Meru Valley Patchwork Society members holding up a tapestry made for the charity bazaar.
WHAT started off as a hobby for Datin Mina Ushiama, has evolved into an annual charity project to raise funds for the underprivileged.
The 79-year-old Japanese woman who has been residing in Ipoh, Perak since 1974, said when she arrived here, she learned patchwork and started making handicraft for friends.
In 2007, she set up the Meru Valley Patchwork Society and held her first charity bazaar the following year.
Ushiama with one of the handcrafted bags made by the society members.
That’s when she managed to raise RM3,000 in aid of an old folks home.
“Since then, we have been holding annual charity bazaars.
“Currently, the society has 10 members, and we meet every Tuesdays from 10am to noon to do patchwork, crochet, cross-stitch, embroidery and other handicraft.
“It takes us a year to make more than 100 items, before we set a date to hold the bazaar,” she said on Monday.
Some of the society members were at Ushiama’s house to price items for the bazaar.
The items produced by the women include tissue cases, passport holders, place mats, cushion covers, stuffed animals, baskets, tote bags, handbags, bed covers, tapestries, quilts, and wall hangers, and tumbler carriers.
Ushiama said they raised about RM15,000 annually with the proceeds going to a home for physically challenged children in Silibin.
“Initially when we were making the handicraft for friends, we thought it would be a better idea to make these items, sell them and have the proceeds go to charity.
“We wanted to give back something to society,” she added.
Ushiama said whenever she went back to Japan, she would bring back cotton fabric to make the items.
“But now there is good quality cotton material that can be purchased from Ipoh as well, and the other members also chip in to get the material.
“We passionately transform these materials, mostly by hand, while some pieces are made using sewing machines,” she added.
The society’s 15th charity bazaar will be held tomorrow (Dec 3) at the function room of Meru Valley Resort from 10am to 3pm.
Besides handicraft, there will also be a food and pottery section. Proceeds from these sales will go to charity as well.
