"I love the feel of natural fibres running through my fingers, the rhythmic flow of the stitches, the endless creative possibilities and the meditative state that one falls into.
I love the circles of women chattering, friendships that form, the nourishing care expressed and the bursting wild excitement as the creative juices flow."
How it all Began
Unexpectedly I fell crazy in love with weaving from my very first basket!
In 2013 was living in 100 acres of old growth forest on a property called Andelaine, an hours drive from Coffs Harbour on the Mid North Coast of NSW.
Living in the forest of old beings undisturbed by colonization opened a pathway to deeper connectivity to the land.
My friend and neighbor up the road Katie taught basketry and that's where it all began.
Kate Rydge and Ingrid Riverstone
Bare Weaving became the baby of Katie Rydge & Ingrid Riverstone
teaching a Global Weaving style with threads from many lands and lineages.
Each adopted into Indigenous communities and families. Each immersed in traditional weaving practises. Finding each other years later they collaborated.
Inspired by what they learnt in Arnhem land they then gathered in groups, harvested from the local environment, naturally dyed the fibres, to develop their own unique practice in Coffs Harbour thousands of miles away.
Roslyn Malagumbi
I was introduced to Kates adopted mother Roslyn, from and Arnhem land un broken lineage of master weavers
Roslyn is one of the dearest people I have ever meet, her hugs have the warmth of eternity in them. To weave with her is the epitome of Magic!
Roslyn taught Kate and Kate taught me to to forage from the natural environment for the fibres to weave and dye with.I have developed an extensive knowledge of fibres and dye plants in the Mid North Cost of NSW.
I attended workshops, gatherings and Year long Immersions between 2011 and 2024.
Read my Blog Bare Weaving Teacher Training
I developed a deep custodian care for all the sentient beings of the natural environment as a result of studying closely the plants that are weaveable. In this communion with nature I began to deeper respond to the seasons, weather patterns, birds, animals and elements.
Read my Blog Losing My Domestic Self
With many hours of playful experimenting I saw my own unusual nuances appear in baskets. I am adept and accomplished in coil and twining basketry and wall hangings. View my Basketry Gallery
To add some extra flavour I devoured Catriona Pollard's and Harriot Goodall Online Weaving Courses.
The Remembering
As my Mother watched along she began to remember that in our family ancestry she had uncovered two family members who had been weaving artisans in the 17th Century England.
My forefathers Samuel and William Mudford from Cornwall were revered textile weavers artisans and craftsman. They traveled extensively studying and teaching weaving!
I began to have flashes of memories of my grand mothers woven baskets in her house amoungst all her crafts.
She Weaves Australia
I began to get nudges to teach other women to weave. I felt unworthy of doing such a noble thing and sought out Kates guidance on this mysterious calling.
Kate encouraged me to begin to teach in a humble way honoring all the knowledge I had been gifted with.
I began to teach workshops and classes to small group of local women.
I incorporated the weaving and meditation to create weaving circles where women are nourished and opened into new levels of creativity. Read about Women Weaving Circles
New Zealand - Maori Indigenous Tradition of Weaving - Raranga
In 2024 I moved to Governors Bay on the South Island of New Zealand where I enrolled in a University Course called Maori and Indigenous Arts - Weaving.
I began to dive into the history of basketry from the Maori tradition. Returning to being a absolute humble learner as this style of basketry was completely different to what I had learnt in Australia.
However there was an essential unchangeable thread of commonality. The ones who hold the lineage of basketry hold the lineage of connection to land and to community connection.
In Maori language the word for land, home and placenta is the same word. Demonstrating that we come from the land, are nourished by the land and of the land itself.
She Weaves New Zealand
Inspired by my teachers journey of applying localised knowledge
I am now able to harvest fibres that are weaveable from the land I live on.
I have such excitement to weave a basket completely from these fibres.
With this joy of honoring land and her abundant resources I share the knowledge that is for all women who love to weave.
