Moving On

We left Ephesus to have lunch at an unusual dining spot. 

In this carpet-weaving oasis, the hosts served us a delicious lunch and then gave us a tour of their facility. 

There were several young ladies working there who demonstrated the unique Turkish carpet-weaving method.

Their fingers moved so quickly it was astonishing; I could have watched them for a long time. They plucked two strings from the loom and pulled them forward, then looped the colored string that would become part of the emerging pattern, pulled the ends down quickly, and cut them just as swiftly. 

In this open room where the ladies were working, silkworms were also living, doing their thing. 

The owner of the company then showed us how they took the silkworm cocoons...

and made thread from them.

After using a stiff brush that looked much like a barber's shaving brush to start the string pulling off of the cocoons, the lady showing us the method took her hand and wound it around the strings, continuing to pull until the beginnings of the strings were out of the way. Once there was a sufficient amount pulled from the cocoons (to get to the part they can use), they attached it to a machine that unwound it from the cocoons.

They also dyed their own thread.

Around every corner there were interesting tools...

and gorgeous colors.

These two gentlemen were hand-repairing rugs, which our guide told me was an extremely difficult task. 

I imagine this is true; it takes me years to sew a button onto Mike's shorts.

As I walked around, I felt like I was in a place from another time.

Soon we were shown into a room so that they could show off some of the best work of their ladies. The women who make the rugs live in towns around the area. 

I was particularly drawn to the rugs that featured orange. 

This next rug was so beautiful. We all gasped when they told us that what we were seeing was the back of the rug! 

I couldn't tell the front from the back, the work was so fine. 

After they showed us innumerable rugs, we had the opportunity to look at and purchase one. (I say we very generically speaking...these rugs were quite out of Mike's and my price range!) I loved the tour, though, and I have a much greater appreciation for the labor and skill that goes into these beautiful works of art.

Following this excursion we returned to our hotel for the evening. Dr. Wright continued his lectures, some of which I'll have to share soon. It was certainly an honor to sit under his teaching.