**PLEASE NOTE** This website is currently under construction. Some features may not work perfectly yet. Please contact Kathryn through Kathryn Jane Design on Facebook or Instagram for any enquiries. Thank you!
Meet Kathryn
The Heart that Beats Behind the Hands
To me, jewellery is so much more than ornamentation. It’s a tangible connection to the earth, a reminder to pause and reconnect with nature’s rejuvenating energy, an expression of individuality, and a beautiful piece of wearable art that brings joy every time it’s worn.
Connection has always been an important thread running through my life.
From my early studies in psychology and human development to raising my own four amazing humans, my path has always been centred around a deep fascination for what makes us all tick and a love of meaningful connection.
I am now Nana-Kath to two gorgeous wee girls, and a full-time creator of art and natural gemstone jewellery.
A lifelong love affair with stones
I’ve been drawn to the gorgeous minerals of the earth since before I can remember.
As a youngster on a family holiday in the South Island, I was mesmerised by the sparkle of schist beside the rivers. I painstakingly limited my selection of favourites to about ten – no mean feat for a six-year-old – and loaded them excitedly into the caravan.
Clearly Mum had returned them to the riverbed no sooner had I tucked myself into the old Holden Kingswood, because, mysteriously, they failed to make it home!
Decades later, not much has changed. I’m still completely enchanted by Earth’s raw treasures.
Driven by a desire to get them out of my pockets and into the light – where they belong – I began ‘cradling’ gemstones in wire, transforming them into unique, wearable pendants. Before long, I was working with durable sterling silver, along with the occasional inclusion of coated copper. More recently, I’ve incorporated precious solid 9ct gold and gold-filled wire into my creations.
My relationship with crystals
Experiences with crystals are unique to each individual. Personally, I’m captivated by their natural beauty, the symbolism and personal-growth reminders they can offer, and the powerful feelings they evoke within me. I’m often in awe that Nature has created such extraordinary structures, with their spectacular colours and intricate patterns. I struggle to comprehend the vast stretches of time over which they have formed.
Some people experience gemstones as amplifying particular energies or qualities within themselves, including those they associate with healing, spirituality or personal growth, while others simply appreciate their beauty and symbolism. Traditional crystal lore attributes various qualities and properties to different stones; I include some of these associations with my listings as possibilities to explore, rather than promises of what a particular stone will do.
For me, they can be messengers. When creating with them, I sometimes find myself receiving a stream of insight that later proves relevant. More times than I can count, I’ve found myself drawn to a particular stone, only to discover through later research that its traditional symbolism or purported properties resonate with what I’m experiencing at the time.
I find these moments of synchronicity captivating.
I don’t believe there is one right way to experience a crystal. I simply invite you to notice what you’re drawn to and what it evokes within you – if anything. When choosing a gemstone, I personally prefer to begin with that intuitive attraction rather than selecting one according to its traditionally attributed properties. Sometimes the stone that catches your eye may have something quite unexpected to reveal.
Where Nature and creativity meet
Nature is where I most feel like myself. It’s where I escape to recharge and embrace tranquillity. It also fuels my artistic inspiration.
Having lived on the Kapiti Coast for the vast majority of my life – with the exception of a brief four-year window in Taranaki – I have a deep affinity for my beloved Kapiti Island, resting on the horizon. That familiar silhouette has been a part of my landscape for most of my life and remains a constant source of inspiration, particularly when I put paint to canvas. You’ll find many examples of that influence throughout this site.
It’s no accident that the welcoming photograph on this site is of Kapiti Island.
The expansive vista beyond my labradorite pendant is my current home area of Paraparaumu, viewed from the top of a rather steep hill at Whareroa Farm.
I find it rather challenging to climb that particular hill, but I’m spurred on by the promise of the breathtaking view of Kapiti from the top – a reward that makes the punishing climb more than worthwhile. Because climbing hills provides such a great metaphor for tackling life’s challenges, I’ve come to regard the Whareroa Farm hill as my personal life coach!
Wherever I might physically find myself, I carry a little piece of ‘Nature’s battery’ close to my heart – a reminder to reconnect with the sense of spaciousness and deep peace of the wilderness. Wearing crystal jewellery is an integral part of my everyday holistic approach to wellbeing and happiness.
Creating in the wilds
As much as I crave artistic expression through song, paint, sculpture, photography and poetry, it is through creating beautiful jewellery out of authentic, ancient stones from the heart of the earth that I express my love of Nature.
Not only is the heart of Nature my escape; it is also my studio of choice.
Whenever the weather is conducive, I don my rugged hiking shoes and seek out sanctuaries where I can create, feeling at one with the natural world.
Finding a peaceful spot that feels ‘just right’, I take time to ‘land’, breathe and dissolve into my surroundings.
Sitting quietly with the chosen crystal, I allow it to speak and guide the design, rather than forcing a rigid pre-conceived pattern upon it. With the stones that have more intricate plans in mind, I completely surrender to creative flow and honour what emerges.
Sometimes I find myself singing – known songs, or songs I make up on the spot. I absolutely rejoice in such freedom of expression!
I treat my creation time as sacred, and handle each gemstone with the utmost care, pouring loving attention, intention and positivity into every stage of the creative process, all the while holding a deep appreciation for its natural beauty. Perhaps I still carry a little of that same six-year-old excitement when handling the crystals. They may no longer be disappearing into my pockets, but the sense of wonder is still very much there.
Connection at the heart of it all
I feel incredibly blessed that throughout my creative journey with crystals, my friends and family have loved my creations too! Their encouragement and support have meant the world to me.
I now have the great privilege of sharing these little tokens of the earth with people near and far.
I adore connecting with people one-on-one to help them find a piece that feels perfect for their journey. Providing personal service and taking the time to understand exactly what someone is looking for is at the heart of what I do. The authentic connection that develops as we explore the possibilities together is something I truly value.
The ‘energy exchange’ that takes place when one of my creations finds its new home also supports something incredibly precious to me – my connection with my nearest and dearest.
The support I receive through my creative work enables me to enjoy sacred time with my children and their partners, and my granddaughters, who are scattered far and wide – from car trips as short as ten minutes, to drives of seven hours, to international journeys that can take as long as forty hours, to reach my daughter, son-in-law and petite-fille half a world away. (This photo was taken when I visited in May 2018. No prizes for guessing who’d just enjoyed summer whilst the other endured winter.)
In this way, the creative energy I pour into my work comes full circle, allowing me to exchange it for precious moments with those who mean so very much to me.
Something to treasure
Whether you’re drawn to gemstones and crystals for their natural beauty and unique character, their connection to the earth, the energy they evoke, or the personal meaning they hold, I would be honoured to connect you with something heartfelt and deeply meaningful, just for you.
You might choose one of my pendants currently awaiting adoption, or I could transform one of my beautiful, hand-selected gemstones or your own special treasure into something wearable.
Either way, you’ll have something that feels uniquely yours: a beautiful piece to wear, connect with and treasure.
If you’re looking for a gift for someone you love, I’d be delighted to create something truly personal that holds special meaning and connection. Perhaps a birthday, promotion, Christmas or anniversary gift; something to express condolences; or simply a thoughtful gift for someone embarking on a new chapter in life.
Jewellery can be so much more than adornment. It can hold a memory, honour a milestone, remind us to be present, or simply bring us joy through its beauty.
Whatever your reason for choosing a piece, I hope it becomes something you truly treasure.
Connecting with me is easy — through the website or social media, by text or phone, or in person near my home on the beautiful Kapiti Coast, near Wellington.
I courier my creations throughout New Zealand and worldwide.
Thank you for sharing in this inspiring, creative journey with me. I feel so fortunate to spend my days doing something I love: transforming beautiful, ancient gifts of the earth into treasures worn close to your heart.
I look forward to connecting and working with you soon.
Warmest blessings,