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. 

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.