Flax weaver in residence

Heather Steadman  will be weaving her beautiful baskets all weekend at the Helensville Museum.

Heather studied raranga (weaving) for one year at the Waikato Institute of Technology and at marae from Kawhia to Rotorua. She worked on her weaving for four days a week and learned to care for and harvest harakeke (flax) for kete, strip the muka (fibres) and  traditional dye techniques using bark and mud. Also taniko (finger weaving with fibres) and tukutuku panels. She enjoyed teaching the basics and creating her own designs. She ran the TCAC (Titirangi Community Arts Council) Upstairs Gallery in Lopdell House for two and a half years before having her daughter. Heather has continued her studies in Not For Profit management and Community Development and believes that we all have the capacity to create and that it is an intrinsic part of our wellbeing.