The 'Real Ring'

Madeleine Albright Publishes Book on Brooches

2009-10-06T09:14:00.001+13:00

Heres a really interesting web press release about Madeleine Albright who has published a book on brooch pins.

Madeleine Albright has published a new book titled Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box (Harper Collins, $40), which tracks how the country's first female secretary of state used brooches as symbols of her message to international counterparts.

Albright told Women's Wear Daily in an interview that she got the idea to use her pins during international negotiations after being dubbed an "unparalleled serpent" in a propagandistic Iraqi government poem in 1994. Albright wanted to send a subversive message of strength when meeting Iraqi officials, including Saddam Hussein. So during their meeting, she donned a gold pin depicting a snake coiled around a branch and a small diamond hanging from its mouth. The Iraqi officials and the press corps picked up on the message, and Albright realized she was onto something.

Albright took a liking to accessorizing with brooches when she discovered they could liven up her required regulation suits. Her collection of 300 pins, which is depicted in her book, includes everything from a button from John F. Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign to more serious jewelry pieces, such as a gold and pink tourmaline Verdura brooch and a Cartier piece with moonstones, chalcedony, aquamarines and diamonds. Some of Albright's most politically notable pins include a gold dove pin given to her by Leah Rabin, wife of slain Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin; an enameled blue bird with diamonds that she began to wear with wings downward in 1996 when Fidel Castro's air force shot down four Cuban-American pilots in international air space off the Florida coast; and her "Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, See No Evil" trio of pins used to chide Russian President Vladimir Putin for his failure to acknowledge human rights violations committed by the Russian military in the violence-plagued region of Chechnya.

Albright says her favorite brooch is a painted clay heart that her daughter Katie made as a child. "I wear it every Valentine's Day," she told WWD. "People say, 'Where did you get that?' and Katie, who's 40, says, 'You have got to tell people I made that when I was five.'"

The exhibit "Read My Pins: The Madeline Albright Collection" will be on view through Jan. 31, 2010, at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City. The collection will then go on tour and appear at selected venues across the country.

Top dollar for local silver

2009-09-28T21:13:00.001+13:00

Here is an article from The New Zealand Herald about recent auction of some works by NZ silversmith Peter Woods who trained under Jens Hansen.

Don Milne saleroom: Top dollar for local silver
4:00AM Saturday Sep 05, 2009
By Don Milne
New Zealand silversmiths are generally known for their jewellery; Peter Woods is the notable exception.

Born in Eltham in 1952, and trained under the noted Danish-born, long New Zealand-resident silver guru Jens Hansen, he is one of the few New Zealanders to specialise in what experts call hollow-ware - trays, coffee and tea pots, tableware and so on.

His stylish, elegant, beautifully finished work has brought a number of commissions, including the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games baton (now in the Auckland War Memorial Museum collection).

His works seldom come on the auction market. So the small but notable collection offered by Cordy's last month attracted much attention and commensurately high prices.

Top of the list was a suite of table silver comprising tray, coffee pot and teapot with characteristic puriri handles, sugar and cream. The set was illustrated in Helen Schamroth's 1998 book 100 New Zealand Craft Artists; Cordy's estimate was $3500.

So there were gasps when, with spirited bidding, it climbed to $16,500 ($18,820 with premium and GST). There were more gasps when the next four Woods lots - trays and tureens - went for a total of $29,250 ($33,363), against total estimates of $6900.

Read full Herald article here

Great video of Visit to Workshop Featuring Jeweller Ben Clark

2009-09-17T14:37:00.002+12:00

World Traveller is a 20min show broadcast every Saturday night on the Shanghai Documentary Channel. In Feb-Mar 2009 they visited the Nelson region of New Zealand and saw us at our studio workshop.

Someone has posted a brief clip of the show on YouTube showing the guys in the studio hard at work, with a good session with jeweller Ben Clark as he makes a Movie Ring.

Jens Winter-Glasgow Top Nordic Jeweller 2008

2009-09-11T14:30:00.003+12:00

We recently posted about Jens Hansen's nephew Jens Winter-Glasgow. Winter-Glasgow started his jewellery training at our Nelson, New Zealand workshop, completed his formal apprenticeship with world renowned Danish jewelers Georg Jensen, and graduated 2nd in the whole of Denmark in 2008.

As a result he was chosen to represent Denmark at the Nordic Jewllery Award championships in August 2008. At the Championships two representatives each from Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark competed to make a set piece. Jens' workmanship was judged best and he won the competition and took home a check for 50,000 Danish Kroner.

Jens Hansen's Nephew & Namesake Meets Queen of Denmark

2009-09-11T14:30:00.001+12:00

We are very proud to report on the recent progress of Nelson born jeweller Jens Winter-Glasgow. Named after his uncle Jens Hansen, Winter-Glasgow started his jewellery career in our workshop. After a few years he left Nelson to retrace his heritage in the ancestral homeland of Denmark. There he was fortunate enough to win a place as an apprentice with the world famous jewelry firm of Georg Jensen at their artisans workshop in the town of Kolding.

Runner Up Goldsmith Apprentice of The Year Denmark 2008

On 14th May 2008 Jens Winter-Glasgow graduated at a ceremony at the Town hall in Copenhagen.

/>

It was attended by HM the Queen of Denmark, HRH the prince consort and the Major of Copenhagen, as well as a large number of guests.

The ceremony is held once every year for all newly finished tradesmen who achieved good grades.
People who achieve 12(the highest grade achievable) get a silver medal, gold medals don't exist, and people who achieve 10(the second highest grade) get bronze.

Shaking Hands With The Queen of Denmark

The Medal

The tradesmen graduating in 2008 were from 24 different trades, everything from hairdressers to bookbinders. Of the 133 people that received medals, only 4 where goldsmiths. The goldsmiths all received bronze medals, no jeweller has actually received silver medal yet by the way.

The medal says "When seriousness and truth combine/join with diligence the goal is reached"

The english translation of the papers that accompanied the medal said:
"The Copenhagen Association of artisans notifies that the journeyman, Jens Erling Winter-Glasgow, has obtained the certificate of apprenticeship of his trade.
The judging committee of the branch has found his work exceedingly well affected. Upon the proposition of the committee, which has been recommended by the competent organisation of masters in Copenhagen, the association of artisans, wishing to reward the young journeyman's diligence and skill, to acknowledge his good behaviour during his apprenticeship and to encourage him to continual progress, has granted him its bronze medal.

Channel AsiaNews visits Jens Hansen store

2009-07-27T14:18:00.001+12:00

In November last year host Timothy Go and the Channel NewsAsia travel team visited Jens Hansen Gold & Silversmith to see the home of The World's Most Famous Ring.

Someone has posted a brief clip of the show on YouTube showing the guys in the studio hard at work.

An artist's life among the elements

2009-07-21T17:02:00.002+12:00

Here's a great article about Thorkild just published in our local newspaper here in Nelson. Original Post

By MIC DOVER - The Nelson Mail Last updated 12:36 18/07/2009

Thorkild Hansen was born in Nelson in 1969 into the artistic environment of his father Jens Hansen, a renowned silversmith most famous as the man who forged "The One Ring" for Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.

Even as a boy, Thorkild took to the world of silversmithing with enthusiasm. "I can remember playing in the workshop at the age of 10," he says. "By the time I left school at 16, I already had the basic skills of jewellery-making."

Not that he was planning on settling into the trade just yet.

In 1987, after a two-year spell in the family business workshop, he followed another of the Hansen genetic strands this time the hospitality and culinary interests of his mother, Gurli Hansen.

Thorkild found himself working as a kitchen hand to Brian Samuels at The Figpeckers restaurant in Nelson, gradually learning to translate his foodie upbringing into usable cooking skills in a commercial kitchen.

After a period of travelling around New Zealand, doing farm work, in his early 20s he turned back to metalwork and became a student of Peter Woods, himself a former apprentice of Jens Hansen.

The work mainly involved domesticware such as cutlery but Thorkild also found himself creating ecclesiastical items, including some large forms involving blacksmithing.

By 1991, he was back at his father's workshop, updating his skills and doing some goldsmithing for the first time. He was now living in Cable Bay and inevitably bumped into woodworker David Haig whose studio overlooks the bay.

"David told me to search out the books of master woodworker James Krenov, which I did. I ended up making a cupboard which I gave to my father for his 51st birthday."

This brush with the world of wood was to have a major effect on Thorkild's life 15 years later, but in the meantime his OE beckoned, taking him abroad for two years. Returning to New Zealand in 1993, he settled on the West Coast, setting up a silversmith's studio in tiny Ngakawau, north of Granity.

Work was plentiful, with his father outsourcing work to him because of the demand for Jens Hansen's services. Then came news of the death of a figure who had played a large part in Thorkild's life, Teddy Homes the partner of his mother after his parents had divorced in 1980, and a jewellery technician at Nelson's Polytechnic.

Thorkild split his time between the Jensen workshop and taking on Teddy's part-time job a move that led once again to crossed paths with woodworkers, with both David Haig and John Shaw teaching woodworking at the college at this time.

"I was exposed to a woodworking studio again and I loved the atmosphere."

In 1997, Thorkild left the polytechnic as he entered yet another period of major change in his life. He took on the management of the Jens Hansen business, much to the delight of his father, who was freed up for the first time in years to work on his own projects.

Thorkild's new managerial responsibility coincided with the exciting period of the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings commission and the workshop found itself on the global map of jewellery-making. "Then right in the middle of it all, my dad died. He never even got to see the movie." Jens died in August 1999, from inoperable pancreatic cancer.

Despite Jens' death, the Hansen workshop in Nelson's Trafalgar Square continued (it is now managed by Thorkild's brother, Halfdan). Thorkild also continued with his silversmithing, including the new trophy for the Super 14 rugby tournament, unveiled in 2006, but then came the earth-shattering news that a mystery illness of the previous six months was diagnosed as cancer.

"I was 37 then," says Thorkild, "and they gave me six to 18 months, max, to live. That was 3 1/2 years ago." The cancer took the form of a tumour in his pelvis and was eventually diagnosed as mesothelioma cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.

"We used to use asbestos-based shields in the workshop, it could've been those," he says. "But more likely it was the day I removed the smelting hearth in the workshop that had a lot of asbestos in its construction. My dad had heard about the dangers of exposure to it so I waded in like a typical bulletproof teenager, no mask or anything and got rid of it all. I probably inhaled the particles then they have a 25-year gestation period before they become cancerous."

His cancer is not straightforward but seems to be in remission. "I had seven months of chemotherapy what was it like? Just don't go there! It was an experience that made me question the value of everything. I had a new job to stay alive. You wake up feeling like death warmed up and you have to force yourself to get up, get on with it I feel I have a responsibility to stay alive."

He is having a break from the chemotherapy to see what happens.

"Basically there's a three monthly check-up and we all get a bit jittery as that appointment approaches. But I feel really free to do my own stuff now. Halfdan has taken on the business and I'm freed up to leave the world of metal and go back to woodworking again. On top of that, I'm eating well, not getting stressed and I feel healthier."

Thorkild created a woodworking studio at home and went back to where he left off after making that cupboard for his father all those years ago.

Then his wife, Miriam, heard about John Shaw and David Haig's new venture out at Wakapuaka the Centre for Fine Woodworking, set up as a charitable educational trust with the principal aim of offering high-quality tuition in fine woodworking. She suggested Thorkild sign up for a course, which he did, in 2007.

"I did the beginner's course then the dovetailing course," he says. "I loved the atmosphere so much I did a third course in the same year. The school prides itself on its small class sizes I don't think you can put a price on that low student to instructor ratio. And they also welcome absolute beginners as well as more experienced woodworkers."

The school's curriculum is based on three single terms or modules where attendance at any one gives a thorough grounding in a major area of fine woodworking. It runs weekend and short courses covering various topics such as routers, planemaking, even dinghy building. So Thorkild has successfully moved from silver to wood. But how does working with timber compare with silver?

"The hand skills are similar the marking and measuring and the toolmanship. Being an artist as well has meant I've built a good relationship with John Shaw. But wood is a new challenge the material is so much more unforgiving than silver there are no second chances with wood. Silver you can melt down and start again, but timber can easily become firewood. So I've learned to be more respectful of the material and also of the woodworkers the lack of credit that cabinetmakers get compared with jewellery artists is amazing.

"With woodworking, you have to accept it takes a certain amount of time, enjoy the process, the gratification is far more in the process than the finished article, I think.

"I've learned so much from John Shaw in such a short space of time. He has calmness, a sense of humility and seems to get his gratification from helping us learn. It's not the pay cheque or the public approval that motivates him he's a lot like my father."

Where to from here?

"In 2008 I was working in my home woodworking studio but not with the same momentum that CFW provided. Miriam noticed this and suggested I do another course she was right. I found myself making another cupboard and this time exhibiting it to wide approval in the CFW end of year show at the Refinery last December."

After that, Thorkild decided he could not bear to leave CFW's fun, creative environment, so he approached the trust that runs the school and offered to be their unpaid "artist-in-residence". They readily accepted the offer. (He is now an unpaid "associate tutor".)

"Students come to me for help and I also can find myself mediating between the students and John. I can honestly say that CFW, as well as Miriam, has been the saviour of my emotional wellbeing. It's not about woodworking really; it's about the process and the shared learning experiences with like-minded, motivated, friendly people. Whatever your problems in life, this kind of experience has got to make things better for you."

SILVER AND WOOD

The Centre for Fine Woodworking is based at Wakapuaka, near Nelson.

See cfw.co.nz.Jens Hansen Gold & Silversmiths has been operating at Trafalgar Square in Nelson since 1968.

Key Jens Hansen works are included in the permanent collection at the national museum, Te Papa, in Wellington.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos.

Malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs.

Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research into screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.

Jens Hansen Jewellery Comes to Auckland

2009-07-21T14:20:00.001+12:00

Halfdan Hansen

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 1:14p.m.

In the 1950s Jens Hansen brought a style of jewellery design from his native Denmark to Auckland and wowed the fashionistas.

He later moved to Nelson and most recently found new fame when he was commissioned to make the rings for the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Since his death in 1999 his sons have been running the business and for the first time in 40 years Halfdan has bought Jens Hansen jewellery back to the city where it all began.

Halfdan Hansen showed New Zealand Television TV3 Sunrise show some fine examples of his father's designs.

Watch Video

Jens Hansen 40th Anniversary Collection Released

2008-11-21T06:59:00.004+13:00

TV3 Nightline News

Four decades ago Danish gold and silversmith Jens Hansen set up a Nelson workshop.

Now nine years after his death his sons are continuing the legacy.

"I'd like to think he'd be proud that we're keeping it going," says Halfdan Hansen. "We've got apprentices working for us now so we're keeping it alive for the future."

To celebrate the 40th anniversary a collection of designs - which have not been made or sold since Jens Hansen originally designed them - has been re-launched.

Watch video or read rest of news story here TV3 Nightline News Story

JENS HANSEN TO SPONSOR EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR NMIT ARTS STUDENT

2008-11-13T12:04:00.002+13:00

The Motueka-Golden Bay News November 13, 2008

Renowned local jewellers Jens Hansen Gold
& Silversmith will sponsor an 'Award of
Excellence' for the top NMIT arts student
this year. The award winner for 2008 will
be announced at the opening of the NMIT
student art exhibition at the Suter Art Gallery
on November 14.

For the past 40 years Jens Hansen has been
synonymous with Nelson's creative industry
and NMIT. Creatively Jens was regarded as a
genius. He was an acclaimed painter, sculptor,
and gold and silversmith, bringing. a unique
style of artistry to Nelson's creative core.

Over the past four decades, Jens Hansen has
become recognised the world over for classically
designed jewellery with true spirit and timeless
style, with works celebrated in the Museum of
New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa's permanent
collection and in literature showcasing New
Zealand art and design. As with all that is
excellent, his designs continue to endure over
the years and defy fashion, as seen in the
recently released 40th Anniversary Collection
of legacy jewellery pieces.

Jens Hansen was eternally passionate about
his craft and was keen to ensure its survival,
both as a hobby for some and as a commercial
reality for others. He ran summer art and
metal work classes at NMIT for many years in
the 1970s and 1980s, and with fellow jeweller
Gavin Hitchings helped to establish NMIT's
jewellery classes which remain popular today.

NMIT head of school for arts and media Suzie
Peacock said the institute was honoured that
Jens Hansen was sponsoring the excellence
award.

"We've had along association with the Hansen
family and Jens Hansen is seen as an icon of
quality design in Nelson. It's a brand that
stands for good design, beautiful handcrafting
and the Nelson region. We are very proud to
have their company sponsoring this award."

Nelson's world of sustainable arts

2008-11-11T15:28:00.004+13:00

Here's an excerpt and photo of a nice article about Nelson which featured in today's Dominion Post newspaper. Please click the link to read the full story.

Nelson's world of sustainable arts

The once-wacky art scene in the sun-drenched South Island town of Nelson is not only alive and well, it's getting stronger

ELLEN BROOK - The Dominion Post | Tuesday, 11 November 2008

ROBERT KITCHIN/The Dominion Post

HOME AND AWAY: Nelson artist Anna Leary and Phillip Thomas in a Wellington Airport artists' studio, built to show off Nelson Arts. The Ring in the foreground is a full size replica of the big Jens Hansen One Ring used in the Lord of the Ring's movies.

Nelson has its fingers in a lot of pies. It wants to be the sustainable city, the solar city, the heritage city and the arts city, says the mayor.

The area is becoming known for its woodworking, as well as ceramics and jewellery, including the studio of Jens Hansen jewellers, which helped put Nelson on the map as the place where a certain gold ring that featured in a certain movie was made.

Yes, I know you thought it was forged in the mines of Mordor, but it was actually in a little workshop just by the cathedral.

.....

please click link to read the full story

Original Treasures Revisited

2008-11-05T13:29:00.003+13:00

Our local Nelson paper did a great article today on the launch of the 40th Anniversary Collection.

Please check it out at http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelsonmail/4750994a19257.html

Photo with a poster of Jens in the background shows Halfdan with one of the rings from the collection, and its original workshop production card.

The Sitting Room Sells Out

2008-11-01T22:34:00.002+13:00

Jens Hansen Gold & Silversmith was very proud to be co-sponsor of 'The Sitting Room' at the Nelson Arts Festival for the 3rd year running.

The show was a sellout and more than 450 people had a fantastic time dancing to the eclectic musical picks of award winner music journalist Grant Smithies.

Check out these Two Different Reviews From The Nelson mail
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelsonmail/4746807a27875.html
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelsonmail/blogs/artofnelson/2008/10/26/just-the-music/

See photos from the night at our sponsorship partner's blog
http://netmaestro.co.nz/blog/mid/103/full/blog/28/the-sitting-room--sellout.aspx

The Sitting Room

With Grant Smithies

Sunday Star Times music writer Grant Smithies has been collecting rare and unusual dance records from around the world for over 20 years, and he selects the absolute pearlers, just for you. Don’t come along expecting to hear familiar office party anthems or just one musical style. The Sitting Room is diverse and surprising - samba and bossa nova classics from Brazil, hi-life music from Nigeria, Puerto Rican boogaloo, dancehall reggae from Jamaica, calypso from Trinidad, plus a scorching selection of soul, funk, disco and house music. The Sitting Room has sold out for the last two years, so get your tickets early.

Venue:	Granary Festival Cafe, Founders Heritage Park, 87 Atawhai Drive
Dates:	Sat 25 Oct 9pm

Jens Hansen 40th Anniversary Collection Released

2008-10-31T22:00:00.001+13:00

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Jens Hansen 40th Anniversary Collection Released

The Jens Hansen 40th Anniversary Collection is being released today, to mark the Nelson jeweller's 40 years of Scandinavian-inspired design.

The anniversary collection is made up of classic experimental Jens pieces with the constant undercurrent of Danish architectural simplicity. They are outstanding designs that have both endured the decades, and defy fashion.

Each collection piece will be made-to-order using Jens' original goldsmithing techniques. Each piece will also come with a replica of its original workshop production card, and will bear a special edition hallmark, authenticating it as a 40th anniversary collectable.

The exclusive collection is available for viewing at our Selwyn Place workshop in Nelson, or on our website. 40th Anniversary Collection

Anniversary Background

Jens Hansen, his wife Gurli and son Halfdan moved from Auckland to Nelson in August 1968 and opened their first workshop in November the same year. Son Thorkild was born the following year.

Word of Jens' unique style soon spread. He was gregarious and outspoken and people loved his edgy, experimental work. As his works' popularity increased, both locally and nationally, the workshop was moved to Hardy St, where Jens started to take on apprentices in the traditional goldsmith manner. The jewellers had moved to the current Selwyn Place/Trafalgar Square workshop in Nelson by 1971.

Over the past four decades, Jens Hansen Contemporary Gold & Silversmith has become recognised the world over for classically designed jewellery with true spirit and timeless style, with works celebrated in the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa's permanent collection and in literature showcasing New Zealand art and design.

Jens' legacy includes his reputation as one of the founders of New Zealand contemporary jewelley design and his celebrity as the designer of the Lord of the Rings One Ring. He received a Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council travel grant to work at the Goldsmiths High School, Copenhagen in 1975, was the founding member of Details - the Jewellers, Bone and Stone Carvers of New Zealand, and helped establish Nelson Polytechnic jewellery classes. He passed away in 1999 leaving Thorkild Hansen as the Chief Jeweller.

Today, under the management of Jens' son Halfdan Hansen, Jens Hansen Contemporary Gold & Silversmith continues to offer a beautiful range of diamonds and gems set in contemporary and classic gold, silver and platinum rings, necklaces, brooches, cufflinks, earrings and bracelets.

Klustre 2008

2008-10-22T14:18:00.002+13:00

Juliette Fox, designer for Jens Hansen Gold & Silversmith, is one of 15 contemporary jewellers showing at this year's Klustre exhibition.

Showcasing new work from the Nelson region's contemporary jewellers, the exhibition runs from October 22nd to November 18th 2008 at the Reflections Art Gallery at the World of WearableArt & Classic Cars in Nelson.

It's Leap Day - will you marry me?

2008-03-10T12:11:00.004+13:00

We were recently honored to help a local woman to take advantage of the fact it is Leap Day to propose to the man of her dreams.

Would he say yes or would he run for the hills?

New Zealand's Television 3 Campbell Live show was there to witness the romance and drama of leap day.

A woman has to look her best on the day she is going to seize the day and ask the man of her dreams to marry her.

So she is decided to propose to Dean on national television - which is very love struck and very bold.

Hannah was organised, and asked Jens Hansen to make a fitting wedding band to propose with.

Hannah's been with Dean for eight years, but he has been too slow to propose.

So she is reaching back to Irish folklore which says a woman can propose on a Leap Day February 29.

It is living breathing romantic proof that every so often a woman needs to take a leap of faith.

Clayton & Christine's engagement trip to Jens Hansen in Nelson

2007-10-31T11:39:00.000+13:00

Clayton and Christine who got engaged in our store a few weeks back have posted a youtube video capturing some of this emotional event. Enjoy.

Dark Lord's Ring #89 Auctioned for Charity

2007-10-31T10:52:00.000+13:00

Last month I had the pleasure of attending a charity fund raising dinner for Nelson's Suter Art Gallery. The banquet was hosted on September 22, 2007 by his excellency, Anand Satyanand, Governor General of New Zealand at his official residence, Government House, in the capital Wellington.

Artists from the Nelson region donated works and we were please to offer #89 in the Limited Edition of 100 Dark Lord Ring replicas. Originally made as Sauron's ring in the movie the ring measures almost 2 inches in diameter, and is made of close to 3 oz. of solid 925 Sterling Silver and is richly plated in 18ct Yellow Gold. Individually stamped with our Jens Hansen hallmarks and edition number #89, the Ring had its own Matching Numbered Certificate of Authenticity, and the numbered rimu presentation box was autographed by Academy Award winning Art Director Dan Hennah

The auction went very well and Ring #89 sold for $1700-. Overall the auction raised around $50,000 for the Suter Gallery.

PS: The set menu prepared by the Governor General's personal chef was delicious - see below..

Nelson trip leads down the aisle

2007-10-15T21:53:00.000+13:00

Article from Nelson Mail newspaper, Nelson, October 15th, 2007

Christine Speed thought a trip to Nelson would be just another weekend away - until her boyfriend led her over a carpet of rose petals and into a jeweller's shop.

Clayton Edge's surprise proposal to his girlfriend of four years was as carefully orchestrated as her response was spontaneous.

He said he wanted to show Miss Speed that he would go to the ends of the earth for her, and had picked Nelson as the spot where he would ask her to marry him.

Mr Edge arranged for a florist to fill the Jens Hansen jewellery shop with roses, and liaised with staff to close the shop to other shoppers so the proposal could be private.

Before he had a chance to drop down on one knee, Miss Speed gave him the smile and the hug which signalled the answer he had nervously been hoping for.

"I had been walking around town for half an hour with butterflies in my stomach," he said.

Miss Speed said the couple, from Christchurch, were looking for somewhere to get a coffee, and she could not understand why her boyfriend seemed to be leading her away from town.

She had no idea the proposal was coming, although she said Mr Edge was good at romantic surprises. On Valentine's Day, he arranged for a barbershop quartet to surprise her at work.

The couple discussed designs for a ring with Jens Hansen staff, and returned home Sunday.

images/nelson_mail_oct_15_07_333588.jpg

BlogRush - the New way of telling people about your Blog

2007-09-18T08:28:00.000+12:00

BlogRush is a free service that was created to help bloggers solve their #1 need:
More Readers For Their Blog.

By adding the BlogRush Widget to a blog, a blogger can get instant distribution for their latest blog post titles across a network of related blogs.

BlogRush users earn "syndication credits" (the right to have their blog post titles shown inside a widget on another related blog) based on their own traffic (loads of the widget) as well as the traffic of other users they refer to BlogRush. Users can automatically refer others to BlogRush via special links on the widget, as well as through the promotion of a special referral URL they are given.

BlogRush is a "Cooperative Syndication Network" that rewards its users for their contributions to the network -- from the impressions they provide of the BlogRush Widget to the referral of other users through 10 'generations' of activity and the impressions of the widget that they provide. BlogRush was designed to be incredibly viral and to provide its users with tremendous distribution leverage to receive exposure for their blog content (onto related content blogs) that they could never achieve on their own; at least without a massive advertising budget.

BlogRush is the brainchild of Internet entrepreneur, John Reese. Mr. Reese is the founder and CEO of Income.com, a soon to be launched social network and media company for entrepreneurs. BlogRush is the first Web property of the Income.com Network, a network of sites and services to help entrepreneurs and business owners succeed. Income.com is based in Orlando, Florida.

Click here to make your own free BlogRush account

Ring Masters Special Gift to Pippa's Baby

2007-08-17T12:32:00.000+12:00

Birthday bash: Thu Aug 16 - Nelson
Breakfast came to you on Thursday from the Nelson Yacht Club - the oldest yacht club in the country, celebrating its 150th birthday this year.

Presenter Pippa interviewed Halfdan Hansen of Jens Hansen Gold & Silversmith - Creators of the World's Most Famous Ring - the One Ring for the Lord of the Rings movies. Pippa recently had a baby and Halfdan had a surprise gift for them.

Nice shot of the Ring and a Ring Bearer

2007-07-25T11:49:00.000+12:00

We were fortunate to have a visit from professional photographer Ralph Talmont recently. Here's a snap he took of Halfdan holding the master prototype One Ring and a 6" scale prop replica.

image copyright Ralph Talmont

Air New Zealand Cup 2007 Season Begins

2007-07-25T11:27:00.000+12:00

The Air New Zealand Cup 2007 Season has just begun. Jens Hansen is proud to have created the Sterling Silver trophy for the competition.

Steven Bates poses with the Air New Zealand Cup after Waikato beat Wellington 37-31 Photo:NZPA/Wayne Drought

Brides dazzle at second big day

2007-07-19T15:42:00.000+12:00

BEST BRIDES: Second placed Simone Jarmai-Gill, left, winner Kelly Win, third placed Katie Harrhy, and fourth placed Zoe Allen after Saturday evening's event in the Rutherford Hotel.

Photo & Story copyright Nelson Mail, July 16th, 2007

Three months after her big day, new Nelson bride Kelly Win slipped on her
wedding dress again - but this time for charity.

On Saturday Mrs Win beat 17 other Nelson-region brides to became First National
Real Estate Bride of the Year at a Nelson Hospice fundraising event in Nelson's
Rutherford Hotel.

"I was quite surprised," she said, after having her name read out as winner following the day-long event.

She said she hadn't been overly nervous on her wedding day but there had
been a few nerves getting up on stage.

Organiser Heather Harley said Mrs Win won a prize package valued at about
$1000, which was made up by retailers around Nelson.

It was too early to say how much money was raised through ticket sales but
about 200 people crowded the event.

Most of the audience were family members of the brides and there were a surprising
number of men present, she said.

This was the second year she had run the show but she was undecided if it
would be an annual event.

Second place went to Richmond's Simone Jarmai-Gill, Nelson's Katie Harrhy
was third, and Nelson's Zoe Allen was fourth. They all won prize packs.

Halfdan interviewed on SBS Australia Danish Radio

2007-05-02T12:01:00.000+12:00

We were recently visited by the Danish language correspondent for Australian SBS Radio. Here is the link to the interview she recorded with us.

arts & culture

HALFDAN HANSEN from New Zealand: 28.4.2007

In the town of Nelson on the south island of New Zealand, Vibeke Sybrandt found Halfdan Hansen, son of the goldsmith Jens Hansen, who made the famous ring for the film LORD OF THE RINGS

Play MP3 | Play Real