Housewife Turns Passion For Handicrafts Into Thriving Business

ARAU, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- What started as a creative hobby, crafting unique handmade items from homemade clay dough during the Movement Control Order (MCO) in 2020, has now become a source of income for housewife Rohani Atan.

The 63-year-old mother of five, in a recent interview with Bernama, said her handcrafted items, particularly those shaped like clocks, betel nut arrangements, and realistic miniature food, were in great demand among her customers.

She shared that the main material for her crafts was clay dough, which she made herself using cornstarch, latex glue, food colouring, and petroleum jelly. Rohani added that the dough hardened naturally, making it unnecessary to use an oven.

“The process of making the clay dough involves mixing two cups of cornstarch, one cup of latex glue, and one tablespoon of Vaseline gel until a soft, non-sticky dough forms.

“The time taken to craft an item depends on the complexity of the design. On average, it takes anywhere from five minutes to over three hours,” she said.

For Rohani, crafting realistic-looking miniature food was her greatest challenge, as it demanded both precision and considerable time to perfect the details and ensure the best quality.

“In terms of durability, the colouring in the dough should last about five years,” she said.

Rohani said that she frequently participated in programmes organised by Kraftangan Perlis, including art exhibitions, which provided a platform to market her creations.

She said that her handicraft products, promoted through Facebook, were priced between RM5 and RM250, with customers having the option to place custom orders based on their preferences.

“Whenever I take part in events, my sales can reach up to RM1,000. I also plan to improve the dough recipe and expand my designs to include floral arrangements,” she said.

-- BERNAMA