Seezdeh BeDar, Sizdeh Bedar, Dodging the 13th day of Persian New Year in Balboa Park, Los Angeles

On the thirteenth day of the Persian new year, which also marks the end of the Nowrooz break for the school children, families leave their houses and head for the outdoors where they eat, play games, and celebrate a happy and healthy holiday season.

This tradition is called Seezdah Bedar, 13 Bedar (seezdah means thirteen) which in English translates to "getting rid of thirteen". This fun and exciting outing involves all family members and is intended to end the holiday season on a relaxing and positive note. The concept of avoiding the number thirteen is mainly to symbolize the will and power to deal with all evil in the new year.

The two weeks long NoRooz celebration ends with SeezDeh Bedar. SeezDeh means Thirteen and SeezDeh Bedar is the process of getting over with or passing over the thirteenth day of the New Year. (Some believe 13 being an unlucky number)

This day is usually celebrated outdoor in a picnic style. This is the last day of Persian New Year celebration and life will return to normal the following day. Schools will open in Iran, shops will start on their regular hours and offices and Government agencies are back in normal operation. So, this is the last chance to spend some time with family and friends and enjoy the fresh smell of Spring.

Sizdah-Bedar is also believed to be a special day to ask for rain. In ancient Iran, every day had its own name, and belonged to a different angel. The 13th of Farvardin belonged to the angel of rain. This angel is depicted as a horse. Sizdah-Bedar is also a day for competitive games. Games involving horses were often chosen as a victory of a horse represented , the angle of rain.

On this day, girls & boys tie a knot with grass and make wishes perhaps for a husband or wife. When the knot is opened (it is beleived that) their luck will open and their wishes will come true. Newly weds also tie a grass knot making wishes for a baby, a house, or whatever is on their Have-To-Have list.

We all went to Balboa Lake and Park, north of Los Angeles where thousands of Iranians gathered to spend a few hours in the nature. Many booths provided the crowd with Persian food, sweet, drinks and handicrafts. The mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa also attended the festival and delivered a short speech after welcoming everybody and saying happy new year in Farsi, the Persian language. You can see him in two of the photos with light blue shirt and jeans.

There were several Iranian singers and comedians who performed. The festival started from 10:00 am and ended 7:30 pm. Every body had fun. There were many non-Iranian guests as well who joined their Iranian friends. People were there from all walks of life and age. You can notice this from the pictures posted here. The police was very cooperative and handled the traffic and every thing perfectly. Thank to Los Angeles and San Fernando valley Police Department. Last year, Sheriff Baca who commands the largest Sheriff’s Department in the United States also attended our celebration. Roberto, an Iranian event manager who has years of experience in organizing events like this organized this wonderful one of a kind Persian festival.

Khosrow Sobhe

www.RugIdea.com

310-770-9085

Rug Market in Los Angeles

Our rug market here in Los Angeles has moved a little bit since a couple of days ago. We have sold several area rugs and one 4 x 6 Persian Nain rug. It has not been great, but at least we saw some customers who came in and left happy with rugs.

People are not ready to buy expensive rugs yet, but what can we do at this difficult time. We should work harder and smarter.

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

Persian New Year Party @ CSUN Cal State Northridge

Yesterday evening we were invited to a party which was held in the Camden House restaurant in Beverly Hills. A good friend who was my school mate at the university of Southern California, USC has opened a Mind Therapy Center and held a big party there. She is a very successful psychologist. My wife and I went there and stayed for a couple of hours. Then we had to rush to another party, this one a Persian new year, NowRuz party in the Californian State University Northridge, 15 miles north of Los Angeles. They have a very active Persian club and my son Ashkan is its president. With the help of other members of the Persian club and their adviser, they held a very well attended party with lots of Persian food, dance and fun. We were there till 11:00 pm. Every body liked the event. It was fun for us as guests, and good practice for the young students to practice to hold such events.
Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
310-770-9085

Rug Cleaning, Rug Repair, Slow Rug Market Los Angeles

It has been very slow lately in Los Angeles. It has been Easter and few other religious and cultural holidays as well as spring break for many schools here. We were busy with few rug sales and rug cleaning and repair. It has been quiet and nothing exciting or major has happened. My son who is our company's web master and web developer and I, have been working on our new website to have a better Internet presence. We are redesigning it. Its address is www.RugIdea.com and it will go under major changes in a few days. I will right more on this later as we will get closer to its launch.

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

Persian New Year NowRuz 1387

March 20th was the first day of Spring and the first day of Persian new year. We have special ceremonies for our new year, for which we prepare a table with several fruits, greens, vegetables, grains and etc. each stand foe some thing. We celebrate and visit friends and relatives.

In the mind of Iranians, the word nowruz invokes colorful images which are sumptuous, elegant, and opulent as well as delightfully simple, refreshing, and cordial. Although colored with vestiges of Iran's Mazdian and Zoroastrian past, the Nowruz celebration is neither religious or national in nature, nor is it an ethnic celebration. Jewish, Zoroastrian, Armenian and Turkish Iranians and Central Asians celebrate the Nowruz with the same enthusiasm and sense of belonging. Perhaps it is this very universal nature of the message of Nowruz that speaks to its wealth of rites and customs as well as to its being identified as the unique fount of continuity of the Iranian culture.

Khosrow Sobhe

www.RugIdea.com

310-770-9085

Rugs and the Rug Sale in Los Angeles

Rug market has been very slow during the past few days for us in Los Angeles. Thank to rug cleaning and repair which has kept us busy. Customers come and go, but they do not want to buy rugs. Their stay in our rug gallery has reached its all times low. They ask for something, look at it and go! It is like they are on a mission and after they make their question, the mission is accomplished and they can go.

Will it change? Was this slowness because of the tax season? Will the government stimulus plan and checks help the rug market pick up? It is yet to be seen! We should never lose hope. We should work harder and smarter.

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

Why Should We Buy Old and Antique Persian and Oriental Rugs?

Why Should We Buy Old and Antique Rugs?

Because:

1- Old and Antique Persian and Oriental rugs are scarce, and the demand for them is much greater than the supply. Therefore, these rugs appreciate in value as the time goes by.

2- We can use and enjoy them, while we can invest in them. There are many other kinds of investment that cannot be used in our daily lives. For example, we cannot use our coins, stamps, bonds and stocks. But we can use and enjoy our beautiful old and antique rugs.

3- Antique rugs are surely making a strong comeback and making their presence felt in the extremely competitive rug market.

4- Possessing antique rugs is a matter of pride for the owners. It took the care and maintenance by generations to preserve their beloved old and antique rugs. And why not? After all, their antique rug still shines bright amidst the cacophony of modern day rugs.

5- Antique rugs present us with an opportunity to connect with history.

6- Antique rugs are never out of style. They do not come and go with fashion and trends.

Khosrow Sobhe

www.RugIdea.com

310-770-9085

Indian Rug Cleaning For a Customer From West Lake Los Angeles

Last Sunday, a couple brought an Indian 8 x 10 rug for cleaning. They had come from West lake, a city close to Los Angeles. There were some little stains on the borders and I did not promise those stains be removed by regular cleaning. After the rug was returned from cleaning, the stains were still there. I paid $25 to our repairman to remove those stubborn stains. The spots were taken care of. The husband and wife came in today to pick up their rug after they called and made sure they could get the rug. I showed the rug and pointed the place of the removed spots and said if you're happy with the job, pay me $25 more which is my cost and I do not want to charge you more. They did not want to pay. They took their rug and left. They had paid the original cleaning cost upfront. I blamed myself and made a decision. I should be tougher at the beginning and if the customer is not ready to pay the price, I should call and tell them that there would be an extra charge for stain removal. Some of the customers do not appreciate what you do and there is no sense giving them what they do not appreciate.

We sold few pieces of area rugs and runners, but overall, the past few days have been very slow in regard with sales. It was Sunday today and I stayed at work until 5:45 pm.

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

Buy Persian Rugs Direct and Save Big

Visit the 6th Kish Handmade Carpet International Exhibition
April 29 to May 2, 2008


Buy Persian Rugs Direct and Save Big!
Free weaving, dying workshops & scholarly forums on Persian carpets

YOU DO NOT NEED VISA TO TRAVEL TO KISH FREE ZONE ISLAND


Just 12 miles south of Iran mainland in Persian Gulf, 20 minutes fly from Dubai, UAE

Kish Island has excellent hotels and shopping centers with tax-free items.

This trip will be a dream vacation to the beautiful island/resort of Kish while you can buy Persian rugs directly from the producers and professional exporters. You will see all types of village, rural and city/workshop Persian rugs under one roof.

For airline tickets and hotel arrangements:

Shahrzad Travel
Tel. 310-477-9400
Fax 310-445-3235

For more Carpet Exhibition information:

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe
Tel. 310-770-9085

Following five successful handmade Persian carpet exhibitions which were held in Kish and brought together famous producers and exporters with their unique collections, the Exhibition Committee has decided to hold the sixth exhibition at an international level, with carpet producers and dealers participating from across the world. Kish Island will host the Exhibition from April 29 to May, 2, 2008.

A Free Trade Zone and renowned tourism resort, Kish Island possesses 21,000 square meters of exhibition space and a wealth of experience in holding various events. The Island offers a calm and pleasant environment for exhibitions and business activities. Foreign nationals need no entry visa and foreign goods may be easily imported into the Island benefiting from low rates of customs tariff. These favorable factors provide other countries with a suitable opportunity to take part in the exhibitions held on Kish Island.

The present exhibition is expected to attract a large number of carpet producers and dealers from around the world along with Iranian carpet producers and exporters, who will display a wide variety of handmade carpets and floor coverings.

Moreover, handmade carpet dealers from other countries who are invited by the Exhibition Committee have a suitable opportunity to buy their requirements and desired collections. Also, a large number of visitors are expected to attend and buy from the Exhibition.

TO VIST KISH ISLAND, YOU NEED NO VISA

Those potential visitors from North America can visit the following link and follow the instructions to apply for a visa to go to mainland Iran.

http://daftar.org/Eng/default.asp?lang=eng

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

Oriental Rug Market Los Angeles and Tax Season, Shaw Area Rugs

During the past few days, our rug business has been relatively slow and quiet. It might be because of the tax season. On the other hand, oil price has hit the $110/barrel and this has set the record and the price of gas at almost $4/gallon reduces the purchasing power of the people. These and other economic reasons and variables make people want to spend less. All this will affect the rug market weather it is area rug or hand knotted rug. People have less money and want spend less.

Of course the rug market has not been totally dead. We have sold a few pieces and were busy with cleaning and repair. But it has not been great. During the past couple of days, I have been busy working on my business tax and I have to submit all the numbers and documents to my CPA by tomorrow around noon.

Yesterday, I had an appointment with a representative of Shaw Floors and Shaw Living. She had visited me in our rug gallery and had shown me few samples. I wanted to see more samples so we met at 9:00 am in a showroom on the 5th floor in Los Angeles Mart, LA Mart. The showroom was big, but full of accessories and everything was visible but area rugs. I went inside and asked for the sales rep. and she showed up in a minute and guided me to the back of the showroom where they had only few pieces on few racks. Frankly I had expected a huge showroom full of racks and rugs. The variety did not look great to me. The prices also seemed expensive. In addition to the already high prices, there will be shipping costs added to the prices which will make it difficult to complete. I have to thing about this and I may want to go ahead and order a small shipment but I have to see.

It is 6:30 pm and I have to go home. I leave the writing for another time probably tomorrow.

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

Rug Master, Rug Blog, A Busy Sunday in Los Angeles

Today was Sunday. I went to work at 11:00 am. Couple of customers brought Indian and Persian Tabriz hand made rugs for cleaning. One of our repairmen repaired four rugs brought by a rug importer. They needed some minor repairs for the damages done in transportation. Few customers also walked in and bought few pieces of rugs. We also picked up two rugs for cleaning from a customer's home. We delivered a big 12 x 16 Nepal rug to a customer's home in Encino, north of Los Angeles after we closed our store at 5:00 pm. Like every other week, we worked 7 days this week as well.

Tomorrow is Monday and the first day of a new week. Will something extraordinary happen? Will several customers walk in and buy many rugs? Who knows? We keep working hard with lots of hopes.

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

Turkmen Rug Lecture Los Angeles Textile Museum Associates of Southern California TMASC

Yesterday, we had a Turkmen Rug Lecture sponsored by the Textile Museum Associates of Southern California TMASC and the Textile Group of Los Angeles TGLA in our Oriental rug gallery on 1655 South La Cienega Blvd. We had 60 chairs which were all full and taken by the guests. The attendance was very good. The speaker was Jurg Rageth from Switzerland who presented a very well done presentation with interesting slides on Turkmen carpets and their designs. Several people had brought fine and antique Turkmen rugs for the "Show & Tell" section. Our program started at 10:00 am and finished by 1:00 pm.

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

Area Rug, Tufted Rug, and Tapestry

It was a slow day in regard with selling rugs. I only sold a 4 x 6 area rug, one tufted rug and a 24 x 48 inches tapestry. Several customers came in to our rug gallery and none of them looked serious. Some of them said they might return, but who knows.

I had a meeting with the representative of a very big floor covering and area rug producing company. We are supposed to meet again next week. I am considering to become one of their dealers if this is to my company's benefit. I have to see. As usual, we did some rug repair for a couple of the customers.

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

Rug Blog Helping you Buy a Rug

Yesterday, three different customers walked in to our rug gallery in different times. They all had one thing in common. They did not know the size of rug they needed. Customers and rug buyers should do their homework in regards with measurement. I have a 2-page rug buying tips. here is what I have written in this Oriental, Persian, and area rug buying tips when it comes to selecting the right size:

Choosing the right size is very important. Make sure to measure your room correctly before referring to any rug store. Get the maximum and minimum sizes you may want to cover to have a better choice by considering several rugs of different size ranges. Try to get standard size rug compared with odd sizes. The usual standard sizes in foot are: 3 x 5, 5 x 8, 6 x 9, 8 x 10, 9 x 12, 10 x 14, and 12 x 15. The standard width for runners of any length is 2' 6", although there are other widths as well.

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

Rug Blogs Reveal My Business Secrets

This morning I thought to myself that I write everything about my business as regards with what I sell, how many pieces I sell, how many rugs and what I receive for cleaning and repair and many other details about my business. This can be read by my colleagues and competitors. Then I told myself, rug dealers are busy selling rugs and counting their money. They do not have time or they are not in a mood to read a rug blog. And if they read, what can they get out of my Oriental rug blog? So I should not wary myself and keep my mind busy about what they might think or do.

So let me write about my day. A customer, a lady bought two 5 x 8 area rugs, one runner, 2' 2" x 8 and one 4 x 6 area rug and paid with her credit card and left. She was student at Santa Monica College here in Los Angeles. Another man bought a 4 x 6 area rug, and while I was gone to my bank, one piece of 5 x 8 area rug was sold to another customer. I visited a rug dealer in Beverly Hills. He is a collector and dealer of fine Persian old, antique and fine rugs. In the morning, a dealer from a neighboring town brought an old Kashan rug for cleaning and repair. Several other customers also walked in separately but did not buy any rugs. Few of them said they would return in the near future. Before closing the store, I sold two pieces Persian hand knotted rugs, one a fine Gabbeh, and another one, a 2 x 3 Persian Varamin rug, both made with hand spun wool and natural dye to a couple who were looking for simple design rugs.

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

Persian Carpet Rug Show in Kish island Iran

Today, I received the brochures and the posters of 6th Persian Carpet Show in Kish Island, Iran. Kish Island is a beautiful resort on the Persian Gulf, 20 minutes fly from Dubai, UAE. No visa is needed for non-Iranian passport holders. Below, you may read part of what is written in the brochure:

Kish - Handmade Carpet International Exhibition

Following five successful handmade Persian carpet exhibitions which were held in Kish and brought together famous producers and exporters with their unique collections, the Exhibition Committee has decided to hold the sixth exhibition at an international level, with carpet producers and dealers participating from across the world. Kish Island will host the Exhibition from 29 April - 2 May 2008.

A Free Trade Zone and renowned tourism resort, Kish Island possesses 21,000 square meters of exhibition space and a wealth of experience in holding various events. The Island offers a calm and pleasant environment for exhibitions and business activities. Foreign nationals need no entry visa and foreign goods may be easily imported into the Island benefiting from low rates of customs tariff. These favourable factors provide other countries with a suitable opportunity to take part in the exhibitions held on Kish Island.

The present exhibition is expected to attract a large number of carpet producers and dealers from around the world including Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, etc. Exhibitors from these countries, along with Iranian carpet producers and exporters, will display a wide variety of handmade carpets and floor coverings.

Moreover, handmade carpet dealers from other countries who are invited by the Exhibition Committee have a suitable opportunity to buy their requirements and desired collections. Also, a large number of visitors are expected to attend and buy from the Exhibition.

Khosrow Sobhe

www.RugIdea.com

Rug Blog

My rug blog for me is like a good friend with whom I can speak whenever I have something to say. I can express myself. I do not know who reads my posts in my web log and from where in the world. But I know that roughly 40-50 visitors read my posts on my web log everyday. That is great.

Yesterday was Monday. Usually, Mondays are slow in terms of rug sale, because people had just the weekend and on the first day of the week and its beginning, have many more important things to do than buying area rugs, Persian or Oriental carpets. We were extremely busy yesterday. In the morning, three ladies and a gentleman came in and spent about 45 minutes looking at several area rug runners made of silk made in Belgium. They bought 4 runners and three small pieces of the same quality. They also bought an 8 x 10 fine rug pad. I went to Bank to deposit a couple of checks and for the 20 minutes that I was gone, three pieces of area rugs were sold to a Limousine driver who had stopped by and looked for high quality area rugs. We also received few Persian and Indian Gabbeh rugs from two different customers for cleaning and repair. A 10 x 14 Persian Tabriz rug was also picked up by a customer who had left the rug for cleaning and repair/replacement of the selvages. We were busy the whole day.

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

Rug Sale Rug Sales Los Angeles

We have a rack in front of our rug gallery on 1655 South La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles. We put one rug on sale every day and sacrifice it with putting a big sign with a very low price. This is very eye-catching and attracts customers who pass or drive by. Several of them notice us and then cannot resist. It has been working . We sell few pieces of area rugs everyday. Although our main line is Persian and Oriental rugs, but we carry different types of area rugs as well.

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

Textile Museum Associates of Southern California, TMA/SC TMASC Board meeting

It was Saturday yesterday and we had board meeting in the Textile Museum Associates of Southern California, TMASC in the home of a board member. We started at 9:30 am and finished at 1:30 pm. Several reports like the membership, the treasurer, web master, and few other reports were submitted and approved. The website and the new brochure of the society were also talked about. Our membership has gone up because of many good and interesting programs we have had. The board will meet again in three months.

While I was at the meeting, our store was very busy and several rugs were sold and two customers had brought in several rugs for cleaning and repair.

Today, Sunday, it was a slower day compared with yesterday. We sold only four pieces of area rugs. A lady called me and asked about our working hours. I said we would be open till 5:00 pm. She said we would be there in your store in one hour. They later came in with two kids, one boy and a very cute girl. They were from Redondo Beach, a city south of Los Angeles close to the ocean.They were looking for a 9x12 feet rug. They liked an Indian Agra rug with Ivory background and black border. The husband was willing to buy it5 and take it home, but the wife said they should do more research. The price I gave them was a good deal and I doubt if they can find such a rug with such a price. They may return.

Tomorrow will be Monday, and the beginning of a new week, full of hope.

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