Brisbane basket weaving circle – November

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Learn to weave – in a ceremony-style basket weaving circle where each member of the group is honoured for their own special contribution to the group in a gentle, nurturing manner. It is an open-hearted, fun and growthful experience for the beginner and experienced weaver alike, a creative space full of shared wisdom and joy.

Use plants that grow in your garden, learn the characteristics of the fibre so as to identify and play with other fibres that suit the technique, as you walk your path onwards.

Twist weave technique using Lomandra fibre – by demand!

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B is for Baumea rubiginosa

by with No Comment An A-Z of weaving plant fibres

B is for Baumea rubiginosa. It’s worth repeating the heading because in my book, this is a superb fibre to work with. A long, dark green, round reed with a pointed tip and a pinky purple tinge to the base of the stem, this plant is strong, soft, flexible and beautiful. It’s a traditional Indigenous fibre which, according to recorded texts and remaining artifacts (dillies etc), was used mainly on Stradbroke Island and less frequently on the mainland from Richmond river of NSW to the Gympie area.
The fibre was plucked, drawn over hot coals, and a few days later, twined into cordage, coiled into baskets or looped into dilly bags. And thus the knowledge continues…

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B is also for Brachychiton, Baloskion pallens, Burney vine, Beaucarnea recurvata and Banana… later.

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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!!!