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Sunday Star Times

It's A Shore Thing
by Rosalind Le Bas Walker - 3 June 2004

Looking for a one-off gift for a special someone? These talented New Zealand artists are producing classy, handcrafted products using natural materials from the country's coastline.

Direct From Venus

Silica sand from Canterbury is mixed with other minerals and melted in a furnace at 1300 degrees Celsius to form this funky koru glass by Ian Walters and Tokiko Tatemoto.

The couple creates the koru at their small Christchurch-based glas sstudio, Venus Hot Glass. A spiral found in the new growth of the fern plant, the koru frond uncoils to become the fern leaf, which represents evolving growth and new life.

These koru are available in a range of sizes online at www.aotearoa.co.nz

- Rosalind Le Bas Walker