The Koru Pendant

In 2002 the Winnipeg Embroiderers’ Guild (WEG) welcomed visitors from the Otago
Embroiderers’ Guild, Dunedin, New Zealand led by their president, Pauline Norrish. As the
Otago guild members visited guilds across Canada, they brought gifts and extended friendship
and fellowship as part of their journey.

They brought gifts for each member of WEG – including beautifully made needle and scissor
cases. They also gifted WEG the Koru Pendant plus a book. During their visit, they shared
examples of their embroidery as we did with them. They were a generous and friendly group.
The Koru Pendant is a symbol that represents both harmony and eternal movement. It also
holds powerful meaning symbolizing new life, growth, strength and peace. The Koru circular
and spiral shape is based on the structure of the unfurling native New Zealand Silver Fern
Frond. The circular shape conveys the idea of perpetual movement. The inward coil suggests
a return to the point of origin. The outer coil coveys the idea of movement and portrays the
continuous cycle of life along with the inter- connectedness of all living beings. Ours appears to
be a double Koru.

In the past, the Koru Pendant was awarded to the winner of the Summer Challenge. The
winner was then required to return the pendant for the next year’s winner. Unfortunately,
the Summer Challenge has not been well attended in the past few years so the pendant had
been stored in WEG’s safety deposit box.

In 2024 the Summer Challenge was discontinued and replaced with the Summer Passion
Project with the winner receiving a monetary prize.

To make sure the history of the Koru Pendant was not lost and all WEG members are able to
enjoy this thoughtful gift, Barb Best from Lizzy B’s was approached to frame the pendant, bag,
pin and write-up.- The framing is now complete and the framed Koru Pendant will now be with
WEG’s presidents to bring and share at guild meeting.