Yumna, the Giftmaker

Yumna Rasheed, aged 38 years, first started making these products at night when she had troubles sleeping due to insomnia. She mentions that she has been suffering from insomnia for around 25 years and it got worse after she gave birth as she could not take her medicines at that time.

So, during those sleepless nights she started making these products as a stress reliever, and made it a business at The Gift Basket Maldives .
She first started making crafts such as small pirate ships using recycled materials. However, during 2018, after getting inspired on Etsy and Pinterest, she started using felt and cloth to make her products.

Yumna says that she started learning how to sew due to her grandmother continuously asking her to learn to sew. Nearly 4 years later, she is still using her grandmothers sewing kit to make her crafts.

The biggest issue she faces while making her crafts is not being able to get the required materials in Maldives. If the color of felt or cloth she needs is not available in Male’, she said that she cannot continue making the products as she has to wait a long time to import the materials or wait till the materials are available in shops again.

She mentions that she appreciates her repeat customers and her very first customer, as that customer ordered a product from her page trusting her and without having any idea how the product would turn out. She also notes that she hopes that one day she can start teaching others what she has learned by holding classes for others.

Yumna also highlights that her husband and family have been the biggest supporters of this business, which she describes as the best therapy project. She also says that her products are delivered nationwide and overseas also sometimes.

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