Double Kuru Pendants Set

This is a special set I made for my Grandparents.  They are from the same stone and from right beside each other, just the way a set for a couple should be especially since they have been married for 60 years, yeehaa.

You can see the cloud patterns as the move through from one pendant to the other.  I love having a feature like that which is obvious in both pieces of a set.

Koru Sculptures

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This is my second session making a Koru. Koru and spirals are some of the most loved symbols of our artistic vocabulary. They're found in the art of many cultures around the world and each of these cultures understands their significance and meaning differently.

I really like the balance and colours in this one.  It took ages to carve all the stone out of the negative space of the koru!

Paahekoheko - To Unite - Wedding Set

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This set was made for a wedding.  The earrings in the middle for the Bride.  The two Paahekoheko are for the Mother of the Bride and the Mother of the Groom.

The are all made from the same piece of Pounamu.  This is significant as means a stronger connection between the pieces and represents a bond between those that wear these pieces.  This stone is from the Arahura River near Hokitika on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.

Hoi - Waka Paddle

These are a set of Pounamu Hoi, Waka Paddles.  Hoi are an integral part of a waka (canoe) and the team that man that waka.

They are a strong symbolic representation of a united team that is all putting in their effort to move the 'waka' towards a goal.

Grandad's Toki's

My Grandfather passed away earlier this year.  He was almost 80 years old, his lungs started to fail him and he couldn't keep his body running any more.  He was a much loved member of our family and there is still a huge gap he has left behind.

I made these pieces because of him.

Whanau Nui

 I visited him in March and he showed me some stone that he had been given by his Father my Great, great grandfather.  He was a fossicker and jewellery maker it turns out.  I never knew that.  he showed me some of the gems he had found and turned into jewellery too.  He gave me several pieces of raw stone to carve as well.  This piece was the nicest.  He said it came from his Uncle, his Mothers Brother.

Long Toki's and Flower Jade Kuru

These three pieces were made for speakers at a conference.  I love the colors in the flower jade dop kuru.

 The tokis are super long and based on old functional designs that are now displayed in museums and books as historical examples.

First Set of Earrings

Here is my first go at a set of earrings.  It is beautiful stone with some nice cloud patterning in it and is very translucent.

 These were cool to make as they we for a friend to give to her friend for her birthday who turned out to be an old friend of mine as well.

Family Set Smokey Pounamu

I love this set of pieces made for 4 siblings, 1 boy and 3 girls.

What I really like about this set is it is part of a larger family set all from the same stone.

Whanaungatanga - Family

This is a sculpture I made for a friend of mine to give to her midwife as a sign of gratitude and appreciation for her going above and beyond in helping with the birth of their first child.

 This is the first koru I have made and the combination of stone on wood was new too.  It was great to be challenged by her ideas in what she wanted.

Long Deep Green Pounamu Toki

This is a piece I designed based on a pre European toki that was used for carving.  I love the old shapes and simple elegance they have.

It is now with a good friend of mine in Germany.  An important piece of New Zealand he can carry with him now.