MY FAVOURITE THING
Something old... something blue! This week Rural Living launches a new series – My Favourite Thing – in which we talk to locals from many walks of life about a favourite item they value and which holds special memories. This month ALISHA BUTTS, from Kevens Curtains, home of beautiful soft furnishing fabrics for beautiful homes tells us about her special treasure.
E
ven in this modern day and age, most brides still want their wedding attire to reflect the old adage, ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue’. Window treatment whiz, Alisha Butts was no exception. When she married Andrew Butts seven years ago, the Waiau Pa girl, (whose family roots are entrenched in the district), wore in her hair a single cobalt blue earring, clipped to her veil and sitting prettily amongst a scattering of gerberas. “Being old – very old – and blue, it fulfilled two requirements of this lovely old saying,” Alisha says. “It was given to me by my grandmother (Barbara Boyd) but it originally belonged to her grandmother. “I was very close to Nana and although she passed away a few years ago, the earring reminds me of my special connection to her. The other half of the pair was lost many years ago but I’m now planning to have this one mounted and framed – I wouldn’t want to lose it too!” The daughter of Christine Smith, who bought Kevens Curtains from Stuart Keven
Alisha Butts – wearing her grandmother’s earring (also inset).
Photo Wayne Martin
some eight years ago, Alisha says family on her mother’s side have lived In Waiau Pa for several generations. “I was born, raised and schooled in the district but thought once I had finished my visual arts degree, I would probably work closer to the city. However, while studying at Auckland University, and also doing interior design at night, I worked part time for Kevens Furniture in Pukekohe. “Then, when I finished my degree Mum and Stuart were keen for me to stay on and handle some of the advertising, marketing and interior consultancy work so I did.” “When Stuart retired some 18 months ago, closing the main shop, Mum moved the curtains to new Queen Street premises. This allowed me to work three days at the shop and two days freelancing. “My own business, Alisha Elizabeth, covers, graphic, interior, object and web design so I’m enjoying the best of all worlds and I love it.”
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20/01/2017 12:22:26 p.m.