I have been collecting treasures like a magpie since I was a young girl, storing my finds in jars for later. I always had a fascination for things I found on family holidays, such as shells, glass that had been worn down by the sea and the skeletons of leaves found on the forest floor.  

This collection of jewellery and other artworks has come about from my desire to utilise some of the things I have collected over the years, as I feel it is essential to create something precious from the things that I have collected as a tribute to the earth and its power and generosity.  

There is also a need in me to transform other people's rubbish into something beautiful so that recycling is occurring. This can be seen in the pieces that use discarded copper toilet cisterns, copper electricity wire and smooth glass collected from beaches of the New Zealand coast, glass which began as a bottle that someone else threw into the sea.  

For as long as I can remember I have had the need to create things with my hands. This is my therapy, as when my hands are busy my mind is calm, due to the focus that is required on the piece that is unfolding; A form of meditation that produces a treat at the end of it.  

Presently I am working with harakeke (flax), wire, beads, shells,buttons, sequins and pieces of 'junk' from my extensive collection, although I have also dabbled in watercolour painting, printmaking, photography, filmmaking and designing my own clothes. I am finding wire to be a wonderful medium to use because it so forgiving. If I am not satisfied with a piece I can unravel it and begin again and this suits me just fine!  

I have enjoyed putting together this collection immensely and have derived great satisfaction from the feedback of friends and family. My hope is that with your input in creating a design piece of your very own that you too will derive a similar satisfaction from them.  

Watch this space…after some “gentle encouragement” from a work colleague I am finally going to enter the World of Wearable Arts in Wellington so this will be a major focus leading up to October 2009. Don’t worry though, this will not impact on my ability to create one-off pieces for your special occasions in a timely manner. So keep the orders rolling in!  

I have enjoyed putting together this collection immensely and have derived great satisfaction from the feedback of my friends and family. My hope is that you too will derive a similar satisfaction from them.