Tucked away in a side street in the heart of Bangkok, The Secret Garden is a quiet place where Katherine Jones lives the life of an artist to the fullest.
“I am no more than what I am and no less than what I want to be,” says Katherine Jones, the 32-year-old Thai-British artist and creator of The Secret Garden, an online paper craft supplies and handmade jewellery store. “I have one fiancé, four pets, a penchant for antiques, an obsession with paper and a love of food and red wine.”
After 15 years of living in Bangkok, The Secret Garden came out of a realisation that if she wanted to paint and eat, Kat – as she prefers to be called – would have to do something that could support her painting habit without putting her behind a desk in an office, working nine to five. “That would drive me nuts,” she admits.
Initially conceived as an online shop where she sold paper and craft supplies, many of which were handmade, soon the Secret Garden became much more.
“The online shop is just the beginning,” she says. “I want it to evolve into a tangible place where people can find sanctuary and inspiration.”
Although her house contains a bookshop and has a large garden, this was not the initial basis for the name of the establishment.
“It came from the concept that I wanted to combine a sense of magic with a respect for nature,” she says. “The Secret Garden seemed like the perfect choice. The fact that we now have a bookstore and a garden is a complete fluke, which is actually kind of funny. It’s now easier to tell everyone that I named it after the book and the garden.”
The products in the shop are handmade by Kat and bear the “SG brand,” which means that they are part of a line of products that are sustainable and can be appreciated for their craftsmanship.
“The greeting cards and notebooks are all one of a kind,” she explains. “Many of the materials I use are recycled. For example, I make corkboards using wine corks that I collect from a restaurant in the area. I also make wreaths from the pages of old books, once they get too tattered to read or sell.”
Referring to her knowledge of traditional Thai art, Kat admitted that it isn’t really her cup of tea. “Like most traditional or religious Asian art, there are a lot of rules that dictate what a painting has to comprise of and how it has to look. So there is not much freedom in it, but a great lot of discipline.”
“Thai art can be quite beautiful to look, but I need to find more time to get into the galleries! I feel so guilty when I don’t,” she confessed. “I believe Thai contemporary art has branched out wonderfully over the years and I’m seeing more and more work that I can really enjoy.”
The Secret Garden is also the place where Katharine lives with her fiancé, two dogs and two cats. The decor is an eclectic mix of old and new stuff that Kat has collected over the years. Every corner has something to see and the harder you look, the more you’ll find. Plus, Kat’s always adding new pieces to her knick-knack collection. “I’m constantly moving things around, to try and create the most comfortable and creative space possible.”
Apart from being a budding entrepreneur, Katherine Jones is also an accomplished artist who’s already had three solo and one joint exhibition in Bangkok. She has also illustrated The Rage of a New Ancestors, an anthology of Asian short stories, which was published in 2010 by New Asian Writing.
Initially published in AsiaLIFE – Thailand (October 2012)
