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“Weaving our Future” basketry workshop series

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This is a special series of workshops to connect indigenous and non-indigenous women through the practice of basket weaving, on the Sunshine Coast, Australia.

Participants attending workshops will learn basket weaving techniques that are practical and useful, with fibres from plants that grow locally. These skills will be used to create harvest baskets based on traditional and/or contemporary forms, with an emphasis on creativity and innovation of forms to suit the needs of modern society. In ‘Weaving our Future’, community members will learn where, how and when to harvest a selection of fibres sustainably and how to store and prepare these fibres for use. Yarning is an integral part of this process, where every participant will be given a voice and a nurturing space to share, where all are honoured for their individuality and their part in the dynamics of the group. Indigenous and non- indigenous knowledge is given a place to thrive, encouraging new ideas to emerge. Introducing traditional knowledge holders from Arnhem Land (Kunwinjku women) will add to this experience for deeper cultural connection and knowledge sharing (Karrimarnbun).

This knowledge exchange project will explore the overlap between traditional bush food harvesting, fibre and the baskets used to harvest food and fibre, honouring both traditional and contemporary perspectives. Participants will create both artworks and cultural artifacts, in an attempt to revive, revitalise and reinvent an endangered art form. The project is stage one in a larger vision – the establishment of a local ongoing (intercultural) weaving group, working towards cultural connection and creative exchange opportunities with remote Indigenous weavers.

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1st February. Two date ranges with techniques working concurrently.

Dates are thus:

Tuesdays , Thursdays:

6 Feb           1 Feb

13 Feb         8 Feb

20 Feb         15 Feb

27 Feb         22 Feb

6 March       1 March

13 March     8 March

20 March 22 march – Dale Chapman

8 May Headspace Maroochydore  10 May Deadly Espresso

Two more days TBA and self-help group time – also, days are flexible according to technique (same technique, two different days).

$150 for the series of workshops. $25 per session if attended individually. Save over $50!

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/weaving-our-future-basketry-workshop-series-tickets-41095210882

The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Sunshine Coast Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
This project is proudly supported by Sunshine Coast Council’s grants program.

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Weaving journey to Arnhem Land 2016

by with 4 Comments the journeyWeaving stories of life and weaving

‘Gunbalanya welcomes you’ the sign reads. As we drive into the remote Indigenous community in west Arnhem Land, I can feel the welcoming spirit of the land. My family is waiting there… Adopted family, spirit family – Priscilla, Sylvia, Merrill, Lorraine… Christine is still in Darwin. They’re waiting for us to arrive so we can begin our journey together.

Wet season has just ended, the pandanus is lush and the ground is soft and springy with latent growth. Perfect for harvesting fibre and digging up dye plants: yellow, brown, orange. Stripping, stripping – stripping pandanus leaf fibre, not clothes! (even though it’s hot enough😊). Sitting under the shade of a paperbark tree, we work together, sometimes in contemplative silence, sometimes with bouts of laughter and advice from our weaving mentors.

As the dye pots bubble, so the fire sizzles with the preparation of a surprise lunchtime snack – a long-necked turtle from Lorraine’s mother in stone country. Yum! Tastes like chicken! Haha… Chewy chicken. Eating an unlaid turtle egg is a bit strange though…


A big crocodile lurks in the waters of the nearby rock hole, somewhere… Or so the rumour goes… but nobody (including me) is keen to test the story out… ‘GINGA! (croc) You kids stay close!’ is the call to the younger members of our crew.

Travelling in flow with the universe means that we are open to unexpected delights, like a visit to the Pandanus Man spirit – first in his manifestation as an ancient rock painting, then in his form in physical reality – a ‘flat-one’ pandanus plant. Notice his six fingers which indicate he is a cheeky spirit – pregnant mums and small kids must avert their haze for fear of young minds being stolen.


Three- legged dog dreaming rock was another unexpected sight to behold. Perched on (yes) three legs, the rock towers above us, holding space for the dreaming ancestor female dog who broke her leg and couldn’t continue on her journey through the landscape to find water.

Fun and humour travelled with us in the bus, chuckling with mirth as we told stories and shared memories. Snakes crossed our path, brolgas browsed, wild pigs grunted, brumbies galloped by: all in the space of a moment in infinite time. Spirit crossed the country alongside us, guiding and guarding.


It was a lifetime too soon when our days in this land came to an end. Hearts filled with warmth and glow, minds silent in contemplative awe, we made our way back to our everyday lives, infinitely richer for being given time our spirit family of wonderful weaving women, in this place and space of healing.

These exclusive journeys happen only twice a year, in dry season (escape the southern winter cold). Join us if you feel the calling.

All event booking links can be found here

 

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An A-Z of weaving plant fibres

by with 4 Comments An A-Z of weaving plant fibres

Plant fibres are amazing things, especially when you can use them to weave! So I have decided to go on a journey to discover which of these particular fibres grow in our gardens around the Sunshine Coast. The local Sunshine Coast Council has come to the party too, by granting me a RADF grant to complete the project…yay!!!
What will follow here is an outcome of this project – a blog about plants I’ve encountered in my search for weaving fibres… an A-Z of suitable (and possibly not too suitable fibres) as I pull, twist, shred and coil my way around the coast. As I commune with nature and uncover her weaving secrets… keep tuned…. A is on its way!!!