Also learnt how English weaving use twinning and randing which is moreless if not the same as Whatu work in raranga. Also learnt wading. A weekend well spent
This weekend I spent it in Collingwood learning new weaving techniques and looking at the various materials that we can find around us for weaving as well as all the recycling that can be used. Our course was one of six being run that weekend. I was so pleased to have learnt some English basket techniques and cant wait to have a go again, but what material to use? There are so many....
Also learnt how English weaving use twinning and randing which is moreless if not the same as Whatu work in raranga. Also learnt wading. A weekend well spent
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To dye I lay out some leaves, branches and seeds on the silk and folded it, roll it and tie it ready for dye. If I want some tie dying then I will tie the silk or attach some bull clips to it to hold the bundle together as this gives black markings to the silk. Now I either boil some of the leaves first to give colour to the water or just boil the bundle so I get just the leaf markings on the silk.
Wanted to try to make flowers that keep their shape so they can be used for house decoration or outside. Ordered some stiffener for fabrics from Hands and tried having a go by following their instructions. Stuff is white and quite thick. When I tried to paint it onto the felted flower, I struggled and was uneven, leaving whitish marks on the felt. But it has become stiff/hardened as you can see below. You can just about see the whitish marks in the photo on the right. I intend to try again but using a mixture of school glue one part of glue and one part of water and see if I can use without the marks. Was a little disappointed, will try this stiffener again as well, but using it diluted. Hoping for a better success later.
Once you have plaited the centre whiri, then turn the end of the plait to the left (mid photo below) and weave on a taki tahi way all the way to a triangle, whenu with under side up. First whenu to the right, 2nd whenu to the left but under the first one. Turn around and do the other side also with the end of the plait facing left (see left photo below). Fold in a half when done and start weaving the sides in a taki tahi way. (One over and one under). Once woven to the correct height, make then do a one up, one down and decide how you will finish the top. An example on the left. Decided to have a go at kete kumara again after at least two years as I had been so involved in finishing my degree last year. Hard to remember at first as notes were missing one or two details. Anyway went ahead and did it and have made two in the past two days, photos not available yet as I am still trying to get them to dry to my needs. However I have decided to take photos and enter how to make it in here as my book is a bit covered with coffee. Not guilty. The photo on the left is one of the kete kumara style kete I have made. Usually kete kumara don't have handles as they are used for storage Below the description on how to start them, further instructions later, this is what it should look like before you start. This event is now on and it is cash and carry. Organised every year by the Otaki potters and attended by potters from many areas around New Zealand.
At the weekends there are demonstrations and I will be there on Sunday demonstrating my pottery. Most probably coiling as that is what i use most. Visit if you can. On Saturday I had an exciting day teaching needle felt to two ladies. I thought it was a good day and we had lunch outside as it was a great sunny day. We had a go at needle felting a small flower onto a piece of felt and made balls which can be used in a manner of things, like bunnies, dolls, necklaces, etc. There were eight people attending the workshop and of the eight, two ladies wanted to make a scarf and the rest a bag, it was hard work but everyone went home with something, which I thought was very good. Age being na barrier as one of the attendees was 80 and completed a lovely scarf. The feedback was good, as everyone filled a evaluation form and was happy. On this beautiful day Raewyn and I went to Jane's house so that I can show them how to nuno felt. he word nuno originates from Japan and means fabric, so nuno felting is about felting with fabric and wool. The fabrics that are most suitable for this are silk and cotton or other natural fabrics. Polyester fibres are too slippery and although you can felt with them it is difficult as the wool slips out of the fibre. When felting with fabric you only need one layer of wool and can be as little or as much as you want, it is about the beautiful textures you get and its lightness. I usually use merino when nuno felting as it is soft fibre so gives it a richness. Below are some photos of our day . On Saturday I taught a workshop on wet felting. The participants could choose if to do traditional felt or nuno and all chose to do nuno. Some great scarves were produced. Some pictures showing their hard work, as mostly said it was a good workout. The workshop took place in Otaki at the Trinity Farm . I will be teaching further courses on felting in August and later in the year. www.trinityfarm.co.nz Throughout the day we had coffee and biscuits and in the middle we stopped for a great lunch with delicious pavlova made with the eggs from the farm. Thank you Karen. Check out other pictures below. Click to enlarge. |
AuthorI am an artist and live on the Kapiti Coast. Presently I am completing a Bachelor of Maori Visual Art (Raranga). I work mainly with textiles (includes Raranga which is weaving with flax), clay and paint in pastels and weatercolours. Categories
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