This webpage is a copy of the comments received on a blog post on Ali’s original website, alibrown.co.nz. The blog post itself is now at “Weaving in Norfolk Island

Comments on “Weaving in Norfolk Island”

  1. Raewyn Evans Says:

    Thankyou Ali for running the weaving workshop on Norfolk Island. Your workshop was so enjoyable and has shown us how to get the best out of a new material Flax which I have used very little, will now keep playing with it and hopefully my baskets will hold smaller objects one day soon!

  2. Carrie Says:

    I do like the little round bowl.

  3. Dot Sykes Says:

    The little round bowl is my favorite- shame you couldn’t bring it home-reminds me of my trip down South when I had to leave my woven kelp basket I made behind. I have visited Norfolk and admired their weaving tecniques. You could always come and visit us up North if you want to play with Banana fibre - Lots of Nikaus and palms as well.
    Thank you for sharing your experiences.

  4. Janthia Holt Says:

    A useful tip for next time you are overseas…..it worked for me on my return from Fiji with a woven hat…..put the item in your wash hand basin, pour boiling water over it, soak 10 mins then dry in the sun. Repeat this on the next 2 days and then tell MAF what you have done on your return into the country. Worth a try!
    Floral Focus went to the printer this week, will keep you posted re your lovely angel!

  5. eddie Says:

    i absolutely love the woven top worn with the woven skirt and i could see myself in that fashion statement

  6. Lisa Richards Says:

    It was wonderful to meet you on Norfolk Ali, and thankyou so much for your advice and information regarding our piece of Second Settlement, convict made cloth. I haven’t been able to get anyone interested in taking up the research in Sydney yet - but there will be an interesting story to tell out of it all. Best wishes.

  7. jan Says:

    Thanks Ali. Love getting your communications

  8. Ali Says:

    Raewyn - Glad you enjoyed the workshops - I did too.

    Carrie - The bowl is an attractive design isn’t it? I’m looking forward to getting time to try weaving one with flax.

    Dot - I hope to get up north some time and look forward to being able to use the materials up there.

    Janthia - Thanks for the good tips about preparing material before bringing it into NZ. I’ll certainly remember that next time. I’ve also since heard that you can put it into the freezer for around 24 hours which I assume will kill the bugs.

    Lisa - I enjoyed the discovery we went through with the cloth that was on display in the museum. It was most interesting. I do hope someone takes up the opportunity to do the research of weaving flax cloth during the second convict settlement in Norfolk. I think there’s another interesting story there.

  9. kate campbell-lloyd Says:

    love everything all of you are doing.
    Love the Norfolk island weavers: meet them at the Festival of Arts in the pacific
    and hope to meet you all at this next one.
    Ali can you take a look at our web site and be in touch. love what you are doing. We are about to open our weaving studio in Far north Qld but had cyclone Yasi1 Hope you have recovered a little and our hearts are in Christchurch. from kate and Stuart Campbell-Lloyd

  10. Ali Says:

    Hi Kate and Stuart

    Thanks for getting in touch. Your website is very interesting and you have a wealth of informative photos on it. I enjoyed looking at all the different workshops and the way different materials are used too. Unfortunately one of the communities that I particularly wanted to see was the one on Torres Strait but the link doesn’t work at present.

  11. Tere Samuels Says:

    kia ora,
    hey i really admire the little palm leaf bowl. would you happen to have any instructions?

  12. Ali Says:

    Kia ora Tere

    I don’t currently have instructions for the bowl. It is based on a bowl made in the Pacific Islands and I found the instructions in a book about palm weaving.

  13. Mary jenkins Says:

    Could the weavers please help me…we recently visited Norfolk Island and had a fantastic holiday with our Dromana Probus Group. Kath King demonstrated how to do the 4 plait for hat making and was kind enough to show me how to start. I have my 12 yr old grand-daughter visiting at present and as I grow N.Z. Flax in my garden was going to show her how to do it. Alas, I couldn’t remember how to start…..could someone please assist me with the first 4 moves…..?.thanks heaps. Mary