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 “Making flax paper”.
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 “Making flax paper”.
January 5th, 2012 at 11:22 pm
Hi there
This is the first time I’ve visited your site and its absolutely great filled with great information about the art/skill and harakeke. I just wanted to ask you a question about rourou. If I was to make some from freshly cut harakeke and then use them for food (i.e to serve hangi in) will the taste of the harakeke transfer to the food? And could you recommend a good book or website that can show me how to weave nga rourou? Or could you if it isn’t too much trouble (hopefully an easy 5min job because I’ll have to make about a hundred….lol)
Cheers
BuzzyGurl
January 8th, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Hi Buzzygurl
Instructions for weaving a rourou can be found online at
http://teaohou.natlib.govt.nz/journals/teaohou/issue/Mao59TeA/c13.html. Click on the little cameras and the page photos for larger illustrations. The book Fun with Flax also has instructions for weaving a rourou.
I have wondered about using flax as food baskets myself even though traditionally they are made specifically to serve food in. I don’t know whether any of the moisture from the fresh harakeke, which is a laxative, would transfer to the food, especially hot food, but I doubt that the flax taints the flavour of the food. There may be less risk of the laxative effect with dried flax. One reader has mentioned that she adds a square of tinfoil inside the rourou before using it to serve food, which seems like a good idea as it would help to keep the food hot as well.
I’d welcome any comments from others about using flax for food containers, as I’ve been asked this question a few times.
February 29th, 2012 at 11:21 pm
Kia Ora, I am making paper and have just read your article about the Hollander beater, Iwould be very interested in finding out more about this machine and how much it would cost to buy one. could you please let me know if this is possible,
Thanks
Evelyn Brunning
March 1st, 2012 at 6:18 pm
Kia ora Evelyn
Mark Lander makes the Hollanders and they are available through his web site.
April 2nd, 2012 at 2:06 pm
Hi Ali
I’m researching Kete whakairo and I don’t seem to be having much luck finding information on the history. Are you able to direct me to some web sites or books that would give me some info please.
Many thanks
Vi
April 2nd, 2012 at 6:50 pm
Hello Vi
Te Papa museum has a number of kete whakairo in its collection and it has experts on the staff so I imagine they should be able to assist you with your research. Also you may find Mick Pendergrast’s book Raranga Whakairo useful. It’s available in most libraries.
June 1st, 2012 at 10:46 am
Hi Ali;
I am writing to you to find out if you have written another book I know before the earthquake you were thinking about a book of baskets and I’m still waiting to see if you have I would love to have that one.
Thank You Ali
P.S I think you are amazing I have your flowers book I treasure them both.
June 2nd, 2012 at 12:15 pm
Hi Pukerewa
Thanks for your kind comments about my book. I’m glad you enjoy it. Unfortunately the earthquakes have put me well behind with my plans for writing the basket book, but now I have settled into my new house, I’ve started work on it again. In the meantime, I have produced a booklet on how to weave a large container, or waikawa which you may be interested in. It’s $13 including postage and packaging. You can see examples of the container in the second photo down on my Workshops page.
June 4th, 2012 at 9:12 am
Hi Ali
Thanks for your quick response yes I am definitely interested in any books you have can’t wait for your new book and I will definiely buy the other book thank you Ali
June 5th, 2012 at 11:14 am
Hi Pukerewa
To buy the container book you just need to put the $13 into my Westpac bank account 03–0823–0516382–000 and email me your current postal address. I’ll send the booklet as soon as I receive the payment.
June 6th, 2012 at 7:58 am
ok Ali I will send payment as soon as I can
Thank you
June 9th, 2012 at 9:24 am
Good morning Ali;
I hope you received your payment we sent it thru yesterday afternoon we didn’t know how much for postal sorry I hope it will be aenough
Pukerewa Rameka
June 9th, 2012 at 10:19 am
hello Pukerewa
Thanks for the payment which I received today. Can you please email me your current postal address so I can post the book to you.
June 10th, 2012 at 3:06 pm
Hi Ali
Thanks here is my postal address P.O. Box 983 Kerikeri Northland under Pukerewa Rameka thank you
looking forward to it how long will it take
June 10th, 2012 at 5:11 pm
Hi Pukerewa
The booklet will be in the post tomorrow so you should get it in two or three days.
June 11th, 2012 at 7:26 am
Thank you Ali looking forward to reading it don’t to forget when you have finished your other book I will buy that too
June 21st, 2012 at 1:14 am
Hi Ali in your reviews you have a book called Te Kono Naku Raranga Harakeke @ $25.00 is it still possible to purchase from you. I also am interested in your instructions for making a waikawa will certainly be interested in your next book. I have your book on making flowers and would like to thank you for sharing your mahi look forward to hearing from you.
June 26th, 2012 at 5:44 pm
Hi Lovey
Yes I think copies of that book are still available. I’ll send your details onto the supplier who will contact you.
The booklet with instructions for making the waikawa is $13 which includes postage and packaging. You can pay by direct credit into my Westpac bank account 03–0823–0516382–000 and send me an email to advise me.
July 6th, 2012 at 10:59 am
Kia Ora Ali,
Please can you email me some contact details for Mark Lander, I would appreciate that so much.
Mauri Ora
Charmaine
August 14th, 2012 at 5:54 pm
Got your book the other day ,love it ,
I see Iam going to be very busy trying all the different kinds of flowers,have been making two kinds for a few years now,time to move on ,which I will be able to do now thanks to your book .
Cheers
Kiwimum
August 20th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
hey ali
and I like teri dyes but they dont have pink an violet …….can u suggest other ways or dye firms pls ty hunni love ur site……the best around actually on weaving
I tried dylon poweder dyes just didnt workfor me
August 20th, 2012 at 5:59 pm
Hi Shirley
I find the crimson from Teri dyes will be a sort of pink if you use less dye. You can also mix dyes to make different colours so, for example, red and blue mixed together make violet. You’d need to experiment a bit. Otherwise Rit dyes available from Flaxworx have a range of colours including light pink, fuschia and mauve which may be what you are looking for.
September 12th, 2012 at 8:37 am
Thank you for all your wonderful instructions. I work with palm. Do you thing it is stiff enough for the fantail.
September 12th, 2012 at 9:50 am
Hi Diane
Yes I do think palm would be stiff enough for the fantail. I’m not so sure about netting palm though as I don’t think it has fibre inside it. Would that be right? If this is the case, using ordinary plam would be fine I think.
September 15th, 2012 at 10:18 am
Hi Ali
This is Pukerewa I was just wondering have you finish that book for baskets yet
Thank you very interested in it
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:36 am
Tena koe Ali,
Could you please help me out, does Mark Lander still make the critter beater and how can I get a hold of him as the web site must be down and I would like to purchase on or perhaps you might know of a secondhand for sale somewhere, your help would be much appreciated.
Naku noa
Karmen Thomson
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:55 pm
Hi Karmen
I’m not sure if Mark still makes the critter beater but there is a contact for him here. Good luck with your search!
July 23rd, 2014 at 5:08 pm
Hi Ali. Ive just looked on here to learn abit about making paper, and gosh I nearly clicked off until i thought I would scroll down and came across all these comments. Do you have a face book page?. I would like to see some of your mahi.Awesome blog too and I’m thinking of purchasing your book on making waikawa. Na Mihi
Teresa.
May 19th, 2015 at 9:57 pm
Hi Ali
its been a while since I last contacted you hope you have been well.
I would like to purchase your book on making a waikawa. Also if possible could you tell me where I can purchase
Te Kono Naku Raranga Harakeke.
Hope to here from you soon.
May 20th, 2015 at 9:16 pm
Hello Lovey
Yes I am well thank you. The waikawa book is $15 which includes postage and packaging. You can pay by direct credit into my bank account which is Westpac 03-0823-0516382-000 and send me your current postal address. I will send the book promptly once payment is received.
Te Kono Naku Raranga Harakeke is available from another source. I’ll email them with your contact details and they will get in touch with you.
August 7th, 2015 at 12:45 pm
Hi Ali,
Thank you for such a wonderful blog. I was grateful for your blog on the harakeke paper making workshop which you did with Mark Lander. You mentioned May Davis book with easy steps for making the harakeke paper. I can’t find this or the publishers. Have you any tips on where I might find a copy? I am wanting to teach primary school kids this skill, and you mentioned her technique being the easiest. Will follow your very helpful instructions if search proves fruitless.
Many thanks, Suz
August 7th, 2015 at 4:33 pm
Hello Suz
The book is an old book I’ve had for a number of years and it was published by the Native Forest Action Council. I imagine the local library will have a copy in its New Zealand section. If you can’t find it, email me your address and I’ll send you a photocopy, for your own use.
February 14th, 2016 at 3:42 pm
Hi!
I have started making some harakeke paper with a group of year 6 students. We have been following instructions from a school journal but I have been boiling the harakeke for HOURS now and it’s still not breaking down. Do you have a suggestion of what we could do to save it? The school journal instructions didn’t say to beat it or anything first…
Cheers,
K
February 14th, 2016 at 3:51 pm
Hello K
I’m not sure how I can help you. Did you cut the flax very small and are you using caustic soda in the boiling water?
June 8th, 2017 at 11:01 am
Hi. Seems the links you have for Mark Lander do not work at all. I would like to contact this artist and see about the courses he offers and the Hollander thingee.
Cheers
Dave
June 9th, 2017 at 12:53 pm
Hello Dave, Mark now lives in Amberley. His details are here
March 23rd, 2018 at 7:03 am
Hi there,
I would be very interested in instructions for making harakeke paper as I am doing a paper on ways of recycling harakeke. Please let me know how much as I saw a post on an easy process.
Thanks
Anita
March 23rd, 2018 at 9:00 am
Hi Anita, all the information I have is in this blog post, and there may be more instructions now on the internet since I wrote this post. Basically it’s the same as making any sort of recycled paper apart from the fact that the flax needs to be cut very finely and boiled in caustic soda to break it down, as I explain in this post.
March 9th, 2020 at 10:58 am
Can you make toilet paper out of this flax? Asking for a friend.
March 13th, 2020 at 12:13 pm
Kia ora Thomas, Yes you could do as long as you made it fine enough so that it would be soft. This paper is absorbent to some extent so I think it would be OK.