Good question, there’s a lot that I’m trying to accomplish with this little business. The highlights are on the main page but lets get a bit deeper here…

I’m half Palestinian and half Irish American (there’s a bit of British in there too but that’s a touchy subject for both sides), and my heritage has often been a guiding light. I’m starting this business in November of 2024, a little over a year into the genocide in Gaza. I have spent this year focusing on my art, getting my MFA, and trying to keep myself from having a breakdown every day. Tatreez was what helped me stay connected to my heritage, kept me from going insane, and made me feel like I was doing something for Palestine by keeping this tradition alive. But it never felt like I was doing enough. This is my attempt to do a little more.

Lets focus on money for a moment, because unfortunately that’s what runs the world. Every pattern that sells will be keeping this tradition alive, and therefore keeping Palestine alive. For something more tangible, a portion of every sale will go to UNRWA and other organizations keeping Palestinians alive. On my personal end of it, every sale helps me survive as a Palestinian artist living in the country that is the biggest supporter of the colonization of my people.

Money aside, my biggest goal here is to share my culture and traditions. When I was a kid, it felt like nobody knew what Palestine was and therefore never spoke out against the colonization. Now so many people are aware of what is and has happened to Palestine and its people, and so many people are speaking out against the atrocities. My hope is to share Tatreez, so that people can engage with and practice this beautiful part of my culture. I believe that the more people do, the more people will understand and humanize Palestinians.

The Witchcraft Thing…

I recognize that this might scare a lot of people, and that’s alright with me. At the end of the day, I identify as a witch and it’s not just a phase! Tatreez was what sparked my interest in witchcraft because the motifs felt so powerful to me. Every motif I stitched felt like a powerful object that helped me visualize and focus my intention. I see witchcraft not as a religion, but as a collection of methods and tools that I curate, and that help me to meditate and look deeper into myself. Most of my patterns are made with this practice in mind, but that in no way means that everyone has to see them that way.