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Desak Putu Rai

"My mother gave me the name 'Desak Putu Rai' during the traditional Balinese telubulanan, or baby-naming ceremony. My name means 'the younger Putu from the Knight Caste.' I began learning palm basketry from the neighboring craftsmen in 1990, and opened my own roadside shop in 1995. This is now our family business, and we enjoy it very much.

"My motifs and designs are inspired by the natural forms of leaves and flowers, as well as the ancient, primitive designs of our ancestors. The materials we use in my shop are the palm leaf, or lontar, and bamboo. We dye this material with teak leaves and brown clay. All of these materials grow naturally in our village.

"To complete one small basket we need five to seven days. Some of the baskets are small and simple; others are large with many decorative patterns woven into the design.

"We find great pleasure in this profession, sitting here every day, talking and weaving, sharing our conversation and our lives. We have been exhibiting our baskets in the Bali Art Festival with great success, and are highly regarded in Bali for the quality of our work."