Tatreez Talk
Tatreez Talk is a the podcast that stitches together the vibrant narratives of Palestinian embroidery! Join us as we chat with talented embroiderers and artists, sharing their stories, inspirations, and the cultural significance behind each meticulously crafted piece. Thread your needle, press play, and let the stories unfold…one stitch at a time.
Tatreez Talk
S6E4. Where Tatreez Meets Poetry with Giovanna
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GIOVANNA (JO-VA-NA), A TATREEZ ARTIST, POET, AND STUDENT ACTIVIST (@giovanna_writes_poetry). She reflects on her grandparents’ displacement from Jerusalem and Yaffa in 1948 and her family’s movement through Lebanon, Jordan, and eventually the United States.
Giovanna’s journey into tatreez began relatively recently through a workshop in Seattle with Hala and Sabrene (both previous guests on Tatreez Talk!), marking a powerful moment of reconnection with her culture. Despite not growing up surrounded by tatreez practices, she recalls owning a traditional thobe as a child, which served as an early—though distant—touchpoint to the craft.
Throughout the conversation, Giovanna reflects on what it means to come to tatreez later in life, without prior exposure, and how that experience can feel both isolating and deeply meaningful. The discussion highlights themes of cultural rediscovery, intergenerational connection, and the role of art in identity and activism. Her story illustrates how tatreez can serve as a bridge between past and present, even for those who didn’t grow up immersed in the tradition.
You’ll hear about:
>> 00:41: Giovanna’s connection to Palestine
>> 2:18: How Giovanna began her tatreez journey
>> 5:18: Evolving tatreez practice and the Seattle tatreez community
>> 11:01: Conversations through tatreez
>> 12:53: Giovanna’s poetry
>> 16:25: Creative process through Palestinian identity
>> 19:27: Giovanna’s tatreez design approach
>> 21:36: Tatreez projects in 2026
>> 23:23: Major life lesson from tatreez
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Follow Amanne @minamanne & Lina @linasthobe
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