About Me


Throughout my life, I have had two great loves:
  • My love of family
  • My love of creating things with my hands. 
I have been enthusiastically making things ever since I can remember.  I love to create - I have no fear of failure - only the thrill of inspiration!  My family have lovingly supported this aspect of myself from the very beginning, which I'm sure has helped me to perservere when things don't go "quite right"!
 
I'm a romantic at heart, and love to create pretty things.  My personal taste leans towards the 1940's and 50's - that was a time of matching shoes, hats, handbags and gloves.  A time of glamour and never leaving the house without make-up : )  A time of red lipstick and classic fashion styles that thrive even today.  
 
I love to create pieces that don't look "new".  Anything that looks like it has a history enthralls me - I want to know more.  I love estate jewellery and the history that emanates from it.  Who owned this piece?  Was it a favourite?  Has it been passed down the generations?  Did she wear it on her wedding day - perhaps it was a gift from her beloved?  These are things that inspire me.  I love to read biographies, I love to explore my family history (like most New Zealanders, it is very diverse - I have Scottish, English, Irish, Spanish and Maori ancestry).  I love history in general!
 
I've never taken a formal jewellery-making class.  I'm not one for that kind of thing.  I prefer to just have a go, believing that the imagination is far better left untethered, imposing no limits on how things are "meant" to be done.  After all, who's to say what is the "right" and "wrong" way to do something?  Isn't it better to find the way that works best for you?  Think of the possibilities and try to make them a reality, any way you can.

I have two beautiful children (aged 9 and 5 years old) and a wonderful (long-suffering!) husband.

"Pallina" is my passion, not just a pastime. I hope that beautiful jewellery, wearable art and accessories are your passion too - and that you find something that appeals to you, on a personal level, here on my website (either now or in the future).

 If you have any questions, please contact me - I'm here to help!
 
Warmest regards,
Amanda
 
 
 PS: If you're wondering about the story behind the name - "pallina" means "bead" in Italian : )