Reflections of a Beginner Weaver #1
| Mine and Veranoa's mum used to say "Every child comes with it's own special basket of gifts" - I love that, except - the natural ability to weave wasn't in my basket! Being from a whānau of weavers, it has felt somewhat unfair that my younger sisters have an affinity with harakeke and can make it do things I can only dream of while I manage to weave what should be a simple four-cornered basket into one that has only three. Speaking of trios - I once had three of Whirimako Black's (yes, the amazing singer) visit our gallery at Waiwhetu. As they stood admiring the kete, kākahu and various other works of art on display, one of the sisters asked me "So, do you weave?" to which I replied "Do you sing?" We laughed. Although, for me, coming from a long line of well-known weavers - not being able to weave is actually no laughing matter. Mum tried to teach me when I was in my early 20's before I left for England on my big OE but I fought with flax and besides my mind was on adventuring, not on weaving. Needless to say - my weaving turned out all wonky and unpicked half a dozen times. I felt so frustrated, I wanted to throw it in the bin! I've spent the past forty years since then resigned to accepting my non-weaver fate. Until last year, when Veranoa challenged me to follow her videos and see whether time and technology could help me become a weaver. So here I am, learning to weave later in life, and sharing my reflections along the way - in part to keep myself accountable and in part hopeful that sharing my weaving challenges and triumphs here might be encouraging (or at least amusing) to others on their own weaving journey. First up - weave a kono Here's to giving it a go! Lillian Hetet Owen |