My Weirdest Jewellery Tool Is a Milk Bottle Cap

Finally — some decent waves at Matauri. After work I grabbed the board and headed out for a surf. Sometimes the best ideas start with saltwater and a bit of sea air.

And then, back to the studio.

This is my current setup while the husband finishes the barn. A small drilling corner where all the shell drilling happens. Trays of shells. Not glamorous — but it works.

And the unexpected star of the studio? A milk bottle cap.

When I drill kina shells, they need to stay wet. So this little cap is transformed into a tiny water bath. The shell sits inside while I drill through the centre. No dust. No cracking. Just a simple trick that works.

Sometimes jewellery making is less about fancy tools… and more about creative problem solving.

With sandy hands and a salty heart,
Rina