Saying it with wood

FOR SOMEONE who proclaims not to understand art, Natkarita “Gam” Jeasitthinon is bursting with creative ideas. These she shares with someone who does know a lot whole about art – her close friend Chalermkhwan “Bow” Worawutteerawong. Together the young ladies are running the successful home accessories brand Ta Mae Krae, which brings a fun touch to every room with funky items made of wood. 

Gam studied marketing at Assumption University of Thailand while Bow graduated in interior design from King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok before taking a job at her brother-in-law’s factory, which produces custom-made display counters for trade events. 

Four years ago, Gam asked Bow to design a new jewellery box and in just a few a days Bow had turned a scrap of medium-density fibreboard, known for short at MDF, into a multipurpose container in the shape of an old-fashioned school desk. The girls liked it so much that they decided to market their ideas to the public.

They started with a stall at The Box Market on suburban Ratchapruek Road but business was quiet. Their next stop was Cicada Night Market in Hua Hin, where their fun knick-knacks quickly garnered interest from both foreign tourists and local residents. The pair launched their latest collection at the recent Baan Lae Suan Fair and today have more than 4,000 faithful followers of their Facebook page.

“The brand’s name refers to something petite, which suits both of us as we are both quite small. Our first collection was handmade from recycled MDF but we later switched to more solid pinewood and rubber wood. We use both hand screening and laser techniques to create the motifs. 

And these days, we have lots of customers from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore,” Bow says. 

Inspiration comes from their surroundings, she adds, though both girls have a preference for classic motifs including old-fashioned bicycles and cameras, which add a touch of vintage charm.

Their screened-wooden postcards are proving particularly popular with buyers as as well as the practical bottle openers made from used connecting rod. Other best-sellers include cube-inspired pen holders and name card holders, flowerpot holders that resemble a birdcage and foldable stools with metal legs made from rosewood and Makha wood. 

Visit their booth today at the Art Box container night market at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, or check out the latest collection on Ta.Mae.Krae page on Facebook.