More Small Gifts

Here are some more small gift ideas.

Inkle Braids by Jan and Chris

Earing hangers by Rose

Who made this lovely bag?

Jacob's Ladder by Chris

Hand towels by me.

by Joan McLauchlan

Small Gifts from October 09 Meeting

I hope dust has settled after the busy holiday season in your home. Would this be a good time to start thinking about gifts for the next holiday season?

At the last October's meeting we shared ideas for small gifts from the loom. Here are some shots from that meeting.

Beaded bag by June McKenzie

Dorset Button Brooches by June McKenzie

Braids by Rose Pelvin

Coasters by Rose Pelvin

The new school year starts next week in New Zealand.

by Joan McLauchlan

Wall Hangings, by Peg Moorhouse

"Bright Pathways"

"Streams of Silk"

"Beach Memories"

by Peg Moorhouse, Rose Pelvin & Meg Nakagawa

Bags, by Tricia Jane

A conscientious member that she is, on the morning of our last meeting of 2009 Tricia made a memory stick bag. Which, in turn, was carried in this fabulous knitted bag she made a few years ago. The asymmetrical shape hangs nicely when being carried.


This post concludes our series of bags, the group's project in 2009, shared/disclosed/shown/told/felt/admired during our November 2009 end-of-year meeting. But we had so much fun I wouldn't be surprised if there are more to come.

by Meg Nakagawa

A Plan, by Noelene Gratton

Noelene didn't have her bag, yet, but she has a plan, and we were shown a download from Interweave Press website and a sample.

May I add that Noelene has the most immaculate, beautiful weaving records I have ever seen. So beautiful I hesitated to photograph for fear of copyrights violation, but I will try to get something from her in the coming year; I shall make that my 2010 project.

by Meg Nakagawa

"Color and Light", an Exhibition by Peg Moorhouse

At CoCA, Centre of Contemporary Art, gallery in Christchurch, until 6 February.

Previous names of the works seem to have got lost. The pieces have been very cleverly grouped and re-named accordingly. About 10 pieces of Peg's true damask work have been hung along with about another 20 of her recent works.

Everything on the floor, when we first arrived.

Peg and co-curator and tapestry artist Marilyn Rea-Menzies survey the selection.

Title Wall, with "Red Glow" & "Yellow Glow"

"Moonlight on Water 1", "Moonlight on Water 2" & "Moonlight on Water 3"

"Bush Riches 1", "Bush Riches 2" & "Bush Riches 3"

"Spring Songs 1" & "Spring Songs 2"

"Harvest Textures 1", "Harvest Textures 2",
"Autumn Tones 1", "Autumn Tones 2", "Autumn Tones 3",
"On the Shore 1" & "On the Shore 2"

" On the Shore 1", "On the Shore 2", "Purple Glow" & "Zodiac"

Carol Bull (Peg's god-daughter) opened the show.

Wil Henderson, Marilyn, Peg and me; the black and white "uniform" was not planned!

Peg with an early damask weave, "Bird of Peace", the first to be sold.

CoCA Director Warren Feeney and Peg are both happy.

Please also see Marilyn's post about the opening!

by Rose Pelvin

Table Runner, by Sue Timpany

At the beginning of last year, after a break from weaving of about eleven years – due to travel overseas and other commitments, I finally had all my loom bits and pieces in one place and the loom reassembled.

It was with a bit of trepidation that I sat down at the loom for the first time – a warp on and ready to weave. I had built up such an expectation (with myself) about the enjoyment and satisfaction that I gained from weaving – what if it actually wasn’t like that. Maybe I was about to be very disappointed. But everything was all right

It was just as I remembered it and it felt like coming home after a long absence.

After a year I am only about to embark on my 4th warp. Finding the time to weave isn’t always easy around a full time job and study as well, but as my loom is one of my most treasured possessions; just having it assembled in my living room is satisfaction enough some days.

My first project was a table runner. Its execution wasn’t without difficulties but the fact that the end result was a usable piece that has pride of place on my dinning table is extremely pleasing. I look forward to many more enjoyable years at my loom.

by Sue Timpany

Bag, by Nancy Taylor

Said Nancy: "My bag started off as a scarf that Judy Johnston (one of our members) made for me when she first got into weaving. At that time I was a bit of a novice with our alpaca fibre and this was made from the necks mixed with a bit of silk on one of the colours but it was always a bit coarse. It never sold!! I tried felting it by the washing machine method as I thought it might be too wide, but that did really work either. Sooo... hence the what I called the excuse for a bag. I used the width to turn it into a bag and to try and brighten it up I put the lambs wool blend on the
bottom. It is lined."

You got it right, Nancy! I could not take my eyes off the funky red-and-black bits while Nancy was talking.

by Meg Nakagawa

Stop Press!!

Peg Moorhouse's exhibition in Christchurch opens this week. Here is the info from Rose Pelvin:

"Peg's "Colour and Light" exhibition... opens at the COCA, Centre of Contemporary Art, gallery in Christchurch on Tuesday evening, 12 January. It will run till 6 Feb. I understand about 30 of Peg's recent works will be shown. Peg had hoped the exhibition title would be "92 Not Out!" and who wouldn't be proud to have an exhibition at a prestigious gallery at that (or any) age. If you should be in Christchurch during those dates it will be worth a look."

Wall Hangings, by Peg Moorhouse

"Reversible Blues"

by Peg Moorhouse and Rose Pelvin

Silk and Alpaca Scarf, by Win Currie

Over the last few years I have built up a collection of fine silks in a variety of colours. When I think about a new scarf I bring out my collection and start to play

With the addition of some fine Alpaca this is one result.

by Win Currie

Bag, by Anne-Marie Chapman

Lovely colour contrast. (And a good pic in one take!)

by Meg Nakagawa

Bags, by Jan Hannay

The larger one is a felted bag.

The smaller a beaded one, and in the future, we may be able to put our cell phones in here!

by Meg Nakagawa