Sumalee Nawakul

Handcrafted beaded jewelry in Thailand

5.0 (artist rating)

"I continue to help the older people from the foundation. They help me by binding and tying the cords calmly and beautifully."

"Sawasdee ka, I'm Sumalee from Isan, in northeastern Thailand, and I come from a family dedicated to gardening flowers. As a child I helped by storing and jasmines as well as fresh banana leaves to sell in at the ceremonies held throughout the year in my village.

"I remember sitting next to my grandmother when she was weaving silk. She planted mulberry trees and raised the silkworms herself. I would also help her as much as I could, by feeding the silkworms with mulberry leaves, boiled cocoons, etc.

"When I was 10 years old, I moved along with my mother to Lampan, where my aunt lived. She wove cotton tablecloths, bedspreads, pillowcases, etc. Every evening after school, I would help her tie tassels on the bedspreads fringe. When I graduated the sixth grade, I wasn't able to continue unto high school with my friends because my mother did not have enough funds.

"So, I worked at a Thai dessert store, starting as an apprentice until I could make several things. I was able to continue my studies and eventually got a vocational certificate in Accounting and I financed my studies by selling my aunt's products at the Night Bazaar.

"After I graduated I worked for a Christian organization for 17 years. Their mission was to help those less fortunate. I met many people, most of them were older people who were unemployed and had no one to look after them. So, I arranged for simple jobs for them that could generate revenue for them as well as recreational activities to reduce their stress.

"However, I became exhausted from work, so I decided to resign and I spent my savings investing in different things, such as a flower shop, a restaurant, a cafe, and a souvenir shop. However, since my only experience had been in non-profit organizations, I ended up losing most of my capital.

"One day, as I was walking on the street I noted some small wooden beads on a bag, and I thought that this was a material that is hardly used and yet was a good decorative accent. I decided to invest again, taking a risk with the money I had left.

"I started with half a kilo of wooden beads and I started threading necklaces by hand. I made a few necklaces with bright, noticeable colors and I began selling them on the streets. My necklaces caught the attention of tourists, who liked them because they were affordable, lightweight, and beautiful.

"And so my life revived! This time, I gradually added new designs, I was more careful with my money, and I promised myself that I would work as intended, and would not fail again.

"My necklaces have been incredibly accepted because even though they are made from small wooden beads that look very ordinary on their own, when I thread them together the necklace can make the wearer stand out a lot. I continue to help the older people from the foundation. They help me by binding and tying the cords calmly and beautifully, for which of course they are handsomely paid.

"Now I sell at Night Bazaar and a friend I made there has been very helpful with her timely advice. You may know her as a Novica featured artisan, she is Chirada and she is very glad to know that I will join the family of Novica. Hope all of you will welcome and support my works. Thank you."

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41 items by Sumalee Nawakul

Trang BelleMulticolor Wood Beaded Artisan Crafted Necklace

Size: 18 to 20 inches

5.0

$20.39
Chao Phraya BelleBlue Green Torsade Necklace Wood Beaded Jewelry

Size: 18 to 20 inches

4.8

$23.99
Sukhothai BelleBrown Torsade Necklace Wood Beaded Jewelry

Size: 20 to 22 inches

5.0

$20.49
Phuket BelleArtisan Crafted Wood Beaded Necklace in Rainbow Colors

Size: 20 to 22 inches

5.0

$29.99
Khao Luang BelleFair Trade Artisan Crafted Wood Torsade Necklace

Size: 20 to 22 inches

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$23.99
Island DanceYellow Wood Bead Necklace Hand Crafted in Thailand

Size: longer than 22 inches

5.0

$29.99
Trang BelleMulticolor Wood Beaded Artisan Crafted Bracelet

Length: 7.5"

5.0

$23.99
Nan BellePurple Torsade Necklace Wood Beaded Jewelry

Size: 18 to 20 inches

5.0

$23.99
Opulent ChartreuseBright Yellow Green Hand Knotted Beaded Necklace

Size: 18 to 20 inches

5.0

$29.99
Lamphan BelleOrange Torsade Bracelet Wood Beaded Jewelry

Length: 7.5"

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$19.99
Natural BelleFair Trade Artisan Crafted Wood Torsade Necklace

Size: 20 to 22 inches

4.7

$27.99
Purple UrchinArtisan Crafted Purple Wood Necklace from Thailand

Size: longer than 22 inches

5.0

$23.99
Nan BellePurple Torsade Bracelet Wood Beaded Jewelry

Length: 7.5"

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$17.99
Island Allure in CrimsonRed Wood Beaded Strand Necklace from Thailand

Size: longer than 22 inches

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$27.99
Chiang Rai BelleDark Brown Torsade Necklace Wood Beaded Jewelry

Size: 20 to 22 inches

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$27.99
Orchid DancePurple Wood Bead Necklace Hand Crafted in Thailand

Size: longer than 22 inches

3.5

$25.99
Opulent RedRed Hand Knotted Beaded Bracelet

Length: 7.5"

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$17.99
Mekong BelleBlue Torsade Necklace Wood Beaded Jewelry

Size: 18 to 20 inches

5.0

$27.99
Oasis DanceLong Multi Strand Bright Green Beaded Wood Necklace

Size: longer than 22 inches

3.0

$25.99
Lamphan BelleOrange Torsade Necklace Wood Beaded Jewelry

Size: 18 to 20 inches

5.0

$19.99
Happy BlueBlue Beaded Wood Waterfall Necklace Artisan Crafted Jewelry

Size: 20 to 22 inches

5.0

$39.99
Petchaburi BelleArtisan Crafted Multicolor Wood Beaded Torsade Necklace

Size: longer than 22 inches

5.0

$25.99
Opulent PinkHot Pink Hand Knotted Beaded Bracelet

Length: 7.5"

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$19.99
Sukhothai BelleBrown Torsade Bracelet Wood Beaded Jewelry

Length: 7.5"

3.0

$19.99
Cool Jungle SkyHandcrafted Necklace with Strands of Blue and Green Beads

Size: longer than 22 inches

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$34.99
Flower Dream in CarnationFloral Wood Beaded Necklace in Carnation from Thailand

Size: longer than 22 inches

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$34.99
Oasis DanceLong Multi Strand Bright Green Beaded Wood Necklace

Size: longer than 22 inches

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

~~$23.29~~ $16.30
Happy YellowArtisan Crafted Yellow Wood Beaded Waterfall Necklace

4.5

$27.99
Island Allure in RubyRed Wood Beaded Strand Necklace from Thailand

Size: longer than 22 inches

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$27.99
Island Allure in PurplePurple Wood Beaded Strand Necklace from Thailand

Size: longer than 22 inches

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$27.99
In NatureFair Trade Artisan Crafted Wood Torsade Necklace

Size: longer than 22 inches

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$27.99
Rising Summer IvoryHandcrafted Littleleaf Boxwood Ivory Beaded Necklace

Size: longer than 22 inches

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$27.99
Bayou DanceHand Crafted Necklace with Turquoise Blue Wood Beads

Size: longer than 22 inches

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$27.99
Rising SpringHand Crafted Green Wood Statement Necklace from Thailand

Size: longer than 22 inches

5.0

$44.99
Rising Summer YellowHandcrafted Littleleaf Boxwood Yellow Beaded Necklace

Size: longer than 22 inches

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$27.99
Hawaii DanceNatural Wood Beaded Necklace Hand-Crafted in Thailand

Size: longer than 22 inches

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$23.99
Mekong BelleBlue Torsade Bracelet Wood Beaded Jewelry

Length: 7.5"

5.0

$19.99
Phrae BelleWood Beaded Jewelry Yellow Torsade Bracelet

Length: 7.5"

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$19.99
Hawaiian SummerThai Hand Crafted Wood Bead Necklace with Three Strands

Size: 20 to 22 inches

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$27.99
Tropic GalaPink, Yellow and Brown Wood Beaded Necklace

Size: longer than 22 inches

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$34.99
Box RoseFuchsia Cube Black Disc Wood Multi-Strand Beaded Necklace

Size: longer than 22 inches

5.0 (Sumalee Nawakul)

$14.99

7 Testimonials for Sumalee Nawakul

Serendipity

My grandmother loves unique jewelry, of all types, from everywhere. Since she is aging (she'll be 82 in July), she now prefers to keep her accessories light in weight...but weight only. She loves color, design, movement & everything else that you can pack into an item with out adding ounces. These totally delivered for her & she wears them quite often. All the colors add a pop to any outfit & make them easy to match to other items.

Elizabeth K

Ukiah, CA USA

I have purchased 6 various necklaces (torsades) & bracelets from Sumalee and love them all! I'm about to buy 5 more! Needless to say, I am quite taken with her amazing craftsmanship! Thank you so very much, Sumalee!

Karin

Burlington, VT, USA

The colors in the Trang Belle bracelet make me so happy! I have worn it every day since receiving it!!

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Sumalee Nawakul

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41 items by Sumalee Nawakul

7 Testimonials for Sumalee Nawakul