This is how I tie my pounamu toki bindings with pendants that have a hole. It makes a really nice tight, flush binding. I use 1mm waxed braid for the cord. [kad_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KmjB47c9Mg” ] Check out the other posts on the tutorial page for how to tie a whipping and if you want…
This is a special story. These two taonga were made for two beautiful twin. Their Grandmother contacted me with the commision. She told me a story of two gorgeous twin babes born 12 weeks premature, they were lucky to survive. Their first birthday was coming up and she wanted to gift them something to commemorate…
I was given this piece of obsidian from a friend that was on a rock climbing trip down to Taupo. He said he noticed all the pebbles on the beach and wondered if it could make a good carving stone. I never thought I would use something like obisidian to make a pendant from. I…
I am on a bit of a mission to develop my toki designs at the moment. I love the shape of the old tokis that were used for practical work by pre european Maori. I try to incorporate as much of this design as I can in my Hei Toki pendants. The important part of…
It can be hard to get really high quality, tight grained, Jade from New Zealand. This Jade is from Wyoming, it was given to me by Aaron from A Carved Piece (check him out on facebook he is an awesome carver). It is beautiful stone, bright green with an awesome pink flower inclusion. It was…
I love the idea of suspending a taonga, special stone that has been beautifully shaped from your neck. Sometimes you can incorporate a hole into the design to hang it from, sometimes you need to drill one just for the purpose. I really prefer keeping the carving as intact as possible, for me it feels…
This is a project long time in the making. I carved and finished the Pounamu the start of 2015 and it was presented for the first time at the end of 2016. It is a collaboration between myself, a student at my school, and the Maori/Technology teacher. I did the Pounamu and they together did…
I really value having an adjustable cord for a Pounamu pendant. It means I can take it on and off easily for sport, sleeping, swapping jewellery, etc. I always put it in a safe place near where I sleep though. [kad_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEv86ls3Fek” ] It also is good for gifts as then they recipient can choose…
This set was made for a special couple that had a beautiful wedding we attended recently. They are from the same stone, a stunning bright green colour with some inclusions that add some striking patterns. Making sets for people that share a strong connection is something I really love about carving pounamu. The primal forces…
This is a commission that had a really cool goal. To represent both and Australia and New Zealand and bring them together. There were several concepts talked about before deciding on this one. I liked this on the best. The stone is shaped like a wave when held on the side, this is to represent…