Tatreez Journal

 Tatreez is the Arabic word for embroidery and the journal is 330 mini tatreez motifs designed by Zain Masri of Tirazain Initiative, a digitial archive and library that aims to document and preserve Palestinian embroidery.

I started it on January 5th and even carried it with me to the States to work on.  The photo below was taken on March 6th.

I tried to work on it during my craft meet-ups but found it a bit challenging.

Update as of July 6th.

There were weeks when I didn't pick it up but towards the end, I was determined to finish.  

It was completed around the first or second week of August.  

(For someone who keeps a daily journal, I didn't even write down the actual date.)

Let your needle thread stories of hope and resilience -- 

each motif is a tiny act of resistance

and a celebration of Palestinian cultural heritage.

Free, free Palestine.

Friday Finish: Stitched Memories

Memory is the treasury and

guardian of all things.
(Cicero)

Dome of the Rock is a very recognizable landmark in Al Quds (Jerusalem), and is located in the Al Aqsa Compound, the third holiest site in Islam.

On our first family trip there in April of 2006, we were able to tour the compound along with our British and Australian friends who accompanied us.  The two photos were taken on that trip.

The free cross-stitch design is by Ebrih Wa Tubbeh who lives in Amman, Jordan.  I have a family photo of us standing in front of the dome that I plan to frame with it.

We have really good memories from that trip.  Alan and Cynthia, the British couple who went with us, were like grandparents to my boys when they lived here.  During the pandemic, their daughter organized a Zoom call for their 50th anniversary which was my first and only time to use Zoom.  Sadly, Alan died exactly one week after my dad died in January of this year.  November was his birth month so it's fitting to think of him and remember at this time.  May he rest in peace.

Blessed November,