Getting to know... Eva Kerer

What do you get when a Barbie car meets a jeweller’s imagination? For Eva Kerer, the answer is a collection of bold, quirky brooches that turn nostalgia into art. Exhibiting at Nelson Jewellery Week, her work gives discarded objects a fresh start – because creativity knows no speed limits!

At the weekend you’ll find me... At the Saturday market, enjoying Nelson at its best. I love the sense of community and the relaxed atmosphere. Best start to the weekend!

Something I learnt way later than I should have... Is letting go of perfection. I consider myself a recovered perfectionist. I’m not certain whether it’s due to having three children or reaching my midlife era, but during art school, I realised I would enjoy myself much more if I embraced imperfection.

My simple pleasures are... Coffee on our porch, enjoying the first morning sun and the views over the garden and Nelson. Rain or shine, this is where I have my first coffee before the mayhem of the day begins. It’s like a meditation ritual.

I wish more people knew... That being an artist is not about spending time in your sun-filled studio blissfully pursuing what you love. Instead, you run a small business, which involves a great deal of hustling, marketing yourself, and writing proposals and applications. I often find myself spending more time on my computer dealing with admin than in my workshop. I’m glad Nelson has such a supportive artistic community, which is crucial since you can’t do this on your own as an artist.

As a child, I was really into... Nature. I grew up surrounded by a big garden, fields, and forest and have always found being in nature very comforting. This is probably why – in my first life – I studied horticultural management and worked in nurseries for 10 years.

A family tradition I’ll never give up is... The traditional German Christmas. Despite living in New Zealand for 20 years now, I still insist on celebrating Christmas Eve and the four Advent Sundays. My kids get extra sweets on the 6th of December on St Nikolaus Day, but then again, they have to wait for the tree to go up until just a few days before the 24th (traditionally, it’s the 24th, but that’s subject to negotiation each year).

I get myself out of a funk by... Being in nature, even if it’s just watering the garden. If this is not an option, having been a teenager in the 90s, there’s not much that a couple of loud Nirvana or Blur tracks won’t fix.

I’m going out for dinner... To the Styx. I love the waterfront setting, the holiday feeling in the summer, the sunsets and the comfort food they serve.

My biggest regret is... Listening to family and not studying art straight after school, but instead 20 years later. But then again, I wouldn’t have met Kay van Dyk, who introduced me to the fabulous world of contemporary jewellery during my studies at NMIT.