I think I know why this blog isn't kept up to date. It is so damn difficult getting photos from phone to laptop or PC to organise them. In previous years I have done a roundup of the years work at this time so lets see if I can do a year's blogging in one go!
Early in the year two enthusiastic new weavers arrived in my studio. Interestingly Mr 9 was very interested in the set up, threading etc while Miss 6 1/2 loved the weaving.
One of the things about lock down was that I was getting very low on my regular blanket yarn, both wool and mohair. We had called at the mohair place on our trip home from Coopers Beach before lockdown but they had closed already.
The result.
You may have read the post about acquiring a new to me Oxabach drawloom just as NZ went into full Covid lockdown. While dear hubby built a flyshuttle system for me I wound warps using many left over threads from projects from a lifetime of playing with fibre.
The loom was bought specifically to weave blankets. I have always tied one warp to the next so this was ideal to mix up the many different types of thread to avoid differential shrinkage. A technique not for the faint of heart!!
Threads for Paua blankets
Sea blues blankets for Pauanesia
One of the things about lock down was that I was getting very low on my regular blanket yarn, both wool and mohair. We had called at the mohair place on our trip home from Coopers Beach before lockdown but they had closed already.
I got very inventive and found enough to keep me busy. Like the boucle mohair used in the blanket below reflecting Moeraki Boulders, South Island.
NZ had 6 weeks in full lockdown from 25 March to 28 April. I have to say it never bothered me, in fact it was wonderful having my groceries delivered. We have about 5 different walking trails within reach of our door without getting in the car to go to other reserves. And two looms and a houseful of yarn ...
Level 3 was less restrictive and we could go to businesses to purchase stuff but socialising from a distance. May 14 we hit Level 2 and I wrote on the calendar FREE. Not quite but no big gatherings didn't bother us. I didn't record the date of Level 1 but did organise a weaving workshop with Rene Corder Evans for the Bay of Plenty Area for August 11 and 12. We had a great time with enthusiastic students the first day but that night we were shifted back to Level 2 (Auckland at Level 3) and the second day of the workshop had to be postponed. 6 weeks later on September 21 we were back at Level 1 but in the meantime Rene kindly gave us the second half of the workshop via Zoom.
Forgive me recording this here but in 10 years time I'm thinking I may appreciate the memory. It may seem this country has had an easy time through Covid and maybe we have but tell that to those who are unemployed and those who lost businesses. We are an island nation which helped and because of this I believe we could have locked our borders a lot earlier while setting up quarantine facilities and getting prepared to cope with the huge number of citizens returning. There is a cliche - we went hard and early. If we had gone earlier we wouldn't have had to go so hard - just saying.
Back to weaving which is what this blog is about.
A run of bright red blankets for Pauanesia (who celebrated 25 years in business this year - Congrtulations)
Another run of bold moody red blankets, again for Pauanesia.
Lets continue with blankets. These below reflect Anawhata Beach, West Auckland, again for Pauanesia.
And below are blankets reflecting the NZ native bird, the Tui using more threads from my stash; I recall this had 64 different chains of different threads. Available at Waihi Beach Gallery.
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