NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. Lotus blossoms drift on a deep pink lake, their beauty created in batik on silk. Serene and beautiful, this shawl by Sakornrat Sinthurat carries the name "Flowers and Water Lines." Artisan Info: "My name is Sakornrat Sinthurat and my nickname is Jerm. I am the second of four children. I was born in Surin province, famous for its beautiful silk and for its traditional Thai wedding style. During the wedding, the bride brings Thai silk to pay respect to the groom's parents or to the senior relatives. My mother has been collecting much Thai silk since I was a young child. I grew up with my parents in the city but also with my grandmother in the countryside. I learned much about Thai silk and how to weave from my grandmother, who wove silks for her personal use. "I studied fine art and graduated with a vocational certificate. I later entered the Silpakorn University and majored in applied art. I lived and studied in Bangkok for four years and graduated second-class honor with a bachelor degree in 1988. I later worked as a designer in a home décor textile company, and then in a garment and home décor company. After that, I taught design at a private university. "At the end of 1992, I moved to the north of Thailand. It has an ancient history, the atmosphere is calm and people are kindhearted. Many people work in longan orchards and in the arts and handicrafts fields, particularly carving or weaving. I loved it here and started to look for some work to do. Because of my experience in industry, I felt that kind of work was too tiresome and repetitive. So I started working as a freelance designer and also looked for a new activity I could do at home. "I love all clothing styles but my favorite is that made with silk. Every kind of silk, depending the country or region
