March 2018 update

The "water" is almost complete...

..and the whales have been woven.

(More photos to follow soon!)

Jan/Feb 2018 update

 ~January 2018~

Summertime in New Zealand brings many international and national visitors to our beautiful country
 and to the North of the North Island.

It is always a pleasure to talk with people visiting our local co-operative, what country they are from, where they have travelled from/going to and what the have enjoyed about New Zealand. They are usually very interested in our tapestry project and amazed to learn it's a community project and can contribute to it with a bit of weaving.

 Jules Taylor from the UK, was visiting New Zealand for 5 weeks. 

 She said she was having amazing experiences and loving every minute of it, so much so she didn't want to go home! She would have liked to have stayed longer to do more weaving and would love to see the completed tapestry in the future. 

Mira from Vancouver, Canada enjoyed doing a little bit of weaving.

 Minna from Helsinki, Finland had a go at weaving too.

Johann and Marike from Kiel in Germany took part in a few rows of weaving as well.

~February 2018~

Alec and Helen Mackay and their two lovely daughters from Seatoun, Wellington visited Whangarei on the 1st of February. They were delighted to see our tapestry project and both girls were very keen to have a go at weaving.

Annabel is 11 years old and younger sister Alexandra, almost 10 thoroughly enjoyed their weaving so much their mum and dad bought them each a tapestry bobbin. They wanted to be able to continue weaving once they returned home and after their dad made them each a small loom.

It's always so nice to see the young ones inspired to be creative!

Please note: we sell beautifully made hand-turned Kauri

 bobbins, locally made by Clive Ihaka for $15 each)

~o0o~

Weaving update - Oct/Nov/Dec 2017

October 2017

Naoko Watson, Master Weaver worked on the Taniko border over the month of October.

Helen Lal, from Auckland did a little weaving on the tukutuku panel while her sister, Beatrix was visiting her.

 Helen's son Keri Lal, on right being shown how to weave on one of the mini frames by his Aunty.

Beatrix Scott from Dunedin weaves a few rows with the help of master weaver, Naoko Watson.

November 2017

Students from BLENNZ Auckland (Blind and Low Vision Education Network New Zealand) visited us again and were thrilled to learn we had started a new tapestry project. Some of the students had worked on the first community project and excited they had photos in the book made for sale.

Leilu and David Boyd (below) using their hands to feel the tapestry.

Naoko helped David to "see" through his hands so he could try weaving.

Lorna Coker weaving with the help of Naoko.

Thanks for calling in to The Bach, BLENNZ - we hope to see you again soon!

~o0o~

Briar Wright, from Auckland was very happy to try weaving.

It was her first time and she really enjoyed the opportunity to try weaving.

December 2017

Weaving the "grass"  and the whare "path"

Helen and Katherine Rutter from hristchurch enjoyed their time weaving while up visiting the North.

Katherine, 14 years old sung as she worked and said weaving was a very peaceful and relaxing craft.

 Weaving the "water" with a mixture of teals and blues.

...and that's me, Julia your tapestry blogger and social media person working on weaving the water.

Thank you for stopping by to check on our tapestry progress!

~o0o~

October 2017 weaving...

We have already had lots of keen interest in our community tapestry project since the official opening on the 18th. 

On the 19th of October 2017 Sharon Eichelsheim from Wellington was our first member of the community to weave a row.

On the 21st October (Labour Weekend in New Zealand) there was a lot of visitors to Whangarei, a lot were from Auckland, but some further south and some that were brave enough to try some weaving.

Catherine Chen, from Auckland only 10 years old proved to be a very good weaver. She said she "loved being creative" and had done flax weaving at school but this was her first time using wool. She was so happy to do some tapestry weaving while visiting Whangarei. 

Juliette Swain and her younger sister, Keira were both very enthusiastic weavers on the little looms. Juliette (7) and Keira (5) used to live in Auckland but now live here in Whangarei.

 Labour Day  (Monday the 23rd)

Guillawme Garnier and partner Marie-Francine Marchand from France have been living and working in New Zealand for the past 11 months.

 They said they were on a 1 month holiday before returning home to France and really enjoyed the opportunity to work on the tapestry together. 

All eyes were on Tammy Lam as she worked on the tapestry.

Head weaver Naoko Watson was on hand to help guide the weaving process.

Helen Yu, Tammy's mother had a turn at weaving after trying on one of the mini looms available.

Maike Schmitt (above) was also eager to try weaving.

Maike is from Schweinfurt, Germany and in New Zealand on a working holiday.

Vicki Kenworthy-Thompson from Langs Beach, Northland added her row of weaving on the Poutama Pattern on the left-hand side of the panel.

A close up of the Kaokao pattern.

Thanks for stopping by to check on our community tapestry progress. Please leave a comment or message - we would love to hear from you!