Happiness on a Platter

What Inspired My First Collection?

It was a long time ago… I was 28, had returned from a year abroad, and after working in nearly every service industry role, I had an urge to return to design. I had completed a four-year design degree before my travels, and on my return home, I was ready to indulge in the world of creativity. One of the things I knew I was good at in my life was this—like, easy good—I can spend hours visualising creating things in my mind and often I find myself losing track of time.

When I completed my degree early in my twenties, I took a detour. I told myself, “I didn’t want to be alone in a studio, working solo like other designers.” So, I wandered into the hospitality world—because, of course, I have a deep attraction to people. I loved the buzz, the energy, the endless swirl of faces. For years, I served, I travelled—Paris, Barcelona, Tokyo—and my design dreams went dormant, tucked between espresso cups and a many nights scribbling on several maps of Europe and my little mini laptop planning where I was going to travel to next.

It wasn’t until I came home to New Zealand—after years of wandering—that I felt a familiar tug. It was quiet but persistent, like a colour I couldn’t name but kept seeing in the corner of my eye. I started small—just a weekend resin workshop, a spark reignited. It was like my hands remembered what my head had forgotten—play, spontaneity, and joy.

So, when I finally sat down to create my first collection, it was pure happiness on a platter. The colours were bold, unapologetic—like a toddler who’s just discovered glitter and decided the whole room needs it. Each piece was a little bit offbeat, a little bit chaotic—and that was exactly the point. This collection exploded my mind. It was like I took a deep breath after years of holding it in—and all I wanted was more.

What I learned from this was simple, but it took a long time to sink in: creativity doesn’t have to be a straight line. It can be a winding path of detours, coffee breaks, and a few years spent serving lattes. And I still ponder this: how many other sparks are waiting in the background—just waiting for me to give them a go?

This collection is my riot of colour—each pair of earrings a tiny rebellion against waiting. And every time I wear them, I remember that messy joy—the moment when I decided to play again. And honestly, now all I can think about is what comes next.

The Precious Window

From Chaos to Craft—Balancing Motherhood

Over the past few days I have been feeling energized.. slightly….buzzing perhaps is kind of accurate. I just finished my first earring collection not long ago, and my brain is in overdrive thinking of what else. I can’t stop thinking of all the new ideas popping into my head—so many possibilities. Honestly, I think this is my interpretation of feeling addicted. Because here’s the thing—I’m in the busiest season of my life. I’ve got lots going on… kids in all different stages of life, a full-time job, and on top of that, I’m managing a new build and a subdivision on our property. So, it’s all very crazy—kids, work, house stuff—everything’s happening at once. And, as wild as it is, the thing I want most is to sit down and get lost in this creative space.

Being a mum, I find is—really hard. I use the word hard because there's lots of responsibility in there and the hard part is finding balance to honor myself as a human being, sounds so weird how I've explained that… but I know if you are a mum you know what I mean. My physical body is an absolute legend, I'm grateful it's still there and works OK everyday I wake up… Lol… I’ve pushed this old girl past the point of exhaustion many times in ways I never thought possible, so far beyond what I imagined I could handle. I'm probably being a bit dramatic but I don't care really because this is my story… haha. But, coming back to my point, in all that craziness and drama, what I’m realising is that, above all, I actually just need more sleep. 🤣 Sleep! It’s so basic, but it’s become this rare luxury over the past 10years. And, though I’m buzzing about the excitement of creating my earrings, I know that the biggest priority for me right now is being there for my kids—nurturing them, being present, even when it’s so freaking hard.

But here’s the thing I keep reminding myself: I did the math. I realised that, in the grand scheme, I’ll know my kids as adults far longer than I know them as kids. So, this short window of time is precious. And, what I’ve been learning is that I have to practice patience—not just with ideas, but with myself. The earrings will always be there. My kids, though—they won’t be this age forever.

So, this collection? It’s a snapshot of my crazy life right now. No two pieces are the same—just like my days. Each earring is a little offbeat, a little wild, and completely colourful—just like me in this moment. And I love it. So, when I do get a chance to create, even if it’s a tiny moment stolen between bedtime and avoiding house chores, that’s when I feel like me. And I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

The New Day

Why Each Pair Holds a Mood

When I put on earrings, it’s like a little window into how I’m feeling that day. I don’t always have the words to describe it, but I do know that each piece I choose is a reflection of my mood—like a silent, sparkling signal of where I’m at. Moods are funny things, though; they’re kind of slippery. I mean, maybe my vocabulary is just a bit thin, but I know that my moods are these fuzzy bundles of emotions, hard to pin down in words.

And that’s where earrings come in. For me, choosing colours, shapes, and details is easy; it’s like a language all its own. I don’t always know how to say what’s going on inside, but when I slip on a piece that just feels right, it grounds me. So, I’ve been thinking a lot about this, and I realised that I’m probably not the only one who struggles with this—who finds it hard to put a mood into words but easy to choose a piece of jewellery that says it for them.

So, I created four categories on my site to help you find that feeling, that mood. First, there’s the Earth collection—it’s all about grounding, about connecting to nature. The colours are earthy, deep—just like that steady feeling of being rooted. Then, there’s the Light series—think airy, translucent, like catching a morning sunbeam. Next up, the Bold Edit—these pieces are out there, big, bright, and unmissable—perfect for those days when you just have to be seen. And finally, the Shadow range—this is for the quietly confident, those pieces in darker hues that let you walk forward with a calm, steady power.

And it’s funny—today’s collection, the one that sparked all these ideas, came from a place of feeling light and free. The pieces are fresh and airy—like a brand-new day. And every time I wear them, I feel like I have this chance, every single day, to begin again. And that’s what this collection is—a reminder of how big and beautiful each new day can be.

The Finished

When a Design Feels Finished

You know, sometimes I totally lose track of when to stop—especially when I set these big expectations for myself. It’s like, the minute I say, “This has to be amazing,” I disconnect from the actual process—or from the person I’m talking to—LOL, does that happen to you? And once I’ve set myself up with these crazy high stakes, I’ve almost already overwhelmed myself before I even start. And I’m talking about when I set a project or a task—this is my go-to move: I pile on the pressure and almost freeze before I begin.

And you know that saying—“less is more”? Yeah, I’ve heard it a million times, and I get it—in theory. Everyone else gets it, too. But when it comes to me, I just can’t apply it. I still think that greatness equals complexity, equals grand effort—so, I get caught in this loop where, from the start, I’m just overwhelmed. And honestly, it’s a pattern that goes way back—as a kid, I learned that I had to work harder, do more, just to get the same results as others. And, yeah, that mindset? It’s hardwired now.

But what I’m learning—now that I’m older—is that I don’t have to apply that huge effort to everything. I’m actually grateful for how it helped me in the past, but I can also let it go now. It doesn’t serve me the same way it used to. And this collection is kind of a testament to that. These pieces are simple—like, just a soft leather feel, set against a wooden background. And in that simplicity, I think they really show that less is more. You don’t need all the grand complexity to wear something beautiful—and that, right there, is a real shift for me.