Let's meet one of the very talented artists from Malaysia. she is Mastura Mustaffa from whimsicalnquirky.com.my. You might have noticed that she signed all her creative works, writing, craft and design as RIMAUMANJA. Let's read her inspiring story of building a successful online business through her wonderful wire jewelries..
Tell us about yourself, your location, your job and your goals
Born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I am married to a very loving man and we are blessed with 3 quirky kids. I am a graduate in business studies (transport and logistics management) but never applied all those knowledge acquired till only recently 15 years later when I started my online business.
I have always loved crafting and been doing it on and off whenever I have the time. When I quit my 9 to 5 career in 1998, I have the much-needed extra time to craft in between raising my growing kids. But not so much time though to start a business because I also have to concentrate raising my son who has mix syndrome of almost everything (borderline autism, bit of aspergers, learning difficulty, concrete thinking, and straight as an arrow) jumbled into one interesting personality! :)
I am now located in Ampang, Selangor. I worked from home building my online business. I design and craft ready made wire jewelries, I write wire jewelry making tutorials and also a freelance wire craft instructor. I am grateful that I am able to pursue my passion even if it is 15 years too late but I believe timing is everything. Time is definitely on my side now that my kids are more independent.
I am a self-taught crafter learning everything thru books and magazines but most of the time just by intuition and experimenting. I have wide knowledge in needlecraft, paper craft and painting and the moment I discovered wire jewelry making, it’s a whole new adventure and I am hooked! :)
I worked really hard towards my goals. Some I have achieved, some are still works in progress. My first goal when I started was to be self-sufficient which I managed to achieve that within one year. My other goals would be to continue build a regular successful online business and to one day get my work published.
How did you start doing jewelry (or bead making) as a business?
It was by accident, when I had to repair a broken bracelet. The fee to repair was too much that I decided to do it myself! From there I started making simple wire link bracelets and one thing lead to another.
I know I needed to sell my work to at least finance my passion for this craft and I made the decision to blog my work in April 2009. With almost all my money gone buying supplies for this wire jewelry-making hobby, I am not able to pay anyone to help me build a decent site. Not so computer literate either, I struggle to build my own free blog and register it and everything is done thru trial and error.
My first online sale was about three months after I set up my blog. With great faith I believe that I will succeed even with only one sale a month, I never give up. I continue to market my blog staying up late at night to do blog hopping and spreading word about "whimsicalnquirky". My hard work must have paid off and perhaps some luck too must be on my side when my blog landed me a job with an advertising agency, Leo Burnet. After I completed that job, I was more motivated than ever and march forward all the way! There were hiccups now and then but that just drives me more :)
Till today, I still sell every jewelry piece from my free blog and don’t feel the need for an e-commerce site. Now I have my regulars and always-new ones who drop by my site to get gifts for friends and families and for themselves!
Every artist has a personal "creative process", can you explain yours?
I am very much inspired by nature, particularly butterflies and dragonfly. Loving everything whimsical and quirky is the inspiration behind the name of my site and my work. I also like practicality and versatility. Many of my jewelries have large hooks and eye, because I find it easier to put them on! Some may prefer smaller dainty hooks when they request customized work but for many of my creations you can definitely identify my signature with the large hooks and eyes :)
Nowadays, many of my works will begin with the gemstones and beads I would love to "play" around with and as always I would start on a blank page just so I know its Rimaumanja's.
When people start doing jewelry, they tend to try a lot of different things before settling down to something that resonates with them, tell us how has your jewelry work changed since you began?
Perhaps the change I can see is my skill (and my workstation area!) It has evolved towards more delicate work. I would love to do more exploring in intricate wirework but sometimes I have to put ideas on hold just so to fulfill orders so that I can continue on crafting what I really want. Some requests are not my style but I respect other's preference and still give it more than 100% dedication towards the work. I still work with the same type of wires though and presently still not wanting to change that towards precious metals as many did.
Tell us about jewelry or designs that you would like to showcase here
Sang Puteri Cuff :-
This is one delicate jewelry piece. Constructed this by applying the wire crochet technique. It’s crafted with natural copper Artistic Wire and garnet stones. Many have asked for a tutorial for this one, but I don’t plan to make one. It’s an exclusive piece and I made only one and it’s already sold.
Rainforest Dragonfly: -
I always have this fascination with butterflies and dragonflies and they are such mystifying creatures. Their colors can be so exotic and beautiful.
Amazon Necklace: -
This necklace is a good example of what I mean when I see the possibility/versatility by combining technique and creativity. This necklace was made by a series of "pendant links” I made using a technique from a tutorial I wrote. I wrote one pendant tutorial and when I came out with this necklace, the sales of the tutorial when up! Now many crafters can see the potential out of one pendant tutorial.
C an you share with us a some jewelry making or design tips?
1. Start on a bank page, no limits no boundaries.
When I started to teach other crafters the joy of wirework jewelry, I notice there are some who were not enjoying it. They are afraid to make a mistake and that what they are doing is wrong. Where art is concern, what is right, what is wrong? Even when they learn one technique I always encourage them to "jazz" it up! :)
I told them to just let it go. Do not hold back. Do not be afraid to make a mistake for that mistake will make you the wiser. I am not your conventional instructor. I am not the "follow every rules" person. I am the "break every rule" person if you must. Irony is that I learn everything from books but I never follow them! I don’t like to limit myself to doing "what is the right way" (method). I like to do it the way I am most comfortable with and understood. It really does not matter how you made that "loop" as long as the end result is the same "loop". As I said earlier I am more towards what is practical to me rather than following everything by the book.
So what I want to share here is that, do not limit yourself. What works for others may not work for you, so start to explore and experiment.
2. Identify your audience.
When I started making wire jewelry, naturally I craft what I myself like and will wear. Everybody has their own style and those who visited my blog and make enquiries are the people who share the same style as me. I learned to identify with them and their capacity. This is so important.
There are others who do not share the same style as me but they love my work, and I take the time too to know more about them and identify their style.
3.It’s all in the details.
Regardless of whatever your style is, it’s all in the details. I learned this when I took micro pictures of my work and was so put off by some of my own earlier works because I don’t pay attention to details.
Now that I conduct workshops, the most important matter I stress to other crafters is details. End your work neatly, and always file thick wire ends.
4. Work together and not against each other.
Some may not agree with me due to "competition" but I always say my biggest competitor is myself. I like sharing other's work too and if there are enquiries that I know I am not able to do, I will lead them towards others who can. Build your networking and help others. When you spread goodwill, it will be returned to you ten fold.
Feel inspired story shared by Rimaumanja? I will continue with part 2 of the interview in my next post. For those who are interested to learn from her especially, do not miss the post yeah!
Drop by to visit whimsicalnquirky.com.my!
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