PARALYSIS from a spinal tumour prompted a woman in Tanah Merah, Kelantan, to seek therapeutic activities.
Wan Noraini Wan Hassan from Kampung Gual Ipoh was diagnosed with a spinal tumour in 2015, which left her paralysed from the waist down and wheelchair-bound.
She said the sudden transition to being a person with disability (OKU) had significant emotional impact on her.
“I initially started making ornamental flowers from stockings just to fill my time and calm my mind after my life changed in the blink of an eye.
“It was a huge blow, but I did not want to continue grieving and dwelling on my fate.
“I never expected that what started as a hobby and emotional therapy would eventually become a source of income,” she told Bernama.
The 54-year-old mother-of- seven said the flowers crafted from sheer stockings are not only used as decorations for weddings and engagement ceremonies, but also for gift bouquets and home decor.
Wan Noraini’s process of making the flowers requires high precision, as each petal is shaped using wire before being wrapped with the stocking material and assembled individually.
“The wire is cut then shaped into curves before being covered with stocking.
“Then it’s trimmed and combined with accessories such as flower buds and beads.
“It usually takes about five minutes to complete a single flower, while a more intricate stalk with leaves can take up to two hours.”
Wan Noraini said different types of flowers have different levels of difficulty, with her offerings such as hibiscus, rose, frangipani and peony buds requiring between five and 13 petals to complete.
She also uses two layers of material for more “pop” and to produce petals that closer resemble real flowers.
“Some customers choose their own colours according to their event themes, while others ask for my suggestion because colour combinations play an important role in producing beautiful arrangements.”
Wan Noraini said she could produce up to 800 flowers a month, especially during wedding season when she would receive orders from as far away as Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore.
The flowers are priced between RM1.20 and RM12 per stalk depending on type, intricacy and arrangement requested by customers.
She also crochets, producing custom items such as handbags and dolls priced between RM100 and RM250, all of which she shares through her TikTok account @Noraini72.
On her limitations, Wan Noraini said, “My condition and being in a wheelchair means I am unable to work for long hours.
“I can only do craft work for about five to six hours a day.
“However, this craft activity helps calm my emotions and gives me the opportunity to earn an income,” she said.
