Pansuk Garden: Fun Molding, Happy in the Garden

Just hearing the name "Suan Pansuk" makes us smile and imagine the time spent creating things with our own hands and soft clay. Today, Pottery Clay would like to invite everyone to journey to Sukhothai to experience the full happiness of this "Suan Pansuk" (Garden of Happiness).

But before we meet Khun Pui - Pharujee Boonchum, the owner of Suan Pansuk, let us explain a little about the name. "Suan Pansuk" was chosen so that Thais and Sukhothai locals could use it to refer to or search for this garden in various search engines. As for "Paan Sook Ceramics", Khun Puifai chose this name for foreigners or those who prefer to speak or use English, making it easier for them to pronounce. Whichever name you use, we guarantee that it will bring you happiness in every pottery session.

It's not surprising that some people think ceramics are plaster works that, once molded and hardened, are painted and then coated with a glossy lacquer. Khun Puifai herself used to think the same way.

"When I was a child, I never knew that the dishes and bowls were ceramics. When adults called them 'krabueang' (tiles/earthenware), I just accepted it without questioning what 'krabueang' actually was. About 20 years ago, I came to study in Lampang and went to the market. I saw a shop selling oddly shaped cups, plates, bowls, and vases. When I looked at the price, I thought, 'Wow, that's expensive!' A small dipping sauce bowl cost 300 baht. I started to wonder what it was and why it was so expensive. So I talked to the seller and found out what this thing was. I decided to buy one piece and asked the seller where they learned to make it.

"After that, I enrolled in a short course on ceramics at the Lampang Ceramic Industry Center (now renamed the Creative Industrial Materials Research and Development Center). But even after finishing the course, I didn't immediately put my knowledge to use. It took 10 years before I opened a shop in my home.

"We intend for the garden area at home to be a place where anyone who visits can find happiness, whether they come to see my parents' garden or to mold clay and engage in any activities. But we don't dictate what they should mold or what design they should create. We only provide guidance on how to mold and how to make things."

"Sukhothai Auspicious Bell" is a unique work of Suan Pansuk. 

Suan Pansuk has a unique signature piece, which they not only sell but also teach others to make: the "Sukhothai Auspicious Bell."

"The concept behind creating this piece was to develop a product that also promotes tourism. Initially, we only sold them as souvenirs. Then, when tourists expressed interest in making their own, we developed a workshop where they could learn and actively string the bells and decorate them with different colored beads from various sources themselves.

"As for our other products, we have everything from small items like jewelry, earrings, beads, buttons, utensils, decorative items, dolls, souvenirs, various religious figures, and we accept custom orders for anything customers want. Additionally, we offer DIY activities such as clay molding, bell stringing, ceramic bead necklace stringing, decorating ceramic letters on wooden plaques, and decorating ceramics with gold leaf. But whenever we set up a booth, the bell stringing and ceramic bead necklace stringing are the most popular because both Thais and foreigners love them!"

For anyone wondering what kind of clay "Suan Pansuk" primarily uses for molding and teaching, Khun Puifai reveals it without reservation:

"We mainly use local materials. This includes local earthenware clay, which is rich in iron, beautiful in color, and has an ancient feel, reflecting the historical ruins of Sukhothai. It looks dignified, is fire-resistant, and its color is beautiful even without glazing, but if glazed, it's even more stunning. We use celadon glaze very frequently. We also use oxide glazes on all our products, such as kinyo, aventurine, copper red, celadon, and even ash glaze from grilled meatball shops."

"The shop has 44 glaze colors, depending on our mood when creating. Sometimes, if I like a particular color, I'll dip an entire kiln load in it. As for clay from Lampang, Sing Buri, or ordered from Bangkok, it's stoneware, used for molding dolls, containers, and various oxide glazes. Most of these are purchased in Lampang, but some are bought in Ban Koh, Si Satchanalai District, Sukhothai Province, and Sing Buri Province."

For anyone who wants to try their hand at pottery and happens to be visiting Sukhothai Province, you can drop by "Suan Pansuk" at 170/5 Moo 1, Ban Lum Subdistrict, Mueang District, Sukhothai Province. We are open daily from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM. However, there may be extended closures, so please check our Facebook page or call 08-9484-9136.