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Community
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Stories of Vendors
May Lin - giving Nyonya beadwork a contemporary look
While others carry a book with them wherever they go, May Lim brings along her sewing kit – coloured beads arranged in little bottles, quilting thread and cross-stitch cloth. She spends approximately two to three hours daily on her beaded slippers (with intervals, of course).
Besides crafting, she also teaches the art, having organised several classes at the State Chinese Association, the Senior Citizens Club and also under the auspices of the state Projek Anjung Wanita. There is no fixed schedule for May's classes as she holds them as and when requested. To get young people interested, May incorporates modern geometric shapes into her repertoire. These she said, are far easier to make than traditional patterns. Response has been very encouraging.
No fees are charged for May's classes, but participants are expected to pay for materials, like beads, fabric and threads. More important to May is that the knowledge she imparts will be passed on to others, continually creating interest in beaded shoes.
Written
Raja Abdul Razak.
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George
Bernard Shaw once said that "he who can, does; he who can't, teaches."
This remark, as witty as it may sound does not, however, apply to May
Lim. You see, not only has she proven her skill in the intricate craft
and art of beaded slippers, but she teaches as well!
At
the moment, her prized collection numbers about 20 pairs for personal
use – flat slippers, court shoes and cross straps. Each face she
makes can last quite a while too – strong enough to use and reuse
for three pairs of shoes. This durability, she said, is due to the way
the beads are sewn on to the cloth. Instead of threading about 10 beads
in one go, she painstakingly sews bead by bead. If at all the thread
breaks, the beads don't fall off. The sign of a well made pair of beaded
faces, she added, is the smoothness of the backs. Her method of sewing
the beads do not have any knots on the reverse of the face because they
will cause discomfort to the wearer.
For
the total look, May also applies beadwork to clutch bags, belts and
cellphone pouches.