The art of weaving…

In 2020 just before we went into our first lockdown I went to a macrame workshop at Hudson Street Hum Art Workshop in Newcastle, NSW. What began has been a two year love affair with macrame and the art of weaving.

In 2021 as our second lockdown approached I discovered the art of weaving on a loom, beginning with small cardboard looms which I made myself.

Whereas macrame is based on knotting, weaving on a loom involves creating warp and weft threads and passing materials through the threads to create a fabric or textile.

There is something warm and fuzzy about creating hanging textile pieces from single strands of cord whether it be cotton, hemp, wool roving or found and collected materials. I came to understand the art of story telling through entwined fabric and felt a particularly feminine bond with the practice of sitting for long hours weaving, binding, sewing, entwining and creating.

Each piece tells its own story.

The driftwood was collected from local beaches around Port Stephens including Birubi beach, One Mile, Little Kingsleys and Zenith beach. It was then treated and lacquered several times to bring out its natural colours and textures. In some of the pieces the story behind the weave began with the wood, its particular markings and colours and where it was found.

The macraweave and woven art pieces will be on sale at my pop - up shop at local markets and events. See the Happenings page for info or email me at jacquelinemarycook@gmail.com.