Comments on: Editorial: making for religion

By: erum

erum — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 17:54:58 +0000

Thank-you for printing this. I have a little one too and now I have inspiration of what we can do together each Ramadan.

By: Robyn

Robyn — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 18:49:18 +0000

Thanks for sharing about Khadija’s site. It has been inspiring for me as I struggle with craft ideas and decoration ideas for Ramdan. I would like to also say that there are wonderful ideas in general for people of any faith to decorate and celebrate their religion.

By: Ateka

Ateka — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 03:24:37 +0000

As one that appreciates art, when I saw Khadija’s crafts online I was estactic. Finally someone did it right. I can’t wait to have my little one grow up so I can enjoy the crafts with him.

By: hina

hina — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 19:58:07 +0000

Thank you so much for sharing this exciting information about Khadija’s crafting site! It really means a lot to learn about all the creative energies vibrant, dynamic people like Khadija are putting into forming new traditions for Muslim children growing up in the West. Keep up the good work, all of you artists out there!

By: Junie Moon

Junie Moon — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:53:34 +0000

My spiritual crafting projects vary depending on the occasion, seasons, etc. Some things I’ve made include a topiary, wood-burned runes, etched glass pieces, apron, luggage tags, and so on. The project I’m working on now are prayer flags for people who comment on my blog adn people they are concerrned about and want a prayer flag made for them. This is a project I’m working on with a friend and we’ll take the finished project up into the mountains to hang and let the wind blow our prayers out into the world.

By: Reshma

Reshma — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 19:59:04 +0000

As a mother of six kids in public schools, I always find it challenging to share our religious festivals alongside cultural festivals at school..(Chinese moon, indian Deevali, etc) It takes quite an effort to let me do projects in class that are not only educational but carry along the knowledge about islam and culture of muslims. I do star and moon cookie baking for KG-1st grades, geometric pattern or non-denominational islamic Art in art docent to create greeting card, share prayer beads and make bead necklaces for 3-5th grades, teach kids on phases of the moon and hijri calendar for Muslims and even quiz them on pictures of moon, write everyones name in Arabic, share gold choclate coins as pretend money kids get on eid or end of Ramadan, share traditional vermecelli pudding and dates that are traditional foods eaten at our home on Eid and bring prayer rug and caps and scarves to share with class.
Kids feel special and not alienated as they see their festivities as fun and celebratory too. I live in an area where Muslims are few and many parents and kids curious as they see me in a hijab and wonder but after 9 years of sharing festivities…I see a look of anticipation from teachers to share the activities.