Not Just Red Ones - Jewellery

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Not Just Red Ones - Jewellery

Home to Somervail Silver, and working from Otterstone, a small private studio in Kaiapoi, NZ, where river and ocean are both close by.

Things that smell good are made here too. https://linktr.ee/somervailsilver

04/09/2026

I don't repair a lot of rings and, even when I'm asked, I'll more often than not say no. There are simply too many unknowns when working on an existing piece I didn't make myself.

But when a long-time customer asked if there was anything I could do for her beloved old paua shell ring, I thought it might be fun to give it a try.

I'd never tried cutting and shaping shell before, but I figured it would either work or it wouldn't, so there was nothing to lose by trying.

Verdict: not overly difficult, but very slow going to get the shape right.

And for the curious: yes, water and a mask were involved in the making. One does not ever want to get shell dust in their lungs.

22/08/2026

Birthdays with a zero are seldom welcomed with open arms, but it definitely helps when the accompanying birthday present is a week away in Rarotonga just to relax and regroup.

I'm heading back to my studio today with a head full of inspiration. Let's see how far it takes me.

(Crescent moon and Venus over the reef and lagoon, Rarotonga, dusk)

29/07/2026

Look what I found growing in the garden outside Otterstone Studio.

25/07/2026

Working with a known hazard at Otterstone studio on a rainy winter morning.

22/07/2026

New from the workbench: not jewellery this time, but a solid face moisturiser bar. Why? Because I had a really nice one but a mouse ate it (seriously) and I couldn't get a replacement. So, I thought, "how hard can it be?"

I have formulated this for my own skin - dry and ageing, as well as for cooler southern winters - solid enough to hold its shape, but melts easily once it hits skin.

There were a few mixing lessons learned along the way (aren't there always), but I'm actually rather happy with how it turned out.

I suppose I'd better add that I'm not planning to make this a regular product - at the moment it's just about solving my own mouse buffet problem - but thought I'd share the process.

21/07/2026

I normally keep process pics to my stories, but thought I'd try something different this time. I'm making a batch of my signature earring hooks, and here I am about halfway through. It's been a good while since I last made a batch - my hands are going to be swearing at me tomorrow.

19/07/2026

Because my new studio isn't particularly large, a lot of thought is going into storage. This weekend's project was taking the drawers from two old storage units and incorporating them into something new.

18/07/2026

My new studio, Otterstone, took another step toward completion today with the installation of a new benchtop - replacing the temporary plastic tables that have served their purpose. The timber was donated and now looks fabulous with a coat of homemade wax polish. What do you think?

12/07/2026

Old New Zealand 5 cent coins, once jingling in pockets and long out of circulation, given a second life as earrings. Each one polished, drilled, and hung on handmade sterling silver hooks — a little piece of NZ history you can wear. Available now on my website. The direct link is in the comments.

13/04/2026

My new business cards have arrived. I'm testing out a minimalist approach (photo shows front and back). Let me know what you think.

Address

Kaiapoi
7630

Website

https://www.somervailsilver.co.nz/

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