Palestinian Embroidery Motifs: A Treasury of Stitches 1850-1950
MARGARITA SKINNER lived in the Middle East for over twenty years and during that time volunteered in several Palestinian women’s projects in Jordan, Gaza Strip, West Bank and for over five years she supervised embroidery production by over 300 ladies in a self-supporting program in the Gaza Strip. Her 1998 book Between Despair and Hope: Windows on My Middle East Journey 1967-1992 gives some details of this endeavor. Margarita met Widad Kawar when they both worked in the refugee camps of Jordan after the 1967 war.WIDAD KAWARis known as “Umm ‘l-ibas al falastini” - Mother of the Palestinian dress. Her world-acclaimed collection is the largest in the Middle East and has been exhibited in Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, England, Scotland, Iceland, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia. Margarita was a guide and consultant during the exhibition in Switzerland in 2003.