Sheriff Baca Wove Persian Rug at Our Nowruz Party Extravaganza

We had a wonderful Nowruz party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel last night. It was to celebrate Nowruz, the beginning of Spring and the Persian new year. The interior and the decoration of the International Ballroom looked great. Thank to Shideh and her staff. We also had the red carpet outside and the Beverly Hills Courier and our IAPA's photographers took pictures of the dignitaries and honorees. The IAPA (Iranian American Parents Association) board members and its president had worked tirelessly on this event for almost eight months. I have had the pleasure of being on the board of IAPA. Dr. Nanaz Pirnia a renown psychologist who is the president of this non-profit organization established in 1994, has been our family friend since we were classmates in the great University of Southern California, USC in the late 1970's and early 1980's. She has done so much for the Persian-American community.

We had a carpet weaving booth right at the entrance. Our master weaver showed the guests how they could tie the knots and make a rug. Sheriff Leroy Baca, the head of Los Angeles County Sheriff Department, the largest and biggest sheriff department in the country, sat down with our weaver behind an actual rug loom and tied some knots. I told him I would send him the rug after it is finished!

We also had a silent auction with many great gifts and prizes. Several of our wonderful volunteers managed the auction. The prizes were too many to name here.

There was plenty of Persian food, Persian music and dances. Everybody had fun. We had great singers and vocalists. I will write more on this in a separate post. Here, I am posting some pictures of this great event.

I had several very dear American friends and guests who sat with us at our table. This is what one of them wrote to me few minutes ago in an e-mail:

"Dear Khosrow and Shirin,

Thank you so much for including me in your wonderful Nowruz celebrations last evening. Wow, what a fabulous party! Lots of music, beautiful flowers, great food, and your fellow Persians all dressed up, sparkling in their diamonds, and having fun! It was so much fun to see Ashkan and Kash, too, and I loved meeting Shirin’s sister, who seemed extremely nice, too. Unfortunately, I haven’t done dancing for a long time, so I am very out of condition. But it was still a lot of fun, and a great cultural exchange. Congratulations, too, on the organizational skills of your Parents Association, and all of the sponsorships that you were able to get.

Thanks again for such a lovely evening—and I look forward to seeing you at our next program, if not before."

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.RugIdea.com
310-770-9085

Oriental Rugs Today

Oriental Rugs Today

When someone thinks of an Oriental rugs, many people automatically think of an aged carpet that is considered an antique and very expensive. What may surprise people is that many area rugs that are being woven in present times are quite possibly higher quality than their predecessors. There is very little text about Persian Rugs of today, but in the book Oriental Rugs Today by Emmett Eiland, readers can learn about Persian hand knotted rugs that are being woven today, and their new found techniques that make them a higher quality carpet.

Oriental Rugs Today is a great read and is also very easy to follow along with. The writing style is very pleasant; it is as if you are having a conversation with the author. This piece of literature includes many stories of the author’s voyages. These stories make the book more enjoyable and easier to understand. Eiland also includes many pictures of area rugs and the weavers. With the pictures he includes small, but very informative captions. All of these components add up to a wonderful and informative book.

In the text readers learn about, what Eiland calls it, a “Renaissance” of Oriental rug weaving. Eiland teaches us how many weavers are re-mastering the art of hand spinning the wools and using natural dyes for the wool. When wool is hand spun, Eiland explains how the color is not fully absorbed, leaving some areas lighter or darker than the rest of the wool of that same color. With machine spun wool, color is absorbed evenly and the colors are consistent throughout the rug. Some area rugs made with synthetic dyes are being made in a fashion where it appears the colors are inconsistent, giving it the look of hand spun wool. As Eiland puts it, “this illusion is good, but it lacks depth and liveliness.”

Eiland states that many people believe that Persian rugs woven today are no longer handmade and all use synthetic dyes. With the belief that Oriental carpets woven today are all machine made and made with synthetic dyes, it can lead to people losing interest in them and downplaying their quality. Some people make the mistake of believe that area rugs being created in present times are not as genuine or authentic as the carpets that were woven in the past.

Eiland proves this belief wrong in his book, while he discusses his journeys across the world and his findings of people reverting back to the old ways of making oriental area rugs. Many weavers are once again using the hand spun wool and naturally dying it, with more advanced techniques than the way it was done in the past. These current weavers are also using the advanced techniques to weave the carpets at a higher quality.

It was hard to lose interest while reading this book about Oriental rugs; Eiland keeps the reader intrigued with his stories and plethora of pictures. The author also uses different forms of text, like question and answer sessions that keep the reader interested and gives the information a new spin by challenging certain misconceptions that may arise while reading on this subject. The book overall is a great find and is full of useful information that can give readers more understanding and respect for the high quality Persian rugs that are being created today.

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.RugIdea.com
310-770-9085

Are Your Rugs Ready For the Holidays Traffic?

Holidays are approaching with Thanksgiving, Christmas and family and friends gatherings to have good times. Are your rugs clean? Cleaner rugs last longer and provide us with healthier and more sanitary rooms and homes.

We have made a new web site: www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com to serve our customers better and easier.

Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
310-770-9085

Rug Cleaning Rug Repair Los Angeles

Besides selling Oriental, area and Persian rugs, we do rug cleaning and repair. This has its own advantages and disadvantages. The down side is the hassles we encounter. Some of the customers who call us, only ask about the cost and these are the ones who want to shop around and get a deal. The second type of the customers are those who ask how we clean their Oriental carpets. For the second type, usually the quality of the work and its process is more important than the mere low pricing.

The best way of cleaning a rug by a professional (don't do it at home or you will be sorry!) is to wash and clean the rug with ample water and regular detergent without using chemicals which may damage the fiber of the rug as well as the environment. The best way of drying a carpet is to let it dry under sun without using a heated or dry room. This natural and traditional way of drying a rug will give it more shine with a much fresher look. If a rug is dried in a dry (heated) room, it may not have the shine and freshness it should. Sun is the best dryer.

Here, I am posting some exclusive photos from a traditional rug cleaning facility and process.

Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
310-770-9085