"The challenge I now face is to have people outside my hill tribe accept our traditional patterns and styles, and therefore wear them. If they only saw how beautiful and elegant they look!"

"I'm Chollathorn Yuenyongkeereemas, and I am Hmong woman who lives according to the customs and traditions of my hill tribe. That means I live at home with my parents and younger siblings, who I take care of, help them with their homework and accompany them through walks down our village. We also go together to explore nearby forests, for we Hmong love to be in close contact with nature.

"I also love art and new adventures, and this is what motivates me to design jewelry and try out new, more modern designs with a hill tribe influence. I'm working on trendier designs for any occasion. My goal is to one day have my own signature pieces that are well-known everywhere. I work hard and sometimes I get tired but it doesn't matter, I'll never give up pursuing my dreams.

"I am fortunate to count on my family's warm support and encouragement, they inspire me. It is a craft that I love to do and it represents a way to supplement my family's income and contribute to my brother's education.

"I didn't graduate from university or study art formally, but I love to create and design original jewelry that is nice and attractive. That was a major challenge I faced in my life, for I decided not to continue my university studies because I believed I could learn more from experience, especially outside the classroom. I believe this was the right decision to make. I was born to be an artist and designer.

"My designs are more than jewelry pieces to wear, they represent my Hmong hill tribe legacy, our art and our village. To me it means I contribute to the preservation of millenary silversmith techniques for following generations to appreciate and practice. This drives me to keep on making and creating my jewelry.

"I learned our hill tribe's silversmith techniques from my parents and village elders. They also taught me how to hone and develop my designs. Currently, I'm happy and enjoy my work and my family. I believe we all do our best when we are doing the things we love.

"The challenge I now face is to have people outside my hill tribe accept our traditional patterns and styles, and therefore wear them. If they could only see how beautiful and elegant they look! I would be so happy if people from other cities and countries believed in my designs!"