Intarsia Concept

Introducing Intarsia Insights

As we embark on our journey to explore how you can turn what you love into what you do, we know that we would enjoy it more if you joined us. Whether it means sharing your success story, unlocking some secrets or simply talking about what you dream of doing one day - we want to hear you.

Doing what you love isn't as easy as it sounds. It can be life-changing, an upheaval, a risk, the scariest decision of your entire life. But as anyone who took the plunge will tell you - it's worth it. Both Tara and I can vouch for it with our hands on our hearts. So, we thought it would be nice to share some stories and experiences so that you'll know you're not alone and that anything really is possible. 

Every week we will be sharing one person's insights right here in a weekly section called Intarsia Insights. We aim to host people from a wide spectrum and I'm sure you'll find someone who will inspire you.

If you would like to be interviewed then please email us. We have no selective criteria apart from the condition that you are doing what you love. Or even if you have just taken the plunge, we'd love to hear about how it's going so far, too.

 

IC Holiday Gift Guide 2009

We are proud to present the first IC Holiday Gift Guide - a sampling of the creative entrepreneurs in our community.

Baby

Baby Apparel from Nikki in Stitches

 

Nikki in Stitches - Darling apparel for girl and boy babies, especially these holiday onesies.

Saidos da Concha - Talented designer and seamstress Constança offers these sweet handmade bibs.

 

Beauty

California Nail Bar - Surprise! It's not in California, but in a chic district of Istanbul.

Beauty Fly RX  - Including a one cent holiday sale on cosmetic dermatology products.

 

Books

Better World Books - Collects and sells books online to fund literacy initiatives worldwide. 

Here's Trouble: How a Little Dog Learned to Be Tough and Have Hope - A children's book.

Tales from the Expat Harem: Foreign Women in Modern Turkey - In paperback or for your Kindle.

 

Lines of Velocity from Write Girl

Write Girl - Anthologies from a creative writing nonprofit that pairs at-risk teen girls with professional women writers for one-on-one mentoring sessions and monthly genre writing workshops.

Fashion & Accessories

Citara's* - Online handcrafted bazaar.

Conversation Pieces - A unique venue for indie designers.

Maurice Goldman Fine & Estate Jewelry - Online booth and eBay locations.

Pastiche - Online fusion boutique.

Lula Lu - Petite Lingerie.

Shibu Design - Unique natural gem jewelry (Sebnem makes her own beads!).

 

Hollow Heart Necklace from Queen Bean Jewels

Queen Bean Jewels - December discounts for joining their Facebook fan page.

The Open Studio - Jewelry designs inspired by ancient artifacts, modern hardware.

 

Home

 

Bazaar Bayar - Handmade and vintage Turkish textiles.

 

Tango Aprons from Beneterre

Beneterre - Eco-chic bags and home fashions. Their tango aprons are fabulous.

Bixler & Johnson - Captivating glass and crystal paperweights and pendants.

Get Clean Starter Kit - Save money while cleaning green.

 

Knitted & Sewn

Bazaar Bayar - Handknit treasures with a Turkish twist.

 

Silhouette Roses Shoulder Bag from Saidos da Concha
 

Saidos da Concha - Handmade bags and pencil cases.

The Knit Box* - Turkish yarn, patterns and accessories and community support.

 

 

Novelty

 

The Screaming Pillow

The Screaming Pillow - A whimsical gift with a touching story.

 

Paper

Christmas in the City cards from Cookie Cutter Etsy

Cookie Cutter Etsy - Journals, cards and notecards by Sandy Ng.

 

Personal Development

Karen Armstrong - Life Design Coach for creative entrepreneurs* and expat women.

Leanne Arent - Retirement Lifestyle Coach.

 

Photography

Candace Anderson - Photographer selling prints and notecards on Etsy and Artfire.

D.S Brennan Photography - Fine art prints and soon a product photography course* (get on the list).

Jennifer Squires Ross - Modern Fine Art Photographer.

Photography by Julia Harwood - Ready to hang art.

 

 
Satsumas from Sweet Eventide
  

Sweet Eventide - Photographs by Jessica Nichols inspired dusk, her favorite time of day.

 

Services

Behind the Bazaar* - Introductions to authentic Istanbul artists and designers.

 

 
US Unlocked 

US Unlocked - Making online shopping in the USA available to the international online shopper.

 

Social Responsibility

Bras for the Cause - Raises funds and awareness for women's health.

 

Logo T-shirt from Nest

Nest - A microbarter organization supporting women artisans in developing countries.

Global Women's Leadership Network - Developing Women Leaders for the World

 

*Behind the Bazaar, Citara's, and The Knit Box are personal or joint projects. Please read our disclosures regarding Life Design for Creative Entrepreneurs and Basic Product Photography.

Can working with a partner be productive?

As the new work-at-home generation settles in and grows it seems people are beginning to actively look at ways to socialize in a work environment once again, but this time without leaving the comfort zone of the home office. There are many opportunities to do this; online partnerships where people have perhaps never actually met in person, collaborations between people with similar talents and abilities, affiliate programmes and many more.

Our partnership is an example of two people who were introduced to one another because of their lifestyle situation and their interests. Does it work? Will it stay dynamic? Will your collaboration or partnership prove to be inspired?

Well, after two years as friends and one year as business partners I think I am pretty qualified to answer those questions and hope it will help you in your decision - go it alone or merge powers?

The first thing one looks for in a partner is 'someone who is similar'. That's what we expected of each other in the beginning. So we tried very hard to meet our expectations of one another. And then we discovered the following about ourselves and one another:

Figen: -

1. Dislikes computerized calendars and spreadsheets
2. Annoyingly refuses to spend more than 1/24th of her day on social networking
3. Has a limited working day due to two young kids
4. Wants to get the job done NOW
5. Has darned good logistics skills
6. Won't get roped into doing anything she doesn't want
7. Is quick thinking for solutions
8. has ideas, passion, creative skills, hindsight
9. Is British, therefore
10. Swears a hell of a lot.

Tara: -

1. Wields a mean Excel file
2. Schedules everything
3. Figures out the 'how' of things really well
4.  Is a peoples' person
5. Isn't afraid to tell people their stuff is crap or that they are brilliant
6. Procrastinates to distraction
7. Knows how to ask for something
8. Has ideas, passion, IT skills, foresight
9. Is American, therefore
10. Practises extreme skepticism.

By now, most of you are probably wondering how the hell we even speak to each other, let alone work together. Being friends has helped, but it has taken maturity, time and acceptance on both parts, along with a solid, shared intuition for business, to merge these crashing qualities into a harmonious and exciting partnership.

Illustration by Istvan Banyai from Oprah.com

We love working together, and believe it or not, we actually strive to see more of each other. Our meetings are fired, motivated, innovative and inspired. We leave each others' company feeling like we could go out and make a billion the next day. Of course, we've made it through many misunderstandings and there have been a few close calls with bells attached. If these make you stronger, then you're on to a good thing. In a partnership you get up close and personal - it's unavoidable that your partner doesn't get to know your every sneeze, personal problem, financial situation and daily schedule. Be prepared to be utterly honest, sharing and discreet with confidences.

The main secret is; acknowledging what you don't have and what the other has. The next step is combining everything, good and bad, into one whole entity. Imagine all of the above qualities existing in just one person - she would be unstoppable! So, think of your partnership as just that - a single glorious being.