General
Shipping? Print E-mail
Yes, worldwide!  We have a wonderful, worldwide shipping department!  To receive an estimate on an order, please tell me your zipcode (U.S.) or address (all others).
 
How Do I Pay? Print E-mail

When you have an interest in an item on the website, please email or phone for price.  I accept checks, which must clear before shipping. 

Or, I can send you a PAYPAL invoice so that you may pay by credit card.  YOU DON'T NEED A PAYPAL ACCOUNT TO USE THIS SERVICE. 
 
What is Your Refund Policy? Print E-mail
Refunds will be given on merchandise returned in "as sold" condition within 7 days. Shipping is the responsibility of the buyer.  Deposits made on Custom work are non-refundable.
 
Can You Do My Own Furniture? Print E-mail
We can discuss a custom project. Please give a call or send an email if you are interested in having one of your own pieces of furniture given the Stanistan treatment.
 
What is an Ikat? Print E-mail

An Ikat is a very ancient way of creating designs in fabric by resist-dyeing the threads before the fabric is woven.

In Uzbekistan, villagers especially in the Ferghana Valley take the weft (crosswise filling threads) and tie tiny bits of plastic onto the threads. The tightly tied areas of thread, when put into the dye pot, resist the color and create a pattern, once the plastic ties are removed. Traditional Uzbek Ikat cottons are often dyed in lively and engaging motifs representing the village life and beliefs of the people. Ikats are often symbols of status, wealth, power and prestige. Modern Uzbek adras Ikats, of cotton and silk are brightly colored with good imported natural dyes.  -Wikipedia

 ikat

 
 
What is a Suzani? Print E-mail
Beginning at birth in Central Asia, a baby girl's future was assured
by the stitching of her dowry by women in the family.

suzani

Suzani, which means needlework in Persian, is the name given to large, embroidered textiles from Central Asia that are used as wall hangings or bed covers in the home. These textiles are made of several panels of cotton or silk cloth that are embroidered with cotton or silk thread. To create the piece, the designs are first drawn on panels of material in ink, either by a family member or a hired professional. Several women in the family, and the girl (when old enough), embroider the panels. After the embroidery is complete, the panels are sewn together to form
the finished piece. The finished textile is part of the bride’s dowry. There can be as many as
10 Suzani in a girl’s dowry.
suzani3
Suzani are rich in fanciful design, and reflect the imaginations of the women who sew them. You will often see planets, suns, and moons reflecting the universe. Also abundant are flower, organic and vegetative motives, which convey the absolute beauty of nature. Common are pictures of trees, flowering bushes, carnations, tulips, almond flowers, chrysanthemums, etc.
suzani2

These compositions symbolize the blossom of nature and life on the earth. From ancient times flowers were the symbols of love and faithfulness and serve to illustrate the spiritual world of women. Sometimes animal motives are present- birds and snakes in stylized icons. Occasionally, one sees dates and signatures sewn into the composition.

For Stanistan Design pieces, I generally use vintage Suzanis dating from roughly the 1950s though the 1980s. I love the bright colors, the fanciful patterns and the unique skill of each embroiderer. They are truly One-Of-A-Kind!

 

-Pat Stanton