22/02/2026

ON SUNDAY February 22, 2026 theSunday Special VIII

The safest bet is to make the gift our selves. Not everyone is crafty enough to knit a drink coaster or create a scrapbook, but there are places where one can go to receive step-by-step guidance to make meaningful gift items such as candles, paintings, soap and even lipsticks, to name a few. These workshops are open to everyone who wants to experience the art of crafting and create something beautiful to take home at the end of the session. The best part is that there will be no duplicates of the items made during this workshop. It will be a one-of-a-kind gift and that is truly special. A piece of nature A terrarium is a better gift than a house plant because it is low-maintenance and takes up little space. It comes in as small as a pickle jar and requires only six to eight hours of light daily and a spray of water every 30 days. Terrarium Garden Malaysia R̆ HUV WKH H[SHULHQFH RI FUHDWLQJ PLQLDWXUH landscapes, allowing participants to cus tomise their creations with 3D-printed small ornaments and various elements, such as printed wood and glass boxes or jars in various sizes. Terrariums here are made in Tri-Zen style, which means each has multiple angle views. It is like having three landscapes in one terrarium. “We guide our workshop participants to decide on a theme for their terrarium. They can choose either dark forest, tropi

cal forest, garden light or zen garden. The moss we use is thoroughly cleansed and our premium soil doesn’t need fertiliser for the next three years. “ $ WHUUDULXP LV QRW OLNH D ÀRZHU ERX quet that can be kept for only a short period of time. It is unique, long-lasting and sustainable. It is part of nature. Biologically, when our hands touch the soil, they release serotonin, which is a happy hormone. It relaxes the mind. The multiple angles of the Tri-Zen terrarium can also be applied to our daily lives. It teaches us not just to see things from one perspective,” said Eve Koay, owner of Terrarium Garden Malaysia.

A terrarium is not like a flower bouquet that can be kept for only a short period of time. It is unique, long-lasting and sustainable.”

Koay

From terrariums to terrazzo, local workshops provide a way for people to make personalised gifts with long-term value Made just for you BY HANNEF ESQUANDER

B UYING a gift can be quite stressful, regardless of how well you know the recipient. They might not like it or they might already have something similar. You also do not want to be judged for buying the same thing, like a mug, picture frame or gift card again. An ideal gift should be something from the heart, about the person as much as it is about you. It is a part of yourself that you wrap in a box, carrying with it the warmth of your thoughts for the person. Another thing to consider is the envi ronment and the sustainability factor of it all. Will the gift be appreciated, used or kept for years to come or will it go straight WR WKH ODQG¿OO" ,V WKHUH D UHWXUQ SROLF\ RU will the person who receives it be stuck with it even when they do not really want LW" 7KHVH DUH MXVW VRPH RI WKH WKLQJV WR consider before deciding on a gift.

Terrariums made in Tri-Zen style.

Koay … “Hands-on terrarium workshops blend nature, mindfulness and sustainable design.”