S3E4 of Tatreez Talk: The Art of Gathering with Samar
APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | AMAZON MUSIC
SAMAR IS A PALESTINIAN ORGANIZER AND NEW FRIEND WE MADE DURING THE 2024 TATREEZ RETREAT (@s.amooraa; @tatreez.w.samoor). Despite growing up with embroidered pieces at home, she found a deeper connection to her culture through stitching with her mother and sister.
She discusses how tatreez has become central to her community organizing, especially since October 7, 2023. In Philadelphia, local tatreez circles have become spaces for Palestinians to gather, process grief, and build solidarity, uniting diverse groups through craft.
Reflecting on the 2024 Tatreez Retreat, Samar highlights how it brought together anti-Zionist politics and a deep love for Palestinian embroidery. Inspired by the experience, she hopes to expand her local tatreez circles, seeing them as vital spaces for cultural preservation and community resilience.
You’ll hear about:
>> 0:58: Samar’s connection to Palestine
>> 4:42: Transitioning from knowing to practicing tatreez
>> 9:38: The connection between tatreez and organizing for Palestine
>> 15:30: Community-building through tatreez
>> 21:45: Samar’s experience at the Tatreez Retreat
>> 29:30: The make-up of Samar’s Philly Tatreez Circles
>> 34:47: Samar’s current tatreez projects
>> 36:46: Life lessons from tatreez
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Links mentioned in this episode:
>> Badan Collective’s Ramallah Tatreez Kit
>> Folkglory’s Ramallah Beginner Tatreez Kit
>> Amanne’s Photo Tatreez class (it’s pre-recorded!)
>> Samar’s brand-new Instagram: @tatreez.w.samoor
>> PCRF Philly on Instagram
Transcript
Amanne: Hi stitchers! Welcome to tatreez talk, where we share conversations about Palestinian embroidery. I'm Amani here with my co-host, Lina, chatting with talented embroiderers and artists sharing their stories, inspirations, and the cultural significance behind their work.
Lina: On today's episode. We are chatting with Samar, a Palestinian organizer, and new friends that we made during the 2024 Tatreez Retreat. We are so excited to have you on the show. Welcome to tatreez. Talk, Samar.
Samar: Thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited to chat with you.
Amanne: We are very excited, we told you before we started recording, but when we were talking about guests for this season you are on both of our lists. So we're really excited to chat with you and dive a little deeper and share your story with the listeners. So, starting off, we'd love to ask you to share about you and your family's connection to Philistine.
Samar: Yeah, of course. So my family immigrated to America. Now we're based in Pennsylvania in 2,001. So it was actually a month after 9, 11 we came. It was so. It was such a crazy experience, like hearing the stories from my parents because I was. I was 2, and my sister was 6 months. So then we came here. My family was living in
Samar: my mom was living in a village, and my dad is in the city. And we have been back twice since then, and the most recent time was in 2019. We, me and my family went for
Samar: about a month and a half. We just stayed with family the entire time, basically getting to know all of our family members as adults. So that was like a very important moment for me. I felt so connect, I, you know, like you say, that you're Palestinian, and then when you get to go and like experience things. It feels like the connection is much stronger, like something inside of you wakes up almost. And then getting to know your family members that you just kind of do the like
Samar: like. Now you have something to talk about. So
Samar: that was kind of like such a life changing experience for me. But that's our connection to Palestine. We came here in 2,001, and, Inshallah, you know, as soon as we can like trying to go back with my mom.
Amanne: And so you still have a lot of family there, you said. Obviously you met them now as an adult, this was the most recent time when you went the 1st time. How old were you then?
Amanne: I was in 3rd grade. So, however.
Amanne: little bait. Yeah. So how? How would you say those 2 experiences differed for you. And how do you look back at those 2 experiences visiting.
Samar: Yeah, definitely. I mean, I think that the 1st experience was probably it.
Samar: It probably meant more for the people who were like the adults who were coming to see their niece for the 1st time, and, like my older cousins like I, my family is kind of the baby on my dad's side of the family. Everybody is like I have cousins who are older, who are at my mom's age, so we were kind of like connecting with them in that way, and then it was. I think it was nicer for my parents. I don't remember like a whole lot from that trip, so for me. It was nice to be able to say that I had been back since we came.
Samar: and that like it was like a plan in the future. So then, in 2019, when we got to go, I was so excited we had so much luggage, and like also then, like so much I just like cannot stop thinking about how you will never just be buying your tickets like you're always gonna buy your tickets and gifts for everyone that you think of? Yep.
Samar: So we so I think that like being able to go and visit and like consciously like I was journaling, I was like taking videos that kind of felt obnoxious in the moment. But you look back and you're like, thank God, that you know we have these memories. I lost my grandfather and my grandmother on my dad's side, and my grandmother on my mom's side, and I think, like also, we were able to go and like, see them
Samar: have a relationship with them before that, and like kind of seeing them in like their better states. So that was that was also something that, like, you know, extremely grateful for and like
Samar: felt like it, made the trip much more significant.
Amanne: Yeah. And so that kind of takes us to Tetris. And your relationship to Tetris like love to hear about like what your relationship was like to Tetris growing up.
Samar: Yeah. Actually, I never like thought twice about like what was called. We all just had the same little like things that you put the tissues in and like, like, we all just had these things in our homes. And I just thought, Oh, this is like an Arab, or like a Palestinian thing like we all just have these. But I never thought more about like what what is it? And like how people were
Samar: creating them, and a lot of the stuff that I had was handmade because my aunt makes a lot of really cool like, not just things that are, but also, you know, like the beating, where, like, they create little like boxes and like chests, she does a lot of this stuff. So I didn't even realize, like man she probably spent like years on, like all of the things that we just have in our house that I never thought
Samar: about.
Samar: neither of my grandparents really on either side. My mom did a little bit, but like mostly when she came to America, like saw cross stitch things like in Michael's and like would buy the kids. So we have like a cute little house, and like underneath it says, like, God bless your home, but like not a lot of Palestinian stuff. So I like on my own, started to like look into it. It was. It was like the Ramadan of 20,
Samar: maybe like 2 or 3 years ago. I'm not. I can't remember exactly, but I remember my 1st project ever was Bay Ends which is bed and collectives Ramallah, chess panel, and I had so much fun doing it during Ramadan it felt so like. And then I, me and my mom started to do more tatreez together like sitting together watching stuff. So it was kind of like a new thing that we brought into like the
Samar: house after. And now my sister does the threes. My best friend, it's just like started to grow, which is so interesting. I think, like a lot of people have different types of stories where, like they saw people doing them when they were younger, and like never thought a lot about it. But we didn't really have a lot of it around, except for these little trinkets in the house.
Lina: So did this open up conversations with your aunt, who does do that work.
Samar: It actually has a little bit. We talked on the phone a little bit this year, and it was just kind of like being able to mention like, you know, like I have gotten to a point where I like taught a little class at a local university like we were. She was like kind of. She was excited to hear about it. I really want to learn, and it's easier to do this in person. It's like the distance, then makes it so hard. When you want to have conversations about
Samar: these things with like your like this, you're not distant relatives, but like physically distant relatives. Cause. It's like such a nice thing to sit down and be able to like. Watch them teach you.
Lina: Different than.
Samar: But I I think, like the 1st thing on my list is like when we go back home like going to like. Look at all of the different things that she created, that I didn't even notice when I went in 2019. If you would have asked me what the threes was. I wouldn't have known.
Lina: So crazy. Right.
Samar: Yeah.
Amanne: Yeah. And it's like a it's a quick journey, too. So like, obviously, now you're saying, you do tatreez, with your mom, with your sister, how has that? How do you feel like tatreez? Especially tatreez, directly with your family, has changed your like perception of your Palestinian identity?
Samar: I think.
Samar: I think it kind of gives us a space to feel like really grounded in it, like we feel like
Samar: we are with our hands, and a lot of us feel this way, right like with your hands. You're expressing your culture
Samar: and like able to do something and create something beautiful. So when I bought my my sister's for the gift, I bought her for her birthday last year was the Folkglory one that they have all of the different motifs. So we bought the Rama low one, and we were. And she's like working through each one of them. And we're just like finding ourselves like casually having conversations about different motifs, like casually having conversations about like
Samar: what things feel significant or not, and then they also result in talking about politics. Then they result in gossip, and then they and it's like, you know, you feel like you're like one of the sit bets who's like sitting in a circle, and like this is the the thing. So it kind of almost validates it like, which is like such a weird way to say it, but like it feels like very affirming, like you're sitting. And like, you guys are watching TV, but like doing something that is so meaningful and like so.
Samar: and you know thankfully, has become so accessible.
Lina: Yeah, well, actually, it's interesting. You use the word like political conversations, because our listeners don't know. But Amani and I know that you're quite active as well within, like organizing. And you know, thinking about getting the word out like on the streets and stuff. And I'm curious to hear like, how has kind of impacted that practice or not practice like that? The way that you show up in those spaces as well like is, have you kind of seen them as different, or are they just kind of, I don't know. Does my question make sense.
Samar: It's it makes so much sense. Because I I think I did kind of see them as different when I 1st was doing it. It was like, okay, so like, before we're talking Pre. October 7, th I definitely saw them as different. I was organizing for work. I was organizing for Palestine. I was doing like small things like on the side, and then having hobbies and like would pick up my every now and then. I wasn't. It took me a long
Samar: time to get through the tote bag that I have, because I was like picking it up every like month and a half, and like hyper fixating for like a couple of hours, and then putting it down again.
Samar: But what I found was that like
Samar: during and I I I talked about this with, like some of my organizing groups, but like during meetings we would be on, especially like
Samar: from, I think, October to like February, I would be in meetings for like work, and then organizing from like 8 Am. Until 10 Pm. Like we would be going weeks out of time, and I found myself, like at some point, feeling kind of exhausted, and picking up like my needle and cloth, and like doing while the meetings are happening, taking my notes, doing like thinking about what everybody has to say, like
Samar: trying to, and then realizing that like this is something that has been really grounding to me and wanting it to be something bigger. So then it's like bringing people in to like when we go out to sit down and have a discussion about like something that we want to do, upcoming some me and some of my like. I. I had a friend who was in JVP. She would crochet
Samar: and like we would just sit in a cafe, and we would talk about like whatever our plans were, and like whatever we were trying to the plan for in the future, and like it would be like this kind of vibe, and like feeling like it was something that could ground like organizers. We had
Samar: like Palestinian healing circles. It was gonna be a part of like was gonna be like one of the things like instead of a stress ball like we could do this thing that feels like pretty meaningful
Samar: and then we can talk more about it after. But like it has sparked recently, me being like.
Samar: it's been a long time of us. Trying to figure out. What is it that we're supposed to do like? What is the right thing to do. Politically. What is the next decision? And
Samar: for personally, like, I am like, I mean, a lot of people. We're all not sure like what the answer is of like, what to do next. But what I do know is that base building in our communities is really important, and what better way to do that than through to 3 circles like, what better way to bring people together, all of us sitting in a room, some people knowing like exactly what they're working on, and some people not but like
Samar: taking moments of like.
Samar: just solitude to focus on your project a little bit, and then getting to know the person who's next to you seeing them more on a regular basis. Some people, you know, these are very. This is a very early initiative, but like people talking about bringing their relatives. And people who've been isolated in the community like this just has felt like so intertwined that I
Samar: I don't know like it's it's definitely like I I think I for a while I was struggling to find what it is that I thought my thing would be, and then like doing more like meeting so many people like in the community, and, like the all of the communities like even the tatreez community, has like, really shed a light onto this thing which makes me feel like feel like this is, you know, this is so intertwined and like we all need to be doing this.
Amanne: Okay. So you know, you just talked about this a little bit with like the trees and community, and the importance of this kind of combination right? And especially since the start of the genocide, Palestinians have felt
Amanne: very disconnected, very isolated, very in limbo, not knowing what to do next. You know a lot of I can count. There's endless numbers of people I know, who have been dealing with depression throughout all of this, so I'd love to dive a little bit more into the work that you're doing, and what you hope to see more from this, like the 3 Circle community building work that you're doing in Philly.
Samar: Yeah, absolutely. I
Samar: I think that. What I'm really hoping to see is that because we don't really know what our next step is, we don't know what is. The next thing that feels like
Samar: this, like Bds is very long. Bds takes a lot a long time. It's so important, but it's not like hot and sexy, like people are wanting some kind of like action. So whenever that moment comes, I really I
Samar: I'm dreaming of like having the community that like we can go to and be like, hey guys like here, this circle is happening like, we know that these people come once or twice a month like to do whatever like. Let's talk about these different ideas, or like this is what our next step is supposed to be, or like this is how we can be there for we I'm involved in PCRF, Philly, and we just welcomed a girl from Gaza
Samar: yesterday. So this, which is
Samar: Now in December. And when we did, it was like we had certain people that we could reach out to, to, you know, be a community for her when she comes. I think, like something that feels really important. I think that this also helps spark. A lot of this is be is like realizing that, like
Samar: we can't do so much. But when we have people who like, we're welcoming into Philly, we have a few different patients that came from Gaza. We want to be able to like reach out to our community members and see like and like, you know, know that, like this person loves to cook every time they somebody needs a meal like this person is like, always down like this person has a lot of children. If anybody wants to, you know, like.
Samar: come and like, bring like this child, life energy around like people like this is like the place to do it or like whatever it is like. I like really envision, like getting to know different community members. This is like, it's kind of become like a
Samar: bringing out a lot of different Palestinians from different parts of the city, and different circles that, like we didn't really expect to be together in the same room, and like is just something that is like creating that opportunity. And that's really what I want to do is I want to just like make space for people to get to know each other. And I really want to make space for people to be able to.
Samar: I want to make space for people to be able to, you know, like, get to know, like the people who like want to be there for each other and like want to be like a part of this community that we're developing.
Lina: That's amazing. And I know that you've had a few 3 circles at least in
Lina: and before the end of 2024. How how have those looked like? Are there any moments that kind of stick out from from those top 3 circles that really kind of showcase the community building component of Top Three's.
Samar: Well, so so far we have. We have our second one that's coming up this weekend. So the one that we and anything before was kind of like casual, like I would do like a little workshop like a mini tutorial, and bring these like tiny, tiny kids with just like one string piece of cloth, and like we would just have motifs lying around
Samar: and we
Samar: It was funny, because when we go around and like, introduce ourselves. Everyone was like, Oh, like, what brought you here today like? And what are you working on like? Not a lot of people knew what they were working on because they were coming with the assumption that they knew I would bring them something to work on. And then and then I'm here because
Samar: I think that what someone's doing is really cool. And I like like this, the idea of like this happening and becoming a thing. And I think, because
Samar: once a month feels so like small and like easy to commit to like if you just get some time. And you know, like once a month. This is gonna happen. Even if you skip, you know that you'll be there the next month like it feels like people felt excited. And it's like, it's something that's accessible to people. It's something that, like people felt it. So I kind of like, was like, Wow, all of these people came. And these were all people that like, you know, I have. No, I know through one way or another, and I'm excited to like, and it just kind of like
Samar: brought me some excitement, knowing that, like these people are going to go to their circles and talk about how cool it was. Everybody had a really great time. And like I saw people interacting that, like, I know, like aren't in any of the same circles, and probably wouldn't have met otherwise.
Samar: which I think, is really cool when it comes to being able to do any kind of craft and like creating things together, especially with, like, you know, you're actually working on something that you can share your progress with, like the person that's next to you. It's the easiest icebreaker to be able to like. Just ask people what they're working on. And it's so nice to hear. Like, I like people's stories of like, what?
Samar: Like what? Why, something is significant to them. It's that's probably been like I heard like a couple of people were talking about that. And that was like my favorite piece.
Amanne: Yeah, I always love like, that's something I love doing when I teach classes is like asking people like what what brought you to? Because whether they're Palestinian or they're a Palestinian ally who wants to learn it's like there's always like, I don't know. There's always like something very meaningful about it with I, which I think really speaks to like the art itself, like it's not of frivolous art, which is why I like emphasizing that it's art, and not just a craft.
Samar: When I came back from the retreat I actually shared everybody's reason with everyone in my family because I loved it so much. I went through our group photo. And I was like, this is this person. And this is why they started doing. And this is and like, this is where this person is from and base, and everything because I was just so amazed by, like all of the different people that came national like and like from Canada like
Samar: the country together, just because of their love for this art, with our love for this art. Which is, it was just so. I I just want to second and be like. I really love hearing, and I have to tell everybody when I know.
Amanne: Yeah, okay, that's like, actually, I was going to ask you about your experience with the Tetris retreat. Since we are talking so much about community. And so you, as Lena mentioned, like, we made a new friend at the Retreat, made a lot of new friends. A lot of amazing women came out, and you were one of the people that joined us for our second Tetris retreat, and I want to just hear from you your experience.
Amanne: and like what that was like, especially knowing that. You know, you're still, you know, you've been doing this art for a few years. You're working on building like local community. You know, we're all going through this genocide together. I just want to hear about like what that experience was like for you.
Samar: It was such a magical experience, and I think that people hear us say that and don't know what that means exactly, unless, like they experience something similar. I went on the retreat, and I was like very last minute added to the list like we had to wait for a spot to open up, because
Samar: so, like Subhanallah, I met, I reached out to Bayan after I finished the project with her, and we were just kind of Instagram friends. Then we met in person at Palestine Rights Festival in 2023, which was really great and so sweet, and then
Samar: kind of just like chatted occasionally, and when the opportunity for the retreat came up, and I missed the deadline for the tickets we like waited, and probably connected, like every other week, waiting for somebody to drop out, which I felt so bad about. But I was really trying to go on this retreat.
Amanne: Oh, my God!
Samar: Like I just needed to share the story of like how I even got there, which is like I put my deposit down like 2 weeks before, and it worked out in my favor, you know, I and then and going it was I was definitely nervous. I actually thought that everybody would be way more advanced than me, and I would be learning from everyone who was around me, which is true and not true in different ways, like I was. Still, I did have a place, even though I was still new
Samar: like that was something that like I was nervous about kind of before going in, but getting there and like seeing people practicing countries in different ways, people having, you know, different reasons for doing different types of styles like whatever it is like it was honestly just so incredible for me to see, because at in this moment I didn't know a lot of people in person who like were actually practicing like, mostly just like people on Instagram, or like, I like met a couple people like and like older
Samar: like that was pretty much it so.
Samar: coming to this retreat, and like.
Samar: I think, that. And I talked about this so much after the retreat. But I think that to enjoy tatreez holistically. You have to be a very particular type of person. You have to be anti-zionist. You can't practice tatreez and be a Zionist.
Amanne: Yes.
Samar: So you have to be an anti Zionist, and you have to have a level of patience and appreciation for art.
Samar: That everyone doesn't have. So if you have those 2 things, anybody can be friends. There were all types of people on the retreat. I was so nervous when I went especially then we got like I was like in a shared room with somebody that I didn't know and like. That was like very new for me, like I've only recently started like traveling, and like putting myself in like different situations like that. So
Samar: being able to kind of like, put myself really out. There was so incredible because I was welcomed by the most incredible women, and honestly just like gave me a lot of perspective on
Samar: how how important it was like it felt important to me before, but like after leaving, I felt like so motivated to start doing circles like I felt I had done one workshop before that at Haverford College, and I'm going back in the upcoming
Samar: winter, and I'm so excited to go back because I learned so many things from everybody who has been around me. Like my portfolio, is growing, and I like I can remember all of the different people who have given me advice on different things that I've been doing like, who taught me how to do these different stitches? Who taught me the words for them like where I'm getting my needle menders, where I'm getting like now, it feels more important that, like
Samar: I put an order for a minute and like, now I'm like I'm so excited to get stuff.
Amanne: Okay.
Samar: It's just like I think it gave me like a level of appreciation for this that I don't know if I could have had without it, because seeing people like going to circles and like, which is which circles by themselves, feel really meaningful, but doing a full retreat with people, and like opening up
Samar: with like, different like, we're all talking about our childhood. We're talking about college, we're talking about like our lives that exist outside of this retreat that we all just pause so that we can just have this moment of bliss. It was incredible, and, like, you know, being able to have hard conversations, too, about like things that are happening in the real world, that you. Sometimes it feels like we're, you know, we feel guilty that we're enjoying life so much
Samar: and like taking the moment like I, I definitely like that. My silver lining after October 7th is the community that, like has come out because people need each other. We cannot suffer in silence, and like
Samar: being kind of being able to like be able to share space with people who understand that is very different.
Samar: actually, there's 1 story that happened on the retreat that I really want to share, because I've shared it with everybody. And then I'm gonna finish with this question.
Amanne: Just one.
Samar: Not dragging anybody.
Samar: So somebody on the retreat who? So I was like having a car. I don't know. Can I use names, or should I not use names? It's like, actually, this was just a very sweet story that we've talked about multiple many times.
Samar: I was talking to Emma, and we were just chatting about any. I don't remember what it was, but the important thing is is that maya came over who's non Palestinian, and asked us if we wanted coffee, because she was going to get coffee from what the guest thing or whatever. So she comes back, and Emma is like asking how much the coffee was, so that she can get her. She can give her the amount for it, and she's like
Samar: I am so grateful to be here like you do not have to give me anything. I'm so grateful to be here, and I'm so grateful to be able to experience Palestinian joy through all this Palestinian grief.
Samar: and we were both sobbing as every word came out of her mouth, and I actually think about that. The most I think when I think back about like, our experiences at the Retreat is like
Samar: the amount of joy that we could feel, because you have to be such a particular type of person to enjoy tatreez, and because you have to be vulnerable to an extent when you're on a retreat so like, I think about like how those like those moments that just feel like I don't know, like I would do anything to like be like sharing space like in these moments again.
Amanne: Oh, man, Manny and I are both like got it!
Amanne: I don't.
Amanne: I'm I'm glad you shared that. That's really beautiful.
Lina: Yeah, that is, that is so powerful. And one of the things that you mentioned that also reminded me of kind of one of my favorite things to notice that these workshops or circles is the people who come on their own like, not with a friend or not with a family member, and how they just like. 1st of all, I love that people are so courageous to do that. I think we all need to be doing more of that. But also I just love how they can just
Lina: seamlessly enter into that space and feel a part of something bigger. And I think that's something that all of us are craving during this time, because we see this horrific.
Lina: You know what's happening. And it's like you're in like, it feels like you're alone. But there's actually so many people who are feeling the same pain that you're feeling, and is such an easy way to do that. So I'm curious about kind of your spaces. Who's who's coming to these these circles like so far? Are they Palestinian? Are they non-Palestinian? Are they coming alone with a friend like, who are the types of people who are kind of engaging together in this in this art form.
Samar: Oh, my God! We have people who are like who like are the people who come to the Palestinian healing circles because they're Palestinian, and they're grieving and like they. And but they're not involved in the organizing space they just are involved in like the this, like really specific Arab community that exists in West Philly, which, like anybody from Philly, is, gonna know what I'm talking about. And then
Samar: we have people who are like people who are organizers. We have people who have met because
Samar: I'm putting everybody in the same spaces as much as often as I can, and like inviting everybody to everything. We have people who are like working in politics. We have people who are not Palestinian who are like not connected at all. Again, like this last one was like a lot of my friends. But people who like see this as being something like more meaningful than just learning a new craft, and like understand that
Samar: want the like. The concept of being able to share space and
Samar: with community of people who, like, you know, like are good people. I. Anybody who knows me at this point has heard, like these different stories from the retreat, and like, know like what I mean when I say like is very special, so I think, like once offered the invitation to be able to do it in community with other people who are like willing to also do that. I think, like those are that that's like, kind of like, what's bringing
Samar: what's keep it? What's bringing everybody out? Because people are coming from like different areas, like people who maybe are advocates, but not like public advocates, just like in their circles, advocates, and like doing what they can and like what's accessible to them advocates. They're coming out because
Samar: it's even though we know Takriz to be very political.
Samar: We some people like it's not, you know. Generally speaking, it's like something that feels accessible to people in their own form of protest. So I think, like, that's also the type of person that we're getting which is really cool. It's like it's I'm excited to see what happens this next time, because I think, after people saw some pictures, I'm also going to be so excited to like. Listen to this like after has passed, to be like, Wow! End up work. I know that
Samar: it's going to end up like being really great and being very beautiful. We have, like a great venue this week, go to making worlds bookstore, and they hold a lot of different like social justice, events so shout out to them, for, like, you know, always hosting free events. So for the community.
Samar: and like people who are like in this like very specific, like Arab community in West Philly like, aren't hearing about it like getting excited and wanting to come. So just like
Samar: like a lot, I think, like Palestinians, non Palestinians, Muslims, non-muslims, random like there were people that I haven't met before. Which I'm not sure like if they're seeing it from making worlds advertising it, or if it's just, I don't know, maybe from a friend. But it's been. It's been interesting to kind of like. See that it has been like a lot of different people.
Amanne: Yeah, I I agree with what you were talking about, as far as like the threes being like an accessible form for people to like.
Amanne: get into the quote unquote Palestine conversation. Right? And, Lena, I feel like you and I have talked about this before, like probably like recording it off recording. But it is definitely this entry point for people who may not know a lot of history or really think it's quote unquote, too complicated. But they clearly want to learn something.
Amanne: And so I've definitely seen a lot of conversations started through Tetris. So I definitely 100% agree with everything you're saying on that, and we have to now hold you accountable. As I said, we're recording this in advance. And so by the time this airs we're hoping that there are monthly once a month
Amanne: the 3 circles in all right. If not, if this comes out and someone has not.
Amanne: I deserve to be public.
Amanne: I want you and drag her. No, I'm just kidding. I love you, girl. I'm gonna do that.
Amanne: But if you want to do it no, I'm just kidding.
Samar: No, you should just be like, when's the next one like? Encourage.
Amanne: What is it, girl?
Amanne: Encouragement, you know. Yeah, yeah, I guess whatever.
Amanne: Oh, man, that's hilarious. Okay? So.
Samar: This is how I'm gonna advertise it.
Amanne: Yeah, this is perfect advertising. So, Samar, let's talk about to. I know. Obviously the tatreeze circles are a big thing that you are working on. Are there any other Major Tatrese projects that you have going on right now?
Samar: Oh, my God! Since this is going to be released like by the time like I share with my mom, I have got to talk about Amani's photores class because I am so excited about my project. I'm working on a photo, as I said that my grandmother passed away recently, and she?
Samar: and my, we have a photo from 2019 of my grandmother, my mom, and my youngest sister. So I have like begun to do like a border on it, and it is so sweet, and I am so excited. This is like I was really struggling, trying to decide what photo I wanted to use. And then, as soon as like this came to my mind, I was like, there's no competition here like this is gonna be my 1st one.
Samar: So this is like the thing that I'm the most most excited about. I have a couple of other little projects that I'm working on. I will say that.
Samar: I am work. Something that probably I would be announcing is like being able to host like workshops outside of circles. In the community is like, you know, like what that would be like, either announced or coming up. By the time this comes out, so everybody should keep an eye out, you know. Follow me on Instagram.
Amanne: Amazing, amazing. Yeah, we'll definitely make sure to include all those links. So people can stay up to date. And I'm actually, I'm so excited to see how this picture turns out like we were talking. Someone took my class yesterday, and I saw the picture, and we were talking a little bit about the design, and it's gonna be so beautiful. I'm really excited. I'm also really excited about your mom's reaction. Me, too.
Samar: I'm not gonna tell her until the end.
Amanne: Yeah, record record her reaction when you give it to her. Okay, Samad, of course, we always like to ask people before we say goodbye. We want to understand from you any major life lessons that you have gained from.
Samar: Oh, my gosh! What a beautiful question!
Samar: Major life lessons I gained from ta 3 is, I think it's
Samar: I think it has to be like community is so important.
Samar: like tatreez, feel so important. But, like tatreez with the community like tatreez with the community, feels to me a big reason of why this is also like an art and not just a craft, I think, like, you know, being there for the people who are around you letting people be there for you when you need them too.
Samar: It like always feels kind of like. Now it feels like intertwined with like. Also having, like a needle in your thread in your hand, you know, like it's like those nights when you want to go see your friends, because you guys like feel heavy that day because of the news. And like, you guys, just sit and do tatreez together and like, it's those things like tatreez has really shown me how important community is, especially for Palestinians.
Lina: That is so beautiful. Someone. Thank you so much for joining us. We so appreciate your time, I guess. So. So that we do have a shout out for you. Where can everyone find you and get in touch? And we'll obviously.
Samar: My brand new Instagram was.
Lina: It's not gonna be.
Samar: That brand new
Samar: it's at with summer. And I don't know how many dots are in it. So we're just gonna have to include that somewhere else.
Amanne: Blanket. Don't worry.
Lina: I love it. I love it. And I guess, do you want to do any plugs for like activist work that you're doing in Philly as well.
Samar: Yeah, I mean, definitely, everybody should keep up with Pcrf, Philly, we've just welcomed another. Well, this is the 1st the girl and her sister Destiny.
Samar: came yesterday in December. We're going to be hosting events and stuff to be able to, you know, like create spaces for like community create like so kind of keep up with the Pcrf Philly Instagram account, and then you'll be able to keep up with different things that we're putting on. It's going to be directly tied to being able to create a space and opportunity for people to get to know our Palestinian family that's coming from Gaza.
Lina: Amazing. We'll definitely include that. Thank you so much.
Samar: Of course. Thank you guys so much for having me. This was so amazing.
Amanne: Thanks have you be?
Amanne: I loved having someone on. She is so hilarious we always have a great time. I knew we'd have a great conversation with her, and just love hearing everything she has to say about the trees and community. It resonates so much I know with myself. I know I'll speak for you and say I know it resonates with you, too, but like it was just beautiful to hear from her.
Lina: Yeah. And it's interesting to hear it from the perspective of someone who's really active, too, because she is, I think from I mean, this is maybe an assumption, but I feel like she's in a lot of places where maybe she doesn't know everybody there, because it's just.
Amanne: People.
Lina: Coming together on one specific cause, or or some sort of event or something. And so it's interesting to hear it from that perspective, because it's making me think actually, a lot about who comes to some of the circles who comes to the workshops, you know, because I mean, we knew this with the retreat like, it's people who are so different. And they're still kind of in the same room. And then, because they have, we have kind of at the core of all of this
Lina: everyone has so much in common, and it's super seamless and comfort like maybe it's a little bit awkward at 1st getting to know each other, but then, as soon as you pick up the trees, you everyone you can sense it like they relax. They let their guards down. They
Lina: begin like just having normal conversations. And before you know it, these there's like bonds created between everyone who's there. So it was nice to kind of hear that perspective from her, because I know that she is active in those spaces. I love that.
Amanne: Yeah, yeah, no, definitely. And you know, as you said. And as she mentioned, while we were talking to her, too, the idea that decades is this easy entry point for people into the conversation around Palestine. You know it.
Amanne: even if somebody is an ally who means well, and who is, you know, on the right side of everything, it still could be very intimidating for them to come in as a non-Palestinian in a Palestinian space. And so tatreez is something that you know, brings Palestinians and non-Palestinians together like we saw that with our tatreez retreat we had so many amazing Palestinian women and non-Palestinian
Amanne: women who came together. And
Amanne: we're literally together based on you know, we see that in our circles that we host in our cities, I know. Obviously, Lina, you have your online community. And I'm sure that's also filled with both Palestinian and non-Palestinians. So it is like this, beautiful like entryway into resistance. It is this beautiful entryway into the conversation around Palestine. So if you're not, if you're listening to this, and you are not already stitching like.
Lina: This is not like motivating you like, what are we doing?
Lina: And if you are stitching, send this to someone who hasn't started stitching, and you think might want to stitch
Lina: 100. Well, thank you, our dear listener. So much for listening to another episode of Tatreez Talk. We want to hear about your Tatreez journey, so please please share your stories with us at tatreeztalk@gmail.com, and we just might have you on an upcoming episode. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite listening platform and be sure to leave a 5 star review. You can follow me @linasthobe and Amanne @minamanne, and of course follow the pod @tatreeztalk. We will talk to you guys soon.
