Trip to Dargaville: First Northland SOAP order!

It's been such a loooooong time since I've posted and I'm really embarrassed and ashamed by that! I HAVE been really busy with one thing or another, particularly with my Soap Business. 

A few months ago I received a phone call from an art gallery owner about purchasing some of my soap. Originally  I was thinking the customer just want a few bars. Maybe 10 or 15 max. She wanted 50 bars of Kauri soap as she and her husband owned Nelson's Kaihu Kauri Art Gallery in Dargaville.

So I set too and made batch after batch of kauri soap (my food processor only holds a certain amount of ingredients at once!) and as I had almost run out of handmade paper for labelling, made more paper.

 As I rang out of supplies for the kauri soap I had to phone them to see whether they'd be happy with 30 Kauri and a mix of others like Kowhai, Pohutukawa, Rimu, Tanekaha, Kawakawa etc. Thankfully, they were happy with that.

 All boxed up and ready to go!

so a couple of weeks ago, when I had a Saturday off (working at The Bach) My friend Robyn and I made the trip over to Dargaville and up to Nelson's Kaihu Kauri Gallery.

 It took me longer to get there than expected (I drive slow!) and we were starting to wonder if we were lost! (It's up past Kai Iwi Lakes but before Waipoua Forest. Thankfully, we came upon the art gallery at that point!

 This log doesn't look very big but it was huge...twice the size of my car!

Inside the Art Gallery...

The 750 square metre octagonal gallery is supported by a 30-ton Ancient Kauri log centrepiece.  

Nelson's Kaihu Kauri Gallery features:A large range of wood artPotteryHand-blown glassGreenstonePauaHandmade soapsLocal paintingsAnd a wide range of New Zealand-made gifts and souvenirs.

After the introductions and the soap 

transaction Robyn  and I spent some time 

looking at all the lovely kauri items

 on display for sale.

 What an amazing mirror!

 And I loved the freeform furniture. 

Shame I couldn't afford to take it home!

I had a lovely chat to Nelson and his wife Ngaire. 

They also very generously gave me a few boxes

 of kauri chunks/gum for my future soap-making.

On the way back to Dargaville for a bite to eat

 Robyn and I stopped off at another Kauri Gallery.

The Woodturners Gallery and Studio is on

 the outshirts of Dargaville and just happened to have 

a Fish 'n Chip shop next to it!

We went in and had a wee look around and a chat

 to Rick's wife Sue who runs the Gallery.

When I told her I made soap and had just 

delivered  an order "up the road" she said they'd

like to order some kauri soap too.

(I need to phone and check that she's still keen 

and take another drive over to Dargaville.

I'm sure there's other art galleries

 and places of interest to visit while I'm over)

This lovely handmade paper caught my eye...

...and I love how it's been used by one of there regular's!

It got my head thinking.....

When I said I was a paper-maker Sue asked me if

 I would like some shavings to make my own

So I am a very happy camper with much to do

but not enough time to do it all!

Art Journalling and Spin-In Workshop

I think I've had a bit of a breakthrough with my 

Art Journalling. It's taken me a bit to get my own

handwriting on my pages, which sounds STUPID

but in the past I've always been disappointed and 

thought I'd "messed it up" by writing on my work.

 I had the idea of writing text up the purple 

strokes..like breathing them out as they 

(over time) become an integral part of me.

This time  I'm really liking how it turned out!

Maybe it's the subtly of the wording

 as it's written in white?

This is the page I started on yesterday (29th Sept)

Our word prompt was RESTORE...

Jane asked us to bring a photo/printed picture 

of ourselves. She required us to tear it up, to 

symbolise our brokenness as human beings.

I hadn't planned a second page but the words

HEAL and CLEANSE kept coming to mind.

Hence the blood. 

For the blood cleans and heals

both physically and spiritually.
Remember the days of blood-letting??

On Saturday I attended the SPIN-IN workshop

at the St John's. It was brimming with women, 

spinning wheels and activity when I arrived.

I didn't stay long but I did enjoy my wander

 around and picked up some small hand-dyed 

bags of mohair from the son/DIL of Jackie B, 

who is a member of The BACH. I plan to use 

it for a nano-felted idea I have. By the way...

I have inherited an Ashford Spinning Wheel!

One of the ladies (Jackie C) was having a 

big clean out (of her MANY spinning wheels) 

and has given me one. HOW AWESOME

 IS THAT!! Now to learn to spin!

I'm also excited about my little tapestry.

It's almost finished...woohoo!

Hours: 

2 hours @ Spinning Workshop

6 hours Tapestry 

(3 hours Weaving Workshop 23 September

      3 hours Community Tapestry Project @The Bach)

  7 hours - Art Journalling

Printmaking, Art Journalling, Weaving

PRINT-MAKING:

I finally "plucked up the courage to

 ink up my woodcut. I prepared myself

 for being disappointed and initially, 

I was... I just KNEW the background

 would bother me!

As you can see I couldn't "get in to ink up

the background behind the branches...

..and as I was only using the back of a spoon

to take an impression I've missed bits of the tree.

*sigh*

BUT...I'm actually OK with it, which is a HUGE 

step for me, I think. I'm sure it would print differently

using a proper press (which by the way, I could use

if I go to the Quarry Arts Centre) but sometimes 

you've just got to lower your expectations 

and be happy with what you get!

I took prints for my face sillouette.

I particularly love the tree coming

 out of my mouth!

Going to work some more on that idea.

Then I took a few prints in my 

art journal which I yet to complete.

I've got some text/journalling and more printing

(if I can find what I did my my leaf lino cuts!)

Grrr...things are always disappearing on me...

must be time for a clean up/sort out LOL)

I've also been working on another woodcut.

I really enjoy doing these and find it an easier

to work on medium than linoleum.

I was inspired by this image

and thought it was a knot of a tree

but my mum thinks its a thumb/

finger print which got me thinking

(not sure about what though!)

hmmm....suggestions?

It needs to tie in with

 my tree theme of course.

I just need to vanish this

and then take some prints.

CREATIVE ART JOURNALLING:

I have been really enjoying Jane Cunningham's 

CAJ group on a Monday morning.

It's  a great start to my week!

I'm going to add some handwritten journalling to my pages

.(not all pages are uploaded as they are unfinished)

TAPESTRY/WEAVING:

The Whangarei Community Tapestry Project

 After Art Journalling I go to The Bach 

and spend 3-4 hours in the afternoon hosting 

and working on the tapestry project.

I've been mainly focusing on the mountain area

and have learned how to "hatch" which is the

 method of blending two colours side-by-side.

A closeup of hatching.

As well as my weekly contribution to working on the 

community tapestry I've been working on my own

weaving projects at home.

I have FINALLY almost finished this!!

I'm sure I've UNDONE it 

as much as I've woven lol!

A closeup of the stitching which I've added afterwards.

I just have the gold "knots" to make on the tops of

 the "stamens"  I am SO very very much looking forward

 to seeing this OFF the loom!

 I bought a copy of "Weaving Made Easy" from FishPond.co.nz

 as it has lots of easy projects for the beginner weaver.

It also shows how to warp up a loom.

Regardless of the directions I still needed

 help first time warping my Tabby Loom. 

The ladies at the Weaving Group that meet monthly

at he Kamo Ladies Bowling Club helped me by firstly
showing me how to WIND the WARP using a warping
board and then threading the warp into the loom.

I got as far as threading up the heddle... 

...and tying the warps around one end.

The problem I have with the Tabby Loom

(I found) is it doesn't have the rollers other 

loom have which the warp winds around. 

In the meanwhile Beverley, from work

 (who has over 30 years weaving experience

 and also the Community Tapestry Master)

loaned me her Rigid Heddle Loom to 

practice on 

It's quite tricky getting the edges right and not 

pull the weft too tight after putting the shuttle 

through...but I'm getting the hang of it.

Love THIS WEAVING SITE and plan to
 try out some of the techniques and tutorials.

AND last but not least is the Beach Themed Tapestry"

I'm doing for The Bach. Again, I have done and undone

 this numerous times until I'm happy with it.

 I picked up some more blue yarns on

special from Spotlight. I'm liking the textured

yarns and the effect it gives visually.

CREATIVE HOURS - Aug 2014

20 hours - Printmaking

10 hours - Mixed Media/Art Journalling

25 hours - Tapestry/Weaving
12 hours - Soap-making 

Warping a Rigid Heddle Loom Video

A couple of videos on how to warp a table loom

Part 1: Winding on a warp

Part 2: Winding on a warp

It's been a while...

It's been a while since I've updated this blog and I feel bad about that but have been busy with work and family..and creative stuff in-between. I had my brother and his 4 year old daughter up from Christchurch staying with me and we've been painting the art gallery at work (The Bach) also sickness has meant I've been doing some extra days for others. I've been trying to "fit in" art and creativity as I can but some days I've been too darn tired to do anything but lie on the couch after working all day. And sadly, I've pinched a nerve in my neck due to vigorous cleaning prior to my brothers visit and have had pain in my shoulder blades/numb tingly arms ever since. So I've been shedding a lot of tears lately..and I'm over winter. Just want some warm weather and sunshine so I can get outside and potter in the garden longer than the two minutes I do to collect grass for my new baby bunny thanks to my daughter/s who wanted to do something "nice" for me. 

 I also received back some (surprisingly!) good news

 about my soap that I sent down to the South Island

 last month for the Riversdale Arts 41st Annual

 Mixed Media Exhibition. They sold all but 5 bars!

 So that was a really nice surprise and hopefully
 they'll invite me back for next years exhibition
 and I'll have other things to contribute.

ART JOURNALLING:

I have missed a few creative art workshops this month

with my brother being up and illnesses/appointments etc.

For the first Monday of the month our art journal prompt

 was Intuition. Janes class art 'technique' was to use our 

intuition in choosing one envelope (containing text) and/or

 one picture from a magazine or book to inspire us.

My text was about "Presence" and being present. 

I'd also picked up a magazine and as I flicked though

this image jumped out at me! Something I'm amazed at is 

way the light beams down from the heavens, reminding

me their is a Greater Power...a Great Love above!

 I used a credit card to apply the paints choosing colours

from the magazine image. As I worked, The words 

BELIEVE, TRUST and LISTEN come to me. 

They are three fundamental things in being intuitive.

 This is my page...

 I really enjoyed trusting in my ability to make this

 page "happen"..and really love the colours, 

especially the gold paint I found in Jane's supplies.

 (I must get some for myself)

After being unable to get to the last couple of 

sessions I'm really missing the connection and time

of quiet creativity within a small group setting.

TAPESTRY:

I am now the proud owner of a 4 Shaft Loman

 loom! It was offered to me by one of the women

 who runs a local month weaving group. It belonged 

to a man's mother who passed away 20 years ago

and he was looking for a new home for it. Beverley 

and I took a trip out to his place in Maungatapere

 last week check it out and that afternoon he 

and was wife brought it over on their truck

 as it was too big to fit into my little car.

 It needs some repairs done and I'm so 

fortunate to have Beverley Compter who is a

 weaver/artist at The Bach and 30 years experi-

ence to help me get it up and running again!

 It's currently on my back porch/covered deck area

under a tarpaulins until I can make some space for it.

 Yesterday, I went up to our monthly get-together for a 

few hours and had help from Beverley getting my little

rigid heddle loom warped up. I've also purchased some

how-to-do-it books so hopefully very soon I'll be posting 

photos of my first rigid heddle loom project!