Christmas Full of Colour!
New Zealand Christmas is unique - far far away from Hallmark cards and Christmas movies... no snow, no sleigh rides, no snowmen. Instead of fields of white, we have warm sunshine and colour!
Here at Flax & Fibre, Christmas is full of flax whenu, in various stages of drying... on the picnic table, on my son's old trampoline which is now converted to a drying table, on the hot concrete by the shed, and hanging on the washing line. Flax whenu everywhere.
My Pa Harakeke is lush and cool despite the midday sun, and every shade of green. A quiet oasis among the busyness, full of new growth and readiness.
Christmas preparations begin in spring for me, for as with any business that creates handmade product -preparation is everything.
In October, weather plays nice with long sunny days most of the week, giving me the chance to start harvesting and prepping our flower whenu without fear of rain. As I harvest, I dream up beautiful creations I want to be able to offer you.
Hours are spent over steaming dye pots; creating our Kiwi Christmas shades of red, yellow and green for pohutakawa; earthy tones of browns, gold and natural for the land and sandy beaches; stunning turquoise, purple, blues and silver for paua and sparkling New Zealand waters. (more about flax flower dyeing here)
After dyeing is a frenzy of folding and shaping flowers, often after dinner and long after my little boy is in bed.
Then from the long tall dried stems of kōrari, I begin making my Christmas wreaths. Harvesting the flower spikes of the harakeke plant (kōrari) is a family affair; Mum, Dad, our son Ace, cousins and aunties and uncles and friends all join in; and I even have some customers gift me with kōrari harvested with my creations in mind.
By the time we cut the spikes into pieces, they have already lived many play lives as jousting sticks, huts and teepees; worn as wings; and arranged in patterns on the lawn.
Once the kōrari are threaded and formed into wreaths, it's time to decorate with our beautiful flax flowers!
No matter how many summers roll around, I am always full of wonder at the magic of turning a natural resource into precious gifts that can forever remind us of childhood Christmas memories.
This year, you can join me in creating your own family Kiwi Christmas decor, through my online course 'A Kiwi Christmas' - festive gifts and decorations with NZ flax flowers. Find it here! A Kiwi Christmas
