SONGKHLA FLOWERS Minako Ito

Rie Nakai

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

What: Songkhla Flowers at Thai Craft FairWhat: Songkhla Flowers at Thai Craft Fair Why: The Songkhla Flowers are really Why: The Songkhla Flowers are really

beautiful and we get interested in how they are beautiful and we get interested in how they are mademade

Where: Ambassador HotelWhere: Ambassador Hotel When: February 7, 2009When: February 7, 2009 How: BTS to Nana StationHow: BTS to Nana Station

THAI CRAFT SALETHAI CRAFT SALE Self-financing trade for social Self-financing trade for social

developmentdevelopment Gain a sustainable incomeGain a sustainable income Preserve ThaisPreserve Thais’’ diverse craft traditions diverse craft traditions Works with over 70 villages nationwideWorks with over 70 villages nationwide Thai Craft Fairs in Bangkok at least 18 Thai Craft Fairs in Bangkok at least 18

times a yeartimes a year Calls for Volunteers (adults and students, Calls for Volunteers (adults and students,

who are interested in Thai Crafts, also who are interested in Thai Crafts, also ISB students are working too)ISB students are working too)

SONGKHLA VILLAGESONGKHLA VILLAGE Eastern coastal province in Eastern coastal province in

southern Thailand edging the Thai southern Thailand edging the Thai GulfGulf

7,150 km7,150 km22

Fresh food, poultry, meat, herbs, Fresh food, poultry, meat, herbs, fruits, vegetables and spicesfruits, vegetables and spices

Fishing communityFishing community ThailandThailand’’s largest body of inland s largest body of inland

water = Great Songkhla Lake (20 water = Great Songkhla Lake (20 km at widest)km at widest)

HISTORY OF SONGKHLA FLOWERSHISTORY OF SONGKHLA FLOWERS

Para Rubber Plantations are common in Para Rubber Plantations are common in Songkhla VillageSongkhla Village

Many leaves of rubber trees are left unused Many leaves of rubber trees are left unused Those leaves are flexible and can be dyed Those leaves are flexible and can be dyed

→ → idea of the floweridea of the flower

Floods destroy villagesFloods destroy villages→→ needs moneyneeds money

MATERIALS USEDMATERIALS USED

Para Rubber Leaves (dyed)Para Rubber Leaves (dyed) Fir ConesFir Cones Paper StreamerPaper Streamer GlueGlue StickStick StringString

MAKING PROCEDUREMAKING PROCEDURE

1.1. Collect and dry rubber leavesCollect and dry rubber leaves2.2. Rubber Leaves are soaked into water and green parts Rubber Leaves are soaked into water and green parts

of leaves are taken out so that only veins of leaves of leaves are taken out so that only veins of leaves are leftare left

3.3. Dye rubber leaves in different colorsDye rubber leaves in different colors4.4. Glue two leaves togther (repeat #3 for 15 times) Glue two leaves togther (repeat #3 for 15 times) → →

petalspetals5.5. Roll a rubber leaf around a fir seed (repeat #5 for 7 Roll a rubber leaf around a fir seed (repeat #5 for 7

times) times) →→stamenstamen6.6. Glue #4 around #5 on a stickGlue #4 around #5 on a stick7.7. Glue 4 green leaves Glue 4 green leaves → → sepalssepals8.8. Tape 2 leaves on a stick Tape 2 leaves on a stick →→ 　　 leavesleaves

INTERVIEWING THE INTERVIEWING THE ARTISIANARTISIAN

Khun Chuan SuratakoKhun Chuan Suratako

Artisian from Songkhla VillageArtisian from Songkhla Village

INTERVIEWING THE ARTISIANINTERVIEWING THE ARTISIAN

When did you start?When did you start? 16 years old16 years old

How long does it take to make one flower?How long does it take to make one flower? Around 10 mins for flowerAround 10 mins for flower But a month to prepare materialBut a month to prepare material

How many different flowers are there?How many different flowers are there? Around 100Around 100

INTERVIEWING THE ARTISIANINTERVIEWING THE ARTISIAN

When did you start?When did you start? 16 years old16 years old

How long does it take to make one flower?How long does it take to make one flower? Around 10 mins for flowerAround 10 mins for flower But month to prepare materialBut month to prepare material

How many different flowers are there?How many different flowers are there? Around 100Around 100

INTERVIEWING THE ARTISIANINTERVIEWING THE ARTISIAN

When did you start?When did you start? 16 years old16 years old

How long does it take to make one flower?How long does it take to make one flower? Around 10 mins for flowerAround 10 mins for flower But month to prepare materialBut month to prepare material

How many different flowers are there?How many different flowers are there? Around 100Around 100

INTERVIEWING THE ARITISIANINTERVIEWING THE ARITISIAN What part do you enjoy the most?What part do you enjoy the most?

Flowers produced are beautifulFlowers produced are beautiful What part do you hate the most?What part do you hate the most?

When leaves are eaten or get diseasesWhen leaves are eaten or get diseases How many people are in the artisan group?How many people are in the artisan group?

Around 20 peopleAround 20 people What are some techniques you use?What are some techniques you use?

Use the water from waterfallUse the water from waterfall What tools do you use to make flower?What tools do you use to make flower?

Para Rubber leavesPara Rubber leaves Natural Resources from forestNatural Resources from forest

PERSONAL RESPONSEPERSONAL RESPONSE

RieRie I was surprised by the villagersI was surprised by the villagers ’’ intelligent intelligent

idea of making flowers out of rubber leaves idea of making flowers out of rubber leaves just because they had plenty of those dried just because they had plenty of those dried leaves on the ground. Also, I was moved by leaves on the ground. Also, I was moved by artisansartisans’’ kindness to support the economy of kindness to support the economy of village by selling these flowers.village by selling these flowers.

PERSONAL RESPONSEPERSONAL RESPONSE

MinakoMinako I think it was a really great experience, I think it was a really great experience,

because I learned not only about Songkhla because I learned not only about Songkhla Flower but also about Thailand. Also I was Flower but also about Thailand. Also I was surprised that I have been Thailand for 8 years, surprised that I have been Thailand for 8 years, but I still have lot more to learn about it. but I still have lot more to learn about it.

THANK A LOT TOTHANK A LOT TO Khun Chuan SuratakoKhun Chuan Suratako

BIBLIOGRAPHYBIBLIOGRAPHY ““Materials.Materials.”” Thai Amazing Flower Thai Amazing Flower. 2003. Thai Amazing Flower. 21 . 2003. Thai Amazing Flower. 21

Jan. 2009 <http://www.thaiamazingflower.com/materials.php>.Jan. 2009 <http://www.thaiamazingflower.com/materials.php>. Songkhla Flowers. Advertisement. Songkhla Flowers. Advertisement. ThaiCraft NewsThaiCraft News 4 Oct. 2008. 4 Oct. 2008.

ThaiCraftThaiCraft. ThaiCraft Organization. 23 Feb. 2009 . ThaiCraft Organization. 23 Feb. 2009 <http://www.thaicraft.org/new/pdf/TC_News_20081004_EN.pdf>.<http://www.thaicraft.org/new/pdf/TC_News_20081004_EN.pdf>.

"Songkhla/Hat Yai." "Songkhla/Hat Yai." Asia World Enterprise Co., Ltd.Asia World Enterprise Co., Ltd. Asia World. Asia World. 23 Feb. 2009 23 Feb. 2009 <http://www.asiaworld-travel.com/DestinationPDF/Songkla.pdf>.<http://www.asiaworld-travel.com/DestinationPDF/Songkla.pdf>.

The Thai Craft Association. "Songkhla Flowers." The Thai Craft Association. "Songkhla Flowers." Thai Craft FairThai Craft Fair. . The Thai Craft Association. 21 Jan. 2009 The Thai Craft Association. 21 Jan. 2009 <http://www.thaicraft.org/new/songkha-flowers.html>.<http://www.thaicraft.org/new/songkha-flowers.html>.