Istanbul

Istanbul (Sultanahmet) skyline

Just spent a wonderful few days in Istanbul.  After creating the Izniks Abroad collection I had to go and see the real thing! The Aya Sofya is my favourite mosque, last year I made a series of notelets from a painting of it (sadly from a photo in a book), to see it for real was great and the inside is simply stunning. It was wonderful to see some of the original motifs that inspired my designs.  Naturally I visited the 'must see' spots including the Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque), Topkapi Palace, Spice Market, Galata Tower, Beyoğlu, took a Bosphorus boat trip and of course shopped at the Grand Bazaar where I acquired two beautiful scarves and a tile to add to my coaster collection.

Sketch of the Aya Sofya

Inside Aya Sofya

Topkapi Palace - exterior of the Harem