Joanna's varied collections range from wearable production pieces to more complex exhibition works. Her jewellery is based on a love of design combined with an innovative craft-based practice.

Underpinning her work is a fascination with textiles, and an enthusiasm for making metal more fabric-like in all its iterations: the study of the drape of a grosgrain ribbon; the ability of anodised aluminium to absorb dye like silk; or making strings of sequins out of gold and silver. Joanna has an extensive collection of rare antique lace from all over the world, which she incorporates directly into her jewellery, or uses to emboss the surface of the metal, conserving the imprint of the textile in a more permanent material. Creating a fossil like record of the character of a particular lace.

Mainly working with hallmarked sterling silver, 18 and 22 carat gold, she explores the colour possibilities of these materials by oxidizing silver and adding high carat gold to a base of sterling silver. Copper and copper alloys — Shakudo and Shibuichi — are also combined with gold and silver to create interesting colour combinations. Mokume Gane is an ancient Japanese metalworking technique that Joanna has always been interested in experimenting with. Creating innovative opportunities for exploring decorative pattern in her work, she produced the Mokume Gane Rosettes series in 2002. In a further investigation of colour, Joanna is currently experimenting with anodised and dyed aluminium.

Joanna works from her studio in the Waitakeres — Auckland, New Zealand — and welcomes commissions and special orders.