Meet Sandra Hosking, who loves spending time in the creative Coromandel and honours her daughter’s memory through making beautiful glass jewellery.
Sandra with her husband Mark
What is your role?
I’m a Community Relationship Coordinator in the Social Practice team. I place students in organisations for their Fieldwork Practicum/Placement experience across the Bachelor of Social Practice (Social Work and Community Development) and the New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing Level 4.
Kids/pets/partner you want to brag about?
I have been married to Mark since 1986. We had two dogs: Toby (a Golden Lab) and Max (a Golden Retriever) who are both gone now.
Jess Hosking
Our only child, Jess passed away unexpectedly on 05 August 2011 just prior to her 20th birthday, while working as a nanny in Paris to two little boys. The sunflower was her favourite flower and we honour her memory every single day through our art.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
After Jess passed away, I discovered her jewellery and gemstones. She inspired us to follow in her creative footsteps – I did a silver smithing class and set up a jewellery studio which we recently rebranded with the name Sunflower Glass Studio NZ.
We make glass jewellery and wall hangings. Our signature glass work is the sunflower wall hangings and sunflower necklaces but we do so much beside that, including scented candles.
Glass sunflower wall hangings
In the past year we’ve been invited to participate in various art displays in Mercury Bay. None of this pathway would have happened if we hadn’t lost Jess. I don’t want people to feel saddened and sorry for us. I tell people about her life because I acknowledge she lived and carries on living and influencing through our journey.
What’s your favourite place on Earth?
The Coromandel. We had a holiday home in Tairua, then in 2020 we sold that and bought a place in Whitianga. We love the arts and beach culture.
Tell us a memory from childhood…
Going to Te Aroha and working on the farm my Dad grew up on and my uncle owned. We learnt to milk cows and plant paddocks of vegetables like potatoes, onion, garlic and corn.
Sandra and Mark make a range of glass jewellery
Can you recommend a good movie?
Top Gun and Dirty Dancing. I’m so excited about Top Gun 2!
Tell us an achievement you’re proud of…
1. Having an amazing daughter who was a free spirit and we supported her in swimming, water polo, netball, surf lifesaving.
2. Finishing my degree as an adult in 2010 while working and managing a very busy family life.
Best show you’ve ever been to?
Paloma Faith in Sydney Opera House front row and Madonna in her first concert at Wembley Stadium.
What’s your favourite food?
All Turkish (especially Baklava) and Indian food.
Who do you admire?
Martin Luther King, Ghandi, Mother Teresa, Andy Warhol, and Dave Dobbin.