Marlene Trounson

Marlene has been married for more than 35 years and has three adult children and four grandchildren. She has always loved handicrafts, trying many different ones over the years. Her desire to make jewellery has often prevailed and she started making paua, natural gemstone and freshwater pearl jewellery, which she sells at the local markets. After being made redundant at 58, Marlene enrolled in the local polytechnic college and completed a Diploma in Jade and Hard Stone Carving. This artform has now become her passion and she travels around the top of New Zealand’s South Island selling at various markets.