In March 2025 we ran 2 workshops with the Ukraine House community to draw designs and later built them as mosaics.

The idea was to create a map of the beautiful embroidery of Ukraine as a mosaic mural. I was thrilled by this commission as I lived in Ukraine between 2006-12 and could experience their rich culture in embroidery.

Now during the time of war in Ukraine, I had never been able to express my sorrow enough about not only the loss of lives but also of hand crafted items like embroidered garnment, handcarved ornaments on houses and churches and of course the flagship of Ukrainian artisanal mastery – Pysanky eggs.

But the patterns are still alive! In books, in the memory of people and in objects that survived destruction.

In this project we literally set in stone 25 embroidery patterns each one depicting a region of Ukraine.

Map of designated embroidery patterns by region

Nearly 30 people came to draw and later built these patterns with small kizment glass tiles.

Mosaic Workshop with friends of Ukraine House .

Admiring what was created in 3h of work.

Participants were not only Ukrainian nationals. I met a young reasearcher who researches on Ukraine and felt it enriching to study not only numbers but also patterns of Ukraine. A group of 3 mosaic artists joined being firstly interested in the craft and learning through the project about the rich culture of the country.

The flowing embroidery designs on Ukrainian blouses are turned into solid mosaic.

For myself it was just a very valuable time to facilitate this project and experience the Ukrainian heritage again with my hands eyes and social interaction.