I’m back from New Zealand, otherwise known as Aoteoroa (translation above) and had a busy but enjoyable time with my Mum, just tending to some things I had left undone on my last hurried visit, and I’m happy that is all well with her.

Despite my intention to blog while I was away, it was a bit of a challenge to even check and reply to emails.  I was in the lower-centre of the North Island and frequently drove to the top of a hill to be able to check my emails, so it may be the Land of the Long White Cloud but, where my folks live, it’s definitely not the Land of the Hi-speed Broadband Internet.  I think I was being a weeny bit optimistic as I’ve always known you have to stand on a chair at the end of the driveway if you want to use your mobile phone at my brother’s house…I am really not kidding.

All that aside, I did take some pictures of a very beautiful part of the country.  These were taken in the Manawatu region, in the Pohangina Valley.  And I squeezed in a visit to a cousin who weaves Maori cloaks and she kindly let me photograph them to show you, she recycles materials for an alternative way of acheiving a very traditional artform.

This is always my first view from up the hill before dropping down, crossing the river and going up the hill on the other side.

Have to cross this stream before going up the last steep hill to my home away from home.

Autumn has well and truly started, my favourite season wherever I am.

View from the back of the house, a pretty spot to relax and catch up with family.

My cousin Rata is a teacher of Maori language and culture.   In her spare time she likes to make  Maori clothing but experimenting with alternatives to the traditional flax…it is a very long process to strip the flax and roll it to get just one fibre, though it is still done.

This is a finished cloak, Rata has replaced the traditional flax fibre with wool. On the front feathers are added and woven to the wool until you reach the bottom of the cloak.

Back view showing the wool Warp (lengthwise strands) and the horizontal Weft which holds the feathers in place on the front.

Feather front...all feathers curtesy of copious Feather Dusters.

The top of the cloak has a band of traditional weaving.

Rata is working on another at the moment, for the Warp she is using cotton strands from many cotton mops…unused of course.

Weaving in progress, feathers get added after the decorative band is done

It’s good to be back and to catch up on your blogs, I only managed a few short peeks while I was away.

til soon…