Weaving holiday 21st-27th May Itinerary

A time to get away from the fast pace of our digital lives and to embrace slow craft processors with textile artist Kate Whitehead www.kate-whitehead.co.uk

Join award-winning textile artist Kate Whitehead and local craft and cooking promotors nomadic Turkish Kitchen, for a creative holiday in beautiful Turkey in two stunning locations, starting in Dalyan, (unesco heritage site) and the other on the Lycian way above Patara beach.

• Our week long stay will incorporate some weaving related trips, but there will also be time to relax and soak up the spring sun, walk on the famous Lycian way and visit the nearby beaches.
• This unusual full board holiday will give you the opportunity to experience the rich and varied culture and cuisine of this wonderful country,
• create your own piece of work under the tuition of Kate
• Indigo and natural dye workshop
• Weaving on hand-looms in the open air
• Opportunities to observe and try local weaving and carpet-making techniques
• An introduction to Turkish carpets, textiles, and local crafts
• A private evening performance of traditional Turkish folk music
• unwind, explore, create and have a fantastic small group  experience ! 

https://www.bespoketurkey.com/

Program

After a relaxing for your first full day and night, exploring the sites and beauty of Dalyan, taking a leisurely private boat trip on the river and the lake, you will be transported by private transfer on Day 3 to the second venue, a lovely villa/s and your hosts will be Bespoke Turkey. It is here you will begin your weaving workshops, spread over 5 sessions.

Your Group Weaving Holiday Itinerary
Day 1 – 21st May 2018 arrive Dalaman Airport, private transfer to your first night accommodation in Dalyan (20 mins) overnight private Villa Dalyan.
Day 2 – 22nd May 2018 after breakfast group meeting with Kate and Mel to discuss Weaving & Activity program. The day will be split with a morning trip to Dalyan visiting a local craft gallery, followed by optional private boat trip on the lake with a BBQ lunch. Late afternoon weaving introduction session 1hr-1.5hrs. Introductions: Kate will talk about what inspires her work and her journey since graduating 4 years ago. Each student will introduce themselves and talk about the fabrics they have selected to bring with them, do they hold any special memories/stories? In the evening there will be a group Meal at the villa. Aysegul Hayes from Bespoke Turkey will cook a delicious traditional Turkish meal with wine included.
Day 3 – 23rd May 2018 after breakfast you will have private transfer to Fethiye (1 hour) and be shown around this pretty harbourside town, with its fresh fish market and ‘old town’ shopping district, where we will visit shops selling Suzani hand embroidered fabrics and Kilims . Optional trip to Uzumlu village to see lace making. Lunch will be traditional Turkish ‘Gozleme’ pancakes with filling of cheese/onion, spinach. In the afternoon we will transfer you to your accommodation for the rest of the holiday, a private villa overlooking nearby mountains and Patara Beach. Mark making, a discussion of depth of colour, areas to be stitched, folded, knotted that will create interesting patterns when dyed.

Evening meal at the villa wine

Day 4 – 24th May 2018 after breakfast morning walk for foraging of natural resources. Lunch at villa and weaving tuition. Foraging locally for flowers, foliage, berries to use in ‘Hapa Zome’ the Japanese art of beating flowers, leaves with hammers, pounding natural pigment into cloth to create beautiful marks. Introduction to hand weave, focusing on yarns to select for Warp and weft, deciding which fabrics to use in hand woven piece. Creating the warp, cutting lengths of fabrics to be used in hand woven piece and beginning to weave Evening meal at the villa wine included.
Day 5 – 25th May 2018 after breakfast morning trip to Sidyma ancient city and now rural village, meeting with local lady ‘Fatma’ showing & participating in local weaving. Lunch in Sidyma followed by return to Villa. Indigo dye workshop 3-4 hrs: Time and consideration to create marks in fabric selected for dyeing. Talk about the magic of Indigo & dye chosen fabric in indigo. Discussion of results. Evening meal at the villa wine included. Live Folk Music evening.
Day 6 – 26th May 2018 after breakfast morning weaving tuition. Learn how to take woven piece off frame. Discussion of finished pieces, chance to take photographs. Lunch followed by trip to local beach for walk, swim, explore ruins,Last evening meal at a local restaurant in Kalkan, main meal and wine included.
Day 7 – 27th May 2018 Day free, lunch provided. Private transfers to Dalaman Airport
To make an inquiry about our group weaving holiday, please contact us at info@bespoketurkey.com

Weaving new stories and Turkish yarns on the turquoise coast of Turkey

Nomadic Turkish Kitchen and Bespoke Turkey  are combining forces this spring to offer a unique Special Interest holiday in South West Turkey: a weaving holiday with Kate Whitehead http://www.kate-whitehead.co.uk/
The week starts in Dalyan on 21st May in the beautiful villa overlooking the river and famous rock tombs .
Dates: 21st May until 27th May
Description: A small group weaving holiday with textile artist Kate Whitehead. The theme of the holiday will be about ‘Memory & Meaning’ bringing a piece of fabric with you, that has some special meaning. Along with your weaving tuition over 5 days, we will be taking a trips to see local artists. You will be able to see and experience the local culture and tradition.
Includes: 6 nights ensuite accommodation , your tuition, all food and drink, airport transfers, trips to local places of interest.
Excludes: Flights to and from Turkey
Price: £745 per person sharing a twin room or £885 Single supplement.
Airport Details: “Dalaman” Airport is your destination, we provide 24 hour transfers from the airport to your first night accommodation. Transfer time is approx 20 mins.
Accom Type: Local private Villa in Dalyan and private Villa in Kabapinar. All rooms will have en suite bathroom facilities and both villas have a private pool. 

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Back in Turkey …new ventures for 2018

After 3 years I came back to Turkey last Spring and Autumn, to explore new opportunities and enter back into the pace of life I left behind for awhile.
Last Spring and Autumn I became involved doing different things: I became an active member of a local voluntary group called Refugee Aid Fethiye (RAF) , supporting some of the known Syrian refugee families that have moved to the Fethiye area.
I  have been doing an  art/craft grp on Wednesday and it was both fun and chaotic, lots of young children and mums with babies, no English and working on the stone floor in a virtually furniture free house, very poor and not many resources… Communication is difficult and so is managing upto 25 children of various ages from 2 to 11, who are all enthusiastic to take part in art activities. The mums are present , and they are doing well at learning Turkish, while we occupy the children with activities. I also helped deliver some donations to the new families moving into rented accommodation with nothing.

I did some pet sitting, for friends and then the word got about and I was asked to do more, including looking after 15 cats and spending 7 weeks in the lovely mountain village of Uzumlu and looking after a dog, cats and chickens.

Lots of options for the future. I have met new friends and visited new hidden places, as yet fairly undiscovered. I won’t be going back to The Olive Garden to do yoga weeks, as that time has past. I went up to visit and it is very different, still beautiful but much more like  other restaurants you would find in a tourist resort, though the view is unmatched, and the food is of a high standard. For me as it grows and flourishes with day guests and local ex pats, it has lost its hidden charm and tranquility. Local expats can now be picked up and fetched by a mini bus , so they can drink and eat to their hearts delight and then be driven home…or stumble back to a cosy wooden cabin if they want to experience a bit of nature!

My interest in painting and crafts developed this summer as I had time on my hands. I decided it would be great to pursue such special interest holidays. So 2018 I will be linking up with a couple I have met who have a wonderful yilla on the Lycian way, above Patara beach. I will be linking up with https://www.bespoketurkey.com/turkey-activity-holidays/ to offer a weaving holiday with Kate Whitehead http://www.kate-whitehead.co.uk/  in late May and a painting holiday in June . Details to follow shortly.

me having a go at weaving

Numbers are going to very limited so it is advisable to book early. For more information contact  at info@bespoketurkey.com

 

Turkish and Aegean Cookery Course 19 March 2016, Mellor, Stockport Cheshire

Turkish Kitchen Secrets

We had another succesfull private Turkish Vegetarian Cookery Course on 19th of March 2016 with Mary and Vivienne. This two very enthusiactic vegetarian ladies from Manchester joined our Turkish and Aegean cokery course and learned how to cook,

• Cannellini beans cooked with carrot and peppers in rich tomato and pepper paste.
• Turkish rice cooked with vermicelli,
• Spinach Tarrator,
• Almond and rice pudding with rassberries and pistachios.

If you want to join our cookery classes please text us 07544251443 or send an e-mail to buzzhols@gmail.com

Here are couple of pictures from our cookery course last week. Thank you Mary and Vivienne participating our cookery class, hope you find very usefull.

Mediterranean, Turkish cookery class gift vouchers

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East Mediterranean – Middle Eastern Cookery Courses around North West England near Manchester

Source: East Mediterranean – Middle Eastern Cookery Courses around North West England near Manchester

visit to idyllic Sidyma with the ex pat Knitting/stitching group

Sandy being watched knitting

My friend Sandy set up a group in Fethiye for those that like  to stitch…its called stitch and bitch, but they all seem to get on pretty well to me! I found out, not being a member,(though I have been known to knit) that they were planning a trip to my friend Brea’s home stay/Pension, ‘ Sidyma Homes’ ,which is in the historic hamlet of Sidyma (see ref below).

 

brea in one of her home stay rooms

Brea, who is a Canadian born , now a Turkish citizen, lives in this remote location and is  making a living with her friend and neighbor, Fatma, running this home stay and also co operating with others in the village who have vacant rooms.She also used to have 87 dairy goats, and made basic soft cheese (chevre). Not the most easy life this intrepid Montreal woman has chosen, however she has created eautiful home stay in this tiny poor community and  is full of new ideas too. I hope one day to be able to do a joint holiday there, but it is remote and is frequented mainly  by trekkers , who are discovering  The Lycian way .

Fatima making friends

I managed to get a place on one of the two mini buses and we set out to this obscure village in the mountains. The plan was to exchange skills with the local women who were going to show us their dyeing ,weaving and embroidery techniques. Most of the women brought their knitting with them also.

The Home stay from Heaven!

Finding the place was not too easy, as the phone signal kept cutting out, but we arrived in good time, for a walk before lunch. Some chose to go and see the workshops instead, but I chose to go and see the historic Hellenistic and Roman ruins with some others.Our guide was an 8 year old who spoke no English, but knew where to take us, although we did have to tell him to slow down as most of us were middle aged and upwards,and we must have seemed truly ancient to him! He also wanted us to climb over things to avoid a tied up village dog, which he was obviously scared of, but we preferred that option to a likely accident! So he knocked on the owners door and they came out and held it ,whilst we all trooped past.

Suddenly as we reached the site ,his older friends arrived and he went into abit of a sulk,as he feared they would take the lead and he would loose his tip. We stuck with him though, reassuring him he was our ‘patron’, they tagged along too, but he remained in  charge.

We arrived back in time for a splendid home cooked 3 course lunch, consisting of a delicious Tarhana soup, followed by chicken and mushroom stew , aubergine side dishes, grated carrots with yogurt and garlic and a chocolate pudding and Turkish coffee to finish.

enjoying lunch

knitting group

After lunch we lazily sat soaking up the wonderful surroundings. Along with the others who had been on the walk I went to look at the Turkish villagers work and saw the detailed embroidered scarves and them dyeing and spinning the sheep’s wool to make rugs and bags I brought a lovely shoulder hand woven bag for a few TL.

me having a go at weaving

Others chose to sit drinking cay and knit and chat, the Turkish women were as interested in their designs,as we were theirs. A couple of our party spoke good Turkish, but those that didn’t still managed to communicate their enthusiasm .

chatting with new friends

lady embroidering a scarf

dyeing wool

professional weaver!

Finally it was time to depart and good byes were exchanged. I ,as usual managed to leave a cardigan I had shed earlier  and only realized when I was boarding the bus. The little boys were already on their way with my discarded garment and yet more goodbyes were said!

We left the villagers to reclaim the peace of their village. We  hope that more excursions of this nature can happen again with other groups,as its a very different experience for most who are visitors to Turkey, or even live in the resorts around.

Do contact me or Brea direct if you would like a visit organized. facebook/sidyma.homes (Brea also speaks fluent French, spanish and Turkish)

View from the terrace

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycian_Way

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidyma

Back in Turkey! Book a place on our September Yoga week 21-28th

can’t wait to be back!

I am back in Turkey and realize it is certainly my spiritual home. Tomorrow I will visit The Olive Garden once again  and see old friends there. The sun is out in Fethiye and I am deciding where to spend the next few months…Turkey or UK. This decision largely depends on job opportunities…what ashame most of us have to work!

This Autumn Jill Hurley will be running another yoga week and we have several returners,so only a few places still left.

For a shared cabin ,half board it is just £460 and for a double cabin to yourself , £580. Please request a booking form from nomadicturkishkitchen@hotmail.com and secure your place  in  the sun for a deposit of just£200 .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You  can be a  beginner,or do yoga on a regular basis. Jill is an experienced teacher and can adjust to the needs of the  group.

http://www.exeteryoga.org

 

 

What better way to relax with just 2 yoga sessions a      day,morning and evening, leaving  plenty of opportunity to explore the Lycian way , go on a boat trip or just chill with a  book. If you have a friend or partner who does not want to do the yoga, but would like to come, then this is possible too.

Last years boat trip, a wonderful way to relax and see the Turquoise coast.

Two new yoga holidays for 2015 18th-25th May and 21st -28th September

Please note revised website address. Early bird discount extended until 14th feb 2015.

Last Yoga week of the Autumn Season with Jull Hurley

 

Jill Hurley on yoga platform

Today we all woke up to glorious sunshine, to begin our yoga week at  The Olive Garden and saw the sun rise and the yoga platform flood with sunlight. This was followed by a delicious Turkish buffet breakfast and then some signed up for a relaxing massage with Haydar, whilst others just chilled around the pool or went to the beach. Tomorrow a group of us go on the guided walk to Kayakoy with Sally and her dog.

Time off from Yoga

A small group of us went up to visit the Olive Oil Pancake house in the village.Mustafa, the son of the owner makes the most delightful lights out of gourds, which he pierces ,designs ,paints and fills with bright coloured glass beads. It takes him two days to make one and the result is charming. They are a particularly good present  from the village which is named Kabak, meaning gourd in Turkish .                                                                                                              .

Mustafa gave us a talk about the process of making one and I am keen to learn the technique this winter time. In the meantime I will carry on with my painting of goards at the Olive Garden!

Kabak before painting…