I’m a spinner, weaver and dyer living in a tiny rural hamlet in Southern New Zealand. I’ve been a fiber artisan for many years.
I can’t help but be influenced by my surroundings as well as my experiences living so far from family and place of birth.
I have an abiding interest in working with absolutely unprocessed materials, wool from the sheep’s back and finding plants to dye with from the garden.
I do recycle leftover synthetic dyes from a local mill which would otherwise go to waste and try to use locally NZ made commercial yarns although I love British wool too. I’m just aware of the air miles required to get it to me here.
My limited edition yarns are made from New Zealand fibres processed here in my really tiny ‘Otepopo Wool Mill’. Which consists of a woolshed, dyestudio, picking and carding machines and the spinnery. We spin the yarns on two electric spinners and/or treadle spinning wheels. Some of the yarns are then woven on our floorlooms.
To view the work visit – https://felt.co.nz/shop/doespins
And The Oamaru Textile Emporium