Stories behind the hand-made crafts:
Set of four coasters /
Fish design placemat |
'Chance meetings' are God's speciality
Hand-made lace from West Asia |
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When one of our overseas Partners visited us a year or two back, she presented her photographs in a lovely, lace bound album. When the Interserve office staff saw this, and then heard that the Partners knew the family which made this lace, by hand, we decided to support this family in this village in central Asia by purchasing a quantity of lace mats and 'fish' table decorations.
The order was placed; the family - grandparents to grandchildren - got to work and within six months, the hand-made lace products had been made and delivered to England. The family was paid directly via the Partners, and, we were told, the money that was given to them helped to heat their modest house during the cold, central Asian winter. |
Price: £4 / £5 |
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| Figures |
'Felt' need
Hand-made felt crafts from Central Asia |
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In these days of high tech machinery and mass production, if is easy to forget the roots of manufacture. In parts of central Asia, these roots are, in actual fact, the reality for many. No modern technology here. Such is the case in one, rural area, where villagers gather to make felt crafts with a view to selling them in the towns, many of them a day or two's travel away. Life can be hard in central Asia.
And yet, through an Interserve Partner serving in one Republic, we got to hear about an enterprising project which involved a wide group of village people, brought together for their skills in felt-making. It was not a surprise to us to find out that this was a growing business, but we knew also that 'success' in central Asian terms, is relative to what we understand the term to mean, and that a lot of hard work over long hours was needed in order for the business to survive.
Through the Partners, we purchased a quantity of the felt figures, including a full nativity set, as well as a smaller set comprising Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus on a camel, and the money was passed back to the villagers for their work.
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Camel with man £6
Shepherd with lamb £5
Mary, Joseph and Jesus £6
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Ordering: |
Our Information Request Form can be used to order merchandise. You can also choose to purchase your merchandise online using our secure server and your Visa card. (£10 minimum order)
Alternatively, just pick up the telephone and call 020 7735 8227. Please have your Visa card number ready, as well as the expiry date of your card. Please note that with Visa orders the minimum order is £10. If you want to order by cheque, please make cheques payable to Interserve.
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