Juniper are husband and wife team, Trevor and Isabel Forrester. Trevor has been a jeweller for over twenty five years. Isabel’s background was originally in graphics and design. Working together they have set up and run shops and jewellery businesses both in Christchurch and their native Britain.

At the time of the earthquake on 22^nd February 2011 they were very busy, working from ‘Juniper’ their studio and shop in the city’s vibrant Victoria Street and about to launch their newest enterprise, The Potting Shed, a range of exquisitely detailed silver charms and jewellery to be sold in jewellers and gift shops nationwide. Suddenly all their plans had to change, the earthquake so severely damaged their shop, that even had it been outside the cordon, there is no chance that they could return to trading from it.  It is being demolished.

The interior of Juniper after the quake

With help from a USAR team Trevor and Isabel grab some of their tools

Having rescued some tools and equipment, they set up a new studio within a couple of weeks, in order to complete their outstanding orders, mostly wedding and engagement rings. Apart from Juniper’s sumptuous pieces of precious jewellery, Trevor is well known for his ability to model in fine detail and straight after the quake he was approached by a customer and asked if he would create a detailed charm of the damaged Cathedral.

The resulting charm was so warmly received that other people started to ask for them.

At this time Isabel’s father was visiting from the UK, bringing with him a donation collected by his local church congregation. That a small parish on the other side of the world had wanted to help re-build ChristChurch Cathedral was so touching to the Forrester’s that they decided that if they were to sell any more of the charms, they wanted to do so to the benefit of the cathedral itself, as a re-build fundraising effort.

Having sought approval from ChristChurch Cathedral, they mentioned the project to one of their suppliers, who also wanted to help with this worthy cause, they offered to distribute the charm to jewellers nationwide. Juniper’s bullion casters loved the idea and so offered to cut their labour costs and send out details to all their clients in Australia. Juniper were amazed, every business involved in helping them launch and market the charm wanted to help cut production costs in order to support the fundraising efforts. Many of these businesses being local had been severely knocked themselves but saw this as an opportunity to really help rebuild ‘Christchurch’s Heart’.

Currently, Juniper are working from their temporary studio taking in one off commissions and repairs, whilst still working to launch The Potting Shed. They have no idea when or if they will be able to retrieve the remaining items in their shop in order to set up again. Like most of Christchurch, they are simply taking life one step at a time.