be able to take it anymore
I will burst out
I won’t be afraid
I will hope
And every minute
I will fill my throat
With one syllable
One whisper
One stutter
One howl
Which will tell me:
SPEAK!

Happy Fool's Day, Turkey