Making and Creating
by Julia Atkinson-Dunn
JULIA ATKINSON-DUNN
Writer, maker, painter, gardener, photo taker, designery person.
(Currently owner of a butchery too)Studio Home is the name I’ve always used to hang all of my painting, creating, collaborating and writing under.
Over the last 18 years, it has managed to morph into all the things I have needed it to be. NZ’s first design blog, a place to write freely, a place to sell workshops, a place to share collaboration, to share the work of others, sell others’ art, then my art, spin off sideways into the gardening world, write books and more.
Then, in late 2023, Studio Home got unceremoniously parked on the side of the road somewhere with the rest of the life I had made! Instead, my husband and I took a gamble on a sea change, moved to beautiful Banks Peninsula and took ownership of the Akaroa Butchery + Deli. An industry we had no idea about and a wonderful community we didn’t see coming!
We have more than settled in now, with an eye on the long term. We enjoy semi-rural living up the Takamatua valley, establishing our new garden ‘Spindrift’ and learning the ropes of our home region. We’re super focused on future lifestyle and business goals involving our property, the garden world and what we can both be making!
Butchery life is wholly consuming for now, but at least not as scary (there is a whole story in that!). This has meant that time and brain space have slowly been freed up to start making again. And after such a divorce from my creativity, I couldn’t believe the lovely release when I cranked it up again.
Updates here will be in sporadic drops and they will stray all over the place in terms of offering! I am unbridled in what I want to learn and share, but deeply enjoy making in reflection of my own tastes. And I hope there will be items to match your vibe right now too.
Ju xo
Handmade Necklaces
NEW DROP COMING SOON
〰️
NEW DROP COMING SOON 〰️
Inky bays and the glistening dark skies of the Banks Peninsula nights.
This set of two can easily be worn as a pair, mixed with others or separated as a gift to share.
Every necklace I make is entirely unique and aimed at those that want a little colour and whimsy in their jewellery box (like I do).
I use natural pearls, natural stone and ceramic beads mixed with other interesting ones I can find!
The beaded portion of the necklace is approx 41 cm long with an additional 4.5 cm chain which allows you to play with the length. Hardware is alloy.
I have no recipe when I play and mix the beads together, and there is no production line following a prescriptive order. You will see similar versions, but that is because I get obsessed with some of the colours, shapes and materials I’ve found. But each necklace will be different.
Treat your necklace as a handmade treasure.
While I wear mine everyday day, I recommend :
Avoid contact with water (eg. take the off before shower or swimming).
Take off before bed.
Perfume and moisturiser may affect the finish of the hardware and natural products.
Treat with care - avoid tugging.
A rose tinted wash on the hills, sunny fingers of light reaching over to the bay and a dawn chorus on a warm breeze.
Every necklace I make is entirely unique and aimed a those that want a little colour and whimsy in their jewellery box (like I do).
I use natural pearls, natural stone and ceramic beads mix with other interesting ones I can find!
The beaded portion of the necklace is approx 41 cm long with an addition 4.5 cm chain which allows you to play with the length.Hardware is alloy.
I have no recipe when I play and mix the beads together, and there is no production line following a prescriptive order. You will see similar versions, but that is because I get obsessed with some of the colours, shapes and materials I’ve found. But each necklace will be different.
Treat your necklace as a handmade treasure.
While I wear mine everyday day, I recommend :
Avoid contact with water (eg. take off before shower or swimming).
Take off before bed.
Perfume and moisturiser may affect the finish of the hardware and natural beads.
Treat with care - avoid tugging.
Rings of warm dusky pink reminding me of a dusk glow.
This set of two can easily be worn as a pair, mixed with others or separated as a gift to share.
Every necklace I make is entirely unique and aimed at those that want a little colour and whimsy in their jewellery box (like I do).
I use natural pearls, natural stone and ceramic beads mixed with other interesting ones I can find!
The beaded portion of the necklace is approx 41 cm long with an additional 4.5 cm chain which allows you to play with the length. Hardware is alloy.
I have no recipe when I play and mix the beads together, and there is no production line following a prescriptive order. You will see similar versions, but that is because I get obsessed with some of the colours, shapes and materials I’ve found. But each necklace will be different.
Treat your necklace as a handmade treasure.
While I wear mine everyday day, I recommend :
Avoid contact with water (eg. take the off before shower or swimming).
Take off before bed.
Perfume and moisteriser may affect the finish of the hardware and natural beads.
Treat with care - avoid tugging.
Beautiful
days in the
Bays
Most days I feel like I live in a TV movie.
Banks Peninsula exudes a coastal and rural romance like no place I have been. The light is magical, and I’m learning how it moves with the four full seasons we enjoy in their entirety. Southerly fronts blasting up the harbour, hot autumn colour, acid green willows in the valleys, roasting days with glassy seas, frost on the jetty and lazy cloud oozing down the ridges of the crater are just some of my favourite things to notice. It’s all SO magnetic, that we risked buying a butchery just to move here!
Akaroa harbour and village are exceptionally charming, and the community outrageously loyal. The newcomers and generational families bond with a combined love of this place.
Despite being at the end of a twisty road on a peninsula, we have a healthy small economy that rises and falls rather drastically between high summer and quiet winter. Our harbour is home to the smallest dolphin in the world, and our environment has a unique story spanning Maori, English, French and German settlers which have influenced the landscape and architecture in different ways.
We are a village with many independent, owner/operator businesses including a butchery, (with a 100 year history), bakery, bookshop, florist, cafes and restaurants, boutiques, open gardens, art galleries, accommodation of all types and more. A nostalgic variety which has been lost from many regional communities in NZ.
So yes - this IS a sales pitch. Come and visit! There is beauty to be found at any time of year!
Join me on Instagram…
I have two.
Home life, art life, Akaroa life and a lot of sharing of creative people, projects, interiors that I find inspiring. Micro-blogging via my stories.
@studiohome
Garden life, garden travel, the development of ‘Spindrift’ and regular sharing of inspiring and interesting gardens, advice and plant based media.
@studiohomegardening
….I actually have three.
You can follow @akaroa_butchery_and_deli for our store life AND regular views into Akaroa Village through the seasons.
Contact Me
For any and all enquiries you can email me on hello@studiohome.co.nz