7 years pass by…and feels just like yesterday when I received my very first parcel with Seed Beads. I was so exited…
How did you start this business, Where did you get all those pretty beads…
This is most common questions I’ve been asked for the past 7 years.
Here is my story, the story of MarinaCraft.

2000

As long as remember myself, I’ve had a big passion for anything made by hand. I’ve been blessed to have creativity, art skills, patient and test for anything that involved colors and accessories. Due to my husbands work, I’ve been travel throughout Malaysia for many years, from Kuala Terengannu to Johor Bahru, I’ve seen it all, I’ve been in many places that many Malaysian probably haven’t even hear about :)
Being foreigner I wasn’t able to work due to local rules and regulations at that time. 10 years ago I couldn’t get any job even with my Degree in Business Management and Diploma in Fashion Design. I was very frustrated… This is where I decided that one day I’m going to be my own Boss in a business that will combine my passion for beading and sewing and I will follow my own rules.
For years of traveling, I’ve met many wonderful people who was foreigners like me and wasn’t able to work just like me, we became a very good friends and spent a lot of time together. I found out that many of my friends love to wear hand-made clothes and accessories. At that time my husband bought for me a simple sewing machine and serger just to pass a time. Because of my passion for sewing and beading, I started making clothes for my friends and decorate with all sorts of beads, ribbons and threads that I could find around. Don’t laugh at me, but I charged 20-30 rinngints for clothes that cost at least 200-300. I dint care about money, the biggest income for me was my satisfaction in things that I created and of course appreciation of my friends and smile on they faces. At the same time, I was doing research how to become my own boss.

2002

I would say that the most memorable part of my life here in M’sia I spent in Lumut town. Not because I was expecting my first baby but because I get involved in local communities and this is where I met my first local friends. One day I’ve been invited by my Australian friends Doris and Glen to join them for a day with disabled kids. Once we arrived there, I sat next to few kids and show them how to color pictures. This is was totally different experience for me and first ever time get that close to disabled kids. I’m not going to say a lot about those days, this is was a very special time for me and I’m still treasure every day that I’ve spent with those kids. I realize one thing: it doesn’t matter who we are, there is no 1st world, 2nd world or 3rd world, we all live in one place called Earth and we should help or share with something that we have or know. So don’t be surprise to receive Free Gifts from MarinaCraft or Free Tutorial :))) This is something that I have and I would love to share with you, no matter who you are or what you are.

2003

While living in Sungai Petani, I’ve had a lot of time to learn local traditions and culture. The most fastinating for me (and of cours for most other foreigners) was Art of Batik Painting. You guys here surrounded with the most amazing colors that an eye could ever catch. You decorating here Tudungs and Baju Kurungs with the most colorful beads. And your Kebayas taking my breath away. I wanted to learn how to draw on silk fabrics so badly that I started looking for paints and fabrics. My biggest disappointment was to find supplies! I look high and low but couldn’t get any sort of Kit for beginners. I ended up by purchasing this kind of Kit on-line from USA. It cost me about 450 USD….omg….This is was my first ever purchase on-line. My next disappointment was the day when I received notice to come to Custom office and clear my goods with 30% custom tax for import Art related goods. Well everything come with price and even hobby. But when I look at the bright side… yes I’ve spent…but I’ve got a very professional Frame for fabric painting designed for this special purpose, I’ve got the most professional silk painting colors, brushes, Air Pan (which is very cool tool), all sort of delutants and other accessories. I still have some balance left :) What I’ve learned: QUALITY comes with PRICE and KNOWLEGE comes with SPENSES.

I will keep here space to show you some paintings that I’ve done.
Also while living in Sungai Petani, I’ve discovered few “Bunga” shops, they sold many artificial flowers, ribbons…etc. What I was looking for was good quality seed beads and DMC threads. Chinese seed beads cost about 50 cents at that time for one pack and Japan seed beads cost about RM 3.50 per pack. I’ve bought many of those beads and still have some in my stash. At that time I really thought and “Bunga” Store Owner as well that those beads was Genuine Japanese seed beads and it was very difficult to source them here in M’sia. I realized that I don’t need travel to Japan or anywhere else, I can simply buy on-line the same way as I bought Silk Painting supplies. So after some research and tons of emails I found a very good supplier of genuine Matsuno seed beads from overseas :) When I’ve got those beads in Factory pack, I understand that those so-called Japan beads from “Bunga” shops was not Genuine, they was a good Taiwan imitation! This supplier remaining the same until today and supply MarinaCraft for the past 7 years, and I’m glad that I’ve found him, I never had a single problem with him or any sort of quality issues. 

….to be CONTINUED… :)