tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69671456830854052512024-02-21T18:16:49.668+13:00Fibre of Lifeexploring the creation through creating with fibreMaria Julkunenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11940000343956009529noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-18692087447076555762014-05-23T15:21:00.000+12:002014-05-23T15:21:57.659+12:00facebook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Now you can follow my work and get notified of new products on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/julkunensewingroom" target="_blank"><b>this Facebook page</b></a>.</span>Maria Julkunenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11940000343956009529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-31903395096802210902014-05-23T12:33:00.001+12:002014-05-23T12:36:55.074+12:00kohl & cochineal<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In January I took the leap to self employment through the opportunity to do some contract sewing for a local business <b><a href="http://www.kohlandcochineal.co.nz/products/" target="_blank">Kohl & Cochineal</a></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The designer Louise Leggat creates sublime packages for life's tools, using high quality NZ leathers in clean cuts, complex wraps and folds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've relished the opportunity to broaden my horizons, while working on dressmaking commissions and developing new designs at my own workshop.</span>Maria Julkunenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11940000343956009529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-65737713238259560972014-01-06T23:57:00.000+13:002014-01-07T00:09:32.204+13:00the clothes on your backYou know that lovely addition to your capsule wardrobe that flatters you in all the right places in a colour that pulls everything together... but in the back of your mind there's a niggling shadow of awareness, momentarily pushed aside. There's a strong suspicion that cheap fashion does come with a human and environmental cost. I feel powerless not knowing when the story behind low prices tell the story of exploited workers and unsafe practices and when it could be explained by the global differences in the cost of labour and materials. I am not immune to bargain buys that boggle the mind: how did they produce the material, sew into clothes and ship across oceans for $20-30 dollars, including the retail markup?<br />
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Even if my purchase would be a second hand one, the act of
using a product until it's useless doesn't erase the history of how it
was made.<br />
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I have no idea where the products in this film are heading to, but I'd like to send these kids to school, so they learn to read and write, explore and wonder, express their feelings and ideas and still have time to play and be kids in order to grow into empowered adults. And it's not just a question of underage workers as I'd like to believe there's less and less chance to get away with it these days. How are adults who are tied into lack of education, low wages and long hours able to offer any hope for their children?<br />
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It's a sad world where it's accepted to take advantage of the social and economical differences.<br />
Is the price of locally produced goods really out of the average earner's reach or do we just want too much stuff?<br />
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Oh to be a conscious consumer.<br />
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Here's my remedy: when I create clothes I feel more comfortable as I can make informed choices about every detail, starting from the raw material. Knowledge is power.<br />
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<br />Maria Julkunenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11940000343956009529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-15776477622200128872013-12-29T23:44:00.003+13:002013-12-29T23:44:28.443+13:00on raw materials<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Bookmarking and sharing:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://nordicfashionassociation.com/content/raw-materials">http://nordicfashionassociation.com/content/raw-materials</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Written with an angle on sustainability.</span>Maria Julkunenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11940000343956009529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-86459779647999724652013-12-27T23:44:00.001+13:002013-12-28T00:00:40.395+13:00hemp dress<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">It's been a quiet year with the blog as family has taken centre stage. We also bought a house half way through the year and started renovations, which would be a wonderful creative topic to blog on. However I felt a strong urge to keep my home private, so I'll just say that choosing paint colours is a real treat!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Revisiting 100% hemp cloth I've worked with before, I savoured tailoring this simple dress that I recently included in a photo shoot with dear <b><a href="http://www.ishnajacobs.com/" target="_blank">Ishna Jacobs</a></b>. What you see is version 1, not a perfect fit on me personally, but special enough to always get comments from strangers when I wear it. I call that a success as the form and material are very understated, just in the way I intended. And the photos are simply otherwordly, conveying a strong mood, magic seen by Ishna's eyes. I've been very inspired by <b><a href="http://www.corbijn.co.uk/" target="_blank">Anton Corbijn</a></b>'s photography and that was our only starting point. We were looking for a location that would strike a balance between natural and man made, we needed complex light on a brightly lit summer's day. The goal was more portrait than fashion photography and I must say it was a thrill to relax and trust being in front of the camera, as it's something I'm quite scared of.</span><br />
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<br />Maria Julkunenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11940000343956009529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-78708114028352940202013-07-01T14:42:00.004+12:002014-05-23T15:23:46.604+12:00winter warmth - Arctic Spell<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I brought some old stock with me from my recent trip to Finland. I made these tops and vests when I still lived in Finland as part of a collection called Arctic Spell.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73D3bnhyphenhyphengNN8dt6ZOlKVCcu_Kf_Uzc18ABivK8mTFJvFTEggsK4x5wBxABeqRjoJ6iH9nkE1A5Ou0O4I5G17FsN3ABKtyT20AosViODxquSLLQqKO65Ks-rpsuqan6MURxf7leykuZU8/s1600/Wool+jersey+raglan+buttons+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73D3bnhyphenhyphengNN8dt6ZOlKVCcu_Kf_Uzc18ABivK8mTFJvFTEggsK4x5wBxABeqRjoJ6iH9nkE1A5Ou0O4I5G17FsN3ABKtyT20AosViODxquSLLQqKO65Ks-rpsuqan6MURxf7leykuZU8/s320/Wool+jersey+raglan+buttons+closeup.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The material is 100% wool, short furry pile with a knit base. The textile was made by a Finnish company and I've never seen it anywhere else. The buttons are thin disks of oxidised silver coloured metal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ville Suomaki worked his camera magic on the wintery Ruissalo beach just outside Turku. Kaisa was the perfect model, getting changed outdoors while it kept snowing... cool in every sense of the word. At least these garments are warm!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm setting up a shop at <a href="http://felt.co.nz/shop/julkunen" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Felt</span></a> to sell these and other garments, so you can soon click your way there to get your own!</span><br />
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Maria Julkunenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11940000343956009529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-21526353157415492762013-06-24T00:12:00.002+12:002013-06-24T00:12:36.144+12:00from the archive: Smirnoff International Fashion Awards <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When I was sorting through boxes of old stuff while visiting Finland, I came across this wearable arts creation from my design student days... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It might have been 1995 when I drew three sketches to enter the Smirnoff International Fashion Awards and was one of the ten that got accepted to the national final. The jury chose this design out of the three (it actually wasn't my own favourite) and I had a couple of months to make it. I called the ensemble Verso (Sprout) and made it out of little wooden pegs. I spent my summer holidays drilling a hole in each peg lengthways, stained them darker and then threaded them together into a net-like structure... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I loved the way the structure made a wooden "textile" that draped well. By the time it came to making the metallic undergarment I had run out of steam and never really liked the way that part turned out. I still love the wooden shoulder piece and should really keep it and maybe take some photos of it worn with a simple dress.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The whole competition was a wonderful experience in itself, with trips to the capital with a wonderful fellow student <b><a href="http://www.tyttithusberg.com/" target="_blank">Tytti Thusberg</a></b> who I still count as a good friend and who ended up winning and travelling to South Africa with her felt creation to represent Finland in the International event. The jury included some well known journalists and other fashion folk, including the then Marimekko CEO Kirsti Paakkanen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I was already upcycling and made myself a dress out of an old curtain found in a Kuopio charity shop. For some reason it ended up as part of our graduation show in Helsinki about a year later, where someone from the audience bought it. I wonder if the pattern in still lurking in my stash, as I made a nice job with the neck/shoulderline!</span><br />
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<br />Maria Julkunenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11940000343956009529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-3066457679661229752013-06-20T01:39:00.000+12:002013-06-20T01:42:32.781+12:00<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My oh my it's been quiet here this year. Not a peep since January *blush*. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To bring the blog to up to date I'll have to start by a little follow up on the<b> <a href="http://fibreoflife.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/withches-brew-black-nightshade.html" target="_blank">Black Nightshade experiment</a></b>, where I used ripe berries to dye a fine silk scarf. The good news is the scarf has had quite a bit of wear since then. The very pale pinkish colour from Pineapple Sage got a deeper slightly bronzy hue, which happens to go very well with my natural hair colour. I've seen that many times before: when plant dyed garments match your own colouring, they can be unusually flattering and very easy to combine with other colours in your wardrobe (providing they suit you too). It's quite baffling how a basically boring beige scarf can do anything for you, but you never know until you try it on!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I was taking a short leave from blogging, but I totally dropped the habit when my previous laptop gave up the ghost. It's amazing how you can keep yourself connected on a little fruity gadget, but eventually I was very relieved to move on from mini-size.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Another distraction was going for a quick dash overseas...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfijn8grAn6NPIiEw7sA9poo3_0MIje3xICOJVL7bhuP4ROF-SVrglFwuJ5f3DIzfV1hwz7uu-2EPP2j2UzliXMBhaGGh-fyZLLJfo34aYHl3x8k5AM6tPFMbJt7M5Ag_9CTedQAfZotw/s1600/2013-03-08+06.55.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfijn8grAn6NPIiEw7sA9poo3_0MIje3xICOJVL7bhuP4ROF-SVrglFwuJ5f3DIzfV1hwz7uu-2EPP2j2UzliXMBhaGGh-fyZLLJfo34aYHl3x8k5AM6tPFMbJt7M5Ag_9CTedQAfZotw/s320/2013-03-08+06.55.27.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To visit family in Finland. It had been almost 5 years from my previous visit and the jump from late summer straight into a snow flurry was quite an experience. I picked up a rental car from the airport and headed straight into the traffic on snowy roads, on the other side of the road... Thankfully I wasn't particularly jet-lagged, so I got myself to the destination all safe and sound.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAUM6ytncgRS_CrzQLPF2pTe37UeEeyp4iTKQqr_Hba16MgS9YHdHhgG7xgE4hSCwN7ghbBsChGzz2QtCxG9Voyf6S2Xp4ugqEQIGL2V3WD2BBz7OcCB7vp_L7qZ3lSSSu7rT77xnwKA/s1600/2013-03-08+13.36.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAUM6ytncgRS_CrzQLPF2pTe37UeEeyp4iTKQqr_Hba16MgS9YHdHhgG7xgE4hSCwN7ghbBsChGzz2QtCxG9Voyf6S2Xp4ugqEQIGL2V3WD2BBz7OcCB7vp_L7qZ3lSSSu7rT77xnwKA/s320/2013-03-08+13.36.57.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">During my brief stay I feasted on sights of Marimekko and Arabia designs, planning what to purchase on my next visit, which will be very soon! There's so many cool colours to choose from (Iittala Kastehelmi)... </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFfafKgfWqi2jDY4lPNEcBzgr6HDKrCFT2u0Wz8DeAXvDLd8gnFZqHS-BQLmbvX-J8Z_saILOcFjanF6iQdyfu58RRuDukk8zEXLBP0U-dvUnrRXrsc78ln_iAUtzlBQAVZS4Bshyn4I/s1600/iittala+kastehelmi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFfafKgfWqi2jDY4lPNEcBzgr6HDKrCFT2u0Wz8DeAXvDLd8gnFZqHS-BQLmbvX-J8Z_saILOcFjanF6iQdyfu58RRuDukk8zEXLBP0U-dvUnrRXrsc78ln_iAUtzlBQAVZS4Bshyn4I/s400/iittala+kastehelmi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Not only revisiting the design heritage I grew up with, I had many boxes of things from my design studies to go through. Sketches, cloth, garments and patterns got sorted and packed and what wasn't thrown away, I shipped here! More on that later.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">After travels I've been busy with preparations to buy the house I've been living in for a couple of years. Ooh I love making plans for improvements! After lots of budgeting and getting reports and quotes the process finally reached the settlement day, which means we've got our house! The kitchen upgrade plans have come along nicely. I look forward to showing you some before and afters in a couple of months! </span><br />
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<br />Maria Julkunenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11940000343956009529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-17993786042271295052013-01-02T17:15:00.000+13:002013-01-02T17:29:49.422+13:00withches brew - black nightshade<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent">I
started this year with preparing for a withces brew... Some black
nightshade plants had gone under my radar hiding beneath the feijoa
bushes. Now the plants were tall and the berries ripe for picking. Yes! Let me explain. </span></span></span></span></h5>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent">I
found a book on natural dyes at the Founders book fair some months ago.
I was browsing through it with the intention that I might discover
something new that I have easy access to. I was quite sceptical when I
spotted <b>Black Nighshade (Solanum nigrum)</b> berries among sources for
purple. It is generally considered poisonous, not as dangerously so as
Deadly Nighshade, but not one to mess around with. It's also a nuisance
in gardens as it self seeds so readily, as the ripe berries fall when
you disturb the plant. </span></span></span></span></h5>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent">I
had just discovered that some young plants had appeared along my back
border = handy supply of material for testing. But I was concerned about
the health and safety when being exposed to the fumes from the dye bath
and also possible skin reactions when wearing items dyed with said
plant. After an afternoon of Googling I had discovered that Black
Nightshade might not be such a meanie after all. Both the young leaves
and ripe berries are used as a food source in some parts of the world.
Some <b><a href="http://www.rootsimple.com/2012/07/black-nightshade-solanum-nigrum-is-edible-and-delicious/" target="_blank">daredevils who had tasted the berries reported them delicious and some had even made pie or jam with them</a></b>...
Now as I don't have any desire to turn this into a cautionary tale, I didn't taste
any, but the berries smell nice when crushed. You've got to keep in
mind that there are 1,500-2,000 species under the solanum genus and many
different varieties of nightshade, only some of which are edible,
according to <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_nigrum" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></b>.
Which particular variety I have growing in my NZ garden is not known to
me, but I'm suspecting it's unlikely to be exactly the same as the kinds
commonly eaten in Africa or South America. Take care and be sure what
it is you are tasting if you are keen! And then share with others how
that went. My mission is to find out if the plant is of interest as a
source for dye, and I handle it with gloves on in the process.</span></span></span></span></h5>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent"><br />The
first lot of plants got culled by a gardener who was not aware of my
intentions. But as is the nature of nighshade, the second generation is
alive and kicking.</span></span></span></span></h5>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUobOaG1pFkoDPR4KfzeGEtjJWtbJWFUwyKeKBYk0l4SGdMJcIb7mhPVUOFfknMLXx35phVhaITe_iNyd2HY5yMRLZ0szUOwClRCMFvWAt9GlntYuCIeg4oHsKnaOWsljalGgovaaCO24/s1600/Solanum+nigrum+rampant+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUobOaG1pFkoDPR4KfzeGEtjJWtbJWFUwyKeKBYk0l4SGdMJcIb7mhPVUOFfknMLXx35phVhaITe_iNyd2HY5yMRLZ0szUOwClRCMFvWAt9GlntYuCIeg4oHsKnaOWsljalGgovaaCO24/s320/Solanum+nigrum+rampant+blog.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqTuJrd4sD14jdHZ0hkGWhWU3PO5rjodrgTemcv0SfY0ra1mxJx8LrTTDDyd4yebA0S3UVg2USNA9N3NU3iUbFfaJXd5FsEdRgIbtNZ1c5SJb3ckvye0xkwb4_QkHYIn636PtLltBHPk/s1600/Solanum+nigrum+with+berries+blog.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqTuJrd4sD14jdHZ0hkGWhWU3PO5rjodrgTemcv0SfY0ra1mxJx8LrTTDDyd4yebA0S3UVg2USNA9N3NU3iUbFfaJXd5FsEdRgIbtNZ1c5SJb3ckvye0xkwb4_QkHYIn636PtLltBHPk/s320/Solanum+nigrum+with+berries+blog.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></h5>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent"> </span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4wWWBPjMpqQbt8-74IfHBBPpyKBw77K51dYfOwv-Q6j0nl5mdWMTbKGcfzNtaMUYH_Qj2i7UxkVKcTcl6_tO-b_5cA3RIHbY696lOQzIvPxzeQeHg0rTJapSQ5CMu6PoaaBPThWHu_A/s1600/Solanum+nigrum+hapa+zome+on+silk+blog.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent">Here's my first harvest.</span></span></span> </span></h5>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKLWS6omw1endDX_y-MHdbznCTnUAWnMsF8tMJ8HqCOjqhSeJbFZ8r1jDgYzbdxf87Mxnec1Hdcgz92VUWPcqIWIafYYgeahys5_k8zwkNUAQgfUF_m1taPMxRxOag-SsRuo5dlPddgA/s1600/Solanum+nigrum+berries+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKLWS6omw1endDX_y-MHdbznCTnUAWnMsF8tMJ8HqCOjqhSeJbFZ8r1jDgYzbdxf87Mxnec1Hdcgz92VUWPcqIWIafYYgeahys5_k8zwkNUAQgfUF_m1taPMxRxOag-SsRuo5dlPddgA/s320/Solanum+nigrum+berries+blog.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent"><b><a href="http://books.google.co.nz/books?id=S82oBaHDX8wC&pg=PA165&lpg=PA165&dq=hapa+zome&source=bl&ots=-swDQQ8Nu7&sig=GYy3IwgqoReZYms2ivJHdtnmO0Y&hl=en&sa=X&ei=PKzjUKGnKIvjlAXb2IDgAg&sqi=2&ved=0CIABEOgBMA4#v=onepage&q=hapa%20zome&f=false" target="_blank">Hapa zome</a></b> on silk previously solar dyed with pineapple sage.</span></span></span></span></h5>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4wWWBPjMpqQbt8-74IfHBBPpyKBw77K51dYfOwv-Q6j0nl5mdWMTbKGcfzNtaMUYH_Qj2i7UxkVKcTcl6_tO-b_5cA3RIHbY696lOQzIvPxzeQeHg0rTJapSQ5CMu6PoaaBPThWHu_A/s1600/Solanum+nigrum+hapa+zome+on+silk+blog.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4wWWBPjMpqQbt8-74IfHBBPpyKBw77K51dYfOwv-Q6j0nl5mdWMTbKGcfzNtaMUYH_Qj2i7UxkVKcTcl6_tO-b_5cA3RIHbY696lOQzIvPxzeQeHg0rTJapSQ5CMu6PoaaBPThWHu_A/s320/Solanum+nigrum+hapa+zome+on+silk+blog.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></h5>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent"> The jury is still out, but I'll let you know how it goes. </span></span></span></span></h5>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent">Have you tried dyeing with this plant before?</span></span></span></span></h5>
Maria Julkunenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11940000343956009529noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-52604766510886801762013-01-02T16:35:00.002+13:002013-01-02T17:29:03.431+13:00new year - together<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent">Wishing you all a happy, healthy and abundant 2013! ♥♥♥</span></span></span></span></h5>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ehE4hyGyJaa-LibSQOvplg8YjyVuvOpaSnadnCviJLWr7HpyR2fZ-NIWaPybAecE9n_tWiPeRVrh6Y8PECvkPTx-2c4Qbr73XeN9ej-AIVDaV2tIbn8gXXOCee4NMcUuYReZgn35EiA/s1600/fast+-+slow+-+far.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ehE4hyGyJaa-LibSQOvplg8YjyVuvOpaSnadnCviJLWr7HpyR2fZ-NIWaPybAecE9n_tWiPeRVrh6Y8PECvkPTx-2c4Qbr73XeN9ej-AIVDaV2tIbn8gXXOCee4NMcUuYReZgn35EiA/s320/fast+-+slow+-+far.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent">If you want to go <b>fast</b>, go alone.</span></span></span></span></h5>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent">If you want to go <b>far</b>, go together...</span></span></span></span></h5>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent">The quote and picture above really stopped me in my tracks today. <b>Together</b> would be a natural theme for the coming year, as that was what I most enjoyed about 2012. I'm reminiscing working with <b><a href="http://fibreoflife.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/strands.html" target="_blank">Strands</a></b>, the <b><a href="http://fibreoflife.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/photo-shoot-day.html" target="_blank">photo shoot with Ishna</a></b> and <b><a href="http://fibreoflife.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/woodland-queen.html" target="_blank">Noa</a></b> and my lovely colleagues at <b>Playcentre</b>. Thank you all for being in my life! I feel a little sting in my heart knowing how often I have chosen to go my own way at various points in my life. I suppose I'm learning when it's the right time to do that and when it's better to stick together. I so look forward to what this year will bring for us all!</span></span></span></span></h5>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent">A year ago I was thinking about <b><a href="http://fibreoflife.blogspot.co.nz/search/label/Durga" target="_blank">Durga and Kali</a></b>. Integrating the full feminine power was a strong undercurrent all year and it inspired me in my work as well, not as blatantly as I planned it to, but it was there nevertheless. </span></span></span></span></h5>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent">The festive season has been full of quality time with kids and late nights by the computer. I discovered <b><a href="https://pinterest.com/fibreoflife/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> </b>some months ago but only started using it now. OMG it's so much fun! Hours of fun! It's dawned on me how the variety of social media caters for different styles. Twitter has never interested me, but as you can't get more visual than Pinterest - I'm in! While sifting through photos I've been sorting out my music collection at the same time. And making plans for a website! Shopping for a font is such a treat, like trying on different personalities.</span></span></span></span></h5>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent">Bring it on 2013!</span></span></span></span></h5>
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Maria Julkunenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11940000343956009529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-43282371589142274352012-12-25T18:44:00.001+13:002012-12-25T18:44:44.359+13:00Happy Christmas!<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Wishing you all a happy and joyous Christmas, whatever your persuasion might be!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I see Christmas as the ultimate lovefest, where we remember those who are near and dear. It's also an opportunity for thanks as the year is drawing towards its end. A good time to have a quick look back at what the year was like and a chance to express our appreciation to those who have made a difference in our lives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZ1nD2TADrgEwX5wT3i7EK2M89NJ0unfFJqKM8FyLIUHmQJLiae2GzjsP4MorhB4M7mngMRlznQ_VAN6hBpzGT9pTXWymFwSSs5zwkD5QldJLI5EAjGC7AdR2Z7SA5XwxWsFbtpdjBw0/s1600/Happy+Christmas+2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZ1nD2TADrgEwX5wT3i7EK2M89NJ0unfFJqKM8FyLIUHmQJLiae2GzjsP4MorhB4M7mngMRlznQ_VAN6hBpzGT9pTXWymFwSSs5zwkD5QldJLI5EAjGC7AdR2Z7SA5XwxWsFbtpdjBw0/s320/Happy+Christmas+2012.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here's a little treat from our very summery summer. Fazer milk chocolate with crushed almonds and apricot. The Ned Sauvignon Blanc from Waihopai River in Marlborough, NZ. And beautiful Pohutukawa blossoms. </span><br /><br />
<br />Maria Julkunenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11940000343956009529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-21644651456606304472012-12-23T10:30:00.000+13:002012-12-23T10:30:01.022+13:00beauty break #3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZP-Rm_ZrDuRK_SflKJm7Khu7s8W-Ns9q-5janXR89EE4WE83kj9Oo_Y9pqYKdRuWL-RT6mXR0K1-QsK7LiEe21RC-yHXeAvRr26AphnCAfohdBYRo9cygR_sma-88mFrLqit4WThAig/s1600/lazy+mornings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZP-Rm_ZrDuRK_SflKJm7Khu7s8W-Ns9q-5janXR89EE4WE83kj9Oo_Y9pqYKdRuWL-RT6mXR0K1-QsK7LiEe21RC-yHXeAvRr26AphnCAfohdBYRo9cygR_sma-88mFrLqit4WThAig/s320/lazy+mornings.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Summer and lazy mornings. Say no more...</span></div>
<br />Maria Julkunenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11940000343956009529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-89999434227518913522012-12-23T01:01:00.000+13:002012-12-23T01:01:17.666+13:00upcycled container from a tablecloth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcmZ9jnzdAVhzwYJ6n83hWm1LfbO-T8epy9Fr7nzQBRHKJn1znojPNneBeiZBpo_4QeNRr9HIQ5XlOq_DPS0ItyjOZf7b_-Z1NuPc5IBgB7jSdbV8up8Ov_4jSbYYet3YFcyaBwRKePQ/s1600/cloth+container+3+web.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcmZ9jnzdAVhzwYJ6n83hWm1LfbO-T8epy9Fr7nzQBRHKJn1znojPNneBeiZBpo_4QeNRr9HIQ5XlOq_DPS0ItyjOZf7b_-Z1NuPc5IBgB7jSdbV8up8Ov_4jSbYYet3YFcyaBwRKePQ/s320/cloth+container+3+web.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This project was very fast from thought to finish and used 1/4 of a stiff machine embroidered linen/polyester tablecloth. The container is a perfect size to house a little herb plant that is still in its little plastic pot that I bought or raised it in. Fun to make and looks easy on the eye on the kitchen windowsill.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LFjVcCqmVkn6KmQpvFI9PfOUZMeyV0ddcVgsXQnb0dAujdZk-_guum6wvEzvMMQjBZW_Fw-lZcpUd-D20o-TV-zeMkPW05Q8qzdNKOC9-J4aOFIF5iN562lVIMmwqdVNcKfSz28VwI8/s1600/cloth+container+1+web.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LFjVcCqmVkn6KmQpvFI9PfOUZMeyV0ddcVgsXQnb0dAujdZk-_guum6wvEzvMMQjBZW_Fw-lZcpUd-D20o-TV-zeMkPW05Q8qzdNKOC9-J4aOFIF5iN562lVIMmwqdVNcKfSz28VwI8/s320/cloth+container+1+web.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzleo9cV94GRHfYySRBsCqshyphenhyphenRvk5jL3DvXhr8VllwvdtG6YrV3X5n77TOsl6aVwXmXpLpq0YoBnO5wBPxVCkpMHwwc2wBShwV5ECTqXBfMVKg_DJUCvHQhKC-Z8y8gMjd4WnzrSu918w/s1600/cloth+container+2+web.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzleo9cV94GRHfYySRBsCqshyphenhyphenRvk5jL3DvXhr8VllwvdtG6YrV3X5n77TOsl6aVwXmXpLpq0YoBnO5wBPxVCkpMHwwc2wBShwV5ECTqXBfMVKg_DJUCvHQhKC-Z8y8gMjd4WnzrSu918w/s320/cloth+container+2+web.JPG" width="281" /></a></div>
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<br />Maria Julkunenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11940000343956009529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-1576731302724528442012-12-22T21:00:00.000+13:002012-12-23T01:24:56.172+13:00beauty break #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvoYXo_TqRPdXTkVdabQTf3ZzNF3XvdZZ7l5xMqFbe4gL7KxgBiJSHkZWzbEpJRIf3ffu0KEATyD8_S0o6CxuPFnCkUlk0NSKnQ5iqsk2_w2APu7QVuXWoQ-xpFDwnRcS73urMBCOoYLs/s1600/Andi+Regan+Mini+Urchin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvoYXo_TqRPdXTkVdabQTf3ZzNF3XvdZZ7l5xMqFbe4gL7KxgBiJSHkZWzbEpJRIf3ffu0KEATyD8_S0o6CxuPFnCkUlk0NSKnQ5iqsk2_w2APu7QVuXWoQ-xpFDwnRcS73urMBCOoYLs/s320/Andi+Regan+Mini+Urchin.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On my recent visit to the WOW Museum gallery shop this piece from <b><a href="http://andiregan.blogspot.co.nz/" target="_blank">Andi Regan</a> </b>caught my eye. It's called Mini Urchin and made of cable ties. What a wonderful way to see a utilitarian item made into something so pretty. Here's me thinking if it would be possible to recycle cable ties towards this kind of art, but I suspect the whole point with them is that they won't come undone once they're tied up. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQV50U6kwgUhzTeUXcRzFfuDsSL-hxN6i6aRQunrkto628nTdcVzip9Tm1U2dY1i7LE07DjO7ya4kQ9kFKnkZh9DXbXjGvcaUdhV46Ey79friG9DqXwhzUCINmYwM-EkllVMQJ7H8fAo/s1600/Andi+Regan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQV50U6kwgUhzTeUXcRzFfuDsSL-hxN6i6aRQunrkto628nTdcVzip9Tm1U2dY1i7LE07DjO7ya4kQ9kFKnkZh9DXbXjGvcaUdhV46Ey79friG9DqXwhzUCINmYwM-EkllVMQJ7H8fAo/s320/Andi+Regan.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Maria Julkunenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11940000343956009529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-84301173528443701832012-12-05T21:28:00.000+13:002012-12-05T21:28:00.187+13:00Summer School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I will we teaching a three day long Up-cycled sewing workshop on the theme <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Something new, Something old, Something borrowed</b></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span>at the Creative Journeys Summer School.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We are taking enrolments now, so have a look at the website <b><a href="http://www.creativejourneys.co.nz/up-cycle-sewing.html">http://www.creativejourneys.co.nz/up-cycle-sewing.html</a> </b>to find out more or contact me through <b>fibreoflife at gmail.com</b>. </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgMCnSthI2oApYR6YieQvgdnsxEupJuslMaFqZQA249t0o8s3m7-NgvsTdkdxZECNxMPbOj4RNYyTDXwti-mA6eXhP7aQ981_hJldIIexufqmIkLyiX69tdXrnVVDy5jRsCtQb4LN98k/s1600/Summer+School+Poster+%281%29.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgMCnSthI2oApYR6YieQvgdnsxEupJuslMaFqZQA249t0o8s3m7-NgvsTdkdxZECNxMPbOj4RNYyTDXwti-mA6eXhP7aQ981_hJldIIexufqmIkLyiX69tdXrnVVDy5jRsCtQb4LN98k/s640/Summer+School+Poster+%281%29.jpeg" width="452" /></a>Maria Julkunenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11940000343956009529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-61588447560850623192012-11-11T21:32:00.001+13:002012-11-11T22:07:29.679+13:00beginners sewing workshop<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm very much looking forward to teaching a beginners sewing workshop at my home studio during the next two Saturdays. I can still take two more students so if you are interested to join in you can contact me at <a href="mailto:fibreoflife@gmail.com">fibreoflife@gmail.com</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is great for you who already have got a machine but use it mainly for gathering dust. Something about how you thread or adjust the machine is just beyond your comfort zone... What do you do to wind the bobbin and how on earth do you get it to sew buttonholes and in a way that they land in the right place?? Cutting your design might feel a bit intimidating as you don't know how much extra you should allow for seams. You've heard of French seams but never seen one? Come along!</span><br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 37.4pt; tab-stops: 0cm; text-align: center; text-indent: -37.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Sketch Block"; font-size: 36.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Fibre of Life</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">sewing room</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Beginners
sewing class</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Two
Saturdays 17<sup>th</sup> and 24<sup>th</sup> of November 2012.</span></h4>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Learn the absolute basics of sewing from threading a
needle, to using simple hand sewing stitches. </span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sew on different types of buttons and learn where to
place buttons and buttonholes.</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Get comfortable with a sewing machine! Wind on a
bobbin, thread the machine.</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Learn to start sewing forward in straight lines, and
turn corners.</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sew simple seams.</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Create either a shopping tote or beach bag and/or a
simple cushion cover, and take away your finished project and the pattern so you can
make it again at home!</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Cost:</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> $75<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Time:</span></b> 10am – 2pm.
Bring a sandwich for lunch.<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Materials required:</span></b>
Bring your own sewing machine, scissors, pins, material and matching thread for
your project.</span></div>
Maria Julkunenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11940000343956009529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-44931240020623813562012-10-26T22:33:00.000+13:002012-10-27T00:20:32.307+13:00burp in the symphony<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My jolly girls have coined a new phrase - a burp in the symphony. I have no idea what it might mean in the mind of a 4 or 6 year old, but it's used in a rather grand way. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I try to imagine a burp that interrupts a symphony and</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> love the way it tackles my serious thoughts, turns on the happy glow and just spreads an inner grin somewhere deep in the body...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I can already see how useful this phrase is...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This week turned out to be a bit of a burp in the symphony.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">People in groups. There's always someone who turns out to be a burp in the symphony. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It's just begging to have some art created just to be able to use it as a name. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ah kids!</span><br />
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<br />Maria Julkunenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11940000343956009529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-57908467320932465752012-10-19T23:36:00.000+13:002012-10-26T22:14:52.310+13:00Nelson Masked Parade 2012<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">One of my favourite Nelson events is the Masked Parade, when the whole community gets on the streets either to take part in the parade or to watch. This year the theme was Myths and Legends. Here are some entries that caught my eye. I don't remember or know names for all groups or acts. If you know better you could help me name things correctly, so credit goes where credit is due.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4ya_eTGW5fcWpoG2eScvifttug2Dq3EOrz0PProVzNLs1i3ZJUdqIyby7g1tdWVhtV2ey8QVczILQgnh42kH9RHRcy5QghMmWxylj28FXo7KP91h-0sEkAnNvctdzMqMUX0GQQLQl9I/s1600/Victory+adult+ESOL.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4ya_eTGW5fcWpoG2eScvifttug2Dq3EOrz0PProVzNLs1i3ZJUdqIyby7g1tdWVhtV2ey8QVczILQgnh42kH9RHRcy5QghMmWxylj28FXo7KP91h-0sEkAnNvctdzMqMUX0GQQLQl9I/s320/Victory+adult+ESOL.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Victory Adult ESOL</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU66YGLXYsXjKK5WiVxYeTUt457weE47UacDgMnQNbxq1WhEYdL8aRVYfX0Jf3hHHiq32eJYh81x776nfMFJRsrFUFS19LactnejxAmnpi8NmpratRE4POn36tBLzMzvjNIU9R_LXGnsc/s1600/Montessori+Taniwha.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU66YGLXYsXjKK5WiVxYeTUt457weE47UacDgMnQNbxq1WhEYdL8aRVYfX0Jf3hHHiq32eJYh81x776nfMFJRsrFUFS19LactnejxAmnpi8NmpratRE4POn36tBLzMzvjNIU9R_LXGnsc/s320/Montessori+Taniwha.JPG" width="246" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Montessori Preschool (?) Taniwha</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2BX_lqrKO96iVAWX1hWKvVGcReGsaYael6fsFnjtgtzLjNNiquImGFX0lLnWqqo-MJrKvaGnn4rBHfmmNgWtp4P27gZ7HmP_TGOCvR1X3Kpb7Rx8RrN72LGGUa9DXPNXFc10VVrKYJ4/s1600/Hampden+street+school+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2BX_lqrKO96iVAWX1hWKvVGcReGsaYael6fsFnjtgtzLjNNiquImGFX0lLnWqqo-MJrKvaGnn4rBHfmmNgWtp4P27gZ7HmP_TGOCvR1X3Kpb7Rx8RrN72LGGUa9DXPNXFc10VVrKYJ4/s320/Hampden+street+school+2.JPG" width="281" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Hampden Street School</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwVAN-Ts50kvoc6BY0zRF6WNU97HJl8blPm03FiRhqaNJgLbGdGhHvLAbzUgBtFlTt9R_E2uEgSZDHZNt06YhYYhgcgAwxNeuMXN9y0KKzCVn_l7Z8VTg4jsHg1iT9_nZlF1jflVccUw/s1600/Hampden+street+school+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwVAN-Ts50kvoc6BY0zRF6WNU97HJl8blPm03FiRhqaNJgLbGdGhHvLAbzUgBtFlTt9R_E2uEgSZDHZNt06YhYYhgcgAwxNeuMXN9y0KKzCVn_l7Z8VTg4jsHg1iT9_nZlF1jflVccUw/s320/Hampden+street+school+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I think this was Hampden St School as well.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXiOmCcdT1-sK9x8YuMklrkJYVi3Cfd_KSBjKTzxBIj2qxNIJ3nCnCak4PIHfPhvRDNAX2AAYRJ4nI03LBWH0NDeZifDg7Jly13vdj5NpT7el277KK1_3LAF9hmqLro5NQlrT61a0q88/s1600/white+on+stilts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXiOmCcdT1-sK9x8YuMklrkJYVi3Cfd_KSBjKTzxBIj2qxNIJ3nCnCak4PIHfPhvRDNAX2AAYRJ4nI03LBWH0NDeZifDg7Jly13vdj5NpT7el277KK1_3LAF9hmqLro5NQlrT61a0q88/s320/white+on+stilts.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> A solo stiltwalker.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KmfJWI7csJTkLKBe6CrKFNDqMqEDvf2QOXmnaRW4gaxQmQ8MyO38Zg2Ab0EJMBfM4Ip64hCmDMLr3mcxFpKdeXJP7n06j4kdQojkaewnD7YLbI84PqN6URHgqoedOzS7urO6TDl1PP4/s1600/Nayland+College+big+masks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KmfJWI7csJTkLKBe6CrKFNDqMqEDvf2QOXmnaRW4gaxQmQ8MyO38Zg2Ab0EJMBfM4Ip64hCmDMLr3mcxFpKdeXJP7n06j4kdQojkaewnD7YLbI84PqN6URHgqoedOzS7urO6TDl1PP4/s320/Nayland+College+big+masks.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Nayland College.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9SgEV1pSlvfoxxKhU_5t5Cn7-wbOq_sji4sl8OVZ_yHJzWnEg_LTYQLicIzTzeHcf3mm-_XLId8cU-t36YyV23Z02-dmb5RJ537hpBhFUl7u6V0cgNwre7x97MEP8sI88-YO6VXaGX8/s1600/Nayland+College+character.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9SgEV1pSlvfoxxKhU_5t5Cn7-wbOq_sji4sl8OVZ_yHJzWnEg_LTYQLicIzTzeHcf3mm-_XLId8cU-t36YyV23Z02-dmb5RJ537hpBhFUl7u6V0cgNwre7x97MEP8sI88-YO6VXaGX8/s320/Nayland+College+character.JPG" width="203" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Nayland College.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_-LtZcIudEebwfhpy1waV9-A1EmKnrIcEVKpxR7Zj4bhwtLu25FgHMmbZM1a4H9KoBp3lICHI6_Gmxtb2HVJJFwZBF3okAEF8Y_o5NUUgw118uufJI2Kagq4CV2vb4Rv5Ul1g5StIGI/s1600/Nayland+College+mask.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_-LtZcIudEebwfhpy1waV9-A1EmKnrIcEVKpxR7Zj4bhwtLu25FgHMmbZM1a4H9KoBp3lICHI6_Gmxtb2HVJJFwZBF3okAEF8Y_o5NUUgw118uufJI2Kagq4CV2vb4Rv5Ul1g5StIGI/s320/Nayland+College+mask.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Nayland College.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDQVGZH1TzV47tQB6hB8uh7Hl2PQLKHtgObkQJtl-X_utITdE_cTtzU5DjPGb2X40clWh76e5pE1hVujJRYBBXM53FHgpRTUNcOC8dh9nS49pvuqHvn8MlZgRXOPILVHlikN9Wr_bVU4/s1600/Nayland+college+mask+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDQVGZH1TzV47tQB6hB8uh7Hl2PQLKHtgObkQJtl-X_utITdE_cTtzU5DjPGb2X40clWh76e5pE1hVujJRYBBXM53FHgpRTUNcOC8dh9nS49pvuqHvn8MlZgRXOPILVHlikN9Wr_bVU4/s320/Nayland+college+mask+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Nayland College.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1rB48g0YYVvtHisuUpDc43FNNBoCbTw6AL37-N6gqWx0-hbWwQuJG-hVP5E2K2Vzh8k2swjtaEUpPd8z0QIdzVvzcRHj6z3EG0Ah38TKMM4i4UCy7X_n9ZaLL5PaqLu2qTKeCjqrZXc/s1600/owl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1rB48g0YYVvtHisuUpDc43FNNBoCbTw6AL37-N6gqWx0-hbWwQuJG-hVP5E2K2Vzh8k2swjtaEUpPd8z0QIdzVvzcRHj6z3EG0Ah38TKMM4i4UCy7X_n9ZaLL5PaqLu2qTKeCjqrZXc/s320/owl.JPG" width="218" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzSbP9Cqcn47Nk9utzvQ10duU7RVm6zfZ8o_BZOn2KHn_g9gb76bjIWPhcbkqCWQ1NfFC4MZmb19Xk9I89DOqzBb3xVh3y17rOQMCau8whTQM0q-FsJMTRYHAiBs-5nPtolMOVONJUeM/s1600/green.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzSbP9Cqcn47Nk9utzvQ10duU7RVm6zfZ8o_BZOn2KHn_g9gb76bjIWPhcbkqCWQ1NfFC4MZmb19Xk9I89DOqzBb3xVh3y17rOQMCau8whTQM0q-FsJMTRYHAiBs-5nPtolMOVONJUeM/s320/green.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6v_PxiKpzE_4eqOBi4rVNGnNkkmHey0lAZHKgAcgr8tAtuyaNgBbPs0s0XgYDqXP0AMZ-vDO8xs6NhhtsZYSf_abPSlu9BeLCOuftIq9LpTA3IcmKD3oxHnypu1cJxMwwgVNrGg9Ijg/s1600/Tasman+School.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6v_PxiKpzE_4eqOBi4rVNGnNkkmHey0lAZHKgAcgr8tAtuyaNgBbPs0s0XgYDqXP0AMZ-vDO8xs6NhhtsZYSf_abPSlu9BeLCOuftIq9LpTA3IcmKD3oxHnypu1cJxMwwgVNrGg9Ijg/s320/Tasman+School.JPG" width="199" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Tasman School.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyi3Kg9RUnZw9PcynrOhoGSWy09swf1xSoYONgdzobwM0igqMbwixFVDDvq_XEe3vg7n1jYvZz419Cmwf1-4Y-NzpF6-7-CEaSXoorxIrhv9DRSYp-zSTUsm_ZgKJbG8YxHL1ezys_9e4/s1600/trumpeters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyi3Kg9RUnZw9PcynrOhoGSWy09swf1xSoYONgdzobwM0igqMbwixFVDDvq_XEe3vg7n1jYvZz419Cmwf1-4Y-NzpF6-7-CEaSXoorxIrhv9DRSYp-zSTUsm_ZgKJbG8YxHL1ezys_9e4/s320/trumpeters.JPG" width="215" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">These two characters were part of a larger band, but stood out strutting and trumpeting in their colander hats and huge black sideburns.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcdxbwqUeELbFTbF84s8W-NzccoqIWCNBD24KJi_xB30uVidxiZIB-sJcToWBWO1ARimxAtVi8-JCROwKWsXPzf01S7Xb9k2xDV8dH6zK6_87-KV6p4-OBlZQAexEwro9Ydc5XrqgfM0/s1600/jump.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcdxbwqUeELbFTbF84s8W-NzccoqIWCNBD24KJi_xB30uVidxiZIB-sJcToWBWO1ARimxAtVi8-JCROwKWsXPzf01S7Xb9k2xDV8dH6zK6_87-KV6p4-OBlZQAexEwro9Ydc5XrqgfM0/s320/jump.JPG" width="268" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> jump!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQ2OPKi6HXKvJmiIUWSpA3IbEx562PErE95ypUUjkFrtcFz5Rq5wrtfYyFu68luBGBIHtpIrtSyq1KIHxEiBXp3BgWHH_aW_JPOj6Euzd3sb7j_YZ8h8-3vLnOuaxYMDxEmc7WPcn6wE/s1600/dragon+and+knight.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQ2OPKi6HXKvJmiIUWSpA3IbEx562PErE95ypUUjkFrtcFz5Rq5wrtfYyFu68luBGBIHtpIrtSyq1KIHxEiBXp3BgWHH_aW_JPOj6Euzd3sb7j_YZ8h8-3vLnOuaxYMDxEmc7WPcn6wE/s320/dragon+and+knight.JPG" width="284" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dragon and knight.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUcznCsMa-riwKfh26IzyVZfwQSMYEkTgXbNGpDivLlf7AaxHS61RdrG1IpY1ybwxmYKKqm35LNjFooxXHXl5OeQUlNGDPXuNxa-Zoi1Pc0SFLus3cEfp3ljfWQh2UTykwFT3-85WVeg/s1600/school.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUcznCsMa-riwKfh26IzyVZfwQSMYEkTgXbNGpDivLlf7AaxHS61RdrG1IpY1ybwxmYKKqm35LNjFooxXHXl5OeQUlNGDPXuNxa-Zoi1Pc0SFLus3cEfp3ljfWQh2UTykwFT3-85WVeg/s320/school.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Nayland Primary School</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNHaqhotARQPGM7MV0iBhFhh76UxSUiES2POvY8N1O5rX1zTOHNeI2hUlca3PoNzYcXdU8a318NRDtCXpwxmxEQkM_PNXtO__ZssQWxmCQfFyGzIQuN3QXjqsDgrXP07eXBFmA2PB1HM/s1600/taniwhas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNHaqhotARQPGM7MV0iBhFhh76UxSUiES2POvY8N1O5rX1zTOHNeI2hUlca3PoNzYcXdU8a318NRDtCXpwxmxEQkM_PNXtO__ZssQWxmCQfFyGzIQuN3QXjqsDgrXP07eXBFmA2PB1HM/s320/taniwhas.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Nayland Primary School</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmxsJvKEZjUBzgawkmAJbsquR43M5pQVwCHJFn1ZO-hYZTQz_cy4niwHZUhMDRyR58hfaN7Lw1zb1axWvC3DDuY7TfLdlOpEC8aQp5lvTDft7d_fIVfgxBqQAV6XNUUp4Mga49FGYfrc/s1600/red+tikis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmxsJvKEZjUBzgawkmAJbsquR43M5pQVwCHJFn1ZO-hYZTQz_cy4niwHZUhMDRyR58hfaN7Lw1zb1axWvC3DDuY7TfLdlOpEC8aQp5lvTDft7d_fIVfgxBqQAV6XNUUp4Mga49FGYfrc/s320/red+tikis.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Nayland Primary School</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDx5nUFb0w8IBXEXyO6a463p38oj5n7ZNbobtbDlArmbbZukgvhOwQiuPKweZUTmhkx8z_pkYo9rxMR925sgxTk5q6rG30yz61fwJvrdq4pV3dD49LvgBM4u-qZ4x-X-QUlGE6dX7peNM/s1600/school+dancers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDx5nUFb0w8IBXEXyO6a463p38oj5n7ZNbobtbDlArmbbZukgvhOwQiuPKweZUTmhkx8z_pkYo9rxMR925sgxTk5q6rG30yz61fwJvrdq4pV3dD49LvgBM4u-qZ4x-X-QUlGE6dX7peNM/s320/school+dancers.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Nayland Primary School</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMEAAfDdjAHcbAIvaAFJhq8cDIFVubeuGC6mEaUhekqNWda5JWn7-J57l6Gp_-rD5-_AneLdUY59uKZmpBo75V_L5EbEphJhwWkuo_mZ_is7rlbVxleblg6XxgYhObXWZkn_NFh0ja3U/s1600/is+it+a+bird.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMEAAfDdjAHcbAIvaAFJhq8cDIFVubeuGC6mEaUhekqNWda5JWn7-J57l6Gp_-rD5-_AneLdUY59uKZmpBo75V_L5EbEphJhwWkuo_mZ_is7rlbVxleblg6XxgYhObXWZkn_NFh0ja3U/s320/is+it+a+bird.JPG" width="227" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> This is one of the two creatures that started the parade.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thank you Nelson, I love you! </span></div>
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<br />Maria Julkunenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11940000343956009529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-19326099356521256732012-10-15T18:30:00.000+13:002012-12-29T01:03:17.567+13:00beauty break #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgiap2jLZLvXuzq0rjXP0D2SBiA1Bvxe83edTLmxUyPX_peY221Hrb-UY1zz2L1dP2Ps-LMXfSzvELgm4iDg2fZvgEjcg-DWcIghU8QFPFjot6GjbOMkUOX89HxB_RAPiFb3qWN5KilQ/s1600/beauty+break+1+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgiap2jLZLvXuzq0rjXP0D2SBiA1Bvxe83edTLmxUyPX_peY221Hrb-UY1zz2L1dP2Ps-LMXfSzvELgm4iDg2fZvgEjcg-DWcIghU8QFPFjot6GjbOMkUOX89HxB_RAPiFb3qWN5KilQ/s320/beauty+break+1+blog.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The above flower I picked by the mailbox is a bit special as it gave birth to this idea of a beauty break. The term is very respectfully borrowed from my Facebook feed where <b><a href="http://awakeningwomen.com/" target="_blank">"Awakening Women Institute"</a> </b>(founded by inspirational Chameli Ardagh) shares goodness under the same name. I just can't think of a better way to say it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now I have been a bit more regular with my posts here but not quite enough to explain the growing number of pageviews I've observed in the last months. It's delightful and interesting as I have no idea how people find their way here and who they are. Curious friends, some good old internet stalkers mixed with folk with a textile bend is my guess as I've kept my focus in that direction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As a thank you for visiting and with the intention to keep rewarding you with new posts on a regular basis I've given myself an excuse to post little delights without needing to be wordy and to widen the visual outside the textile/fibre/dye/stitch. And please give me a sharp kick in the shin if this blog has any hint of turning into fulltime flowers and kittens kind. Pretty please. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-78929290174757564082012-10-14T16:37:00.000+13:002012-12-29T01:11:32.623+13:00floor talks, floors, walls and ceiling<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've spent a couple of mornings at the Refinery Artspace giving floor talks to friends and random visitors. I really enjoy that type of interaction and had an opportunity to meet some interesting new people as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I also had a chance to support my 6 year old with a drawn out apology to Duncan for snapping the wire that his welded chainlink sculpture was hanging from at the back entrance... Just a bit of drama that happened at the opening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">While I was spending time at the gallery I had time to take some snaps. Here's the neglected rear view of "From Finland with Love".</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigt7EdjwiXaNRMaKx1Uztwo9H2iu-iGnStVvmbahUMy_rCWXjAcANRgtiXse08Utp-y4a9QP1GlWGuPEG6QbI36jOx7UqI-ttkizuRK6W5Rj11PTOliupamOfqRR-kWd2dHqcs_zCsd8/s1600/rear+view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigt7EdjwiXaNRMaKx1Uztwo9H2iu-iGnStVvmbahUMy_rCWXjAcANRgtiXse08Utp-y4a9QP1GlWGuPEG6QbI36jOx7UqI-ttkizuRK6W5Rj11PTOliupamOfqRR-kWd2dHqcs_zCsd8/s320/rear+view.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And a side angle.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxZHZtEdg5gHwwGMxBhvQvLlYQiS5PBPLA7u4CQtaKWzfnRM0gWZErhkZ38B4JmDKigPX6_mh1J0ovGblIhN4TTM2tzdJJ3KOhXfLzkosQUUdWuzyFMA12PfzsYP7JgLS_Nyl-HUAFk8/s1600/side+view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxZHZtEdg5gHwwGMxBhvQvLlYQiS5PBPLA7u4CQtaKWzfnRM0gWZErhkZ38B4JmDKigPX6_mh1J0ovGblIhN4TTM2tzdJJ3KOhXfLzkosQUUdWuzyFMA12PfzsYP7JgLS_Nyl-HUAFk8/s320/side+view.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The paint splattered gallery floor deserves a portrait</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4fbDt5u3EEEOh4syQ3p_7fZRKJX1TOuWDVWNzb2EcarBO2gKzLppnMWgEg3wZowTTTmlw1hmAuaMVxJegApLEXxpVmMXVGhGN9pj1pn61vSo2ZwVxg_IFwbn8aD3g_HkhdyRJ1PmUiAA/s1600/Refinery+gallery+floor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4fbDt5u3EEEOh4syQ3p_7fZRKJX1TOuWDVWNzb2EcarBO2gKzLppnMWgEg3wZowTTTmlw1hmAuaMVxJegApLEXxpVmMXVGhGN9pj1pn61vSo2ZwVxg_IFwbn8aD3g_HkhdyRJ1PmUiAA/s320/Refinery+gallery+floor.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">and I quite like the way the repairs just sit among the old.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LiD3nVJMl80DOHQZlpPxoKV6zDdBC0kiAf4zYwQQbHW7hN6-4GUsC7CA4MLUgbjjECTWfxC9rWTslTEg597jEZ73o-2RcoENW0Nd3pvX4rbXVRe9hVXIGGkIyb5aH8NDvmlZVksKQrw/s1600/Refinery+gallery+floor+repair.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LiD3nVJMl80DOHQZlpPxoKV6zDdBC0kiAf4zYwQQbHW7hN6-4GUsC7CA4MLUgbjjECTWfxC9rWTslTEg597jEZ73o-2RcoENW0Nd3pvX4rbXVRe9hVXIGGkIyb5aH8NDvmlZVksKQrw/s320/Refinery+gallery+floor+repair.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The toilet is a creative retreat. Here's the runway to it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6M7WCTtjG5VihMJYyftv18ZeZy17tf72db-bVtQbaBN7al5Icy4MS8W9pOfQJfuJCudpS9QmKjtOzBEItPcLAdB2LlAo6Uvgqfjwzadtk9pw0mkjAa8NNE9_o1gNyayZkigepj6poPs/s1600/Refinery+tiled+floor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6M7WCTtjG5VihMJYyftv18ZeZy17tf72db-bVtQbaBN7al5Icy4MS8W9pOfQJfuJCudpS9QmKjtOzBEItPcLAdB2LlAo6Uvgqfjwzadtk9pw0mkjAa8NNE9_o1gNyayZkigepj6poPs/s320/Refinery+tiled+floor.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The toilet floor. Beautiful methinks.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpD9KKx6mMeNwgNvR5TKjMrItwAGi_kSesps2ei_Dvit0wydWChG6EjQb5As4ARkMqp0-ny24-9-vkARKUEsDdWjSMnrNIWhlv2B5f3e7NHgvXKiVJiLJS0s6tzVTtm2TWwzyIATWyrAo/s1600/Refinery+toilet+floor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpD9KKx6mMeNwgNvR5TKjMrItwAGi_kSesps2ei_Dvit0wydWChG6EjQb5As4ARkMqp0-ny24-9-vkARKUEsDdWjSMnrNIWhlv2B5f3e7NHgvXKiVJiLJS0s6tzVTtm2TWwzyIATWyrAo/s320/Refinery+toilet+floor.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The walls are quite a statement</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GihKfwrTvXVCNe0FcSP-OtSVO6lLaDXCyvk_5R_Heu56y70s3zZaHpVqyHCSElcvYvpsHsbTp2mPA2_uu5vODBhyphenhyphenuQYn_j4BWM2CbG0ZleF059irTY2uwtngeZjivP-00lDxRUKzKvQ/s1600/Refinery+toilet+wall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GihKfwrTvXVCNe0FcSP-OtSVO6lLaDXCyvk_5R_Heu56y70s3zZaHpVqyHCSElcvYvpsHsbTp2mPA2_uu5vODBhyphenhyphenuQYn_j4BWM2CbG0ZleF059irTY2uwtngeZjivP-00lDxRUKzKvQ/s320/Refinery+toilet+wall.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">and the ceiling is an interesting collage of pump station plans coloured with what could be crayon.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8y1Z13DTf9mY5o4xVW-TtX6ynb58Qlbf3DZUlxpjSPXso6-3_vLz1cIvZRSh5FeROwFU3zB83zyseig03-iQb1QlrGtBlfJww2itHVuiVbSlKpnb3lEcAlG4VlsTA_eiIWlpnvA2C10/s1600/Refinery+toilet+ceiling.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8y1Z13DTf9mY5o4xVW-TtX6ynb58Qlbf3DZUlxpjSPXso6-3_vLz1cIvZRSh5FeROwFU3zB83zyseig03-iQb1QlrGtBlfJww2itHVuiVbSlKpnb3lEcAlG4VlsTA_eiIWlpnvA2C10/s320/Refinery+toilet+ceiling.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LiD3nVJMl80DOHQZlpPxoKV6zDdBC0kiAf4zYwQQbHW7hN6-4GUsC7CA4MLUgbjjECTWfxC9rWTslTEg597jEZ73o-2RcoENW0Nd3pvX4rbXVRe9hVXIGGkIyb5aH8NDvmlZVksKQrw/s1600/Refinery+gallery+floor+repair.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-63607634196446720292012-10-10T23:57:00.000+13:002012-12-29T01:08:56.677+13:00a clean table<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Today <b><a href="http://fibreoflife.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/strands.html" target="_blank">the Strands crew</a></b> gathered for an exhibition project debrief at my house. It was nice but sad to see everyone for what seemed to be the last time in terms of <b><a href="http://fibreoflife.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/beginnings-exhibition-invite.html" target="_blank">"Beginnings"</a></b>. Most were tired, some unwell, some ready to move on to the next big thing. Rather like an anticlimax.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We've met roughly once a month for 18 months... It's created a safe space for us to share where we're at both with our work and any other personal things that affect our output and energy. It's given a monthly reason to check in to see what progress I've actually made since the last time, very handy when life throws curveballs that easily get me off the track. I sure will miss our regular gatherings and the valuable feedback and inspiration from others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">18 months ago I thought I'll know what my bigger direction will be in the end of this project and it has proven to be a wonderful homecoming. I've returned to my designer/dressmaker me after some years of creating more conceptual textile art. Actually I've brought the two together with no intent to abandon either. I had my sweetest moment during <b><a href="http://fibreoflife.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/woodland-queen.html" target="_blank">the photo shoot</a></b> day with Ishna. (It'll be worth a separate flashback post to write about my previous garment photo sessions from years ago.) It felt like - this is what I used to do, this is what I'm meant to do. Peace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've wanted to get back to making wearable items for a couple of years (other than knitting funny hats,lol) and now I'm here, beyond the wanting. I can't wait to see people wearing my frocks and skirts and tops (as those are the things I like to wear myself). I interrogated everyone for tips on how they run the business side of their textile artist career, and felt the excitement tickle in the tummy. Back on the saddle girl! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After everyone left I walked to the shop to get the paper, as the Wednesday Art section was rumoured to have our exhibition critiqued. You can read the review <b><a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/entertainment/arts-reviews/7797213/Individuals-intrigue-with-sincerity-of-textile-works" target="_blank">here</a></b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Marveling at my empty work table I could not avoid the inevitable: it's been waiting for a couple of layers of proper topcoat paint for long enough. Today there was nothing waiting to be cut or sorted on the surface, the day was sunny and warm, and I had time. Zero excuses. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNSNBV3np3Jl1JQic8zRZ5kNXgLKz8f2iZpXT7xo4ZjP9tcrJYJBgr7xZu42acxblIDvVvtdz9D6uWUnrrazsRdQ5y1A-SIlrA-L59RrnBmPhlXapNAwg-PadSo0L_6GcyGuY5swj0ek/s1600/new+paint+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNSNBV3np3Jl1JQic8zRZ5kNXgLKz8f2iZpXT7xo4ZjP9tcrJYJBgr7xZu42acxblIDvVvtdz9D6uWUnrrazsRdQ5y1A-SIlrA-L59RrnBmPhlXapNAwg-PadSo0L_6GcyGuY5swj0ek/s320/new+paint+blog.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So full of promise and freshness, clean and new... It's a beauty!</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-43924862897917980902012-10-03T23:47:00.000+13:002012-12-29T01:38:06.044+13:00hung and opened<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufyb9DT0-YBwJ5Q67QxE46icy3jGOLOwSZn0UpLoASkAOiQQC7bANBWMC4_NGwUR5TslGlHVRjmsh1L-QJvBR5oYzJQgl6gdF-jvrBWK_8cTWWZAyikbDB2zEoVrrpu3cZcD6Mb7jQIo/s1600/From+finland+with+love+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufyb9DT0-YBwJ5Q67QxE46icy3jGOLOwSZn0UpLoASkAOiQQC7bANBWMC4_NGwUR5TslGlHVRjmsh1L-QJvBR5oYzJQgl6gdF-jvrBWK_8cTWWZAyikbDB2zEoVrrpu3cZcD6Mb7jQIo/s320/From+finland+with+love+blog.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This photo is borrowed from Refinery Artspace Facebook gallery.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I named this ensemble From Finland with Love.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It's made of peat felt, jute and ecodyed silk organza.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The blurb goes like this:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Years ago I acquired an unusual piece of felt. The
cotton grass that grows on top of the sphagnum moss that Finnish bogs are made
of has rotted under the earth for nearly a thousand years, transforming it into
a unique textile fibre. Here this material represents my country of origin
quite literally. Mixed with wool it has been used to make thick felt that when
worn as a wide skirt becomes grounding and protecting due to sheer weight.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I had a very down to earth upbringing on a small farm
as did most of my forefathers and mothers. Even though being skilled in many
crafts was part of the old rural lifestyle, my choice to study fashion design
was a bit outside the accepted comfort zone. It was just a bit too frivolous and
arty and not really real work… And yes, I still feel like a peasant’s daughter,
feet in the mud and head full of grand ideas. No matter what finery I endeavour
to create, the utilitarian sack cloth beginnings remain underneath it all.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After a Saturday meeting with the <b><a href="http://fibreoflife.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/strands.html" target="_blank">Strands</a></b> crew, Sunday moving walls in the gallery and hanging, Monday doing interviews and sticking on labels and Tuesday organising greeting cards and posters to sell and then rushing to the opening... It's all done! The exhibition is there for everyone to see and today we are lying low picking ourselves up. Or maybe I should just speak for myself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The last days were busy working together and at times challenging as I had my darling girls with me most of the time. I'm full of admiration for the resilience of my colleagues and Duncan and Roger at the gallery. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9beGQpapCQM8YBpCJ077vnv3NN_2RULIpFn-tbNJnodS5A-pFBtfffURnOBau4wulR5DJH2TcjMaeNFd9D5DuRtQs5UwLBhh6D4GwaxNBXtmpcxPz6OaP4GogDHNUAafqotjQko5i1PM/s1600/un+wedding+dress+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9beGQpapCQM8YBpCJ077vnv3NN_2RULIpFn-tbNJnodS5A-pFBtfffURnOBau4wulR5DJH2TcjMaeNFd9D5DuRtQs5UwLBhh6D4GwaxNBXtmpcxPz6OaP4GogDHNUAafqotjQko5i1PM/s320/un+wedding+dress+blog.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="color: #741b47;">Another photo from Refinery Artspace.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The silk dress is eco dyed georgette and called The Un-Wedding Dress.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The white peonies of the wedding bouquet</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">forming
prints on the cloth.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Plums and pomegranate transcending.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transformation, stepping into the single life again.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.refinerygallery.org/stories/storyReader$24" target="_blank">Duncan</a></b> whipped up a hanger for my silk dress on the spot while we were setting everything up. As a thank you my girls wrecked his sculpture on the backyard on the opening night... Well not quite, the piece is made of welded chain so it's pretty solid, but it was hung with a wire/rope that the girls had twisted to the point of snapping. A dramatic tumble brought down the sculpture, the girl and a bench. Two of these things suffered injury, ouch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The crowd that gathered to the opening night made it seem like a party. There were dear friends that I expected to see and some lovely surprises too. Roger and Jo took care of the official talking and the rest was the sort of mingling openings are made of. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I had booked a massage for this morning, and the timing was impeccable. My lower back has been sore on and off for a couple of months and my masseuse friend did some seriously deep work to release the tension that was held in the area. As a result my body feels light and new and wonderfully recovered.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGu_GlDrk0VZP6VYAs-fL3_M3UNh_6tVfOS-8zw_6OBeR2Ddf6RfiACbYjGK96INQe5jjNhWs73Mza52xb1jyJMmVxfQGNty_0CJ8NV6tiKRzDe31tXk4cAfw6JiO3FFtU_JfhQcThdc/s1600/gallery+view+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGu_GlDrk0VZP6VYAs-fL3_M3UNh_6tVfOS-8zw_6OBeR2Ddf6RfiACbYjGK96INQe5jjNhWs73Mza52xb1jyJMmVxfQGNty_0CJ8NV6tiKRzDe31tXk4cAfw6JiO3FFtU_JfhQcThdc/s320/gallery+view+blog.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Credit for even this photo goes to Refinery Artspace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You can see what Nelson Mail wrote <b><a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/features/arts/7763376/Textile-visions-through-mixture-of-mediums" target="_blank">here</a></b>. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAzfrHR1sHmS35NWeh-2UAV1gcILcftx4wRHjZj6_q3LOlogHdsxMsSRKvHk_1fejpzr9kHKrKEc9u4x9WNUP2I-Kn20Lm708pfqU-SlAnYk071PaIukGUoVIrtJf49A9Va7vTfXdgm4/s1600/un+wedding+dress+watermarked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-30470570156462927932012-09-29T22:16:00.001+12:002012-10-03T23:56:03.515+13:00Strands<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Introducing...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynzFJC-yfHH5jZk7-xsz3DxYAnUaWYQ6Fzx93ZVH_qpek2JgYOlP5bwA20z4x3RiFLhe5TfKY8dssASF2wVxEuQROXRdoJx-E_NUGjvWEjG7YNVUgKlUqVesfAOW4J_WjD1hlbBtT1Pw/s1600/strands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynzFJC-yfHH5jZk7-xsz3DxYAnUaWYQ6Fzx93ZVH_qpek2JgYOlP5bwA20z4x3RiFLhe5TfKY8dssASF2wVxEuQROXRdoJx-E_NUGjvWEjG7YNVUgKlUqVesfAOW4J_WjD1hlbBtT1Pw/s320/strands.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>"Beginnings"</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>by</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>STRANDS</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Maria Julkunen</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Jo Kinross</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Ronnie Martin</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Meg Nakagawa</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Pat Spitz </b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">We are a group of </span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Nelson-based textile artists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We come from different geographic locations –
Finland, Australia, Japan,
New Zealand, and the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our textile art techniques are equally
diverse but we share a passion for exploring the possibilities of fibre arts.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">About 18 months ago, we decided to have a joint exhibition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then we have met at least monthly to
have fun as we </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">supported
and encouraged each member's creativity and challenged each other to extend
artistic expression in innovative ways.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Each of us has interpreted the concept of “Beginnings”
differently, representing our different creative urges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our works express:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the beginning of working as a conceptual
artist with a focus on social and environmental concerns; conveying belonging
and origin, transformation and transcending; <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6967145683085405251" name="_GoBack"></a>the silk
road; ancient maps and marks as memory; and water and earth as the classic
elements of all life.</span><span style="font-family: Courier; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier;"></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-44320963158858405392012-09-29T21:46:00.000+12:002012-09-29T22:24:43.700+12:00distilled writing<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Working with <a href="http://fibrefinger.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/strands.html" target="_blank">our <b>Strands</b> group</a> towards our <b>Beginnings</b> exhibition has taught me in detail what goes into making an exhibition happen. I've had the opportunity to tap into the experience of colleagues that have more history in organising and putting their work on show.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've written artist bios a couple times before, but now I've crafted an <b>artist statement</b> and an <b>artist profile</b> and the blurbs to go with the work are yet to be polished. As a group we spent a lot of time discussing our "mission statement" when we lauched (in the end we abandoned writing it down) and now we have a <a href="http://fibrefinger.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/strands.html" target="_blank"><b>group statement</b></a> (that the "mission" debate clarified a great deal).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">All this writing has been interesting and challenging, even though we're not talking about great lengths of text. The compressed impact of it takes me ages to distill from my rambling thoughts and deeply felt but flighty feelings. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is my "statement" that is found in our catalogue together with the image below. On the image you can also see the words <a href="http://ecopunkcouture.blogspot.co.nz/" target="_blank"><b>Ecopunk Couture</b></a> that I'm tasting and feeling as a potential label to carry on working with. What do you think?</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Maria Julkunen</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">My life has always
included some form of creativity. I started sewing at a young age, enjoyed
drawing and painting and started filling folders with collages of ideas years
before I was taught to do the very same things at a design school.</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">I love the craft
that is needed to create beautiful garments and have always been fascinated by
what we communicate of ourselves through the clothes we wear.</span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">I love natural
materials for their earthy integrity. </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Natural</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"> fibres</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"> are in tune with our bodies and connect us
with the wider world when used with respect for the environment from</span></span></b><b><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"> which they come</span></span></b><b><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">. Dyeing cloth with plants and metals holds an element of surprise that
keeps the mind humble and open. </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">My style has been influenced by the rather minimalist Finnish
design tradition that subscribed to the idea that form follows function. I
combine artisan techniques and environmental awareness which results in a type
of eco couture.</span></span></b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967145683085405251.post-56431921308200757832012-09-20T22:46:00.000+12:002012-09-20T22:46:44.172+12:00woodland queen<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My heart is just bursting with BEAUTY!! It's so rewarding to emerge from my sewing room, hand the garments to others and witness visual poetry take place...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Click on the photos for a closer look.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thank you <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ishna-Jacobs-Photographic-Artist/271758439503592" target="_blank">Ishna Jacobs</a> </b>for your genius behind the camera and <b>Noa Parker</b> for your stunning presence. </span><br />
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