English artist EMBRACES Kiwi life
When it comes to ordinary Arapuni artist Mandy Turner is far from it.
Three years ago the 49-yearold, who has just opened her own handmade wire-wrapped jewellery shop in the South Waikato village, was living in Wolverhampton, England, dreaming of a new life abroad.
The next thing she knew she’d sold her house and was on a plane bound for New Zealand with her daughter and partner.
That’s despite never having set foot in the country or knowing anyone here.
‘‘It was getting to the stage with work, age, and the way the country was heading that we wanted a better life,’’ she said.
‘‘We checked out America but its gun crime ruled it out and Australia was too hot and I don’t do creepy crawlies.
‘‘Everything we looked at kept pointing to New Zealand. I thought it was so far away but it was just New Zealand all the time.
‘‘We went to immigration and what was meant to be a five-year plan turned into us coming here within about 18 months. People thought we were mad.’’
But the move for the applied artist, who is a regular at community market days throughout Waikato, has allowed her to fully embrace her jewellery making passion.
‘‘Five years ago if you’d told me I would be here doing this I would say you have got to be joking, it is not going to happen,’’ she said, laughing.
‘‘At university glass was my big thing but these days I also tend to recycle a lot from picture frames, mirrors, keys and junk and I taught myself wire wrapping so I’m learning all the time. Everything I make is a one-off. I always think everyone should have something that no-one else has and I put a lot of love and effort into everything I make.
‘‘Most of my stuff is quite steampunk and vintage looking
and a lot of tourists are coming in.
‘‘I don’t just say it’s New Zealand made, I say it’s Arapuni made because we love our little village and I am really lucky that I can work from home.’’
Turner said coming to New Zealand was the best decision she has made.
‘‘It was a big risk and people thought we were mental but it did work out,’’ she said.
‘‘We always teach our daughter that although we have to protect her from danger, fear is good sometimes because it can make you do things you wouldn’t normally do.
‘‘At the end of the day what’s the worst that could really happen? We love everything about New Zealand and I am so lucky that I can come [into my shop], get around markets, meet people, and make my own art.’’
Turner’s Pioneer Cres shop is open Monday to Friday from 10am-3pm.