Thanyarat Sananpanich

"<i>Sawasdee ka!</I> [hello!]. My name is Thanyarat Sananpanich, and I was born in northern Thailand. I went to school and lived my life just like any other Thai teenager growing up in a city. I was lucky, I was always chosen to join in all the traditional Thai dance recitals at school. I love my traditional Thai culture, so I joined a dance group when I was at school. I once had the chance to perform our traditional dances at the <i>Festival Mondial Folklore de Drummondville</i> in Quebec, Canada in 1989.<br><br>"My first contact with Thai silk came after I graduated from the university in dentistry. I began to work as a dentist at a community hospital. I met a group of silk weavers during one of my dental assistance trips. The beautiful patterns and the people's kind manners made a big impression on me. So much so, that I decided to buy all 30 pieces of <i>phrae wa</i> silk before returning home.<br><br>"Right now, I am trying to weave wall hangings from phrae wa silk as well as replicate the hill tribe's embroidered work. I know I still need to learn more about product design. I'm interested in traditional patterns, embroidered on Thai fabrics, such as silk and cotton. <br><br>"I had always dreamed of having my own crafts shop, besides working as a dentist. The day I found you was the day my dream came true. I love to read many decorative magazines and to surf through decor websites. My ideas are mostly from my own imagination combined with the substance of tradition.<br><br>"I really hope that you all will love my work, just as I and my weaver friends do. <i>Khoup - kun - ka</i> [thank you]."