Making Harakeke Paper (NZ Flax)
During June I had a marvelous time enrolled on Fibre Arts Take 2 course Focus and Flow with Canadian tutor Karen Olsen. I always enjoy being able to use natural resources and this course did not disappoint. I spent the earlier part of the month boiling up various fibres to make into paper. I have harakeke growing in my garden so it was easy for me to access the flax. I made sure I harvested the flax in the approved Maori manner, taking only the outer growths of each form. These I cut into small pieces and boiled in soda ash for nearly three hours before beating them in a special craft mixer and then using the sugeta screen and deckle to form the paper. This was one of my earlier attempts and the paper is relatively thick. I have mounted the paper in a free form of pine needle weaving
What is my current Textile Focus
My interest in textile art is wide and varied. My focus at the moment is on completing panels for my scholarship project Parallels in Maori and Celtic customs and art. I am currently working on a Tromp L’oeil piece that represents the Winter solstice coming through a gap in the hills that was important to both cultures in mapping their seasonal world. the centre piece is hand embroidered and now I am trying to complete the effect of adding small pieces fabrics to create the effect I am looking for