I think I was in the shower when the first order came through, or I had just stepped out. Sayil and I were in different rooms. I remember us rushing to find each other, and then celebrating as if something huge had happened. For us, it had.
We were so excited that we called Fideaa straight away. It was very late, I think around 3am, and we woke her up to tell her. Someone had chosen to buy a piece of her embroidery, and it did not feel like news that could wait until morning.
That first sale came around March 2026. To explain why it meant so much, I need to go back a little.
Meeting Sayil, and meeting tatreez
I am British-Irish. I met my husband, Sayil, in Jordan. Sayil is Palestinian, and he is from Arroub refugee camp in the West Bank.
While I was in Jordan, I kept noticing a particular style of embroidery. I loved it, but I did not know its name, and I did not understand the history behind it.
Then I met Sayil's aunt, Fideaa, and she showed me her work. It was tatreez, the same kind of embroidery I had been admiring. Fideaa is from Arroub Refugee Camp, but she lives and stitches in Amman, Jordan. Through her, the embroidery I loved finally had a name and a history, and a maker I knew.
If you would like to know more about the craft itself, we have written a simple introduction: What is Palestinian tatreez?
Why we encouraged Fideaa to sell
Sayil and I encouraged Fideaa to sell her work, for two reasons. The family needed income, and we wanted her to see the real value of her skill. Tatreez takes time, patience and knowledge, and we felt it deserved to be valued properly.
Five photos and a long wait
Over Christmas 2025, we opened a small shop on Etsy. We started with about five photographs of Fideaa's work, and then we waited.
For a while, nothing happened. That wait is why the first sale, when it finally came, felt so big.
One order, then another
About a week after that first sale, another order arrived. Then another. After that came a quieter spell, and we realised the shop would not grow on its own. So we added more products, and the more we put in, the more motivated we became.
Slowly, orders grew. Some days we had two. Some customers bought two or three pieces at once, and orders started coming from different countries. To keep up, we brought in more women makers to help us fulfil them. Customers left encouraging reviews and sent us kind messages, and those meant more to us than they probably realised.
Losing the shop
Then Etsy shut down our shop. We still do not have a clear explanation of why.
It was upsetting. We had put so much into that little shop, and it had started to feel like the beginning of something real.
Building something of our own
We decided to keep going, and to rebuild with our own website and our own brand: By Palestinian Hands. We also expanded what we make, adding clothing, bags and other designs alongside the embroidery that started it all.
What we are working towards
Our ambition is to build a lasting business, one that supports our family and creates dependable paid work for Palestinian makers. We are still at the start, and every order helps.
You can read more about us on our Our story page, or browse the collection.
Thank you for reading, and for being part of this with us.
Caitlin
