I’m super excited to have some of my prints hanging at The Mandarin Tree – an absolute gem of an art gallery tucked away in Gordonton.

So make an excuse to stop past and check them out! And if you need more convincing, here you go:

1. Meet the lovely Claudia

It’s a small world. Claudia Aalderink, who proudly owns and runs The Mandarin Tree, knows Paige (the star of my Giselle series) from when her daughter used to dance! Claudia is an artist and photographer herself, always creating new and innovative projects, and of course you can see her pieces in the gallery too.

2. Discover and support New Zealand art

The Mandarin Tree is “a collective place where creativity can find its way out”. You can find art from over 100 New Zealand artists – from quirky figures to sit on someone’s sideboard or a beautiful original artwork for the wall. Time for some early Christmas shopping perhaps?

3. Make a day of it and explore Gordonton

There’s a ton of cool things to do in and around Gordonton. Claudia helped me out with this amazing list:

• Cornerstone Alpaca Stud with shop
• Grandmother’s Garden for quilting enthusiasts
• Precious Little Poppets
• The Farm Shop with local produce
• The Firepot Café
• Willow Glen Café
• Woodlands Estate and Profs Café
• Zealong Tea Estate

As Claudia says: “We have a bakery, a dairy, 2 vets, pony club, a mechanic… Heaps!” Sounds a bit like Raglan!

You can find The Mandarin Tree at 1035 Gordonton Road, Gordonton, and online on Facebook and Instagram.