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Pattama

"My name is Pattama Khamsoi and I was born on October 10, 1978 in a peaceful village. My husband and I live with my father. He is a farmer and my late mother used to sell khanom jeen (rice vermicelli with spicy soup). My childhood memories are all about fun, games and play.

"After finishing high school, I started working in a supermarket but resigned after five months because I didn't particularly like the working environment. I stayed at home for a couple of months and temporarily worked for a crafts workshop specializing in mango wood and saa [mulberry] paper items. At first I only glued the paper motifs on the wooden objects. Now, at our workshop, I gradually started helping out in the other areas and learned all about the different steps of the procedure. Eventually, I could do everything. I regarded it as a four year-long training period, which enabled me to craft any item from beginning to end, however, I mostly hand-paint the items. It is a task that requires great skill and patience, and one that I enjoy most thoroughly.

"My husband works freelance, making furniture. We have been married for two years but are still childless. Our dream is to own a nice garden where we can grow trees, fruits, and vegetables - raise cattle and all sorts of farm animals. We want to be close to nature and earn a living in the process. But I am not in a rush, and I like what I do very much. The people I work with are all very nice and we are having lots of fun together - I have learned so much from them!

"Crafting decorative items is so interesting and diversified that I never feel bored. So I hope I to continue handcrafting our products for a long time. It pleases me to know that what I do every day will be sold through Novica's Web site and be displayed abroad, in a person's home. Our Thai products are beautiful and utilitarian, but they also carry a bit of our friendship, our skills - and a bit of our own lives!"