Pendants at Kapiti Gallery for The Kapiti Coast Art Trail 2026

I’m proud to be exhibiting my beautiful pendants at Kapiti Gallery, 192 Matai Road, Raumati Beach for this year’s Kapiti Coast Art Trail. The Art Trail runs for two consecutive weekends: 24th – 26th October and 31st October – 1st November.

Pendants available are:

NZ Rhodonite Joyous Inner Child Pendant
From Akatore, in the deep south of Aotearoa New Zealand, this gorgeous rhodonite completely fills me with joy. From the moment I first laid eyes upon it, I imagined sitting in a cave and seeing a child eagerly clambering up the rocks surrounding the opening. All that can be seen is a brief glimpse of their torso and leg as they nimbly hoist themselves up, soon to be out of view. After working with the stone, I also felt the imagery could equally be interpreted as a child scrambling up a tall tree at the opening of a dense thicket. My sister divined a tall moa near a pool’s edge, about to stoop for a drink. What do you see?

This stunning pear-shaped stone, with its highly-polished, reflective rounded face and smooth, flat back, is a warm pink colour. In-keeping with the joyful nature of the playful child within, curls of twisted silver mirror the curves of the ‘cave entrance’, forming a secure but whimsical framework. Not only has this pendant been crafted in silver and skilfully shaped here in Aotearoa New Zealand, but the stone formed here, as well!

I find it rather serendipitous that one of the metaphysical uses of rhodonite is to help one reconnect with their inner child.
Whether you’re drawn to working with this ‘stone of compassion’ or simply enjoy wearing a stunning, unique piece of jewellery, this gemstone pendant would make an amazing gift for yourself or someone dear to your heart.

Approximate dimensions: Length 50mm x Width 27mm x Depth 8mm

Lapis Lazuli Regal Pendant with 14K Gold-Filled Accents
This is a truly beautiful pendant. The royal blue colouration of the lazurite in this lapis lazuli is breathtakingly beautiful, with the scattering of golden pyrite across the stone like twinkling stars in the night sky.
Look closely at the top right corner, (the pendant’s top left), and you’ll see a white shoulder of calcite underneath the golden spiral.

Surrounded by sterling silver, the gold accents at the top of the pendant are formed by 14K gold-filled wire.

Approximate dimensions: Length 43.5mm Width 23.5mm Depth 5mm

With lapis lazuli widely considered a stone of friendship, this gorgeous pendant would make such an amazing gift for someone dear to your heart, or even for yourself!

“Freedom Forest” Labradorite Pendant
The captivating beauty of labradorite is provided by labradorescence, when vibrant, iridescent colours burst from within the stone as light strikes and reflects off it at just the right angle. These iridescent colourful flashes often seem to open up magical portals inside, what can first appear to be, fairly nondescript dark or grey stones.
When viewing the imagery in this pretty labradorite, I feel I’m leaving a sacred forest. On the left is a strong, upright tree, rooted deep in the earth and reaching high up into the sky. The electric blue edges add to the feeling of magic it exudes. The scene beyond promises freedom and new adventures.
The simple, no-fuss design of the sterling silver 925 framework adds to the feeling of unemcumbered freedom. I imagine this pendant accompanying its new caretaker on many adventures: surfing, tramping, roadies, celebrating with friends, and more!

Approximate dimensions: Length 42.5mm Width 21.5mm Depth 6mm

Copper Glow Labradorite Pendant
The warm, copper flash of this labradorite truly is stunning! Using copper accents amidst the silver really does enhance the colour of the stone beautifully.

Enduring Metals
To celebrate each stone’s unique expression, they’re cradled in high-quality metals. I work predominantly with 925 sterling silver, solid 9-carat gold, 14K gold-filled wire⌄, with occasional accents of coated copper.

The Symbology of the Bail
The supporting ‘threads’ (wires) of the pendant’s framework are gathered at the top, then folded over to form the loop from which it hangs. I find this process deeply symbolic – cohesively gathering and integrating the many facets of our lives, drawing upon our multiple strengths to support and frame the unique expression of our authentic selves.
To bring this glorious artistic expression to completion as a wearable pendant, the ends of these threads either encircle the lower part of the bail or are trimmed away. I love the metaphor in this too! Of the rich tapestry of our past experiences, some things are ready to be released, while others are retained to provide further strength and foundation to our being, enabling our lights to shine forth spectacularly as we journey ahead.

Art Becomes Wearable
In bringing these one-of-a-kind creations to life as wearable art, a balance between free expression, security and durability is mindfully sought. Given their artistic construction, particular care is recommended when wearing them with fine, loose-weave clothing, as the framework may catch on delicate fibres, potentially damaging the fabric or pulling finer details of the pendant, such as spirals, out of shape. Read more about how to care for these gorgeous creations.

Colour & Perception
“Oh Kathryn, it’s even more beautiful in real life. The photos didn’t do it justice!” I hear this so often.
I take great care in trying to provide accurate photographic representations of my pendants. The colours of natural gemstones can vary under different lighting conditions, so I endeavour to photograph each piece in a variety of settings to capture its different nuances.
The highly polished surface of a gemstone often reflects its surroundings, creating visible highlights and glare. To minimise these reflections, I also photograph my pendants inside a light-filtering cone. While this helps soften bright glare, it can sometimes make a pendant appear less vibrant. Please refer to the photo captions for details about the conditions in which each image was taken.
I also provide video, moving each pendant through different angles to reveal more of its character and how it responds to the light. Colours can appear slightly different in photographs and video, with each offering its own perspective. Together, they provide a more rounded impression of the pendant’s appearance.
Your screen and device settings may also influence how colours appear.

The Magician’s Stone
The captivating beauty of labradorite comes from labradorescence, when vibrant, iridescent colours burst from within the stone as light strikes it. These colourful flashes often seem to open magical portals within what might, at first glance, appear to be fairly nondescript dark or grey stones.
Capturing these gorgeous displays of colour in photographs can be challenging, as both the lighting and viewing angle affect how the colours appear. The light needed to reveal labradorescence can also cast shadows or create reflections across the pendant, making it difficult to fully capture the stone’s spectacular play of colour. I’ve found that photographing the pendant from a slight angle often produces the best results. Video offers another way to appreciate labradorite’s shifting flashes of colour as the pendant moves through different angles.
Labradorite may also display natural internal lines and markings that give it an almost fractured appearance. Some remain within the stone, while others may extend to the polished surface. I take care to photograph each pendant from angles that help make these features visible.

Larger Than Life
It’s so wonderful to be able to zoom in and study a pendant’s details, but bear in mind that the photos show the pendants at a significantly larger size than in real life. As a result, details of the stone’s structure can appear exaggerated. Many is the time I’ve viewed a photograph and noticed a detail that I simply don’t perceive when viewing the pendant up close with ‘ma naked eyes’.

If you’d like to see further photos or videos, please ask. I’m only too happy to help.