Making and Creating
by Julia Atkinson-Dunn
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
JULIA ATKINSON-DUNN
Writer, maker, painter, gardener, photo taker, designery person.
(Currently owner of a butchery too)Handmade Necklaces
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