My Girl Paua Story
I’m Mhairi, pronounced Vari, & after graduating from Aberdeen University with a Joint Honours Degree in Languages, I spent a year working in New Zealand. I returned home to Glasgow in 2004 & over the next few years I had two daughters. They are Skiwis – half Scottish, half Kiwi! In May 2007 their NZ grandparents visited. Nana is Māori & Koro (Maori for grandpa) is Pakeha (white European settler ancestry). They brought over some paua shell pieces & I made them into pendants.
Girl Paua was born! I combine NZ Paua Shell with Freshwater Pearls & Cut Glass Crystals to create elegant jewellery. I also do a lot of drilling and gluing & enjoy making unique shell gifts including hairclips, bookmarks, photo frames, mosaic brooches, box frame art & more! I also buy in some beautiful pieces from NZ artists, helping support the sustainability of paua shell and artists living in NZ.
PAUA SHELL (NEW ZEALAND'S ABALONE)
Naturally iridescent with a multitude of radiant hues, the New Zealand Paua Shell is highly attractive & unique. It is known as the Rainbow of All Abalone.
Paua is the Maori word for abalone and is pronounced “pah-wah”. We use Paua Shell because it is the brightest of all abalone shells: the colours of each shell change when viewed from different angles & the patterns are also unique to each shell. Other abalone shells have different qualities - in North America they are more turquoise blue; in South Africa they are much paler & less domed.
WHERE, WHAT, HOW?!
Paua is a univalve shellfish only found in the sea around New Zealand and it lives clinging to rocks at depths of 1-10 meters, normally along the shoreline. The shell grows to 20cm long and can live for over 40 years.
After divers harvest the shell, the outer crust is removed by tumbling it with pebbles and shells and then by polishing it to expose the shell’s beautiful colours at their most radiant. The iridescence of the shell, similar to that of Mother of Pearl, is what makes Paua shell so amazing as a gem material for use in jewellery. It is truly one of nature's marvels. The black patterns in the shell come from layers of protein which are laid down between the layers of calcium that make up the shell, & the brilliant colours are from light being refracted within the crystal layers.
SUSTAINABILITY
The Paua fishery is properly managed in a sustainable way and there is a quota management system in place and strictly enforced regulations which control the size of Paua taken. The Paua divers can only free-dive to pry Paua off the rocks as the use of air tanks is prohibited. So although Paua stocks have been depleted, the sustainability of this natural resource appears ensured. Every time the shell is sold it increases the value of this natural resource and helps to ensure that it continues to be managed in a sustainable way.
LUCKY SHELL
For hundreds of years the Maori have traditionally used Paua shell to illuminate the eyes of their carving and artwork. If you visit a Maori Marae in New Zealand, look out for the Paua glimmering all over it to protect and ward off evil spirits.
The Maori have always considered Paua shell to be lucky, as well as one of Mother Nature’s most beautiful creations.
FAQs
* After the shells have been tumbled, sometimes pieces chip, and I use these pieces of paua to create many of the items on the website!
* AB refers to the facets on the cut glass crystals, and is short for Aurora Borealis (the northern lights). The multi faceted crystals reflect light and match well with the beautiful colours of the paua shell.
* 90% of the items on the website are handmade in Scotland. The other 10% are pieces from NZ, so you are also supporting local artists in NZ.
* You can make payment via EKM Clear Accept, which accepts all cards, or via Paypal, or click "bank transfer" and look out for an email with Girl Paua Bank Details. Please contact me if you have any issues mhairi@girlpaua.co.uk
* Bracelets are made with Stretch Magic cos they are super springy and wont break. I do however offer a repair service for all the jewellery starting from £5 so get in touch if you have an issues mhairi@girlpaua.co.uk
* I customise a lot of items eg gold instead of silver, larger or smaller sizes/length, and even one off pieces, so do just ask!
* When you order you can click reply on the confirmation email & ask me for some pics of what I have in stock, so you can choose your perfect pair of earrings! I usually send most pics via whatsapp so include your phone number too!
* Have a look in person at our beautiful jewellery and gifts by visiting an event (mostly Scotland based), or by visiting one of 3 artist shops:
-Mugdock Makkers Art Collective Gallery, Mugdock Country Park, Milngavie, G62, North Glasgow
- Scottish Design Exchange 1.George St, Edinburgh; 2. Buchanan Galleries, Glasgow
* Follow us on social media to keep up to date! We have Instagram and Facebook Accounts @girlpauajewellery
* You can join our mailing list to receive emails about events and special offers - email me at mhairi@girlpaua.co.uk to join the mailing list.
