Invisible Threads

Women are woven by threads; of experience, journey, endeavour, sacrifice and challenge. Recently I was reminded just how strong these invisible threads can be.

Meet Yanina.

A vibrant, passionate South American who like me is fortunate enough to call New Zealand home. With Pablo her partner in life and work they fan the fires of three gorgeous eateries in Oamaru; Cucina, Tee Street Cafe and Del Mar Restaurant.

They didn’t wake up one day to a thriving business, they started it from the ground up and, as everyone knows, starting out is challenging. The shift, the new life, priorities, daily grind, obstacles, all without a support network.

A year into running their business their family experienced a near fatal accident. Their eldest son who is autistic, almost drowned at home after having a seizure. It was devastating and traumatic but they had to keep going. They had to show up in their young business, smiles on their faces, greeting and serving diners. Their livelihoods depended on it. It took immense courage while using all the tools they had in their belts.

Yanina is a creative, she adores photography and has a beautiful eye. She decided they needed a sign, an obvious one, illuminated that ‘held’ her every day, even multiple times a day. And so she commissioned one. She contacted a company in Dunedin and asked them to create a neon sign that said ‘It’s all good’.

They hung it in the corridor from their kitchen to their restaurant. Yanina said that in the short walk from the bustle, the noise, the pressure pot out to the customers, it was long enough to allow the light of the sign to brighten her way, the supportive words to soothe her head and encourage a smile back on her face.

Yanina needed it. Yanina created it. She carved her path to bravery. As a business owner, a wife, Mother and most importantly a woman.

Until recently I knew nothing of her story. I DID know that Tee Street cafe became a special place for me to exhale and enjoy a damn fine coffee almost two years ago when we moved south. We were still living at the top of the Hakataramea Valley and it was over an hour and a half drive to town to get groceries. A town I felt like an alien in. A town that felt lonely and strange. Where I raced around trying to find the things I needed on a clock before I had to drive many, many kilometres to get home again and cook the tea.

I was a business owner, a wife, a Mother and most importantly a woman. Tee Street gave me the space to stop, breathe and regroup for a moment, and one of the things I adored as much as the coffee was that illuminated sign.

One day mid winter when I was feeling particularly low and alone I took an iPhone shot of the sign. For no other reason than simply - I needed to. It was during the time I was an active member of the #ourdiptychyear loop and Wednesday was barrelling round. I needed a diptych but I was struggling. So I hopped back in my feed to see what I had - an early morning glow over the snowy mountains and THAT sign.

I needed it, I created it and I carved my way to bravery.

I shared it on my feed during our Wednesday loop and something triggered for many as I did. I received messages and had comments. So much so that I made it into a print and a postcard, it’s been sold and sent all round the world to help ease the hearts of others.

I contacted Tee Street, without knowing anyone there, and asked if there was an artist to credit. This was in July 2021. The message must not have reached Yanina at the time, I received the answer that it had been made by someone there. One way or another the message finally dropped into Yanina’s lap and she messaged me. The true story only reached me this morning.

As we started talking about our journeys. Hers walking that corridor, mine driving the Haka Valley. Hers of living a life away from her home, mine too. Our challenges as business women and Mothers. Of facing trauma and continuing to show up. Our love of photography and light. I couldn’t not capture her beautiful face and share her incredible story. I’m so grateful she agreed. These are the invisible threads that bind us. THIS is the reason your story matters. THIS is art, truth and love.

Thank you for reading, please do send a message to Yanina, she is here too. We are all doing our best and finding the ways to make our love affair work.

Shine brightly,

CW x

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