A completed piece by Dung Luu. (Photo by Mark Wetherbee, Jr.)
Hamilton resident Dung Luu cuts uniformed strips of fabric.(Photo by Mark Wetherbee, Jr.)
Hamilton resident Dung Luu is building he silk crafting business stitch by stitch
By Jessica Oates
Ever since she was a little girl in Vietnam, Dung Luu has had a passion for beautifully colored fabrics. Now a Hamilton resident who also goes by “Lisa,” Luu designs handmade jewelry and scarves made of colorful silk fabric.
Luu said that this art was passed down through her family for many generations.
“I remember learning how to work with silk as a very little girl,” she said. “My mother and sister taught me as soon as I was old enough and my legs were long enough to reach the pedals on the machine.”
A quick look at Luu’s website, handmadesilkjewelry.com, shows evidence of the years she’s spent perfecting her skill. Brightly colored silk earrings, bracelets, necklaces and scarves are intricately folded into Luu’s designs.
“Everything is made by hand,” she said, “stitched by hand. I spend many hours perfecting each piece until I am happy with it.”
Luu has lived in the United States for 11 years now. She met her husband, Andrew Parker, a London businessman, while he was traveling in Vietnam. The couple married and moved to the U.S. when Parker’s company transferred him here.
When she arrived in the U.S., Luu kept up with her passion for sewing, by taking on apprenticeships and jobs with other artists. One of Luu’s first jobs was working for a woman in Princeton who quilted.
Finally, she was able to start her own business. Working out of a small studio in her home, Luu balances her part time jewelry making business with her full time role as a mother to her four and a half year old daughter, Mia.
“After seeing Mia off to school, I will work on my art,” Luu said. “It is something that I love to do.”
Luu said her work has been met with a positive reception.
“I understand that my designs are unique, not for everyone,” she said. “But there are many people who have been so pleased with it that they return for more. It makes me happy to see that people appreciate my work.”
As is common with many artists, Luu admited that she sometimes becomes attached to a particular piece she is working on.
“I want to make every piece up to my high standards. I need to make sure they are beautiful in my eyes, and that I have done the best job possible on them before I present them to my customers.”
Luu’s website has a video that gives shoppers tips and inspiration for tying her multi-stranded scarves in different ways. The website presents a variety of unique and colorful pieces, evidence of the creator’s passion for dynamic textures and hues.
“In addition to my website, I present my art at about three shows per month,” Luu said. “I bring a selection of pieces, set up my stand, and am happy to show people my different designs and answer any questions. Often, if someone like a particular item, I can offer them a similar piece in a color that they prefer.”
She said interested people should visit her website to contact her with any questions or to ask about upcoming shows.
With more than 28 years experience and a passion for her craft, it is no surprise that Luu’s business is a source of happiness and success for her and her family.
Luu will be at several craft shows this month. Nov. 9-10, Holiday Craft Show, Whitehouse; Nov. 16 Rutherford Holiday Craft Show, Rutherford; Nov. 23, Holiday Craft Show, Augusta; Nov. 30, Avon Craft Market, Sea Girt. For more information, go online to handmadesilkjewelry.com.
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