We're in the Media!

We've been busy talking to the media. The Seattle Times wrote an article giving some background to our story and covering our art workshop at the street fair last weekend. You can read it here. Marcus Yam from the Times took this lovely photo of Racha Haroun writing "You are in our hearts from Seattle" on the back of her son's drawing.  Jean will take these notes to Jordan to read to the refugee kids so that they know we are thinking about them and sending as much help as we can.



And our local NBC affiliate King 5 News interviewed Jean in her studio about why taking art and educational supplies to the Syrian children is so important. You can see the clip here.

We led the news last night here in Seattle so congratulations to everyone who supports us for helping to get the word out. The people of Syria need our help. Please remind your friends that they can donate for Jean's upcoming trip on the Studio Syria website. Let's send her to Zaatari refugee camp with wonderful school supplies to make those children smile.

Do you like art? Do you like amazing food? Do you want to hold someone's hand?

Join us on Sunday, 25th August to launch our new "Hold My Hand" project.

We'll draw colorful self portraits, cut them out and attach their hands into one of those wonderful paper doll chains. Jean will take it to Zaatari Camp where the children will make their own portraits to add. The kids in Seattle and the kids from Syria will almost literally be holding hands! Plus it will be lots of fun and smiles - in Seattle and Zaatari. Sunday 25th Aug 11-4 at Melrose Market Street Festival. Outside the fabulous Mamnoon restaurant. Yum!

This project was inspired by a great new book called "The Paper Dolls" published in the UK by Pan MacMillan who will be working with us to provide books in Arabic for children in the refugee camps. Thanks Pan MacMillan!

Studio Syria will partner with Mamnoon restaurant on Seattle's Capitol Hill for the Melrose Market Street Festival. We'll host an art workshop where kids and adults can make a drawing or write a message for Jean to take to the Syrian kids in Zaatari Camp in September. Drop by the festivities and try some of the acclaimed cuisine from Mamnoon. Meet Jean and make a drawing. Let the kids in Zaatari know that people in Seattle haven't forgotten them. Sunday 25th August. 11am - 4pm. See you there. And don't forget to bring your unused yarn to add to our yarn drive.

Drop Off Sites for Our Yarn Drive

We have two official drop off sites for yarn in Seattle! Nancy's Sewing Basket in Queen Anne and Stitches on Captiol Hill. Bring in those unfinished knitting projects - wool or synthetic - and leave them in the basket. They will be shipped to Zaatari Refugee Camp and used in our new knitting club. The drive ends August 31. Thanks for your kindness.

Yarn Drive!

Studio Syria is holding a yarn drive in Seattle and Amman. When Jean was at Zaatari Camp this spring she took a few balls of wool, donated by our friend Laurie, to give to a girl who wanted to crochet. When other women at the camp saw that wool was being donated they gathered around asking for some too. In fact we had a bit of a crowd situation! Jean learned two things from this. 1) Don't distribute supplies in public in the camp. And 2) BRING MORE YARN.

Zaatari Camp gets bitterly cold in the winter and the people need sweaters, hats and blankets. But they also need a creative outlet. They want something to do with their time and a way to express themselves.

There is a bonus - our poster will appear in Yarn shops around Seattle and will connect people to our work.

Studio Syria usually buys all our supplies in Amman since shipping costs and customs are prohibitive from the States. But though the magical support of Jordan's own favourite shipping company Aramex we can ship the yarn with their help.

We are currently setting up donation points for the month of August in Seattle. Stay tuned for a list of places to bring your unwanted yarn.