Ros Haege
Fibre craft has been a part of my life for more than 50 years. From 1951 I worked as an Occupational Therapist in the fields of both physical and psychiatric therapy. In the physical field we used weaving, leather work and basketry for therapy. We found that when people were engaged in these activities they didn't notice that they were exercising and put their pain to one side. We adapted work practises and equipment of these arts to maximize physical activity. For example I mounted warping boards on the wall for full body motion and used long shuttles for arm extension. On looms I used base warps
where I threaded a loom with macramé and knotted each warp onto the macramé, which ensured the loom was already threaded and ready to weave.
In the 50s and 60s I worked in the UK and Europe, and I eventually got tired of the attitudes of other staff members that didn't recognise the value of using the arts a promotion of physical activity in Occupational Therapy. I also found that many staff didn't recognise and care for patients as whole people living within complex social settings, but treated them only as arms or legs. As a change I went to work on my brother's dairy farm where I helped to milk 110 cows each morning and night. At this time I was also collecting data for cancer research. Later I returned to study and became a Probational Parole Officer. Once again I was able to work with people and appreciate them as a whole.
In the 1970s I walked into a shop in Lane Cove called Spindle and Loom
, fondly known to the owners as Swindle and Doom
. I bought a spinning wheel on the spot, and undertook spinning lessons. In the mid 80s I retired and had a big life change, once again I was reintroduced into fibre arts. For 10 years I studied at Brookvale and Strathfield learning a variety of fibre arts. Here I met many people from diverse backgrounds. I have always been a people person. I don't spin or weave much now. I have lots of ideas for things to create, and I sleep with a flock of sheep. I love to master techniques and get great satisfaction from attending local groups such as the Braiding group, and I revel in the inspiration and achievement of others.