I use a variety of techniques in my creative work. (I will be adding to this page soon).
- Basketmaking techniques
Raranga (Maori weaving)
Twining
Wrapping
Coiling
Noodling
- Loom weaving
4-shaft table loom
Ashford Katie 8-shaft portable loom
Bartlett 4-shaft, 48 inch countermarche floor loom with sectional warping beam
- Felting
- Papermaking
Kia Ora Anne,
I have found your website on Google! I am a weaver from Gisborne/ East Coast. I am doing the level 5 raranga course at the Wananga here. We have an assignment to write about two artists that inspire. I have identified you as I feel our weaving journeys are similar.
I became fascinated by weaving when trekking in Nepal in the 1970s. When I came back to NZ I bought a spinning wheel and then attended the weaving school at the Nelson Polyechnic. I bought a Thorpe rug loom . My life journey took me to the East Coast and settled in Tokomaru Bay. I wove many rugs on my loom. We lived a very hippy lifestyle, weaving curtains for our house, cushions and blankets. When I was hapū with my youngest in 1989, I attended an intensive raranga course in Tokomaru Bay , learning to weave green , boil, dye kete whakairo and whariki.
I was not so interested in the fine traditional work and wanted to add more texture and colour so started adding fabric to my work.
Many years passed, my marriage broke down, I trained as a social worker and being a mother/ bread winner took over.
Long story short, I am now back into my raranga and learning more. Weaving Harakeke and using a small Japanese loom. Check me out on Instagram under Julia Gould/ Flax_Innovations.
I am just letting you know I have chosen you as an artist to profile and hope that is ok.
We do a bit of travelling in our motor home and it would be lovely to meet you one day.
NGA mihi
Thanks so much Julia for getting in contact and your interest in my work. Lovely to hear about your weaving journey. All the best for your raranga course and of course you can use me as an artist to profile. Do get in touch if your ever in Hokitika. Ngā mihi, Anne