http://alibrown.co.nz/blog Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:44:29 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I recently took part in my second paper-making workshop with Mark Lander, a well-known Canterbury artist, who constructs sculptural artworks with paper made from New Zealand flax. Mark often paints his sculptures with naturally-coloured clays that he has collected from the local hills. Pictured here is a sculptural installation he ... http://alibrown.co.nz/blog/making-flax-paper This woven flax fantail — or Piwakawaka, a native bird of New Zealand — is an adaptation of a common woven bird design, and I’ve placed the instructions for weaving it on a separate web page, Weaving a flax fantail, because they are too long for a blog post. Weaving ... http://alibrown.co.nz/blog/weaving-a-fantail-and-netting-flax Summer is the time for holidays, beachcombing, sun hats and plenty of free space for creativity. For me, it’s a time for putting into practice some of the weaving ideas I’ve had during the year and haven’t tried out, as well as a time for just playing around with weaving. Hats ... http://alibrown.co.nz/blog/beachcombing-for-flaxworks A bright, decorative look suitable for Christmas can be given to any piece of weaving by adding coloured strips of flax over the top of the existing weaving to make striking patterns. In the example on the left, I created a pattern by adding red flax strips on the top ... http://alibrown.co.nz/blog/flax-weaving-for-christmas “What can I use this hard butt end of the flax leaf for? It seems such a waste to cut it up for compost.” This question is one that is regularly asked in my workshops and one that I keep in mind myself. The butt end of the leaf, where ... http://alibrown.co.nz/blog/flax-butt-handles Receiving a text message at 4:15 am in Norfolk Island from my eldest son in Christchurch saying “massive earthquake” was the shocking start to my last day on the island (though fortunately my home was not damaged). I had just spent a week tutoring a series of flax weaving workshops, ... http://alibrown.co.nz/blog/weaving-in-norfolk-island If you’ve mastered the rounded four-plait cord you may like to try plaiting a rounded cord with six strips. Plaited cords look good as a necklet or bracelet or they can be made into an original piece of jewellery with the addition of a pendant. I made the flax pendant ... http://alibrown.co.nz/blog/weaving-a-rounded-six-plait-cord I saw this woven bag hanging on a stall in a local Saturday market and the long cylindrical shape of it caught my eye. I had a closer look and noticed that the well-used bag had been woven with a good deal of skill, and I hadn’t seen some of ... http://alibrown.co.nz/blog/where-does-this-bag-come-from I’ve really enjoyed reading the many letters, emails and blog comments that other weavers have sent me since I published my book. It’s fascinating to read about people’s weaving experiences and to see photos of their work, especially when it’s something I haven’t tried myself, such as weaving flax head-gear. The ... http://alibrown.co.nz/blog/flax-on-the-brain The flaxen-haired angel in the photo is a variation on the flax angel I posted instructions for at this time last year. This angel is a bit more fiddly and long-winded to make but I think the extra effort is worth it. I dyed her hair with yellow dye to ... http://alibrown.co.nz/blog/flax-angel-with-flaxen-hair