BIG BRIGHT BOLD DOWNLOAD 11: DEBRA VALENCIA

As part of the Big Bright Bold collaborations for 2013, we have a new Desktop Calendar download for the month of November. Debra Valencia of DeVa Design, Inc. created the harvest themed artwork.

Debra Valencia, a visionary artist, designer and entrepreneur with a passion for world travel, artisan traditions and popular genres, has branded a modern style uniquely her own. The Debra Valencia™ brand surface designs take a fresh approach to creatively blending florals, paisleys, geometric and decorative motifs with distinctive flair.  Her signature look is artistic, lively, vibrant, vivid much like her personality.

She is inspired by craftsman traditions and cultures from all over the world, including textile arts and architectural ornamentation, as well as pop art, fashion and everything vintage. Like a talented chef whose fusion of unexpected ingredients turns an ordinary dish into an extravaganza, Debra mixes and matches elements to create rich designs spiced with style and color. 

Download: Big Bright Bold Desktop Calendar  by Debra Valencia. Be sure to like Debra's facebook to check out her upcoming designs!

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RUSTEM PASHA MOSQUE EXTERIOR

It's already November, and I'm still showcasing the beautiful sites of Turkey. I am definitely a sucker for tiles and wanted to get in a few (thousand) of my favorite Iznik patterns. 

Tucked on top of the Spice Bazaar, the Rustem Pasha Mosque was a last minute gem to discover. It's not the largest or most glamorous, but the scale of the building and its patterns make for a more memorable experience. It's open to tourists outside of prayer times and doesn't have the crowds of the blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. When we hopped in (right before the afternoon prayers) we saw a scattering of foreigners. The experience was calmer and thus more authentic. We had time to walk around, get close to the walls, sit on the carpet and actually reflect. The space was meditative and calming and I watched a few man come into actually pray. I was especially surprised  that such peace and serenity could live atop the frenzied market streets. Examining every wall and tile, I enjoyed the bold colors and attention to detail.

RUSTEM PASHA MOSQUE INTERIOR

According to the Turkey Travel Planner, "The Rüstem Pasha Mosque in Istanbul's Eminönü district by the Golden Horn, is among the city's architectural gems—yet seen by few foreign visitors.

This is the first example of the great Ottoman architectMimar Sinan building a mosque to an octagonal plan. Although small, it is beautifully proportioned, and the interior is covered in some of the most exquisite İznik faience (colored tiles) ever produced. Instead of size and grandeur, Rüstem sought exquisite artistic refinement, and that's what he got."

HAVE A SPOOKY HALLOWEEN!

Artwork designed by Erica Smith for Evite Postmark. Available here.

RUSTEM PASHA IZNIK TILES

Yes, Turkey's Iznik tiles are at the top of my favorite's list. Their royal cobalt is a hot Fall 2013 color, so they are especially on trend now. According to legend, the Pasha who funded the design and building of the Rustem Pasha Mosque bankrupted the national treasury by covering every imaginable surface in hand painted, individually glazed iznik Tiles. I might say it was worth it! Each tile is uniquely pained, each a work of art.