It was three years ago, while scrolling through Xiaohongshu, China’s popular social commerce platform (imagine Pinterest), that the 28-year-old stumbled upon a trend called fluid art.
Intrigued by the mesmerising results of pouring liquid acrylic over a plaster bear figurine, she placed an order – only to discover the minimum purchase was for a whopping 200 bears!
Unfazed, this marketing graduate took the plunge, buying up the entire batch. She painted 20 of those bears, shared her creations online, and was pleasantly surprised with the glowing reviews she received. Within two weeks, all 200 bears were snapped up!
That’s when the penny dropped. Today, Chuah is the proud owner of “Bear It,” an arts and crafts workshop with a physical store in Central Market, Kuala Lumpur.
“Since I was a child, I’ve loved arts and crafts. I used to experiment a lot with my mum’s and sisters’ cosmetics,” Chuah, the youngest of four siblings, shared with FMT Lifestyle.
“With ‘Bear It,’ I get to fulfil two of my greatest passions – creativity and children. My aim is to create a playground for kids to experiment and dive into their creativity.”
Chuah runs a variety of workshops here for children, couples, and groups of friends. From painting plaster figurines and coin banks to creating batik artworks, there’s something for everyone.
The studio also introduced a quirky craft trend from China called Decodent Cream, where customers pipe colourful glue onto surfaces and adorn them with a dazzling selection of tiny accessories.
She started her workshop as a side hustle while working in the marketing department of a French company, setting up pop-up booths at malls and events. The enthusiastic response from the public encouraged her to take the leap and make it her full-time career.
Before moving to Central Market six months ago, she operated her business at Pavilion Bukit Jalil, where she catered to a family-oriented crowd from the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Today, her clientele includes a mix of locals and international tourists, but one thing remains constant – children are still her main audience.
“One of the best parts of what I do is seeing how arts and crafts help shape young minds. Many kids today have short attention spans, but when they’re here, they’re engrossed in their craft projects. Art teaches them that failure is part of the process and encourages patience,” said Chuah, who tutored school students during her university days.
She recalled one student who attended her workshops regularly in the early days. “She was impatient and couldn’t complete tasks on her own. But over time, she grew – not just in skill but in her outlook on life. She even developed a longer attention span.”
For Chuah, teaching art is about more than technique; it’s about fostering creativity and resilience in the next generation.
While children remain the heart of “Bear It,” Chuah pointed out that her workshops are equally enjoyable for couples on dates or families looking for fun activities to do together. Visitors can purchase items here and Chuah happily teaches them how to paint – at no extra cost.
Looking to the future, Chuah dreams of expanding her business. She’s already planning to open two new stores in KL next year, and is even exploring the possibility of franchising overseas. But her ambitions go beyond financial success.
“My greatest reward would be if, years from now, a child came to me and said, ‘I made this at your shop and still have it.’ That would mean the world to me.”
For adults, too, Chuah sees crafting as a vital form of emotional care. “We’re so focused on work and success, but crafting nourishes our emotional needs. It’s a way to unwind and rediscover joy. I encourage everyone to make time for it.”
Bear It
M47A, Central Market
Jalan Hang Kasturi
50050 Kuala Lumpur
Business hours: 10am-10pm
Contact: 011-28234271
Follow Bear it on Instagram.