Tag: travel

  • A visit to Ōtautahi/ Christchurch

    It has been an exciting week in the studio, which began with a visit over the mountains to our nearest city: Christchurch Ōtautahi. The visit should have happened last week but, upon arriving at Otira, the start of Arthur’s Pass over the Alps, my travelling companion, Maria, and I discovered that a lorry had spilt…

  • Frances van Hasselt and mohair

    Frances van Hasselt is a South African producer of mohair products. Mohair has its origins in Central Asia where the goats produced fibres that were used domestically. The goats were transported to Turkey where they were kept as household animals to produce a precious product much in demand for royal garments. Now Angora goats can…

  • A visit North – part three

    This is the last blog post about the recent trip we took to Whangarei for the CTANZ symposium, after which we toured the central North Island. This part starts at New Plymouth where we spent a couple of days. New Plymouth/ Ngāmotu is a sizeable city of about 90,000 people. Home to Māori for centuries…

  • Yulie Urano

    Even though it is officially winter in Aotearoa New Zealand, visitors are still coming to the studio. This past few weeks there have been quite a few visitors. Some are newly local, some came from far away (Australia, USA and Ireland). One of the latest, a couple from the United States who have recently moved…

  • A visit North

    For the past almost-couple of weeks we have been travelling Te Ika-a-Māui/ the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. The purpose of the trip was to attend the Costume and Textiles Symposium Aotearoa New Zealand in Whanganui, a UNESCO City of Design. CTANZ symposia are always great fun and informative. After all, what could be…

  • A rest for the blog

    Next weekend I am going to give a talk to the Professional Weavers’ Network and the following week I shall be away for a couple of weeks for the Costume and Textile Symposium and a look-see around Whanganui. The blog will be taking a rest while I am away and I am looking forward to…

  • Weaving for Justice

    Weaving for Justice is an organisation that works with and for weavers in Chiapas in Mexico. Through the volunteer-led model that brings people from both Mexico and the United States, Weaving for Justice strives to return the profits of sales from woven goods to women on the countries’ border. Read more about Weaving for Justice…

  • A small Sunday treat

    Here is a little something to brighten the heart and gladden the spirit!

  • Russia’s textile printing industry

    The studio collection has some examples of ikat-dyed robes from Uzbekistan but it is their linings that hold a fascinating story. Russia has a long history of printing on textiles. Its proximity to Asian and European countries meant that advances in printing (and other processes) were easily absorbed and altered to fit local tastes. During…

  • Boy Knits World

    Jake Henzler is an Australian knitter, creator of whimsical figures and colourful architecture. Inspired by the tall houses of Copenhagen and Amsterdam while on an extended stay overseas, he also has designed patterns for houses in Sydney, native trees of Australia, and The Grand Hotel, an homage to Wes Anderson’s film: The Grand Budapest Hotel.…