Part of life’s tapestry
The design eye behind Tapestry, Pam Wickstead first set it up in a small shop beside Forest Food Organics, quickly filling it with goods that would be hard to find elsewhere, including her own handmade tapestry cushions. At the time Pam lived on a lifestyle block, in the Longbush valley, surrounded by native bush and deep serenity. The seclusion was deliberate – both house and shop were a sanctuary after her Victorian-era house in Wellington burned to the ground, with almost all of a lifetime’s carefully curated treasures.
“It was very traumatic, so I left Wellington and came to the Wairarapa, looking for the peace of the country. I lived in Longbush for two years, and I enjoyed it but in the end I wanted to move into town to be more of a part of the community here.”
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She moved into Greytown village three years ago, building a characterful house on one of its leafy streets and opening a new larger Tapestry on Main Street two years ago. After losing her old house to fire, she prefers contemporary houses, “built to current building codes, and with all the things that make you feel safe and secure,” she says.
Her design style is to balance contemporary design with a mix of new, vintage and upcycled objects. You can see this in her shop, which frames art, fashion, furnishings, and one-off jewellery pieces. A framed canvas by local designer Paula Coulthard hangs beside shelves graced with books, plants and a smiling sock monkey. A rack of clothes from designers, such as Kowtow and Widdess, lines one wall. Thanks to clever curation, it all looks part of a collection.
Born and bred in Wellington, Pam spent much of her working life in Hawkes Bay, where she raised her three sons, running a series of businesses from a young age. These ranged from two successful cafés to a women’s clothes shop specialising in New Zealand designers. “Every business I’ve had has been an idea looking for a blank space,” says Pam who built most of these enterprises up from scratch.
She has built up a loyal following of customers and suppliers over the years. “Pam is a very good salesperson for us, she’s good at showing people how jewellery can transform an outfit, and she gets it that we produce one-offs,” says Boho Jewellery designer, Liz Marks.
In return, Pam says “I love being able to support our wonderfully innovative and passionate creative people. It’s been a good process.”
Tapestry, 86b Main St, Greytown. Ph: 027 287 6868. pamelawickstead49@gmail.com
