Saturday, March 26, 2022

Resources to Support Ukraine

My Wonder Wonder: Digital download 


 It's been really hard to witness what's been happening in Ukraine, but of course the hardest thing would be living it. I've always hated war, in fact, I've always thought it's an example of the worst of humankind. 

Art by Volkosana: digital poster: https://www.etsy.com/listing/648969212/to-love-people-poster-or-card-printable

Many of us are praying for peace, lighting candles, working spells, and those are all needed, but I'm a practical witch who believes that spell work should be followed up with real world action. We can feel overwhelmed as we're all people who have come through collective trauma of 2 years in a worldwide pandemic, unpacking racial, LGBTQ+, and social injustice, the surges of open bigotry and hate, and now this horrible war can really feel like just too much. Yet as hard as things have been, those of us are not actually in a war torn country still have our homes, our families, and we aren't being invaded by tanks and armed military forces...but we can still feel hopeless and powerless in the face of world events. 

Feldi Ukrainian Art: digital print downloads, children's art: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FeldiUkrainianArt


What Can We Do?

While we’re praying for Ukraine and peace I wanted to offer some resources to support Ukraine that can really make a difference for people in need. I stumbled upon ways to help by supporting actual people of Ukraine. My daughter Brittany told me about a Ukrainian artist (https://www.instagram.com/stitchy_princess_black on Instagram) she knows from a cross stitch group who makes beautiful cross stitch patterns (I grabbed some myself) it’s an instant download so no waiting for shipping. In fact it's come to the point that many sellers can't ship from Ukraine right now, so downloads are a great way to buy. My daughters friend was so happy with the sales she made that she reported that she was able to buy supplies for her family, but also for neighbors who were in need! 

After picking up her patterns I went down the Etsy rabbit hole and started finding other Ukrainian artisans. Many of them had instant downloads for patterns that I'm saving for future projects. I also found that some sellers who didn't have any kind of products they could offer as downloads had listings for simple postcards you can grab, the idea is that it's a way to donate directly to families, many of whom are struggling because they can't run their shops in the middle of a full out invasion. My Etsy shop supports my family, I can't even imagine what I would do in their shoes, so I made it a point to buy as many of those downloads as I could. I also found out that Etsy is not charging their Ukrainian sellers fees which made 
me very happy!!


 


I just love her awesome witchy designs. I wanted to give her a shout-out here and give you the opportunity to grab a pattern or two that we can stitch with our magickal intention to protect the people of Ukraine. When you support small businesses you’re helping an actual person and their family. I hope you love her work as much as I do!

After picking up her patterns I went down the Etsy rabbit hole and started finding other Ukrainian artisans. Many of them had instant downloads for patterns that I'm saving for future projects. I also found that some sellers who didn't have any kind of products they could offer as downloads had listings for simple postcards you can grab, the idea is that it's a way to donate directly to families, many of whom are struggling because they can't run their shops in the middle of a full out invasion. My Etsy shop supports my family, I can't even imagine what I would do in their shoes, so I made it a point to buy as many of those downloads as I could. I also found out that Etsy is not charging their Ukrainian sellers fees which made me very happy!!


Studio Happy Toys: Anatomical Heart Crochet Pattern: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1171929338/digital-download-ukraine-crochet-pattern



Boutique VP: Halloween Earrings Brick Stitch Beading Pattern: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1073395796/halloween-earrings-pattern-for-brick


Below you'll find links to some Ukrainian Etsy sellers who offer downloads and some other resources as well. Keep those spells and prayers going, by all means, plant sunflowers as a reminder if you can, and if you can, here's some other ways to brighten up a troubled world just a little bit at a time.

My Wonder Wonder: Digital download watercolor art: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MyWonderWonder


I had more of these but a few of the shops are down now, if you feel inspired to make purchases from them, please don't hesitate, your few buck might make the difference for them.

Links

Stitchy Princess: Baba Yaga Cross Stitch: https://www.etsy.com/listing/794913952/witch-cross-stitch-pattern-pdf-baba-yaga

Studio Happy Toys: Anatomical Heart Crochet Pattern: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1171929338/digital-download-ukraine-crochet-pattern

Studio Happy Toys: Digital Postcard https://www.etsy.com/listing/1171958762/digital-file-ukraine-shops-flag-png-pray

Boutique VP: Halloween Earrings Brick Stitch Beading Pattern: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1073395796/halloween-earrings-pattern-for-brick

Boutique VP: Digital Postcard https://www.etsy.com/listing/1187059981/ukraine-post-card-pdf

Family Mill Shop: Digital Postcard: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1173105406/digital-file-ukraine-business-ukraine

My Wonder Wonder: Digital download watercolor art: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MyWonderWonder

I also suggest that you follow my fellow Llewellyn author Madame Pamita on Instagram as she has Ukrainian ancestry and shares lots of information about ways to help: https://www.instagram.com/madamepamita

Global Giving Ukrainian Fundraiser: https://www.globalgiving.org/fundraisers/41535/

Green Borsch Store: digital print downloads: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1205046073/ukraine-instant-download-digital-file

Volkosana: digital poster: https://www.etsy.com/listing/648969212/to-love-people-poster-or-card-printable