Handmade Lapis Lazuli Brass Beaded Bracelet with Loop - Valley of Lapis

Artisan Organization: Tiraphan Hasub

Country: Peru

"Sawasdee kha! My name is Tiraphan Hasub, but everyone calls me by my nickname, Yo, which I got from my parents when I was a child. Yo means a kid who cries a lot, and that's exactly what I used to do then. I was very sensitive to everything, and thus cried a lot.

"I met my husband at university in Bangkok. I worked there for three years after graduating, and then got married. We moved back to Chiang Mai, where he is originally from, and he taught me the art of handcrafts. We now have a workshop and a daughter. People keep telling me that I am a good mother because I manage to combine motherhood and work, and that makes me happy.

"It hasn't always been easy though. It was a great challenge for me to start married life and a different type of work in a place that was foreign to me. It makes me proud to see what I have achieved now. The other challenge I conquered is bungee jumping!

"You could say I'm a fashionista, always trying to look good by wearing nice dresses and jewelry. I believe many women think like me, and that's what inspired me to create jewelry that is original. My designs tend to be more traditional Thai than modern, so I'm thankful for having this place to show my collections to the world.""