As It Is Flax

Now that this has reached its new owner, all can be revealed! 🙌 Once again the leather straps didn't let me down. This time I joined three straps together to form a perfect over-the-shoulder strap to adorn this striking kete whakairo. You like?

Two of my great loves 🥰😽

The finer the weave, the more the harakeke requires of my patience, love and perseverance. I get totally lost, enjoying how the kete comes alive as I weave one row after the last. I'm never entirely sure how the pattern will go, allowing last minute inspiration to take control of my hands. And at the end, I stare and I smile and I carefully pluck the stray fibres, marveling at how plant, body and mind can work together to create such beauty.

Kete whakairo w/ repurposed leather handles
3mm, 240 whenu
30cm wide, 23cm high
🌟 FOR SALE 🌟
Pm me if this calls to you ☺️

Ssssssssexy 🐍
A large whiri kete in the making. I love weaving these!

One for me, one for my friend, and one for...?!
The kete in the forefront is still up for sale 🙌

This trio is made up of big, strong & practical whiri kete. I doubt I will do any more like this with leather handles, but it was really fun to play and experiment.

Which is your fave?

Now... back to kete whakairo and indulging in 3mm whenu 😬

This kete whiri was commissioned by a friend of mine - a surprise gift for her mum all the way in Norway! 🥰 Her son picked out the shells from his lifetime collection, and apparently he remembers which beach each piece came from. That's pretty special!

I so love creating for people, especially when I'm given permission to play with patterns and style ☺️

Large whiri kete w/ repurposed leather straps!
✨ SOLD ✨

49cm wide, 29cm tall, 14cm flat bottom.

This is the last large kete I'll be making for a while, and likely the last to have straps like this. A truly unique piece!

Thanks for admiring 😌

Finally, I made myself a new everyday kete! 🤗

Takitahi (over one, under one); signifying Strength, Patience, Simplicity, Perseverance, slowing down and taking one's time. All qualities that I hold and value, and I wanted to honour them by weaving them into a kete that will be by my side for years to come. A beautiful reminder.

The leather strap adds further strength - a big thank you to for the gift. I'm excited to add the liner you've made for the inside!

Two months break from weaving and then this pops out beautifully! I told myself I'd take time off over winter, mainly because drying and storing whenu stresses me out in this moist weather 😬 BUT, now I'm full of inspiration! Sooooo, what to do...

What an absolute treat to receive photos of this little one all snug in her wahakura 🥰 and what a pleasure it was to weave it!

Ahhhhhh muka fibre 😌

This little beauty was a custom-made piece, on its way to New Plymouth 🙌

As the short days creep in, I can sense my entire being slowing down, less motivated to be occupied and busy. I suspect I will take 3 months off from weaving over winter, just as the plants will get a rest from harvesting.

I will be attending a 2 day weaving wānanga at the end of the month, and I think it will be the ideal way to wind down!

I'm open for commissions until then 😊

A simple pōtae for a simply wonderful human, made with nothing but aroha and fond memories in my heart 💚
I love to have a skill which enables me to create for those I hold dear!

How I feel when my babies go off to their new homes...
😭🥺🥲🤗👏 🥳😲🤸‍♀️👋

These beauties are on their way to Australia, Kawakawa and Porangahau - how freaking cool is that?!

Once again a big 😚 to everyone that participated in the recent raffle in wonderful support of my passion.

A wahakura waikawa I recently made for a mumma expecting her first pēpi 🥰

I had been wanting to try this technique for some time, and really enjoyed the simplicity of the weave.

Another mumma from the community gifted the mattress and a warm woolen blanket. I also wanted to offer this wahakura on a koha basis and was given some delicious home kill and fruit from their property in return 💚
Trading feels good and right, especially for a new mother that has so many other costs to think of and is going through one of the biggest transformations of her life!

I'd like to make more of these... as long as time and access to harakeke allows (it requires 60 leaves to make!). Feel free to reach out if you're in the Far North and would like to discuss ☺️

ALL RAFFLE TICKETS ARE SOLD 🥳

Just waiting on a couple of payments to clear and then I'll draw the winners - woop woop!

💥 RAFFLE (continued...) 💥

25 tickets, $20 each

Please see the previous post/story if you're confused about this!

How it works:

🔥 COMMENT BELOW 👇 the number(s) you want
🔥 Once I respond with a ❤️ please pay into account:
K Diggle
38-9024-0533654-00
Kiwibank
(message me if you'd like PayPal details)
🔥 A ✅ next to your name means I've received payment
🔥 Raffle will be drawn once all numbers are paid for

I please ask NZ residents to pay $10 towards postage (or more if you like..!) and Worldwide winners to pay full postage.

Numbers left:

1. Zsuzsanna Love ✅
4. Ariana Mere Kotahi ✅
6. Charlotte Reah ✅
7. Katarina Komene ✅
12. Katarina Komene ✅
14. Liga ✅
16. Katarina Komene ✅
18. Rebecca Ranum ✅
20. Charlotte Reah ✅
23. Rebecca Ranum ✅
24. Ariana Mere Kotahi ✅
25. Charlotte Reah ✅
29. Prue Smart ✅
31. Ripeka Meredith ✅
32. Zsuzsanna Love ✅
34. Ariana Mere Kotahi ✅
36. Joyce C-m
37. Katarina Komene ✅
39. Bronwyn Flower ✅
41. Charlotte Reah ✅
42. Ripeka Meredith ✅
43. Andrea Zahorak ✅
45. Bronwyn Flower ✅
46. Charlotte Reah ✅
48. Bronwyn Flower ✅

Facebook reckons my raffle post is spam and removed it 😵!

Because of that I lost all of the names & numbers apart from those that already paid.

IMPORTANT: I'm going to split this raffle in two. So the people that already paid will be part of this first raffle which is for the two kete seen in photos. I will release the 2nd raffle (with the other two kete) and remaining numbers tomorrow. Then at the end I will put all your names together and draw the kete winners as one big raffle... I hope that makes sense!!

🔥 IF YOU'RE NOT ON THIS LIST AND WANT A TICKET, PLEASE WAIT FOR 2ND RAFFLE POST TOMORROW WHICH WILL HAVE REMAINING NUMBERS 🔥

Here's the list of PAID TICKETS I have:

Sally Ann - 49
Damalaya - 11, 35
Berit Abrahall - 47
Tirimata Murphy - 22
Aisha McManus - 19
J McCallum - 10
Allan M L - 38
A Farrar - 27, 30
Rachel Barber - 33
Colleen Wackrow - 5
R P Wallace - 8
Molly Morton - 28
Mark Berg - 3, 15
J Stammers - 17
Rahiri - 40
Stephen Russell - 2, 13, 44
Toni McMahon - 21
Emily Bevan - 50
Jennifer Harrison - 9
Tungane Kani - 26

A Facebook Exclusive Raffle IS COMING!! 💥

All details and photos of individual prizes to be released SATURDAY 16TH MARCH @ 12PM and it will run until all tickets are sold.

I'm very excited to share this with you all 🙃🙂

This is primarily a fundraiser to pay for some very important dental work 😬

Open to NZ and Worldwide (winner to cover postage)

EXCITING!!

This is, in fact, two sides of the same kete 😃 I finally got round to adding a muka shoulder strap and then spontaneously decided to add a piece of paua on each side to accentuate the distinction!

My first attempt at a kupenga overlay 🤩

This was SO much fun to weave! It was like weaving two kete in one - starting with weaving the solid 'under' part, before connecting the kupenga over the top, joining them together again at the top before locking off.

I was a little dubious whether i would like this style, but honestly it is so much more gorgeous in the flesh!

PSST! 🤫 You could win this in an upcoming RAFFLE 🔥 coming soon!

This deserves a place here...
A spontaneous 'Bon Voyage Basket' I made for a very special kitty named George.

I wove this with fresh, un-softened harakeke, and the design unfolded as I went along. I think it's gorgeous!! He'll be wrapped in the sweetness of this harakeke waka, ready to be returned back to the earth 🥲

I'd love to make a more tidy version when I have more time.

For my latest commission these creative hands were let loose, and once again this beauty revealed herself as I started weaving 🥲

I love the combination of niho taniwha and whakapuareare patterns - they certainly compliment each other!

Large whiri/whakairo kete
37cm W, 26cm H, 18cm flat bottom

I tried a new style here; a long clasp and the shell attached further down the pīkau - what do you think?!

That shell has a serious POP factor! 🤩

🔥 FOR SALE 🔥

These have been sat for 6 months at the local dairy and I'd really like to see them go off to a loved home!

🍃 Pīkau: 27cm tall, 23cm wide, 72cm straps
$110 + postage - ⚡️ SOLD ⚡️

🍃 Sidebag: 20cm tall, 15cm wide, 133cm strap
$95 + postage

More photos and videos available on request 🙃