About

How it all started

In 2008, THE ARTSY CRAFTSY started off as a Malaysian DIY arts and crafts blog, that pioneered the local arts and craft community. It was created purely out of passion at a time when there were not enough local arts and craft blogs in Malaysia. Years later, The Artsy Craftsy grew along with the community, becoming one of the prominent names in Malaysia's arts and craft scene.

Creative Community

The idea has always been to empower readers with inspiring, creative content so that they may create a well-balanced lifestyle with creativity, and to build a network of homegrown craft brands & makers because we believe that Malaysian artists and crafters deserve to be heightened.

Creative Lifestyle Company

In mid-2015, The Artsy Craftsy transitioned from an online platform into a full-time creative lifestyle business that is heavily involved in the local arts & craft scene and cultivates creativity through its content, classes, corporate activities and other value-added services.

BLOG
We publish curated content, featuring some of the most inspiring and insightful stories about creative Malaysians, creative biz tips, arts and craft tutorials, recommended arts and craft supplies and local creative events in the community.

CREATIVE SERVICES
We offer offline & online creative services for corporate clients such as content creation, demos, appearances and on-the-spot personalized art for experience marketing and event marketing. Our partner programme has enabled us to work with several companies and brands for B2C experience, with names such as Spotlight, Etsy, Pelikan Malaysia, Craft Haven, Toyota Global and SUDIO.

CORPORATE ACTIVITY
Specially designed for corporate events and activities, our newly launched CRAFT BUFFET is a concept suitable for media events, retreat, family day and more. We also have team building and workshops too! Some of our clients are Setia City Mall, HSBC Malaysia, Staedtler Malaysia, ASUS, Technip FMC KL and Eco World.

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
Perfect for hobbyists! We offer private arts & craft sessions for individuals or group. We have mini craft workshops (explore craft projects) and full-scale arts & craft classes (skill-level courses). View our craft menu to select your creative experience.

COMMUNITY
We want to help Malaysian artists and crafters grow! Join our mini programme called MAKERS NETWORK to receive opportunities to collaborate or invitations to participate in craft events by our event partners. For online exposure, we are now accepting applications for paid MAKERS FEATURE. We also have MAKERS CONSULTATION, a creative business consultation service for NEW arts & craft business owners who are looking for tips, advice and guides.

SHOP THE ARTSY CRAFTSY
We offer creative merchandise and craft goods, as well as made-to-order handmade & handpainted items designed by The Artsy Craftsy for home decor, gifts and more. We specialize in surface designs on canvas, fabric and wood, and other handmade & handpainted items. We are opened for customization or commissioned requests too.

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About Founder

Photo: Creative Girl Boss

Shia Lynn, Toh is a Creative Entrepreneur, Visual Artist, Craft Maven and Founder of The Artsy Craftsy in Malaysia's growing creative community. When Shia Lynn created The Artsy Craftsy in 2008, she spent years of networking with artists and makers in the local scene. In 2015, Shia Lynn left her job as a professional copywriter to focus on expanding The Artsy Craftsy, and later on, joined by her husband, Justin to manage the creative business. Shia Lynn is also the creator of Craft Buffet Malaysia, a craft activity concept for corporate companies, a creative consultation of Makers Network and co-founders of Craft Affair Malaysia, a creative lifestyle event organiser and Uniquely Henna MY, a local henna service.

Before The Artsy Craftsy, she started her first small creative service in 2005; she painted on bridal wear & evening gowns and had her first two fashion shows on her series of wearable art. Some of her early clients were La Senza, Dragonfly Tattoo and Wondermilk.

Her milestones include receiving a Certificate in Fabric Painting by Pebeo, France; another in Colour Psycho-Spiritual Studies (alternative art therapy) by International Academy of Colour Consciousness, and has been professionally trained during her early career years by big names like Craft Haven, Da Vinci Creative Kids and The One Academy.

Shia Lynn was one of the Top 10 finalists in the content category at the DiGi WWWOW Awards Malaysia 2014, and listed second in the Top 10 Arts and Craft Workshops in KL & Selangor.

As a self-taught artist-crafter, it has been more than 10 years since her involvement in Malaysia's arts and craft scene. Shia Lynn enjoys art journaling, fabric painting and exploring with different types of craft projects. Her art is mostly influenced by bright colours, bohemian designs, abstract patterns or expressive art themes, inspired by her favourite artists like Frida Kahlo and Vincent Van Gogh.

If you are interested to pursue the handmade path, but not sure where to begin, Shia Lynn is available to conduct one-on-one consultation sessions for new handmade business owners. You may also book or invite to teach her art crafts workshops, work on partnerships, collaborations or book writing or follow her 365 days craft adventures!

Stay True to Yourself!

"I have been in a relationship with arts and craft for as long as I can remember, and I saw creativity as part of my soul. Art making was both my inner voice and soul-food. As a self-taught artist and crafter, over the years, I managed to unravel creative boundaries to combine art (my passion) and copywriting (my rice bowl) to create a balance in my journey as a Creative Entrepreneur. After serving the corporate industry for more than 10 years, something in me changed! A shift happened, and next thing I know, I was going full-time on The Artsy Craftsy. It was a wonderful 8 years of managing T.A.C as a creative hobby/review blog, but I decided that it was time for me to turn it into a creative business, that promotes creativity and growth. To know that I am able to share this with the community is just pure happiness! On a final note, it is up to us how we craft our life and what stories we want to tell in our paintings. Pursue your destiny if it calls out to you, but always stay passionate! Your inner child is the true artist in you." - Shia Lynn.