Blue Teddy's Bazaar: Suzanis and Kilims!

Hey hey hey!

As I mentioned a few weeks back there are several talented artists and decor sources that I want to share with you... well here goes the first...

Blue Teddy's Bazaar is a shop from the online community of artists called Etsy that sells vintage hand woven kilims and suzanis from Central Asia. The curator of this lovely bazaar full of vibrant tribal textiles, throws and rugs lives in York, England and her name is Rhonda - a creative soul with a degree in Art and Design specializing in ceramics. Rhonda has a great love for many creative things, particularly home decor, woven fabrics, crafted goods, wood and British, American and French retro style. It's no wonder she is drawn to the unique beauty and craftsmanship of kilims and suzanis! In fact, in her profile she says "...these treasures from the East can transform your home or your office, bringing it drama, colour, ambience and cosiness, regardless of whether you live in a spacious loft, a flat, a normal house or a country mansion." Well, that about sums it up - I couldn't have said it better myself Rhonda!

In case you don't know, a suzani is a hand-stitched/embroidered textile made in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries - its name derives from the Persian word Suzan, which means needle. A Kilim (or Kelim) is considered a woven tapestry or rug originating anywhere from the Balkans to Pakistan, and can be purely decorative or used as a prayer rug.

After dedicating a whole week of blog posts to suzanis in 2010, dubbed "Suzani and Ikat Week," I'm sure you've noticed how much I love ethnic textiles! Suzanis and kilims have a way of adding endless character and eclectic global vibes to any space! With that said, scroll on for some of my favorite suzanis and kilims (mostly suzani's, hehe) from Rhonda's beautiful store and be sure to drop by Blue Teddy's Bazaar and check out the rest of her inventory from Kurdistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan - she's adding new treasures all the time! For more posts and information on suzanis and kilims please see the related post links below.... Have a wonderful afternoon!

Related blog posts:
Suzani and Ikat Week
Suzani in Detail
Suzani and Ikat: Tables, Chairs, Sofas and Beds
Bokja Design: Suzani + Furniture + Heaven!
Pakobel, Inc. Handmade Rugs and Tapestries from the East
Ikat and Suzani Pillows
All posts labeled suzani
All posts labeled kilim
All posts labeled ethnic textiles




(Also pictured in detail in image at beginning of post)
This is my favorite suzani in the shop, gorgeous colors!
Suzani from Uzbekistan

Suzani from Uzbekistan

Suzani from Shakhrisabz, Uzbekistan



Suzani from Boysun, Uzbekistan
This one is so fun!!



Suzani from Boysun, Uzbekistan


Suzani from Boysun, Uzbekistan



Suzani from Kosan, Uzbekistan


Another stunningly vibrant and amazing Suzani from Uzbekistan!


And now, for my two favorite kilims on Blue Teddy's Bazaar....

Another beautiful kilim design from Maimana, Afghanistan...


Great colors and a pretty ikat design!! This one hails from Afghanistan....


(All images sourced via Blue Teddy's Bazaar Etsy shop with permission from store owner, please do not use images without permission, contact Rhonda through her Etsy shop.)

Suzani and Ikat Week!!!!

I'm hopelessly in love with the beautiful designs of Suzani and Ikat textiles! However, as long as I've been swooning over the endless designs of these ethnic masterpieces I haven't acted on getting one... until today! I finally stopped procrastinating and decided to bid on a few rugs and tapestries on eBay at my good friend's store Pakobel Rugs. You may remember that a while back I did a post on my friend Salman's business and eBay store called Pakobel, Inc.: Handmade Tapestries and Rugs from the East featuring many of the Kilims and Suzanis in his inventory. Anyway, since then his inventory has certainly changed, but there are still several irresistible beauties that I just have to have... or at least try to have (for the right price of course)!

I'm so excited to finally own a colorful Suzani and Ikat themed Kilim (rug) that I'm declaring this week Suzani and Ikat week at Inspire Bohemia!! I've got several posts planned for your viewing pleasure, stay tuned. In the meantime, here are the items I'm bidding on........ (Wish me luck!)

Visit Pakobel Rugs on eBay to search for your own Suzanis, Kilims and other rugs from the East!

hand-embroidered Uzbek Suzni 6' x 5'

hand-embroidered Uzbek Suzni 6' x 5'

Persian Kilim from Iran 7' x 5'

Persian Kilim from Iran 9' x 5'

Pakobel, Inc.: Handmade Rugs and Tapestries from the East

Uzbek Suzni 7'x5'

Given my affinity for interior design, architecture, decor and textiles of the Middle East (and beyond), as well as my latest interest in Suzani's and Kilim's, I am certainly very excited about Pakobel Rugs! Pakobel, Inc. is owned by one of my good friends from college, Salman Ali, and they sell a beautiful array of new and used/antique carpets in a variety of sizes from a multitude of designs, including: Persian, Kashmiri, Kelim, Chobi, Kazak, Herat, Khal Muhammadi, Kargai, Uzbek Bokhara, Gabbeh.... and my favorite, Suzani!

Pakobel Inc. is a renowned name in the handmade rug business for its quality rugs at affordable prices. They've been auctioning off rugs all over USA and Europe for over 25 years, as well as on eBay for seven years and have sold close to 300,000 (and counting)! If interested in these exotic beauties, please visit Pakobel Inc. on eBay, they update their listings daily. Pakobel, Inc. will have a website up and running soon, therefore stay tuned for an update post!

By the way, for those of you that don't know what a Suzani (or Suzni) is, it's basically a hand-stitched/embroidered textile made in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries and its name derives from the Persian word Suzan, which means needle. As for a Kilim (or Kelim), it is considered a woven tapestry or rug originating anywhere from the Balkans to Pakistan, and can be purely decorative or used as a prayer rug. Its name is Turkish, and I beat myself up constantly (in my mind of course) for not splurging on one while in Istanbul last year. Anyway, these exotic and expertly crafted textiles and rugs are the sparkling gems at the top of my design wish list!

With that said, I just might get myself one of these gems for Christmas this year since Salman has been kind enough to offer me a peek at his warehouse of handmade rugs and Suzanis... and as you may imagine - I am beyond thrilled! I will post pictures as soon as it happens!

Scroll down for some examples of Pakobel's current inventory:

Uzbek Suzni (Suzani)
I LOVE IT!!!

Semi-Antique Persian Qasqai Rug 8'x5'

Kazak rug (rare) 8'x6'

Persian Sumak Kilim rug 6'x4'

Kazak rug 5'x4'

Kazak Kilim 12'x7'

Persian Maimana Kilim 3'x3'

Persian Kilim 8'x3'

Afghan Ghazni Kilim 10'3'

New Apartment *Color Brainstorm Inspiration Collage*

So, as I sit and marinate in my anxiousness to inhabit a new apartment (January 2010) with my love-bug, I can do nothing but fantasize about decorating it! Ah, a fresh palette! A blank canvas! Wheeeee! I am overjoyed at the thought.

Anyway, I took the liberty of throwing together a quick little collage of images that I'm going on for color inspiration in the new apartment. It's pretty obvious that I am very much in love with Moroccan and Middle Eastern design, architecture, patterns and so on... Particularly, Ikat and Suzani fabric/patterns, geometric patterns, Turkish Kilims (tapestry or rug), the elegant curves of the stunning architecture and so much more!

I'm thinking about using the turquoise and yellow as accent walls somewhere in the apartment and then adding in additional colors with my accessories and a beautiful rug I found at Ross yesterday... I think it's an 8' x 10' and it has rich colors and ethnic patterns... for only $39.99... it's unbelievable, to find a rug of such size and quality for that price is virtually impossible! I'm thrilled, no doubt!

So yes, the move is approaching and I have already begun boxing and tearing down my bohemian sanctuary... It's a bit depressing, but then I just think about how much better our next abode will be. I aim to find a place with lots of natural light, a washer and dryer in unit, NO CARPET, and a bigger kitchen than the hole in the wall I presently contend with! Ha! Wish me luck!

Here are some of the images from the collage but in full size (I couldn't resist, they're all so pretty):

(Suzani Fabric)

(the Hamsa hand of protection)


(Suzani tapestry)



(Moroccan patterns)

(Suzani upholstered bench)

(Tagine)

(Suzani print)

(Moroccan pattern mosaic)

(Kilim upholstered bench)

(Ikat rug)