SMR Reads: What's Your Hobby? DIY with Ms Nonnie King

Ms Nonnie King was gracious enough to share her passion with us. She is a primary school teacher from Kuala Belait. Ms Nonnie is also a well-known local blogger who records her daily activities on her blog. Miss King is also a creative person and a DIY (Do it yourself) enthusiast.

T: Miss King, tell us more about your hobby.

MNK: I am into DIY. I like making things like cards. Apart from that, I collect unique erasers. I usually need luck to find a rare piece for my collection!

T: what things can you create yourself?

MNK: Mmm.. I love to make cards because a DIY card is very different from those factory printed cards. DIY cards can be more personal and customized to the sender's or receiver's liking, and.. it's cheaper. Win-win situation I say.

Apart from cards, sometimes I'll stitch dolls or just create something out from scratch like, a bank bag (to keep my bank books), I have made a tissue pouch for a friend and so on. If I have a choice, I'll make an item rather than buy it from a store.

T: Do you also reuse items into something else?

MNK: Yes. After making something, I'll keep the scraps, bits and pieces because I might just need that little piece someday somehow. I love boxes the most. Just take any ordinary box and wrap it up with a nice piece of paper, put some stickers, ribbons and "bling" it up, it can be used as all sort of storage box. I tend to have this mindset thinking "I might need it someday" and hence I'll keep all sort of stuff such as paper bags, invitation cards and even toilet paper rolls which I'm going to use to make fire crackers for Chinese New Year decorations!

T: Wow! Toilet paper roll for decorations?! How very clever!

MNK: Thank you.

T: How did you learn to be creative?

MNK: I think it all started when I was a little kid and my mum bought me my very first origami book. The interest in making something just grew more and I start to think of all sort of possibilities.

And now, I surf in some craft websites to get ideas shared by those professional crafters such as

http://www.craftzine.com & http://www.onehourcraft.com

T: Who has influenced you to take up your hobby?

MNK: My mum. She sewed me a pencil case and bought fabrics with my favorite cartoon characters on it and sewed those fabrics into my bedsheets and pillowcases. She even helped me sew clothes for my Barbie dolls.

T: Any advice for SMR students who'd like to be as creative as you?

MNK: To create things such as cards and decorations definitely involves reading. Books, websites and all sort of media contributes to creativity because there's just so much possibilities and amazing ideas you can get and discover. And always remember, "Never be afraid to try something new."