Long warm sunny days stretching out into the evening. Sharing a meal, drinks and discussions with friends. Waking up to the collaborative bird chorus in the mornings. Enjoying the bounty from the garden planted and tended to over the long winter months.

Endless opportunities to find inspiration from the likely and not so obvious.

Rings are my favourite item of jewellery to design and fabricate. The design possibilities are endless. I love working in Sterling silver and adding colour and sparkle with semi precious stones. Rose cut stones are my particular love. One of the original diamond cuts of Heirloom and Antique jewelry, the rose cut stone has an imperfect quality that are alluring and make me think of romance and lace and french braids :)

The wedding band is another ring I enjoy making. I have made a few wedding bands and no two have been the same. Again the design possibilities are endless - square, round, half round, no stones, set stones, silver, gold, rose gold - the list goes on. It is a fun process talking to my clients and finding out what their wedding ring desires are. It's a real pleasure and a privilege to be given such a big responsibility. Getting sent a photo of my clients big day wearing their rings is really satisfying and greatly appreciated.

Fun fact - the Romans believed that the vein in the ring finger (the fourth finger) on the left hand ran directly to one's heart. Because of this belief they chose to call that vein 'vena amoris' or the 'vein of love'.

Click on the slide show below if you would like to see a small selection of recently designed and fabricated rings I have made.

Hi there! Welcome to Copper Kowhai's brand new and improved website. Firstly let me introduce myself. I'm Mel, the sole owner/employee at Copper Kowhai. All designs that you see here on my website are designed and handmade by me in my studio, which sits in my backyard in Christchurch, NZ. I'm a bit of a tinkerer and I like to experiment with different materials and fabrication. I am a full time mum to my spirited and creative daughters Cleo (7) and Bonnie (5). They are my main priority at this time of my life and I work Copper Kowhai in around dropping them off to school, running them around to dancing, play dates etc. You know, typical mum duties. I also work part time for a jewellery wholesaler in Christchurch. My husband and I also have a cabinetry business 'Parsons Green Furniture'. That's mainly his gig, but I help where I can.

My studio is my happy place. I love to go in there and nut out my new designs. I usually listen to Podcasts while I'm working. I love The Moth, Serial, The Queen Sesh and Low Tox Life. I also enjoy listening to RNZ. Music is a huge motivator. I recently bought some decent speakers for the studio and love turning the volume up and singing along to who ever I have chosen for the day. I'm sure my neighbours are thrilled at the hammering and jewellery making associated noises that come from the studio. Some days, especially after the rain I am lucky to be visited by Bell Birds who love the Holly tree right outside my studio, It's on these days that I keep it quiet and marvel at the serenity of the native bird call.

I hope you enjoy browsing my store - keep in touch, as i will be adding more pieces regularly and plan to blog each week with wee snippets from my life in the studio and tales from the work bench.