Jewellery that makes you feel good
1 Grey Street, Wellington, New Zealand. 04 471 2814
BLOG
Someone suggested recently that I start a blog. What is a blog? According to Wikipedia it stems from the words web log, which can be a sort of diary. So.....I will write a blog.
This page is for me to post stuff that I think you might be interested in: stories from my trips, the latest jewellery styles, what people are wearing, what I'm buying, topical articles about jewellery (stones, pearls etc.), and just me rabbiting on about stuff.
I hope you find it interesting.
Hanne Andersen
31st January 2012
The end of January already. Has anyone noticed summer lately? No, I thought not. I still have new, unworn sleeveless tops waiting to see the light of day. Very disappointing. I can't believe that stores are already advertising "new season's", ie. Autumn, clothes. Never mind, it's mild today, and I am going to write about jewellery! Doesn't matter what the weather's like, jewellery is always there, ready to spice up your garments, and your mood.
We've recently received a new shipment from Norway. Just a few pieces but they're moving out already. Made with argentium sterling silver (925 silver but without copper, so it is highly tarnish resistant) and coloured wire, these earring and necklace designs are very, very different and very, very comfortable to wear.
There's more to come soon - I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, enjoy what summer there is.
7th January 2012
Happy New Year!
Christmas is done for another year, the decorations have been put away and we're already a week into 2012. The weather hasn't been all that great but I've been lucky enough to spend a few days in the garden on the fine days we have had.
The garden is a constant source of inspiration, to me and to our designers. Take as examples the glorious floral designs of Gavan Riley and Adrian Meyers, amd the fantastic wee "bug" pins by Tony Williams: bees, beetles and ladybirds, both red and black. (Yes, black ladybirds do exist; Tony saw them on Banks Peninsular. Very elegant in black enamel.)
We intend to focus a lot more on our own unique designs this year, on our brilliant Kiwi designers and on the really special imported pieces from Toftegaard and Deco Echo. This year will doubtless bring a new set of challenges and rewards and we are looking forward to it immensely.
I'll close with a wee garden rhyme, courtesy of a man from my local garden centre:
"Out in the garden, digging like a mole; bad for the manicure, good for the soul."
Never a truer word.......
19th December 2011
I take back what I said about nobody offering gift wrapping. I bought an inexpensive gift for a friend at Palmer's Garden Centre in Paraparaumu and they offered to gift wrap. Nice wrapping too. Thank you for your always courteous and helpful service, Palmers.
10th December 2011.
Two weeks to Christmas!! I've done my Christmas shopping and most of it is gift wrapped, tagged and beribboned and waiting to go under the tree. We've bought the tree (a beautiful live pine tree) and it's repotted and waiting to join us inside. I won't decorate it yet - it really likes being where it is (outside) so that'll be a last minute thing.
We're having a big family Christmas here at home so there were quite a few presents to get, purchased from lots of different stores. Not one store offered to gift wrap, and when I asked was told no, we don't do that. Whatever happened to service, and the joy of helping people? It is a busy, often harried time of year and I believe we should help make it fun and pleasurable. As I have always understood it, that's what the season is about. So, we'll keep on offering gift wrapping and whatever help we can, in the spirit of Christmas, and as a service to our very valued customers. We have so much fun doing it, anyway! With a smile. :)
Until next time,
Hanne.
29th November 2011.
Less than four weeks to Christmas - I can't wait. It's a time of year I love; getting together with family and friends, and a chance to relax. Especially needed now, after the very interesting year this has been. We've burnt the first candle of our Advent wreath, a wreath which is very different from its Danish counterparts. Theirs are made of fir with red decorations, mine is a circular vase with fresh flowers and greenery, as summery as I can make it.
Yes, it's officially summer but we haven't seen much of it yet. Looking back November has been grey, wet and windy for the most part, very like October. But there have been days where we could sit on the deck after work and watch the sun go down, and that is a real pleasure.
Today I will post the parcels for my daughter and son-in-law in England, and on Thursday the parcels go to my family in Denmark. I am, of necessity, an early Christmas shopper, as many of the gifts we give are for overseas friends and family.
The best thing about being an early shopper is that there is still heaps of choice, unlike later in December. I love wrapping parcels, and get right into the spirit of Christmas giving as I mess about with paper and ribbon. And once that's done I can concentrate on the store and all the Christmas things happening there. The busy-ness is about to start, I think. Early shoppers get the best pick!
This is my friend Teresa from the Dom Post modelling a pair of sterling silver Deco Echo earrings; gorgeous, huh?
Until next time. :)
8th November 2011.
It's a few weeks since I last updated this, and heaps has happened. I've been away - to Tonga, which was an eye-opener. We stayed on Tonga-Tapu; not exactly a tourist mecca, but my husband's work meant being there. His work is interesting, and I helped out a little with that, but I also had time to look around and observe a little bit of the Tongan way of life, so different from ours.
Religion plays a huge part in Tongan daily life, and this is reflected in the schools and the rather severe school uniforms, the number of churches, the incredible cemetaries, and the fact that everything shuts down on Sundays.
I found very little jewellery in Nuku'alofa, the capital, aside from ethnic carvings, but there were two watchmakers. I guess that's practical! It was warm, the people were friendly, and we had a great time.
The weekend after we got back I took our rings to the Wellingtom Wedding Show and chatted to lots of brides and grooms. Couples were planning their weddings all the way out to 2013 - amazing organisational skills.
Now it's back to work with a vengeance. We have loads of new jewellery coming in right now which all needs to be priced and displayed - so that you can buy it! It's a great gift giving time - not just Christmas, which is still to come, but wedding anniversaries, graduations, Hanukkah and St Nicholas's Day.
That's it for now - I need to go learn how to use Twitter. There are lots of new tricks for this old dog to learn.
23rd September
I woke up this morning to a glorious spring day. Never mind the news, Wellington is gorgeous on a day like this. The news....
I have often wished NZ was closer to the UK, US and Europe; closer to the buzzy cities I have always thought of as the hub of the world. Places where I have family and friends, and love to visit. I have sometimes felt very isolated in our beautiful little country, but not today. Today I am feeling more insulated than isolated, and am happy to be a little distance away from the rest of the world. Yes, I know that the world is a huge global economic mass (or mess), but we have sunshine and birds, open spaces and clean water. Not forgetting some of the world's best artists and sportsmen. There's a lot to be proud of. So, I am happy, and more than a little in love with my wee patch of the world.
13th September 2011
I got back last week from my wee annual shopping trip for the store, and it felt a bit like spring! It wasn't warm, but when I got off the plane in Auckland the birds were twittering, and I realised that it's a sound I don't hear much while I am away. We've managed to retain sparrows and other small introduced birds, as well as many of our native species, which is a whole lot better than most of the countries I visit. Pesticides and human overpopulation have been disastrous for the bird population in many European and Asian countries, so it's always a pleasure to come home and hear them. And it's a great pleasure to be able to support jewellers who use them as inspiration, like Gavan Riley.
Gavan lives and works in a pole house on a beach in Northland - an ideal spot to be inspired by all the nature around him. It shows in all his jewellery, whether it is an elaborately carved piece in silver or gold, or a tiny art work fashioned around a beautiful natural gem stone. Birds and animals, flowers and trees are all subjects dear to his heart, and it shows in the quality of his work. We have a great collection of Gavan's work in store, with many new designs on display.
What's Hot In Europe?
COLOUR!
Lots and lots of colour: Red and orange, green of all shades, mixed with smokey blue, brown and black and grey. Silver is big, a lot of it black oxidised. Rubber and leather collars and wristbands, hung with pendants and charms. We have some fantastic collections on their way; watch this space!
Remodelling: At the recent New Zealand Jewellery Show I spoke with many people who were taken with our modern styles of jewellery but who had a lot of jewellery already - which they weren't wearing. We would love you to call in with your unworn bits and pieces (and any broken jewellery, particularly gold). We can help you figure out what to do with it so that it becomes jewellery you are happy to wear.
Until next time,
Hanne.
2nd August 2011.
Once again it's weeks since I wrote but this time I have an excuse. I've been away to, amongst other places, China. This was a holiday, not a buying trip for a change! What an experience; China is a real dichotomy of old and new. I saw heaps of gold in shops - all 24k - and some really ancient jewellery in museums.
The bead necklace and jade bangle below are from around 2000BC and would be wearable today. Just goes to show that good design doesn't date. (Although maybe I'd pop a few gold beads into the necklace.......)
What's new?
We have lots of new earrings from all over, and some very tasty new necklace designs, many made here in store. Lots and lots of glorious colour to brighten up the grey days.
Coming Up
We're looking forward to a lot of activity in the next few weeks, with the World of Wearable Arts show starting this month, then the New ZealandJewellery Show, here in Wellington this year (details later), followed by the the Rugby World Cup. Before we know where we are it will be Christmas! And summer...
Recycling and Sustainability
This idea is becoming more and more popular. Bring in your old bits and pieces and we'll turn them into new ones!
This mabe pearl brooch started out as a ring and a pair of earrings.
That's all for this time; more soon.
Hanne.
13th June 2011.
We've had a few really busy weeks, and were recently at the hugely successful 2011 Wedding Show. Here's Derek manning our stand.
NAJO: We've recently received a lovely selection of silver jweellery from Najo which is selling like hot cakes.
DIAMOND SPECIALS:
Our special deal on diamond jewellery (40% off) has been so successful that we are running it for a little longer.
This really pretty 14k ring by Toftegaard Design was $1815 and is now $1089 - which is great value.
GOOD GOLD: We've been doing a lot of thinking about sustainability and recycling, and think that we should be doing more about it in the jewellery world. We just keep digging
gold and stones up out of the ground - and it will run out.
With gold prices the way they are, it behoves us to sort through our old bits and pieces and try and use old or broken jewellery to make new and excitingly wearable jewellery.
So bring in your unloved old bits and we'll turn them into new pieces you'll adore.
Well, that's it for tonight. I'll have more photos for you to see over the next few days, and hopefully a Youtube link. I'm still learning this stuff!
Best,
Hanne.