KULAI: Have you ever thought of turning seeds from fruits and vegetables into potted plants and accessories to add a touch of nature to your home?
That is what Liew Hui Peng, a 49-year-old seed enthusiast from here did when she started collecting disposed seeds in 2012 to give them a new life.
Back then, she used to make handmade ceramics and one day, she realised that she had produced too many pots and cups, which she had no use for.
“I thought it would be creative to use the ceramics as vessels for cute potted plants, so I started collecting seeds from fruits and vegetables that we ate at home instead of throwing them away.
“I remember when I first saw the seeds germinate in the little pots, I immediately fell in love and that led me to take a deep dive into researching all things seeds,” she said in an interview.
Her love for seeds took her to various parts of Malaysia and Taiwan where she met up with a seed specialist to learn about ways to properly clean and handle seeds before turning them into potted plants, crafts and accessories such as earrings, necklace, wall displays and decorations.
Each seed has its own characteristics and grows differently under varying conditions, which are the fun part about the plants, she said, adding that it could take as long as one-and-a-half years for a seed to germinate.
While all the seeds needed to be cleaned thoroughly and polished before they were made into crafts, some seeds like those from blue palm trees had natural root-like grooves on them, making them attractive and unique as necklaces, Liew noted.
“I find it therapeutic as I can spend hours observing and experimenting on each type of seed.
“Now that my three sons have grown up, I cherish the opportunity where I can allot some time to myself for the things that I enjoy doing,” she said, adding that her husband supported her deep interest in seeds.
Liew said she would often stop at the side of the road to admire trees and collect fallen fruits to retrieve its seeds to experiment at home.
Over the years, she has collected more than 100 types of seeds and eventually, ran out of space to display them at home, so she decided to partner up with a friend from Singapore to open a seed gallery in Kampung Baru Kelapa Sawit earlier this year.
However, it was not all smooth-sailing for their preparations as they were interrupted by the movement control order and border travel restrictions took place because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Liew said she almost gave up on the plan but her friend gave her the motivation to keep going, so that they could share and spread seed knowledge to the public.
Visitors to her gallery, Seeds Corner, can find potted plants and crafts from some of the seeds she gave new life to, including those from dragon fruit, canistel and putat laut (Barringtonia).
“I find joy and satisfaction in sharing my knowledge with anyone who wants to know more about seeds.
“I hope to show people that beautiful things do not necessarily need to cost a lot of money because beauty is everywhere.
“We just need to slow down and admire nature around us,” she added.
That is what Liew Hui Peng, a 49-year-old seed enthusiast from here did when she started collecting disposed seeds in 2012 to give them a new life.
Back then, she used to make handmade ceramics and one day, she realised that she had produced too many pots and cups, which she had no use for.
“I thought it would be creative to use the ceramics as vessels for cute potted plants, so I started collecting seeds from fruits and vegetables that we ate at home instead of throwing them away.
“I remember when I first saw the seeds germinate in the little pots, I immediately fell in love and that led me to take a deep dive into researching all things seeds,” she said in an interview.
Her love for seeds took her to various parts of Malaysia and Taiwan where she met up with a seed specialist to learn about ways to properly clean and handle seeds before turning them into potted plants, crafts and accessories such as earrings, necklace, wall displays and decorations.
Each seed has its own characteristics and grows differently under varying conditions, which are the fun part about the plants, she said, adding that it could take as long as one-and-a-half years for a seed to germinate.
While all the seeds needed to be cleaned thoroughly and polished before they were made into crafts, some seeds like those from blue palm trees had natural root-like grooves on them, making them attractive and unique as necklaces, Liew noted.
“I find it therapeutic as I can spend hours observing and experimenting on each type of seed.
“Now that my three sons have grown up, I cherish the opportunity where I can allot some time to myself for the things that I enjoy doing,” she said, adding that her husband supported her deep interest in seeds.
Liew said she would often stop at the side of the road to admire trees and collect fallen fruits to retrieve its seeds to experiment at home.
Over the years, she has collected more than 100 types of seeds and eventually, ran out of space to display them at home, so she decided to partner up with a friend from Singapore to open a seed gallery in Kampung Baru Kelapa Sawit earlier this year.
However, it was not all smooth-sailing for their preparations as they were interrupted by the movement control order and border travel restrictions took place because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Liew said she almost gave up on the plan but her friend gave her the motivation to keep going, so that they could share and spread seed knowledge to the public.
Visitors to her gallery, Seeds Corner, can find potted plants and crafts from some of the seeds she gave new life to, including those from dragon fruit, canistel and putat laut (Barringtonia).
“I find joy and satisfaction in sharing my knowledge with anyone who wants to know more about seeds.
“I hope to show people that beautiful things do not necessarily need to cost a lot of money because beauty is everywhere.
“We just need to slow down and admire nature around us,” she added.
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