Parekareka, Spotted Shag

Parekareka or Spotted Shag is a medium sized grey-blue marine shag feeding up to 16km from shore.  Adult breeding birds have small black spots on their backs and wings and have yellow legs and feet.

Image from NZ birds online by Ormond Todd.

The Big Reveal "Plumage"

If you have been reading the blog over the past few months you'll know I've been working on a secret project.

This year Pauanesia has been in business for 20 years and to celebrate 

Heather, owner of Pauanesia, asked 20 artists who customarily supplied the shop to create 20 articles each.  Heather and I have collaborated together to design 20 scarves celebrating seven New Zealand native birds under the collective title "Plumage".

Ta Da ...

From the bottom we have Tui x3, 

kotare (kingfisher) x3, 

kakapo x3, 

parekareka (Northern Spotted Shag) x3, 

Taraiti (Tern) x3 

and kereru (pigeon) x3.

I know, that adds up to 18.  Kokako was delivered early and didn't make it to the stack.

Kokako x3

All 21 scarves are hand woven with hand dyed merino yarn, the fleece of which originally came from Armidale Station in Central Otago, New Zealand and was spun at the Bruce Woolen Mill, Milton.

  This was a real fun project with each scarf within a family a different pattern, some chosen because of their relevance to New Zealand culture, some because they reminded me of the way bird feathers lie.

We'll talk about the birds individually over the next few days.

Kotare blanket 2

 I often sit on this deck and watch the kotare in the reserve

so a fitting setting.

This Kotare has flown off to Sydney where the recipient pronounced it awesome.  Lovely to get great feedback.

A last glimpse of the secret project for a while.  Weaving is complete, wet finishing and labeling done.  They have been delivered and much appreciated but still a wait till August for the big reveal.

Hot Pacific blankets

A while back I decided to use up some yarns which had been around so long I don't know where they came from.  It always takes forever to wind warps of left overs, lots of little chains with ties galore

but I think this one was worth it.

 And a close up.

Think I might know a little girl who would enjoy this.