Purwanti is one of the many talented artisans in Krebet Tourism Village, Bantul, Yogyakarta. Born on June 7, 1981, into a farming family, she learned the value of hard work early on. Although her parents prioritized education and helped her finish high school. Purwanti made a hard choice after graduation. While her peers pursued higher education, she stepped straight into the workforce to help support her family’s finances.

Driven by her natural creativity, Purwanti joined the workshop of Pak Kemiskidi, one of the pioneers of wooden batik in Krebet. Her first job was simple: preparing plain wooden blocks (known locally as putihan) for the batik process. However, her passion for learning was immense. She would often bring plain wooden masks home to practice drawing batik patterns by herself. Even after getting married and having children, Purwanti never stopped refining her skills. For Purwanti, every stroke of the canting (batik pen) on wood represented hope for her family's future.

Years of working as an employee taught Purwanti everything about production, marketing, and the technical skills of wooden batik craftsmanship. Armed with this knowledge and supported by her husband, who shares the same profession, she established her own workshop named “Tamarine Craft”. Together, they produced a variety of wooden batik items, including souvenirs, home decor, masks, and wayang (wood puppets).

Slowly but surely, their business grew. In 2007, Purwanti challenged herself to reach a wider market. She refused to let gender limitations hold her back, firmly believing that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. To gain new knowledge and expand her network, she joined APIKRI (a Fair Trade Organization) in 2014. This partnership boosted her production and helped her enter international export markets.

However, business always has its ups and downs. The hardest trial came during the COVID-19 pandemic. Export orders were canceled, production halted, and tourism stopped completely. Many local artisans had to switch jobs to survive, some of them become vegetable seller and casual laborers. The turning point came in 2021 when tourism reopened. Purwanti took an active role in reviving Krebet by hosting workshops and guiding both domestic and international visitors. The village gained a massive boost when the Minister of Tourism at the time, Sandiaga Uno, visited to promote their local crafts and tourism.

Today, Tamarine Craft successfully provides for Purwanti’s family, enabling them to own a house, vehicles, and put their children through school and into successful careers. Purwanti and her husband also support their community by employing neighbors and relatives under a fair system. They prioritize empowering their workers, gladly teaching them the art of wooden batik from scratch.

As a woman, Purwanti plays a significant role in the development of the Krebet Tourism Village. Her next level communication skills and fluency in English have earned her the trust to serve as a tour guide for both domestic and international visitors. Through Tamarine Craft, she is deeply committed to preserving cultural traditions and integrating them with wooden batik crafts, aiming to elevate Krebet into a globally recognized cultural tourism destination.