Onkaparinga Treasure
$250.00
This baby blanket, first made by the legendary Onkaparinga woollen mill in South Australia has been re-imagined with a beautiful botanical print of eucalypt leaves and native seed pods. The Onkaparinga brand was launched in 1869 in South Australia but since 2013 is now based in Melbourne. The Onkaparinga River is on the land of the Kaurna people in Adelaide’s inner southern suburbs. How fitting that the word ‘onkaparinga’ comes from the Kaurna word ‘Ngangkiparingka’, meaning ‘women only places along the river’. What a fitting name for a baby blanket – a true treasure of a name that even sounds like a lullaby. The satin binding could frame it as a wall hanging, tablecloth or runner. Or best of all a very precious gift for a newborn baby. Constant, direct sunlight will cause gradual fading of the print but otherwise the colours are long-lasting. Light occasional washing should not affect the print
Artwork Info
| Artist Name | |
|---|---|
| Medium | Textile |
| Size | 86cm x 114cm |
| Artwork Date | 2022 |
Artist Bio
I live on Cape Otway and love to work with cloth that has history, particularly woollen blankets made in the Western Districts of Victoria. You may have driven past the next generations of the sheep that grew the wool I use in my botanical printing. Sometimes the cloth is worn, frayed or holey which is incorporated into the design. I gather leaves, seeds and bark from The Otways and seaweeds from Blanket Bay. The natural materials are bound tightly within the woollen cloth and boiled for several hours. The colours come solely from the plants and vary with the seasons.
The gift that is printed is always a surprise. There is no choice but to graciously accept the outcome, flaws and flourishes alike.