FORMER lawyer Adoravelle Tay is stitching and designing jewellery these past six months, and enjoying the creative endeavour.
The Kuala Lumpur native, who returned to Malaysia from London after its immigration laws were changed last year, has been designing jewellery for a few years as a hobby.
With a shop in Pavilion and KLCC, Tay says that she makes more more money now than when she was a lawyer. “Even tier-1 law companies pay peanuts,” says Tay who has a stall at the inaugural APW Christmas Flea Market in Jalan Riong, Bangsar.
When the 25-year-old told her parents that she wanted to be a full-time designer, she says they told her to go ahead, as she was still young.
With semi-precious stones, threads, leather, Tay is busy with her Media Treasures. She does it all by hand, crocheting the links for necklaces, and handstitching earrings in a technique called soutache.
It’s one 20-over stalls at this Christmas market, which runs from 5pm to 10pm till Sunday (Dec 18).
The other stalls include a lifestyle stall called Hello Deer, under the WonderMilk brand. Run by couple Syamly Rushdi and Ena Hadzir, one of the items is an LED-blub light-box with a blank side for you to write whatever you fancy.
Bag makers Bingka, with freelance graphic designer Emmalynn Yam at the helm, offers cotton and canvas bags, totes, purses, pouches. The eye-catching silk-screened batik designs make for made-in-Malaysia modern statements.
A non-governmental group, United Voice, is offering greetings cards, bookmarks, saori (Japanese weaving) products such as coasters, dolls, key chains, pencil case and shawls as well as cookies.
Registered in July 2005, United Voice is the first society in Malaysia that is led by people with learning disabilities. The stall, lead by Yeong Moh Foong, is called I’mPossible.
The APW Christmas market also has food vendors, and activities including pantomimes, carolling, and musical showcases.
** This article appeared in the new straits times, dec 18, 2016, print version only