WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT TURKISH OLIVE OIL SOAPS?

I remember, one of my favorite chick flick `My Big Fat Greek Wedding` where Gus Portakalos sprays Windex on everything that needs to be fixed! (ah he is the cutest!)

Well there are two things in Turkey which we use exactly like Gus and they are; Olive Oil and Yogurt

Want your hair to grow faster? Put some olive oil on it!

Sun burnt? Put some yogurt on it!

Dried hands? Olive oil!

And you can imagine how much we use olive oil soaps in daily basis or turkish hammam.

Here are the reasons why it is a good idea to use these handmade soaps;

1) Antioxidant Rich; Olive Oil is a natural source of the vitamins E and A, which fight free radicals and the benefits are there when rubbed into the skin in the form of soap.

2) Vegan; Olive Oil soap uses plant products instead of animal fat which is great when we all wish to avoid using animal products.

3) Moisturizing; Olive Oil cleans the skin without stripping away the natural oils and keeps it moisturized without blocking the pores. 

You can shop the handmade unscented Turkish Olive Oil Soaps HERE

MEDITERRANEAN COLORS FOR SPRING DECORATION

Spring is beautiful everywhere, but we must say, it is even more beautiful in Mediterranean countries!
Everyone starts using their balconies, yards and cover them with all the cheerful colors of these lands!

Thats when Turkish Ceramics come to do the job! What is more fun to have colorful handmade pieces for family dinners, tea/coffee servings or the corners that brighten the rooms!

Here are the pictures from us help for your cravings for colors!

Evil Eye is always the main piece! Even if you believe it keeps away the evil eyes or not, it sure is looking fun! Find this handmade Evil Eye and more HERE

Find these 5 cm Turkish Ceramic Bowls HERE

Ottoman Style Coffee/Tea Spoons are just perfect to add some fun to your servings! Get ready for the compliments from your guests!

You can find these handmade spoons HERE

Fun shaped Turkish Ceramic Bowls are great for dips, mezes, tapas or serving some small dishes!

Find them HERE

The most important time of the day, Tea Time! Well if you are Turkish, it is ALWAYS tea time!

And if you are a coffee person, who can say no to a cup of tea when it is served with this Handmade Turkish Tea Set!

Find this set HERE

COLORFUL DINNER TABLES WITH TURKISH CERAMICS

Spring comes with all the beautiful colors and blossoms! It is great to see colorful tulips and blue Bosphorus everyday we pass through on our way to work, it just gives the energy and make us feel reborn. Even the songs on radio changes with spring and all we want to do is go around in Istanbul´s beautiful spring and take millions of pictures!

With spring the family and friend gatherings are also get more often which we LOVE! Can be a family grill to inviting co-workers to home, there is always an excuse to prepare great dinner tables and get the compliments..

And why not bringing all the blossoms and colors to our tables with the dinnerware!
Colorful Turkish Ceramic plates and bowls, suzani and floral textiles are perfect for creating a true spring fantasy.

Here you can find great options to shop;

You can find this Istanbul Inspired set ; HERE

This set is inspired by the fun Aegean part of Turkey. You can shop the set HERE

This set is both oriental and boho! We love the mix. You can shop this unique Turkish Ceramic set HERE

You can also mix and match and create your very own dinnerware style with these amazing TURKISH CERAMIC PLATES and TURKISH CERAMIC BOWLS.

VISITING ISTANBUL - CAGALOGLU HAMAM

Turkey is well known for the traditional Turkish Hamam (Turkish Bath) and treatments. Most of these hamams have been built during Ottoman Empire with amazing details from floors to doors and ceilings. When you visit Istanbul, you have many options when it comes to visit a Turkish hamam. But there is one which named One of the 1000 places to see before you die and according to The Guardian it is World´s Number #1 bath.

This amazing Hamam was constructed in 1741 and is the last hamam to be built after a long period during the Ottoman Empire. It is the last example of it´s kind and it is special because it is still operational in our time.

The door of the Women section is on a side street called Hamam while the Men´s entrance is form the main road with two marble columns with classic stalactite capitals on both sides.

You can see many celebrity pictures (from Kate Moss to John Travolta) on the walls before the entrance that have been visited to this amazing building.

Go to this Hamam, if you have enough time make it a day to experience a traditional hamam day, it definitely worths! Even if you do not have time for the bath it is so close to the Sultanahmet area (where Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque is) so you can stop by and check out why this place has made it to the 1000 places list!

TEARDROP VASES, TURKISH CERAMICS

Who doesn´t love having unique pieces with meaningful stories behind them?

We are obsesses with these stories that each piece have on our website.

  When you are in Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, many different Turkish Ceramic styles can catch your eyes, teardrop shape is one of the most common styles that are used for making Turkish Ceramics.

We want to share the reason why they are called `Teardrop Vases´. 

They are not called 'Teardrop' only because of their shape, but their story goes back  to hundreds of years. It was believed that women in Anatolia who have lost their husbands in wars were saving their teardrops in these Teardrop vases. And today, Anatolian artisans still make these beautiful vases and dress them with traditional floral motifs. 

Here are these special vases that we have picked for you!

Daisy Hand-painted  Turkish Ceramic Teardrop Vase

Mediterranean inspired Turkish Ceramic Teardrop Vase

Golden Horn Turkish Ceramic Teardrop Vase

Floral Turkish Ceramic Teardrop Vase

OTTOMAN LAMPS AND CHANDELIERS

When you are decorating large spaces, the statement chandeliers always plays a great role.

There might be many options but if you are the ones who are always after handmade & one-of-a-kind, here is a perfect option;

HANDMADE OTTOMAN LAMPS

Besides they are simply beautiful, each one has their own story. Most of them are made by the inspiration of the chandeliers/lanterns that have been used during Ottoman Empire with candles and they come with the great amount of a modern twist.

We are so excited to have these beautiful chandeliers (from small to very large ones) on our website!

If you are an interior designer, architect, have a house/mansion or planning to decorate a hotel, restaurant, these lamps and chandeliers are just what you are looking for!

These luxurious chandeliers are all handmade with amazing work and finish, each style is limited. Get ready to receive many compliments!

You can find our Moroccan/ Ottoman Chandelier HERE

Find this multi-color Ceiling Ottoman Lamp HERE

This 25 Lamp Ottoman Chandelier is HERE 

You can also request different colors and we make them in only 5-7 days!

This is one of our best seller Ottoman Lantern Chandelier, find it HERE

This one is just so iconic! It is SOLD OUT in only 2 days we listed it on our website.

Finally we have remade a limited amount, you can find this beautiful chandelier HERE.

GRAND BAZAAR´S UNDISCOVERED PEARLS

Almost every day, one more Grand Bazaar store involves our website and becomes online! We  and our lovely customers get excited as each of these stores have their own character and one-of-a-kind pieces! Most of these stores belong to families that have been in Grand Bazaar for generations, selling beautiful Turkish Handcrafts.
Here is one of our favorite store belongs to our family friend Uncle Ali, and you can find these beautiful pieces on our website!
                                                       www.grandbazaarshopping.com

You can find this ikat Samovar HERE

Find these beautiful textiles HERE

HERE you can find these beautiful Suzani Cushions

Turkish Ceramic Bowls HERE

Ottoman Lamps HERE

You can shop these Hand-hammered Copper Ewers HERE