ABOUT

Welcome to Sunflower Glass Studio NZ, where creativity meets craftsmanship. We are a husband and wife team that are passionate about creating unique, handcrafted glass pieces that bring beauty and light into your space. With years of experience and a dedication to quality, we take pride in every piece we create. Explore our collection and bring a touch of artistry into your home today.

How we became Glass Artists

Mark and Sandra's married in the UK in 1986 then began their continuing journey together of art and creativity. On 30th August 1991 our beautiful daughter Jessica Louise Hosking was born. She was mischievous, a water baby from the 1st day she was born this began her journey of being involved with anything water from swimming, to waterpolo and being a lifeguard on Piha beach. Jess's other love was art and creativity. Whether it was painting, drawing, making jewellery, making clothes, baking, taking photos, playing music. Jess loved it all and dabbled in everything.

On the 5 August 2011 Jess was on her Overseas Experience as a Nanny for 2 little boys and she passed away in her sleep in Paris France. Devastated Sandra and Mark lost their only child they needed a way to honour her memory.

Sandra found in Jess’s things a massive box of gemstones Jess had collected over the years. Jess was an artist in many mediums, she drew, painted, was a photographer, created clothes, designed wall art and made her own jewellery. 

In 2012 Sandra did a silver smithing class and then did beading classes. This inspired Sandra and Mark to set up MS J Jewellery Ltd in memory of Jess. What each letter stood for M for Mark, S for Sandra and J for Jess. 

As time went on Mark became more and more involved and in 2017 we brought a second hand kiln. Mark started making pieces and Sandra helped with the design and colours. 2019 Mark brought a torch to make individual glass beads. Then with torch work we now create our Sand Beads and Funky Fish. With our kiln work we create Sunflower wall and window art. Sand Beads, Funky Fish and Sunflowers are our signature pieces. .

Jess's favourite flower was a sunflower and on 10th Anniversary of Jess’s passing (5th August 2021) we rebranded ourselves to Sunflower Glass Studio NZ. The logo for our business is the tattoo Sandra had done to celebrate Jess's life. Every necklace we sell has a little sunflower on the back and Jess's name is part of our logo. We now have a purpose built studio that we can work and display our work in Whitianga, Coromandel, New Zealand.

Every piece is individual and no two pieces will ever be the same. 

Our glass comes from Murano Italy and America. We waste very little it is all used or reused in other projects.

On two beaches sits a chair in memory of Jess at the Northern end of Tairua beach Coromandel under a growing Pohutukawa Tree right on the beach and another is installed at Piha beach on the lifeguard stand right on the beach as she was a lifeguard at Piha.