HDIF Flower Shop at the Zatik Wine Festival

Back in February, HDIF came up with the idea of producing handmade flowers for International Women's Day on March 8th. This simple concept has blossomed into whole series of both miniature and stemmed flowers, in both crocheted and hand-felted varieties. This budding concept has quickly expanded to become HDIF's "Flower Shop."  As Tim exclaims, "Amazing what a simple idea can become!"

The debut of Flower Shop took place on April 7th at the Zatik Wine Festival, a celebration organized by the Wines of Armenia NGO/Հայաստանի գինիներ ՀԿ in Seasons Park in Yerevan.  These unique and exquisite products are created by strong, talented Ukrainian, Russian, and Syrian women displaced by war.  UNHCR Armenia and MADE51 have been a great source of encouragement for this effort, and the Ukrainian Forum (NGO•Dopomoga.am) has been a wonderful collaborative partner on this project.

The crocheted and felted varieties included poppies, daisies, apricot blossoms, roses, and forget-me-nots, among others.  The Flower Shop also sold a variety of crocheted flowers in mini pots. 

Coinciding with the Easter holiday, the festival featured Armenian wines, delicious food products and gifts, Q&A with the many winemakers, dancing performed by the "Masunk" folk ensemble, and fun games and prizes.

HDIF has worked intensively with women from Syria, Ukraine and Russia, displaced by war, to create a large collection of handmade flowers.