Saturday 15th February 2014

Wenjie Dong from Auckland (originally from 

Shanghai, China) is married to a "Kiwi" and 

 came up to Whangarei for a family wedding.

 Wenjie was really happy to have the opportunity

 to try tapestry weaving and she hopes to 

come back again before the project is finished.

 Piper Mortimer from Kamo, Whangarei - aged 13.

This was here second time weaving as she came 

earlier on in the project when it was just past 

the black and white checkered squares.

Piper thinks weaving is a lot of fun and loves doing it1

 Vevee Mortimer (Piper's Mum) thinks the community tapestry

is a wonderful project and great that the public can take part.

 Vevee wished she was "faster" at weaving but believes

 she has improved with practice. She and daughter Piper 

always look forward to seeing how much progress has 

been made and loves seeing the tapestry develop.

 Naoko working on one the korus.

 The letter E has been started....

...and the boat sheds are nearly completed!

Saturday 8th February 2014

 Marte van Gaalen is 11 years old. She is from the 

Netherlands but came to New Zealand to live in 2008.

 Marte attends Pompallier Catholic College

and is a really good swimmer.

 Jan Melvin (right) is from Dorset, England.

It is Jan's first visit to New Zealand.

She arrived in Auckland on the 6th February 

and is spending one month there, travelling.

Jan said she was having a "Gap Decade" after 

37 years of teaching. I had her and Naoko 

laughing because I said they looked like twins!

Meanwhile, Beverley Compter, our Tapestry Master

works on the other end of the tapestry.

 Analatu Wolfgramm-Mckay is a local and enjoyed 

the opportunity to try tapestry weaving.

 Look..it's Sarah, our Garman visitor back again!

Sarah had so much fun the other day, she decided to
come back and do some more weaving. 

Sarah said really loves it and thinks the tapestry is a great project.

Thanks Sarah! Have a safe trip back home to Germany!

6 February 2014 - Waitangi Day

We had lots of visitors calling in to the BACH to see

 the Community Tapestry Project on Waitangi Day!

Sarah Kleinebecker is 25 years old 

and visiting from Berlin, Germany. 

Sarah has taken one year off from her "normal" life

to travel the world. She is spending 2 and 1/2 months

travelling around New Zealand and really enjoyed 

being part of our beautiful project!

Lisa Davies (above) said Whangarei has been her home since 

1996. She loves and is very proud to be living in Northland.

 Lisa is always impressed by the artist wealth 

and talent of the North. It was her first time weaving

and she is looking forward to coming back again soon.

 

 Janet Huites (I'm not sure if I've got your surname right!)

is from Pukekohe, Auckland. She has been a regular

visitor to the North for 38 years now.

Janets stays out at Whananaki when she is up

and loves Northland. She is thought the tapestry

and The BACH studio was really impressive!

The visitors just kept on coming. It was great to see 

everyone's enthusiasm at giving it a go at weaving!

 Our Faithful Tapestry Host, Naoko (who's recovering from 

surgery, I should add!) was on-hand to help everyone.

 A Mum juggles her year-old baby, Noah while helping

4 year old son Ezra weave on one of the mini-looms. 

Her daughter Lily Browne, who is 6 years old

 works confidently on the other mini loom.

Another Mum and son wait patiently in the

 background for their turn to try some weaving. 

Raewyn Snowden (left) and friend 

Dianne Pennington (right) were having

 fun and a bit of a laugh while weaving.

Can't be helped when there's a 

camera in your face at every turn!!

Jenny Aldernan, from England is visiting Dianne 

Pennington. She is Dianne's Mum's friend and was

 invited to come see the tapestry by Raewyn and 

Dianne, which she really enjoyed doing. 

Gus, who is 5 and attends Hora Hora Primary School

taking his turn on the mini loom. Renske, his mum shows

 him how to weave. Renske is a Dutch Kiwi.

 

Karen Ruskin, of Pilgrim Planet Guesthouse 
enjoyed her time weaving on the tapestry.

Look at that.....the "boat sheds" are nearly done!

Thanks to everyone who came in today and worked 

on the Whangarei Community Tapestry Project!

1st February 2014

 

 Ruhi McCheon, from Levin is up in Whangarei 

visiting her daughter Janine. She said it was her first

 time weaving and she really liked it. Ruhi makes 

necklaces and fabric flower brooches back at home.

 "Beating Down the Wefts" with the metal fork

This pushes the wool done (compacts the wefts)

 "Nana" Glenda Hughes from Kamo 

shows grand-daughter Lauren Black

how weaving is done on the mini-loom.

 Lauren is 7 years old and 

goes to Kamo Primary School. 

She loves any craft and has 

really enjoyed the weaving.

The letter I (of Whangarei) is finished!