A short break in Germany

My friends and some of followers all know that I like to travel at every possibility especilly if the destination is Germany! My friends also all know that my DH travels a lot with the business purpose and I never join his business trips in principal. But, as being first time I joined him last week, we went to Krumbach in Germany. I had one full day for my own, I had long walks to take nice photos in that lovely small village that is close to Ulm and Ausburg cities in Germany. It was also a nice coincidence that it was an Italian week there, there were different activities.

The Italian flags were at everywhere to celebrate the week. I wish we could arrive there one day earlier, we missed spaggetti service!

I took long walks along the small streams. There are two small rivers in the village. It was so serene environment for me after having a megapol city life in Istanbul. No traffic, no noise, only sounds were the singing birds and rain drops.... It was heavily raining time to time but nothing could hold me to walk along the stream in that heavy rain showers...

I take photos since my childhood but with new digicams we all started to take much more photos...I keep continue to learn more details of photography each day...In the past I wasn't aware about the "stupid shadows" now I'm more precise for the light, etc to take better photos...This is my one favorite photo...Isn't it nice reflection photo?

By the way, the building was our hotel and its "beer garden".

All those ancient but well renovated buildings are so impressive in Germany, I enjoy my each trip, and I admire their culturel approach to save their history. I'll keep continue to share more photos...now I must go to prepare dinner!

Visit of on-line friend

I'm back home after a wonderful travel, our entire trip was great! Suppose to I should share some photos and details about our travel but first off all I want to share another wonderful news with you. Last month, my on-line buddy Sandy Riggens informed me that her friend Patti should come to Istanbul by a Cruise. Of course, I got so excited to meet in person with Sandy's friend here in Istanbul. Its timing was great for me, it shouldn't match with our travel program.
Yesterday, I got up so early to get ready to leave home to meet with Patti. I live in the Anatolian part of the city, I have to pass through the Bosphorus Bridge to go European side where the Cruise lands.
I usually see the arrivals of the Cruises from my home but yesterday morning the weather was foggy, I couldn't notice its arrival in the early hours when I was at home. When I noticed the ships on the dock while we are passing the Bosphorus Bridge I took a deep breath that the ship was there and I should meet with Patti in a short time.
Our meeting with Patti and Jody was so nice, we noticed each so easily:))

We went to Topkapi Palace together. The terrace of the Palace has an amazing panoramic view, in this photo Patti has a lovely smile. I hope you noticed the Bosphorus Bridge at the back ground which connects the two continents, Europe and Asia.

During the coffee break Patti gave me a wonderful package that Sandy sent me. I'll share its details later with another post, I want to show you all those lovely things she did for me. Patti and Jody were so kind to wore my little oya brooch gifts.

Don't I look so happy between Patti and Jody? It was a short meeting but I must admit that I enjoyed it so much, it was so nice to meet with Patti and Jody. Some of you should astonish to see me with short hair in this photo. I got a hair cut just the day before. I envied so much to see all those so short hair cuts during our travel, especially in France and Germany short hair cuts are so trendy this year. As soon as I came back I went to my hair dresser and got a hair cut.

I come from a naval family, I always interested in ships! Especially if she is so beautiful as seen in these photos!!!!These two photos of the Cruise aren't so clear. I took them from the ferry on the way back to my home. The glass of the window wasn't so clean due salty sea water stains.

It was so nice to meet with Patti and Jody, hope to see them again one day.
Wishing a pleasant weekend to you all....

Vacation!

We had another long and hot summer and we almost reached to its end! It was a hard period for my family, we l couldn't find time even though for a short escape.
Finally, we got together and we are going to vacation tomorrow. It will be an interesting tour covering Alsace region of the France, a small part of the Switzerland and southern part of the Germany, lovely Bavaria.
I'll share details of our trip and photos after I come back home. I don't want to have internet access, TV, newspapers...nothing...I just want to focus on our trip and enjoy my time...:))
Good bye till Sept.15th.

Bead stores at Ankara

I spent long time in this store that they carry wonderful products. In addition, this lady creates so nice, elegant necklace sets. Her exclusive designs are so nice, indeed. I wish I could have more time to watch her amazing work.

I lived in Ankara in the past at my youth and I visit it frequently now. But I must admit that I've never been there, at Vakif Sulu Han.

"It was built in 1511 by Hasan Pasha while Ottoman Emperor 2nd Sultan Beyazit was in power as a foundation..it has got 63 rooms to stay, shops and double hamams as a big caravanserai of that era..it was renovated in 1980's, now its rooms gives service as bead and artificial flower shops."

It is an amazing place for a CQ'er, like me. I was losing my mind when I saw all those colorful beads there. Unfortunately, my time there was so limited, however I took photos, met with very nice people, all shop owners were so friendly.

I got so impressed in that huge, old building, its authentic, exotic atmosphere and beads, charms, thousands of different materials... It seems that I'll be visiting this authentic place at my every Ankara trip.

Austria, Innsbruck, Kitzbühel, Elmau

I'm sure that most of you had a special place for "Heidi" in their childhood. I'm one of them:)) I really don't remember, how many times I've read that lovely book, and dreamt Heidi's lovely, huge mountains when I was a little girl. I raised at the sea-side but I always loved to go to mountains at every possibility.
It was my first time in the Kitzbühel, Austria. It is magnificent place, indeed. It is a trendy winter resort in the province of Tirol, surrounded by high Alps. I'm sure it is much more beautiful under the white blanket too.

My oven:))

I loved these when I saw them at Ulm, I decided to buy this oven and accessories as well but I couldn't figure out how to bring them here by plane :) LOL!!!

Ribbon Desings - New Website

Today when I was reading group messages of one of Yahoo group, I've learned about Marilyn Becker's new website. I recalled some old memories... In 2004, I was a Newbie, I was trying to build my stash crazily. In those days, I went to London for holiday, of course London is a great source for us, CQ'ers. Only Portobello is enough with its antique stores.

In those days, only YLI ribbons were available in our local market here, in Istanbul. They were sooo expensive, due to lack of information I didn't get a chance to place online orders. I've had to pay doubled or tripled amount to buy ribbons from our local market. Anyway, before my trip I've searched where to buy nice ribbons. So, I've learned that Liberty Store carries nice silk ribbons. To see Merilyn Becker's wonderful ribbons, "Ribbons Designs" was a great chance for me. I bought lovely assorted ribbons and organdy's as well. But, I must admit that, I've already used just small pieces of those ribbons on a special project. I keep them as a treasure for another special project. I don't know, if Liberty's Haberdashery still carries Merilyn's gorgeous ribbons but I'm sure that Merilyn's new website will help us to reach her wonderful ribbons.

I like to visit Haberdashery sections of the big Dept.Stores one of them is Liberty in London. I like the magnificient building of Liberty's, it is so close to Recent Street where I go Waterstone's Book Store at Piccadilly whenever I visit London. As being mother of a book worm philosophy student's I have always special orders from Waterstone's Book Shops. I also love to visit one of the Shops of Waterstone and take a peek to its hobby books section.

I was just like a kid in the candy shop:))

Old cottages, Loch Lomond/Glasgow

I love to visit Scotland at every possibility. Glasgow and its sorroundings are so nice at every time.

Loch Lomond is a place that I love its all seasons. Some people may think it has miserable weather conditions to pay a visit there in this time of the year but it has another beauty and serenity in the winter time too.

This cottage has very nice garden with wonderful roses that bloom in the spring.

Nicely decorated old cottages reminds me the cartoons of my childhood.

Street and Store Window Lights from Berlin and Madrid

Madrid streets were amazing with their wonderful decorations. It was like an open party with the participants from all over the world at Dec.22.

The outdoor decorations of the stores were so nice in Berlin. It was pretty cold but it was worth to stay at outside to take photos :)

Weihnachts in Germany

I'm back home from a wonferful trip. I wanted to share some photos here in my blog. This huge Christmas tree had been decorated by Swarovski at Berlin Baunhauf (Train Station). I wish Swarovski authorities could donate some scraps to us. We, all Crazy Quilters should be grateful :))) LOL

Dublin Doors

One of gal was looking for various door styles to draw a scetch. These photos for her...

As you know, Dublin doors are so famous with their interesting models and bright colors. I wish we could have a better weather conditions in Dublin, Ireland. I took these photos in heavy rain showers....

Casa Mila

When I was searching a photo in an old CD, I've found these photos. I've taken them at Gaudi's amazing building Casa Mila or with the another famous name La Pedrera. I liked its interior design as well and I wanted share some photos of all those vintage beauty.

Alhambra Palace, Granada/Spain

I loved these flowers when I saw them at the Alhambra Palace Gardens in Granada/Spain. Afterwords I've learned that their name is "Columbine".