But Fercy Lee, an Indonesian who’s been residing in Malaysia for 16 years, has taken her own love for food to another level: she makes replicas of food, mostly in miniature sizes, out of clay.
Be warned, however, as her clay replicas look so realistic, you might start drooling just looking at them!
Speaking with FMT Lifestyle, Lee, 44, who runs a business named Donato D Miniature, shared that she fashions clay into earrings, keychains, magnets and decorative items.
Her fascination with clay sparked in 2009, when her Malaysian husband suggested she pick up a craft to help her adjust to living in a new country. Soon, Lee found herself drawn to making miniature clay products.
She initially learned from YouTube videos but later enrolled in physical classes to further hone her skills. The process of taking a plain piece of clay and transforming it into something striking and memorable fascinated her.
When she started her business, Donato D Miniature in 2010, she made miniature plates and bowls for dollhouses. By 2014, she was crafting replicas of food and discovered that combining her two passions – food and clay – was great fun!
But how did she settle on the name Donato? “My friends’ nickname for me is doughnut!” Lee told FMT Lifestyle with a chuckle.
Her bestselling items, she said, are her earrings. Indeed, each piece – whether it’s nasi lemak, bubur cha cha or cendol – is eye-catching to say the least.
The same can be said of her other works too, especially the life-size plates of wantan mee and nasi lemak that she crafts. If you want to prank someone, serve them these dishes!
Additionally, she also takes custom orders for figurines, which she makes based on photos given to her – these make unique gifts for your loved ones.
Her customers are charmed with her creations. “They said that it’s very cute and even referred their friends to me,” she shared.
Each item she crafts is a testament to her creativity, attention to detail and of course, patience. In making her products, Lee shared that she uses air-dry clay and generally starts by colouring a piece of clay before shaping it with her hands or a mould.
Besides crafting food items, she also makes replicas of animals, cartoon characters and dolls.
Inspiration, she added, is everywhere. “I’ll be eating something, and I’ll go, ‘Wow, this can be my next pair of earrings!”
While she relishes the challenge of making her handicrafts – after all, not many can do it so well – there are times, she admitted, when she needed a break. That’s when she takes time off to do some shopping and enjoy a good meal.
With many things to keep her hands full – she is a mother to a 16- and 13-year-old – she said she appreciates the support of Persatuan Pembangunan Artisans (PPA), an NGO that lends a helping hand to local artisans to market their products through its online platform, physical stores and pop-up events.
An Indonesian who has remarkably captured the essence of Malaysian food through clay, Lee hopes to someday make her brand stronger and share her handicrafts with many more people.
To place orders, send a message via Instagram or contact Fercy Lee at 016-283 6465.
Read more PPA stories and get to know its artisans here.