T nation

                     The last cool T to walk  into the Outpost  before we closed for winter.

design for tourism

                                I was back down at Motuti Marae last week - for a doco being made
                                for TV. Paula Bennett,  the  Hon Minister for Social Development,
                                turned up to see  how things were going and her first question to me
                                was Milan to Motuti?? But how do you explain the glamour of setting
                                up a design studio in a  marae ??  Its the sort of inspiration one is hard
                                pressed to find in a Milan bookstore......
                        

very vintage

                                              This truck  has been in the same family for three generations.
                                              It was out on a Sunday morning run - down from Kaitaia to Kohukohu.

divine design

                                             Motukaraka Chapel Centenary Celebration Altar Cloth.
                                             The design process for this Altar Cloth was democratic -
                                             I attended various meetings at Motukaraka Marae  and
                                             we discussed what the design should be. I was taught
                                             the meanings of the different kowhawhai patterns. We had
                                             a couple of altar fittings - this was important as I wanted the
                                             cloth to be complementary to the church interior and also for the
                                             design to be uplifting. I warned  everyone that I'd be adding some bling.
                                             I am happy with the result  - the cloth tells the story of Motukaraka Chapel
                                             but, at the same time, it wouldn't look out of place in a small chapel on a 
                                             Greek island. It tells a story of humble devotion and shares the joy of
                                            spiritual life.
                                            
                                            
                                        

weaving wananga

                                 Some women came to harvest flax outside
                                 my window  one afternoon. They invited me
                      to visit their  weaving wananga. It doesn't get
                     much more 'sustainable' than weaving your own
                     baskets for home - and eventually putting them 
                     back out on the compost.