GEORGE TOWN, Oct. 4 -- One of the earliest memories that fourth generation Nyonya, May Lim Siew Seng, had was being asked to help her aunts to separate colourful manik (beads) according to shape, size and colour.

A young Lim would often have to sit with her aunts as they sewed minuscule beads onto swatches of cloth, helping them thread the needle and select the manik.

She would then receive extra manik as 'payment' for her help, using them to make her own bracelets and rings.

"I would wear these colourful bracelets proudly, showing off how pretty they were to my friends," she said.

These were some of the early experiences Lim had with Nyonya manik shoe beading, though she was not taught to make beaded shoes at that time.

Instead, she...