Needle Arts Corner
By Madonna A. Terlizzi
Needle Arts Corner
Greetings from my sewing corner of the world! It has been awhile since I have written an article. I have been busy quilting and reading as usual. My business, Blackstone Valley Needle Arts Studio is still going strong, in fact I recently celebrated my 11th year of business. Many thanks to all that have supported me over the years!
I thought that I would share a quick review of one of the books that I read recently. It is a book that my friends at the Uxbridge Free Public Library recommended to me, titled: The Dressmaker of Khair Khana, by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon. The story takes place in Kabul, Afghanistan. This is an excellent true story of an Afghanistani family that made a living creating pantsuits and dresses for shops during the occupation of the Taliban. Kamila Sidiqi had just received her degree in teaching during the civil war, she was then banned from school and confined to her home after the Taliban seized control of Kabul, where she lived. Kamila became the sole breadwinner for the family after her mother, father and oldest brother had to flee the city. Her oldest sister, Malika, had dressmaking skills that she taught Kamila. She then took that new found knowledge and hand made some clothing samples. Kamila and her youngest brother, Rahim went to the marketplace known as Lycee Myriam bazaar.
This was not an easy task, as she was not allowed to go out of her house without an escort otherwise know as a mabram or able to speak to the shopkeepers. She was also required to wear a full burka, which covered everything except her hands. The Taliban watched everyone very carefully and enforced their Sharia law by beating lawbreakers with batons and kicking them senselessly. She braved the danger time and time again and began to receive more fabric and orders for dresses, her pieces went over very well, she then began received additional orders from other shops in the bazaar. With the demand growing she taught her other sisters to sew and bead. This created money which enabled them to buy food and supplies.
Business continued to grow so much that she taught her young neighbors dressmaking skills thus enabling them to work for her and earn money for their families as well. It was a great story of survival during a very brutal time. This is a superb book that I highly recommend to all types of readers. It is not only educational, but inspiring.
The Fabulous Famished Feed Dogs Quilt Guild is still alive and meeting at the Congregational Church in Whitinsville. If anyone is interested in attending a meeting or joining our Guild, you may contact me at 508-278-7260 for more information. We normally meet the 3rd Sunday of the month from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, Sept to June. Dues for the year are $30.00. We make various projects for fun and quilt donations to local organizations.
If you are interested in learning to quilt, embroider or sew, I am starting up many new classes for the Fall. Weekly classes are still held at my Needle Arts Studio in Uxbridge, you may contact me at madonnaterlizzi@charter.net or call me. Peace.
