Our Crew

Mandi

Hi...I'm Mandi Lynn. Where to start...Lets see...I like far too many things and I have a tenancy to get very excited about those that catch my attention.   I love women!  I love to watch as they come to my studio a little nervous not too sure what the hell they have signed up for and then watch them blossom into full vixen mode.  I love babies, I love little boys, I love little girls, I love men.  I love chilli Chocolate.  I love creating art that tells the story of people as they are or even as they dream to be.  I love to play.  I was a tomboy and never really dressed up as a kid....I am seriously making up for that now.   I love lace, and fine fabrics, I love Victorian details, i love beautiful avante garde fashion, I love things that are quirky and whimsical, and down right funny.  I love to laugh so much that I fall right off the chair I am on. I love tickle fights with 3 year old boys....12 year old boys....and 40 year old men.   I love the smell of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies.  I love swimming in the Akatarawa river and playing at skipping stones.   But most of all I love photographing and making art.  Beautiful...whimsical...amazing art that makes me smile when ever I see it....Wanna come and play?

If you want to learn a little more about me there are a couple of things that have been put out there....

• LeeAnne Duncan just wrote a lovely article about me for Fishhead Magazine
• Listen to the interview on National Public Radio
• Read a lovely article written by Sarah Hardie on Mandi's serpentine path from her commission as a US Navy Nurse Corps officer to running a studio, cafe, farm, and new parent classes on her 26 Acre Farm in the Akatarawa Valley of New Zealand.
• Enjoy the horrible photo (Sorry Andrew, but I am going to slug you for sneaking this in next time I see you) but very cool article (thank you Julie) about my work with new families in the Dominion Post.
• Read The New Zealand Life and Leisure article about my farm and relationship with my bestfriends Nima and LacPhutti Sherpa and how we have together helped to create the paradise of the Blueberry Farm

Renee: 

Renee is the Glue that holds the place together.  She is an admin guru to start with but then manages to combine that with being a brilliant Make up Artist.  I died an went to heaven when I found her!
She makes everyone she touches feel like a million dollars.  She is soft spoken, gentle, loving and a hell of a lot of fun.  Renee is the proud mum to a spunky 4 year old Zaria.