Stray the Course: The Gypsy Caravan Blog
Apr 2012
The stunning results of raw turquoise in the hands of expert Turkish artisans
The history of our turquoise collection is a classic tale of East meets West with an obviously beautiful ending. In honor of our Clashy Classy prize, we’re sharing it here on our blog!
When we first laid eyes on Ottoman jewelry, we were struck by a combinations of colors and materials that are rarely seen this side of Greenwich. At the time, Gypsy founders Roger and Jeannette Simon were living in the southwestern U.S., where the use of turquoise was prevalent, but almost never in combination with gold or pearls. While many associate turquoise with tribal art of the southwest, it owes its very name to Turkey (“turquoise” is derived from an old French word meaning “Turkish”). Seeing this gorgeous stone amidst an altered style, in the home of its apt namesake no less, cast a new perspective for us on its majesty.
Ever a glutton for information, Roger took a mining field trip and came back with a bag of booty and his hamsters running at top speed. Roger’s handpicked stone selection was stunning, and we were most impressed by the … well, raw beauty of the turquoise in its raw, unpolished state. What might ensue if we put these precious specimens in the hands of skilled Ottoman-Era artisans?
With the first pieces, we knew we were beholding something really special that we couldn’t wait to share with fans of our line! read more »
Feb 2012
Bonnie gets her first Turkish Valentine at check-in
Hardly a denizen of PDA, you’re lucky to spy a young couple holding hands let alone smooching on the streets of Istanbul. Even with its sultry history of harems and other royal luxuries, city of lovers it is not! There’s one thing, though, all Istanbulites gush adoringly over – children!
Traveling through Istanbul with small children is an experience like no other that offers exclusive insight into the warmth and love of this fascinating culture.
For parents accustomed to a full-alert (one might say territorial) approach to child rearing, Turkish custom will take some getting used to. Last year when we took our then 2-year-old to Istanbul, her instant celebrity status was almost overwhelming. From a corner fruit stand to the Grand Bazaar, she was showered with treats from perfect strangers – Turkish delight, a beautiful orange, one Turkish lira, and (much to my dismay) a stick of gum, were hand-fed or otherwise reverently bestowed upon this little munchkin. Many simply wanted to know her name before continuing merrily on their way. A couple teenagers asked to take a photo with her. Several waiters paraded her around the restaurant and grabbed her a special treat from the kitchen before even acknowledging our presence. But all, old and young, looked lovingly at her cherubim cheeks and whispered “Maşallah.”
Maşallah (pronounced My-shalla) and Inş’Allah are both peppered through Turkish conversation regularly, literally meaning, “God has willed it,” and “God willing,” respectively. When we asked a native friend about the use in regards to children, though, he gave us an explanation that touched our hearts. Children in Turkish culture, he explained, are cherished for their innocence. To say “Maşallah,” is to invoke God to preserve that innocence.
Make no mistake, adoration is not reserved for blonde, blue-eyed westerners, as we learned when we went out with our friend and his family. There Arron and I sat, trying hard to conceal our tension as our friend’s daughter ran wildly around the Istanbul equivalent to The Orangery at Kensington Garden! Had we been in New York – or Lander Wyo. for that matter – we would surely have been asked to leave, but in Istanbul, neither the restaurant staff nor any patrons batted an eye.
Yes, one might argue the pendulum is too far to the opposite extreme. And we personally will not forfeit the “on your bottom” standard for mealtime any day soon, but can you imagine if we held all children in our own society in such high esteem? What love, then, would manifest through us and within them?