Pounamu, often referred to as New Zealand greenstone, holds a cherished place in Maori culture. Hailing from South Westland, the kawa kawa variety is particularly noteworthy for its distinctive bright green hue. From this precious stone, I’ve crafted a pendant named the “Kawakawa Comfort Drop,” a 4cm long piece that beautifully adopts the teardrop, or…
From the heart of South Westland, a distinct kawakawa pounamu, known for its enduring quality and beauty, was chosen. This greenstone, echoing the very essence of “Whānau Pūmanawa” or “Heart of the Family”, was skillfully crafted into a harmonious set of five pendants and a complementary pair of earrings, encapsulating the deep-rooted connections and stories…
I’m genuinely thrilled to present to you a set of seven distinctively carved pounamu pendants – The Mokopuna Haerenga, translating to the ‘Grandchildren’s Journey.’ This collection, commissioned by a loving pair of grandparents, is a testament to the celebration of family and a tribute to the journey each grandchild will undertake in life. Each pendant…
Within the serenity of my workshop, a tale of artistry and cultural significance unfolded as I brought to life a unique pounamu pendant, now named Wairua Taonga. Join me as we unravel the captivating narrative behind this pendant, exploring the meaning embedded within its roimata shape, koru, and pikorua symbols. Through careful carving, the roimata…
Symbolic gestures have a unique way of adding profound depth to significant milestones. Aroha Roimata, a meticulously crafted pounamu pendant, serves as an eloquent illustration of this idea. This striking piece, a large roimata fashioned from Kawakawa pounamu from the Arahura River, tells a deeply personal story. As she stands at the threshold of her…
In the realm of traditional carving, every piece has its own tale to tell, a story that interweaves art, symbolism, and deep-rooted culture. Today, I am excited to unveil two exquisite pieces from my collection, carefully hand-carved from a unique slice of pounamu, or New Zealand greenstone. Both hailing from the same stone, these two…
There’s a profound sense of tranquility, an almost sacred bond that forms when we engage in the age-old practice of carving. It’s a process where one not only shapes a physical object but also carves out a personal journey of understanding and connection. My recent endeavour, the crafting of a pounamu roimata, or a tear-shaped…
Gorgeous Southwestland Pounamu Roimata. This has a mix of colours an shades in it. The roimata is some of my favourite shapes to carve. The curves are very satisfying when you get them right. Pounamu, or New Zealand greenstone, is a cherished gemstone often used in carving significant items, with Roimata representing a teardrop shape….
This was a find on a beach that a woman brought into me. She was interested to see if we could turn her surprise find into a taonga for her to wear. This gorgeous Roimata was the result. You can see the pounamu that we started with below. Things do not always turn out this…
Roimata are teardrop-shaped pounamu pendants that are carved with a variety of traditional designs. They are often given as gifts to represent love, strength, and protection. The roimata in this blog post are made from kawakawa pounamu, which is a rare and highly prized type of pounamu. They each have four dots down the middle,…