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Next summer – Ayvalik!

Published by gertrud

How about a vacation in Turkey in a beautiful old stone house with a mosaic floor in the bathroom? We rent out our summer house in the quaint town of Ayvalik on the North Aegean coast of Turkey. https://www.manzara-apartments.com/en/mozaikli-ev-en/# I lived in Turkey with my family 12 years ago and bought this summer house there. For me, this was a great opportunity to create a mosaic floor in the classic style. So many people were interested in it during production that I started this blog. The house is situated on a hill in the middle of the small town of Ayvalik, which has remained very unspoilt and has not yet seen much international tourism. There is a market twice a week where the whole town is filled with families from the surrounding villages and you can buy everything from fresh local vegetables, socks and underpants to hand-carved spoons made from olive wood. And not just the spoons, but of course the oil and the olives themselves, as Ayvalik is located in Turkey’s largest olive-growing region. …

Ukrainian community project 2025

Published by gertrud

On May 15th, in celebration of World Vyshyvanka Day (Vyshyvanka is the Ukrainian word for Embroidery), Ukraine House in Washington, D.C. hosted the grand opening of the Ukrainian Embroidery Mosaic. Unveiled alongside the Ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, the mosaic stands as a powerful tribute to Ukraine’s rich cultural heritage and deep-rooted tradition of embroidery art in the country. Each embroidery pattern within the mosaic was individually created by a member of the community, designed in the style of regional Ukrainian embroidery to reflect the nation’s diverse artistic traditions. Every pattern was reviewed and approved by an ethnographer from the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine, ensuring historical and cultural accuracy. The mosaic is geographically arranged—from the Lutsk region in the northwest at the top left, to Crimea in the southeast at the bottom right—forming a visual map of Ukraine through the language of textile art. This intricate work, composed of 25,000 stones and brought to life by more than 30 contributors, is a testament to unity, resilience, and …

Installation in Takoma Park, Maryland

Published by gertrud

In collaboration with the Takoma Montessori School community, students, teachers, and families came together to design and create geometric motif tiles inspired by the school’s mission. Rooted in the principles of Montessori education—which fosters curiosity, independence, and a lifelong love of learning—this project reflects the vibrant spirit of the school in form and color. The completed tiles are now permanently installed at the school’s entrance, offering a daily reminder of the creativity, unity, and dedication of the 20 families and 9 teachers who participated in the workshop.  Attached is a video slideshow documenting the collaborative process, from initial beginnings to the final installation, celebrating the talented collective behind this meaningful work.   “This is so lovely! Amazing how these bright flashes of love transform these buildings” -Elana Bregin