At Love Welcomes, every product is a living story, woven with threads of hope, resilience, and the longing for home. Our “Stitching Your Story” collection, created in collaboration with Alsama Studio, is a tribute to refugee mothers who are rebuilding their lives and their children’s futures, one stitch at a time.
Stories of Peace, Home, and New Beginnings
Recently, Love Welcomes was proud to help sponsor a special “Stitching My Story” workshop at Alsama Studio in the Shatila refugee camp, Lebanon. This session invited mothers from the Alsama Project community to reflect on what peace and home mean after displacement, and how education can be a key to new beginnings for the next generation.
For many of these mothers, war and conflict forced them to leave their homes and interrupted their own schooling. Through embroidery, they found a way to reclaim their voices and express their deepest hopes. Their greatest wish is that their children will have the chance to learn, grow, and build peaceful lives.
One mother’s story is stitched into a vibrant, hand-embroidered backpack. It is more than just a beautiful object; it is a symbol of her dream that her children will carry the gift of education wherever they go, continuing the journey she could not finish.The Creative Process: From Memory to Meaning
A powerful part of this project was the creative process itself. Each mother began by selecting a black and white photograph, an image that, for her, represented home or peace. These photos, often of familiar places or precious moments, became the canvas for their stories.
With care and intention, the mothers embroidered directly over these photos using traditional stitches and motifs from their own cultures. Each thread added color and
texture, transforming memories into vibrant works of art. This was not just a craft project; it was a deeply personal way for the women to share their journeys, honor their heritage, and find healing through creativity.
texture, transforming memories into vibrant works of art. This was not just a craft project; it was a deeply personal way for the women to share their journeys, honor their heritage, and find healing through creativity.The act of stitching over these images allowed participants to process loss, reclaim their voices, and express hope for new beginnings, especially for their children. The workshop became a space for connection, storytelling, and support, helping mothers imagine a brighter future through their art.
Education: The Thread That Ties Past to Future
Education emerged as a central theme during the workshop. For these mothers, learning is not just about school; it is about possibility, dignity, and hope for a new beginning. In their own words and stitches, they shared memories of longing to learn and their determination to pass that dream on to their children.
The creative process became a powerful act of healing. In a place where upheaval and uncertainty are daily realities, stitching their stories allowed the mothers to honor what has been lost and to imagine what can be rebuilt.
Impact: Every Purchase Supports Education and Healing
Each piece in the “Stitching Your Story” collection is a testament to resilience. When you bring one of these artworks into your home, you are supporting:
- Direct income: 100% of proceeds from each piece go directly to the artist and provide vital educational resources for girls at Alsama Project.
- Generational hope: Every embroidery is a personal story of education, peace, and the dream of a safe, welcoming home.
- Community transformation: Your support helps ensure these stories are seen, valued, and that brighter futures are possible for refugee women and their families.
Details
- Hand-embroidered original, framed (30 x 40 cm with mat)
- Created by refugee mothers of Alsama Project students in Shatila refugee camp, Lebanon
- Each piece expresses a unique story of peace, home, and educational hope
- 100% of proceeds support the artist and girls’ education at Alsama
Every stitch in these artworks is a wish for peace, a memory of home, and a promise of new beginnings. Join us in helping mothers and children in Shatila build brighter futures, one story, one stitch, and one hope at a time.