How Cheryl Sawh took craft making from hobby
After almost 30 years of craft making, artisan Cheryl Sawh has become quite the expert in her field. Though her handiwork extends to jewelry, pen holders, belts among other things, Cheryl is most known for her creative handbags and purses.
After the birth of her first son, Cheryl, who is fondly called ‘Sherry’ chose to be a stay-at-home mom. She spent a lot of time browsing home magazines, always eyeing all the creative pieces until she saw something she loved so much, she decided to make it. “My first try was covering a photo frame with no directions to follow. So I got the necessary materials and I got down to work looking at the picture as my guide. I did it and it was just as lovely as in the magazine. I realised that my hands are gifted,” recalled Sherry. That was the first of many artistic pieces to follow.
That led to her collecting twigs, dried flowers and silk to or basically anything along the roadside that looked like it could be recycled, to begin making florals. Her floral creations were a bit hit with friends and family who placed orders.
This could not have worked out any better for the stay-at-home mom who realized that she need not leave the house to get her business going. It was perfect in fact, Sherry said as she recalled setting up a table in the corner of her house with all her beautiful florals and other crafts. Her friends told their friends and so on and before she knew it, she had built her own clientele.
Business was so great that word reached the then president of the Arts and Crafts Association, Austin Chung. The two met and Sherry subsequently joined the association. “It was a great move because I was blessed to own one of the craft shops situated outside of the General Post Office ( GPO),” said the craftswoman. For the artist, this was by no means a coincidence, as there was only one remaining craft shop which she truly believed was waiting for her. Her business is called Crafty Expressions.
After her business kicked off, Sherry realized that making florals was a seasonal thing and that she needed to provide other pieces if she were to remain afloat.
A visit to Crafty Expressions outside the GPO today would reveal a neatly decked out array of items. Aside from those mentioned prior, Sherry also has at her shop, fridge magnets, key rings, wreaths, dream catchers, jewelry boxes, wallets, slippers, calabash bowls, and colourful headdresses made from macaw feathers. She also sells other art pieces created by local artists.