Ikat and Suzani Pillows!

Continuing on with Ikat and Suzani week, this post includes some images of beautiful pillows made out of the ethnic textiles as well as some ideas on how to get your own without spending too much! Ikat and Suzani designs have such color and character that they're perfect for injecting lots of personality and color into any space!

Since most manufactured pillows/pillow covers with Suzani and Ikat designs will cost you a pretty penny, I suggest the following in order to get some of your own:

1. Search your local JoAnn Fabrics, Michaels, or other fabric and craft store to find fabric by the yard and make your own, not too long ago I found some great Ikat style fabric at JoAnn Fabrics on sale...
2. Visit my friend Salman's online eBay store Pakobel Rugs where he sells several types of eastern rugs, tapestries and other textile goods including Suzanis and Kilims. Many of listing begin at $0.99 with no reserve! Check it out!
   
3. I came across a website called Uzbek Craft, and not only do they have some pretty and affordable Ikat fabrics by the yard, but they sell many other ethnic crafts [and gorgeous Suzani pillows for those of you who are willing to pay $40 dollars a pop] :)
   
4. Or, in the rare case that you find some Ikat or Suzani fabric at a garage/church sale, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Craigslist or so on.... congratulations, I'd definitely give a little hooray!
5. Pier 1 Imports has some Suzani inspired pillows in their current collection, though Pier 1 isn't exactly a bucket of bargains....
   

As for me, I plan to sit down with my grandmother and start planning some pillow designs!

Good luck and, as always, enjoy!

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'