Home is where the heart is.

Thought we left the home yet, but our heart stayed forever.

I was born and raised in Indonesia, a country that far far far away in southeast Asian regions. Well knows as a humble place full with multi-racial people, religions and cultures. Beautiful country with more than 17,000 islands , each with their own traditional languages, accents, cultures, beliefs, uniqueness, traditional food and their own beautiful spots. Every places you go in Indonesia, it tells different stories . It owns different cultures, legend stories, folklores, mysteries . Every place is unique.

I have been a quite traveler, I left home since I was in high school, moved to places, lived in abroad until I got married and moved to US.

All those experiences and friends have I met, places I’ve visited , language I’ve spoken, good company I’ve with, food I’ve tasted, love stories I’ve involved, things I’ve learned, everything I’ve seen, no matter what it was, I always missed home the most. Home sick.

Indonesia is a wonderland with hundreds of volcanoes and exotic destinations. If you ever have a chance to visit the country, don’t missed visiting places like Bali island of Lombok island. Well, not only those places but if I would make a lists of places you should go and visit, it’s going to take pages and pages of writings. And every places you visit are going to be different from each other. Not to mentions, Indonesia has more than 700 languages and dialects are spoken.

One of the most unique piece that you can find in Indonesia is the traditional fabric, called Batik ( means large/dots/writing - source : Wikipedia). Basically it’s origin from Java. One of the island in Indonesia.

Batik fabric is one of the very well known traditional fabric in the world, the making of Batik itself has a uniqueness. Not only that, the motifs and patterns and the techniques are very different and unique in its own way. Each design has their own story, philosophy of lives and mystical meanings and folklore stories .

Each motif and pattern has their meanings, often used in traditional ceremonies such as wedding, before wedding, birth of the child and even the death ceremony. Also the colors and dyes have the meanings. Because of Indonesia has a multicultural cultures, such as native Indonesian, Muslims, Chinese, Hinduism, Buddhism, most of the motifs and patterns also adapted to the cultural influences.

The fabric made from cotton, beeswax and plants from different vegetables dyes are made. Every island in Indonesia has their own traditional Batik fabric, often named differently according to their local traditional places.

Initially, there are several techniques to make a Batik, remember, most Batik used a handmade techniques to make, even the dyes and the application of the beeswax to cover the unwanted colors/dyes, usually after the dyes applied, the fabric will be soaked in hot water to remove the beeswax and the process will keep going until all the colors applied in the fabrics. The process and the techniques of making batik fabric taking long time to make, it made the price of written batik fabric are expensive . Yet, it’s always unique in its own way.

Now the techniques and the process of making batik are developed in many ways, such as Batik Tulis ( written Batik), Stamped Batik ( Batik cap ) and Painted Batik ( batik lukis) they all have their own techniques and their own stories. Each one is unique.

Every Batik patterns and motifs are symbolic. Every patterns back then to old age has their own meaning ,some of them are only worn by those in high social class. For example the king or the royals only wear a particular motifs/ patterns, as well as the dancers, the soldiers, the ordinary people , every motifs/patterns would tell the social class of their own lives. But now, it adapts more. The motifs/ patterns are become more modern, it adapts the time, no longer specified to who and whom wearing it, but more into the philosophy and the meaning of the pattern or the motifs. It became the “modern Batik” which targeted the young people and the overall class and social lives. More fashionables. The traditional batik itself still be worn during the ceremony, the traditional events and culture celebrations.

So I try to make an accessories based on Indonesian Batik fabric but in modern concept to mix with the western culture and east . Like combining the traditional fabrics with denim fabrics or leather. To create handmade bags or accessories such as batik fabric earrings, statement batik fabric necklace, batik motifs/pattern wooden pendant attached to fabric necklace, or even a wooden bangle wrapped in Batik fabric. It gives something unique in their way. Such a statement piece that attracts people attention.

The statement necklace created with batik fabric that sewn together and decorated with rhinestones, it gives a touch of uniqueness that attractive in such a unique ways. It’s bold and unique. The statement necklace Often worn with a plain shirt and pair of jeans . Something chic, simple but bold.

The earrings are the batik fabrics that sewn into flower shapes, it’s big and oversized. Decorated as well with the rhinestones just to add the glamorous sense to it.

For the handpainted pendant , I used the wood burning tool to create the pattern , painted it attached it to the satin batik fabric.

I also made a wooden bangle wrapped in the batik fabric. An oversized bangle that fits the Boho Chic fashion choice.

I also make a handbag made from batik fabric as well, the concept is to choose the big pattern and or the flower pattern and combine it the rhinestone or even put the fabric flowers to it. Most of the bag is a tote bag. Or an evening clutch.

Every piece has their own techniques to it. I also mixed the fabrics to create more rich colors and textures to every accessories.

And you know , it’s always a happy moment when you will able to tell the stories of where you from, then it became the happy thoughts about back then, a home we were born, family and friends back home and food we ate and even the smells of the beach, the essentials oil you always smell at the old houses. How amazing that one piece of accessories reminds us of our happy places.

Everytime i started to do the accessories made from batik , my thought flew back home. It’s such a happy moment , I felt like I put such a positive energy towards the work. A happy energy. A home sick feeling but in a happy way. Making the accessories with Batik fabric put me in happy zen moment. A peaceful thoughts. It actually like a medicine that can heal a home sick for a minute. Feels like I never far away from home. But you know you always want to go home no matter what . Nothing can change it. Nothing can’t take where you came from out from you.

And whenever I wear the piece, it brings me home. Making me feel that my home is where my heart is. A happy place.