Where I learned to weave.....

So quite a few people ask me regularly, how did I learn to weave? 

My formal learning came from the Hetet School of Maori Art. 
This is an online school that have a whole range of video lessons based on "The Matrix" established by the late Erenoa Puketapu Hetet and her daughter Veranoa Hetet. This Matrix takes the learner through from foundation principles through to expert techniques in lessons laid out as building blocks for learning. At the completion of all modules, the learner will have a solid understanding of many of the underpinning skills required to design and complete both simple and complex works. This tool box of skills provided by matrix style learning is very flexible and enables the weaver to create just about anything they can imagine in harakeke.

 The courses offered by the school include: 
Raranga (flax weaving), Taniko (Handweaving)  and Kakahu (Garment making)

I highly recommend their courses. I am enrolled as a student in all of them. I have completed my Raranga and Taniko courses and have now begun my journey into the creation of Kakahu. 

If you would like to learn too, I have some special offers available to my readers. These offers give excellent discounts on all modules and I would love to share them with you. 

Introduction to Raranga - only $9

Module 1 of the Matrix: Maori Weaving Foundation Course 

Taaniko Weaving Course

Weave Kakahu Course

A kete a day keeps the doctor away

I have always wanted somewhere to post pics about my kete, so I guess here is the perfect spot. I will post a pic of a kete i have made every now and again. 

My first kete post is this kete:  Tangaroa. 

I created this kete to enter into the 2016 Kaipara Art Awards on a whim. This kete ended up winning the Judges Merit Award. It was a wonderful surprise. I got a certificate, beautiful carved trophy and $450 prize money. 

Sunshine and dye pots

I have just had 2 days of glorious sunshine after what has seemed like months and months of rainy days. As soon as it hit, out came my dye pots. There is nothing like watching natural green flax turn every colour of the rainbow as it emerges from the dye pot. 

I have been working with dying harakeke for 2 or 3 years now and am always looking for ways to improve the vibrancy of my dyed articles. 

This last batch came out pretty much perfect - lovely clear colours good absorption and thanks to a whole bunch of experiments I have managed to develop a way of getting my flowers to dry very quickly - which means no mould - even in winter. 

Very excited with my progress! 

Did you know that we are stockists of RIT Dyemore Dyes? 
You can choose from a range of 10 fabulous colours that work well with Harakeke. 

RIT Dyemore, 207ml- $17.95 a bottle.Colours available are Racing Red, Graphite (black), Daffodil Yellow, Peacock Green, Kentucky Sky Blue, Saphire Blue, Royal Purple, Apricot Orange, Chocolate Brown, Super Pink 

Friends of Flax and Fibre

Sometimes I can't believe how many talented people I know... One of those super talented people, is this wahine: Yvonne Tana.

She is an uku sculptor. She is amazing.

If you turn up to Yvonne's whare, its likely you will find her at her table, making something awesome, cracking jokes, music turned up full bore. She is so full of life and wairua, it's little wonder her sculptures are so moving. 

She is working on numerous commissions and various exhibitions she has planned. 

Her work is just beautiful - her specialty is women, with big butts! Something so incredibly feminine, strong and emotive in every piece. 

I love going to Yvonne's whare. Its full of beautiful collections. Old silver, old radios, artwork from all over New Zealand gifted or traded to her by other amazing artists. 

She is also an avid collector of kete and other raranga items. 

A day at Flax and Fibre

Today is Tuesday, which means firstly, it's a kindy day, so I will take my son Ace in to kindy in town and while I am there pick up Shayna Rusbridge, one of our kairaranga.

We also have deliveries to make in our little Flaxmobile (Green RAV with magnetic logos on the sides) 

We just did another posy release, we only do posies occasionally, while we have shorter stock- they sell really fast. They're not expensive and they are beautiful. Quite a few of our customers are businesses in town, and I have 6 deliveries today.

Then its  back to the workshop where we will meet up with another of our kairaranga, Samala Waipouri. She will be continuing on with a large whariki that she started yesterday. 

Shayna and I have a lot to do in the workshop. I can't believe how far the space has come. It is such a treasure to now have, not only a Pa Harakeke but a working Gallery and Workshop on the property. We have achieved so much, over winter (the hardest months) I can only imagine how amazing Summer will be. 


Shayna and I are working on new ideas for the preparation of our flowers. Our aim is faster drying times and more vibrant colours. We are also planning to do a dye off between RIT Dyemore dyes and Teri Flax Dyes. The results should be interesting. 

Weaving Alone vs With Others

I have never thought of weaving as a solo sport. In my mind I always imagined a big group of people, or at least a minimum of 3 weaving together. 

Harvesting together, cleaning and weeding as you go, catching up, commenting on the weather and the kids. Some teasing and laughing, heads bowed, hearts joined in karakia. 

That's my ideal mystical fairy tail weaving daydream. In reality, weaving for me has been a surprisingly lonely enterprise. 

I have spent hours prepping, hours of weaving in the wee small hours, scouring verges and drains for the best kind of harakeke that I need for a certain project, but I have done it on my own.

While I have found a vibrant community online through The Hetet School of Maori Art, real live people to weave with are scarce. 

In the last couple of months I have found two ladies that work in beautifully with all we are trying to achieve here at Flax and Fibre.  Shayna Rusbridge and Samala Waipouri. 

Samala Waipouri, weaving whariki, at The Flax and Fibre workshop

Now I am not alone in my weaving. I am so much looking forward to this collaborative new chapter in my weaving journey.