Madison-Rafah Marketplace is OPEN
for the International Festival (2/27-3/5) and International Women’s Day (3/6)
for the International Festival (2/27-3/5) and International Women’s Day (3/6)
Tag Archives: Crafts
March 10, 2021
Introduction to Palestinian Tatreez Embroidery Online
Folklore Village, Dodgeville, WI
$20.00
- An online embroidery workshop with textile artist Wafa Ghnaim
- Wednesday, March 10
- 5-7 PM Central Time
- Hosted over Zoom videoconferencing
- Register for Online Class
Supplies are listed here: https://www.tatreezandtea.com/supplies under “Aida Cloth”.
After you pay, you will receive an automated email with all the information you need to get connected to the Zoom call. If you prefer to pay by mail or over the phone, please call (608) 924-4000 or email programs@folklorevillage.org to make arrangements.
For Zoom troubleshooting questions, click here.
Join textile artist Wafa Ghnaim for a two-hour introduction into the beautiful and ancient art of Palestinian tatreez embroidery! Tatreez is often used to decorate the traditional Palestinian dress, called a thobe, but also adorns many other kinds of household and decorative objects. Different villages and regions within Palestine have their own traditional patterns, and Wafa has a wealth of knowledge to share about this history! In this 2-hour virtual class, students will learn how to embroider the Beyout (Houses) motif from el-Khalil (Hebron) to create a bookmark. Learning objectives include:
- How to thread a needle.
- The meaning and history of the pattern in focus.
- How to start a tatreez sampler. Instructions are listed here
- Color selection and strategy.
- The basics of traditional Palestinian embroidery cross-stitch, including two different methods of stitching and the principals of successful Palestinian embroidery execution.
- Stitching strategy to execute the cleanest motif on fabric.
- Tips & tricks unique to the motif.
Patterns are sent 24-48 hours in advance of the class. No experience is required. This class will be recorded and made available after the live session. Please contact Wafa at wafa@tatreezandtea.com with any questions.
Supplies are listed here: https://www.tatreezandtea.com/supplies under “Aida Cloth”.
About the Instructor
Wafa Ghnaim is an American-born Palestinian artist, writer, and businesswoman. Wafa began learning Palestinian embroidery from her mother when she was two years old.
Throughout her life, she traveled alongside her mother for exhibits, lectures, and demonstrations around the U.S. from folklore festivals in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to elementary schools in Portland, Oregon. Today, she travels the world teaching Palestinian embroidery skills across the diaspora to students who have long yearned to connect with their artistic and cultural heritage.
Introduction to Palestinian Tatreez Embroidery
Folklore Village, January 13, 2021
An online embroidery workshop with textile artist Wafa Ghnaim
Wednesday, March 10
5-7 PM CST
Hosted over Zoom videoconferencing
Palestine Partners and Women in Hebron
Dear Friends,
Last year at this time my friend Laila was visiting the US, bringing the fabulously beautiful hand embroidered work of Women in Hebron to Fair Trade holiday craft shows and church basements and the homes of friends.
Laila can’t travel here from Palestine now, and the cooperative can no longer sell their work to tourists in the Old City of Hebron, because there are no tourists in the Holy Land. Their shop in the souk, the first to be operated by women, is shuttered and dark along with all the rest.
This video tells the history of Women in Hebron Fair Trade Co-op since their founding in 2005.
But now you can support Women in Hebron from home by shopping at their new online store at Palestine Partners, and I really hope that you’ll join me in doing just that this holiday season. You’ll find find beautiful one-of-a kind hand made tree ornaments, bags, purses, pillow covers, placemats, backpacks, and more there, all decorated with stunning Palestinian embroidery. And best of all, buying these products will make a huge positive difference in the lives of the women who make them.
Shop now at Women in Hebron’s Online Store
Laila worked so hard on last year’s trip here. She kept a schedule that would put most people on the couch for weeks – traveling back and forth across the US on trains and busses, with two huge duffle bags and a backpack filed with gloriously colored hand embroidered ornaments and scarves and placemats and pillow covers and coin purses and bags – and even small cats wearing tiny traditional Palestinian Kuffiyas. She has a huge heart, and an unbelievably strong spirit, and I have never known her to complain, but she recently told me that the impact of COVID has turned the clock back 20 years for the women she works with.
For many of these women the co-operative presented the very first chance to independently earn a living and care for themselves and their families through their own labor in a just and supportive cooperative setting. Now with COVID, the loss of sales has been devastating. Beautiful products are waiting on shelves, and the cooperative is unable to purchase additional materials, or pay women for the creation of new products, until they are able to sell the inventory.
So I’m asking you now, please, shop at their online store. These women need to work.
Thanks and love.
Madison’s Virtual Fair Trade Holiday Festival is Open!
Our online store, Madison-Rafah Marketplace, has added crafts to our olive oil sales. We offer ceramics, embroidery, jewelry, kufiyas, woodcrafts, and calendars.
For the month of November make this your one-stop shopping for holiday gift giving. Spend your money on products that support your values. Give gifts that give twice, once to the producer and once to your recipient.
Since 2004 the Madison-Rafah Crafts Committee has worked with fair trade organizations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to purchase mostly traditional crafts. We buy them at fair trade prices, helping the artists support their families and the economy of Palestine.
We hope you will be able to participate in this annual event. As always, thank you for your support.
Browse other participating Fair Trade vendors! You can also follow the Festival on Facebook.
November 2020
Virtual Fair Trade Holiday Festival
Dear Members and Friends of MRSCP,
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Madison Fair Trade Holiday Festival, which has gone virtual this year due to the pandemic.
The sale will be during the month of November. Make this your one stop shop for all your holiday gift giving. Spend your money on products that support your values; give gifts that give twice, once to the producer and once to the recipient.
You will be able to browse all the participating vendors and order directly from their websites by visiting Madison Fair Trade Holiday Festival.
You can also follow the Festival on Facebook.
MRSCP will be participating in the virtual sale via our online store, Madison-Rafah Marketplace. We will carry most of our usual items.
(The store is currently up and running for olive oil sales; our complete product listings will be available when the Festival opens.)
Note: MRSCP CANNOT ship or deliver any purchases; they need to be picked up. You will receive instructions and a pickup window following your purchase. In hardship cases, we may be able to provide delivery.
We hope you will be able to participate in this annual event, and as always, thanks for your support.
Barb O.
MRSCP
Cancelled March 29, 2020 Tribute to Rachel Corrie: Freedom is the Future
This event with Tarek Abuata has been cancelled by coronavirus precautions.
You can still listen to an interview with Tarek from Gaza on WORT 89.9 FM’s A Public Affair with host Esty Dinur on Friday, March 27 from noon to 1 pm. Call in at 256-2001 or listen live on line.
Tarek Abuata grew up in Bethlehem and moved with his family to Texas during the first Intifada when he was 12. After graduating from the University of Texas Law School, he worked in Ramallah researching legal and policy issues. From 2004 to 2007, he trained Palestinian youth in grassroots organizing and activism, and from 2007 to 2016 he was the coordinator of the Christian Peacemaker Team in Hebron. He has been the Executive Director of FOSNA since 2016. In his work in the U.S., Tarek is most interested in connecting struggles at home and abroad for peace, justice and freedom.
Co-Sponsors: Madison-Rafah Sister City Project; FOSNA; First United Methodist; Playgrounds for Palestine-Madison; Jewish Voice for Peace-Madison; UW Madison Students for Justice in Palestine; The Crossing; Bright Stars of Bethlehem-Madison Chapter; WI United Church of Christ Bethlehem Partnership; Interfaith Peace Working Group; Pax Christi Madison; First Unitarian Society Social Justice Ministry; Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ Mission Team; American Friends Service Committee of Madison Friends Meeting; and James Reeb UUC Justice Leadership Team. Welcomed by WORT Radio.
February 29, 2020
International Festival
Overture Center
201 State Street
Madison
10 am – 5 pm
Join MRSCP and many other Madison sister cities, businesses, and organizations at the annual celebration of the rich cultural heritage in our community. Come and enjoy the free performances, plus food and crafts from all over the world!
MRSCP and Playgrounds for Palestine-Madison will be selling fair trade Palestinian items from Gaza and the West Bank, including:
- Olive oil and soap (a portion of all oil sales to the Maia Water Project)
- Palestinian-made Hirbawi kuffiyahs
- Earrings and necklaces from the Hebron Women’s Co-op
- Embroidered purses, wallets, scarves, and shawls
- Ceramics, wooden boxes, and mirrors
December 15, 2019
Laila Hassan from Women in Hebron
Madison, WI
1:00 — 3:00 pm
RSVP for directions
Please join us as we welcome Ms. Laila Hassan of the Women in Hebron crafts cooperative to Madison, where she will be displaying and selling some of the crafts made by the women of the Hebron area. Women in Hebron plays a vital role in supporting 150 women and their families.
Snacks and refreshments including Arabic coffee will be served. Palestinian extra virgin olive oil will also be available for tasting and sale.
This event will be held at a home in Madison. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to dwallbaum@gmail.com by 10 am on December 15.
Co-sponsored by MRSCP, Jewish Voice for Peace-Madison and Playgrounds for Palestine-Madison.
Laila will also be on WORT Radio’s A Public Affair with host Gil Halsted on Friday, December 13 from noon to 1, and Her Turn on Sunday, December 15 at 11:00 am.