Category: Travel

  • Textiles from the Indian Subcontinent

    If you have ever fancied learning something about the fascinating textiles from India check out a free online course. Run by the MAP Academy the course is just one of the variety on offer that include art history, sculpture, archeology and architecture. This course looks at textiles, through videos, illustrations and texts, in their broad…

  • Yarn at Reefton

    On Tuesday the 21st May Reefton is holding its annual fibre day. This year the theme is “Journeys in Yarn” and the speakers will be talking about their experiences as crafters and artists, or about trips they have taken because of their love of yarn. The event is on from 10m until 3pm and there…

  • This week’s Spotify playlist

    Each week the blog is accompanied by a playlist on Spotify. You can hear the playlist on the player above or search for any of them within the app by the title “Music to read a blog by”. Paying subscribers to Spotify will hear an uninterrupted playlist, those with a free subscription will have advertising…

  • Chromite

    Chromite is an ore that contains the mineral “chrome”, used to make colourfast dyes and paints. In the 19th Century chrome was recognised as a useful mordant for wool dyeing and for leather tanning. It was widely used to make the colour “Chrome Green” for artists and is still in use today. Chromite was mined…

  • Blick Cloth

    Blick Cloth

    Nelson, in common with Wellington, boasts a nature reserve created out of the town’s old water supply. The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary is the largest fenced area in the South Island for the protection of endangered plants, birds and animals, and successfully ensures that many of the introduced predators that have decimated native species are prevented…

  • Puhihuia

    Puhihuia

    The story of Puhihuia and Te Ponga is a 17th Century Māori love story. Mt. Eden, in days long gone by, was called Maungawhau and was the fortified stronghold of a very large tribe. Te Ponga came from Awhitu to visit the Maungawhau Chieftain. Te Ponga was a handsome young warrior and while we was…

  • Wool Day 2024 – Hokitika

    This weekend the Cool Little Town of Hokitika held its Wool Day. The event is held in the Heritage Park near the airport in town. Here there are collections of vintage and antique machinery ranging from steam engines to fire trucks. There is also a big collection of sewing machines and looms, a private collection…

  • This week’s Spotify playlist

    Each week the blog is accompanied by a Spotify playlist, a curation of music and sound that reflects the articles in the newsletter. To preview the playlist, click on the play button on the player above. For those with a subscription you can click on the Spotify logo in the top right-hand corner of the…

  • Threads of History – an article

    Threads of History – an article

    A reader (thank you, Laura) has sent in this fascinating article that describes the work that went into the making of a varafeldur, a Viking cloak woven from the locks of sheep wool. As you might imagine, the weather in the North where the Vikings ranged required specialist garments. The varafeldur not only fulfilled the…

  • This week’s Spotify playlist

    Each week a playlist of curated music and sound goes along with the blog. The playlist references articles in the blog and includes pieces from across the globe. Those who have a paid subscription to Spotify will hear all the playlist uninterrupted. Those with a free subscription will have advertising interspersed and everyone else will…