process that requires enormous skill and patience. Every little silver ball, every tiny filigree wire is made and applied by hand. Most of the silversmiths at our production facility are young men and women who have trained for many years. Ketut Kosim is a twenty nine year old silversmith from Cambangoan near Celuk. He comes from a family of farmers but began to study silver work when he was thirteen years old. Of the four children in his family, three are silversmiths and one sells art work. Kosim has worked at the workshop for three years and is head of the silversmiths. He also makes most of the new samples. “I feel good when we get a big order from one of my samples,” he tells me. When I ask him if he enjoys working with silver he replies simply, “It is my calling.” Irfandik is a 31 year old bachelor from Java who lives and works in Bali. Unlike Kosim, Irfandik comes from a family of silver and goldsmiths. His father, grandfather and great grandfather all worked in the trade. Irfandik smiles shyly but speaks with enthusiasm about his work, “I came to Celuk to learn the Balinese style of silver work,” he explains. “In Java we don’t do a lot of granulation but to be successful today you need to know how to do everything.&" id="148; !" alt="" /> Ni Made Lalik has her own workshop that produces beads for Wiz Silver. Lalik is twenty five years old, married and has an infant son. She comes from a family of woodcarvers but her father also taught silver work at a local crafts college. As a child Lalik would help her father with new designs and he decided that she had a special gift. “I majored in modern painting in high school,” Lalik explains, “but I did silver work on the side to pay my school fees.” After an unsuccessful attempt to gain admission to the Fine Arts college in Yogyakarta, Lalik was determined to do well in silver, “If I couldn’t paint, I wanted to run my own business instead of working in someone else’s shop.” She slowly saved money to buy silver and equipment and now employs nine people in a workshop attached to her home. !" alt="" width="100" height="150" /> Ketut Sarmini is 29 years old. He is from Sukawati, Bali. Sarmini began to study silver smithing while he was in High School. He hopes you understand how difficult it is to create intricate beads completely by hand. He asks you to order more silver beads so that his community can continue to develop.
!" alt="" width="100" height="150" /> Wayan Sri Sudiari is 25 years old from Sukawati, Bali. Everyone in her community works with silver. She chose to continue the tradition because it felt comfortable and familiar. “I am very proud of our handmade work. I hope the customers in America realize that when they purchase these items they are helping our community prosper.”
!" alt="" width="100" height="150" /> Komang Ariati is 31 years old. She comes from Banjar Abasan in Bali. “My twin sister and I learned silver smithing from our family and we both chose it as an occupation. We are a silver family. Making silver by hand is difficult but rewarding. Please buy our beads so that we will have plenty of work in the future.”
!" alt="" width="100" height="150" /> Kadek Suastika is 30 years old from Karangsem, Bali. “I started making silver jewelry as a hobby. Then I met my lovely wife, who is also a silversmith, and I decided to join her occupation. It makes me proud that people in America use our silver in their jewelry designs. I hope we will all have large orders in the future!”
!" alt="" width="100" height="150" /> Gusti Banjar is 28 from Bon Bukit, Bali. He joined his family doing silver work in 1997. He finds satisfaction in his work and strives to create a high quality product that people will want to buy over and over again.