May 15

MEDIA RELEASE

Crafts and Coffee kick off winter hours at the Honey House Cafe

The Honey House Café – one of Kerikeri’s favourite coffee spots – is staying open throughout winter, and a local artist is taking advantage of the extended hours to share her craft with others.

Jewellery maker Rina Ward will hold the first of a number of ‘Crafts & Coffee’ get-togethers on Thursday, 31^stMay (10.30am-12.30pm), and is encouraging people to come along and enjoy a morning of “coffee, cake and charm jewellery making”.

“For the cover charge of $25 people can enjoy coffee and cake, and receive a jewellery starter kit to start them off,” says Rina, who owns Nostalgems Handmade Jewellery.

“I’ll be showing participants how to create one-of-a-kind heirloom-style jewellery, and offer a helping hand if needed. It’s not a workshop, but more an opportunity for people to get together and have fun. What better way to spend a winter morning than with some coffee, cake and a bit of crafting, together with people who have similar interests?”

One person who has taken part in one of Rina’s jewellery workshops in the past is the Manager of the Kerikeri Mission Station and Honey House Cafe, Liz Bigwood.

“As the name Nostalgem suggests, Rina’s jewellery has a wonderful heritage feel and her work is very popular in the Stone Store shop,” she says.

“Rina’s charm bracelets, for example, give people the opportunity to incorporate little keepsakes or objects that might otherwise become lost or overlooked – instead, giving them a purpose and significance that they might not otherwise have.”

A bracelet made by Liz incorporates a button from her grandfather’s army coat which he wore at Gallipoli.

“The button is only small but by incorporating it into a piece of jewellery it somehow gives it a focus and enables his story to be kept alive. Charm bracelets are a great way of highlighting these little treasures which might otherwise be in danger of being lost or forgotten.”

Holding the ‘Crafts & Coffee’ get-togethers at the Honey House shows what a versatile space the café can be according to Liz.

“It’s warm and comfortable with great food and a wonderful outlook – the perfect place for gatherings of this kind. Being open throughout winter also means this space can be available for community use like this – as well as being good news for all our local regulars.”

The Honey House will be open Wednesdays through to Sundays from about 9am and will feature a menu of tasty winter lunch meals and snacks including hearty winter soup, pies, toasted sandwiches, scones and frittata as well as favourites like the café’s toffee apple cake and its quality espresso and teas.

People can book their place on the crafty coffee meet-up by calling Rina on 021 175 9700, or emailing Rina at nostalgems@gmail.com