Flax Weaving Workshop – Create Your Own Bag or Backpack

With Karina Gerzabek

Saturday to Sunday, 18th October to 19th October, 9am to 1pm

Workshop Fee Early Bird: $160 per person

Workshop Fee Cash Payment OR during week of event: $200 per person

Includes Morning Tea and all tools and materials

Book your spot: Karinagerzabek@gmail.com

At Riverside Community

Your tutor, Karina Gerzabek, was born in Austria, spent many years living in Italy, and now I lives in the far south of New Zealand. For more than ten years she has dedicated herself to the art of flax weaving, a craft she was fortunate to learn from a variety of teachers. One of her most treasured experiences was learning how to weave a bag from a Māori elder – a lesson that was not only about technique, but also about a way of life, respect for the land, and connection to nature.

In this two-day Flax Weaving Workshop for advanced participants, you will learn how to create your own bag or backpack from flax (harakeke). You can decide for yourself whether you want to make a traditional handwoven bag or a backpack. The workshop will take place on October 18 and 19 at the Riverside Community. Each day runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. The schedule is intensive, so it is important that you bring previous experience in flax weaving or other crafts, as well as motivation and dedication. Karina may also give you a small “homework” task between the two sessions.

All materials will be provided, so you do not need to bring anything with you – just your focus, energy, and willingness to learn.

Why this workshop? For Karina, flax weaving is not only about skills, but also about a philosophy of mindful living. Each bag or backpack represents an opportunity to reduce our dependence on plastic and to use the natural resources available here in New Zealand in a sustainable way. By reconnecting with these traditional techniques and weaving them into our modern lives, we create something both beautiful and practical, while contributing to a healthier future for the earth.

The cost of the workshop is $160 if paid at least one week before the event. Payment in cash on the day or registration within the same week is $200.

If you would like to be part of this journey, Karina warmly invites you to join. Give yourself the gift of learning how to create your own handcrafted flax bag or backpack. Are you ready to put your hands, your mind, and your heart into this ancient craft? Your tutor looks forward to welcoming you at the Riverside Community in October.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this post's content are those of the facilitator/event organiser and do not necessarily reflect Riverside Community Trust Board's official position and policy. Please contact the facilitator directly for all questions regarding this post's content.