Battle of the Opossums

Virginia OpossumSOURCE: http://www.wildliferescuerehab.com/all-about-opossums.html

Okay, folks, it’s time to vote. Which possum is cuter, the American one (Virginia Opossum), above, or the Australia/New Zealand one (Australian Brushtail Opossum), below? When I taught in New Zealand, all my students told me how hideous their possum was. They hate this creature, which is actually native to Australia (and protected in some places there) because it has decimated the New Zealand native bird population, including the Kiwi, their national bird and namesake.   

Australian Brushtail Opossum
SOURCE: http://www.southern-edge.com/possum/

In New Zealand, they hunt and kill the opossum. Then they make the pelts into expensive things like fur-lined caps, and pillows, or blend the fur with merino wool and knit it into fabulous sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves and hats. When I was there a few weeks ago, I bought a lot of knitwear in a merino-possum-silk blend. It is beautiful, warm, and very lightweight. 

Here is a closeup of their fur:

And a photo of their pelts:

Want to know more? The Atlantic magazine has an informative and amusing account of New Zealand’s war on the possum here.

I told everyone that I had seen photos of the Australian/New Zealand possum, and it was WAY cuter than ours. I think it is just that they hate it so much that they think it is ugly. What do you think? Cast your vote; leave a comment!

New Zealand: Te Puia

On July 28, I visited a Maori center called Te Puia in Rotorua, on the North Island of New Zealand. This might have been my favorite attraction I visited in New Zealand, because it was a great combination of natural beauty, geothermal features, and Maori culture.

The beautiful entrance, Te Heketanga-a-Rangi, is made up of twelve contemporary carvings. Each carving represents a celestial guardian in Te Arawa culture. 

Above the traditional wood carvings are beautiful contemporary ones done in metal; they form a circle: 

The first thing that hits you when you get near Rotorua is the strong smell of sulfur, like rotten eggs. The geothermal features in the area are the source. At Te Puia, there are gray, murky ponds with ghostly reflections:

 

Hot pools colored teal and aqua by minerals:

Bubbling mud ponds that burp and belch:

Geysers, including the largest, Pohuto Geyser (it means “big splash” in Maori):

And everywhere, steam, steam, steam:

At this gate to the the wharenui (sacred meeting house) called Rotowhio Marae, we were met by a Maori guide:

Before we were able to enter the wharenui, we had to nominate a chief. My friend Alison’s husband Rob was chosen, but had doubts when our Maori guide told him that if he was rejected by the Maori leader, he would be decapitated immediately. Here you can see him in negotiations:

The Maori leader challenged him in a ceremony called the poshiri:

 and then decided he was an okay guy, and let us come inside:

We were treated to traditional songs and dances:

My favorite, the haka, is a dance the Maori did to frighten enemies. I got some of it on video:

Te Puia has national schools dedicated to teaching the Maori arts of carving and weaving:

Front of Maori boat

Carvings inside Maori boat

Carving inset with paua (a type of abalone shell)

Instructor at the wood carving school

Feathers embellish a woven item

Skirt is made of harakeke (flax)

There is also a recreation of a pre-European village. This ornate structure was a storage building for food:

Some food was prepared in a pit lined with hot stones; meat and vegetables were wrapped in leaves and cloth and put on top, then covered up so that the food steamed:

This is a huge chunk of what is called “greenstone” in New Zealand. It is a type of jade highly prized by Maori … and tourists! It is polished and carved into pendants and sculptures:

Te Puia had a stuffed kiwi on display. I saw live kiwi earlier in my trip, including a rare white one, but since they are nocturnal birds, they were in dark exhibition areas, and you could only see them with the help of red lights, which did not make for very good photographic conditions. Look at how huge their eggs are in relation to their body size!

I’ll be posting more about my New Zealand adventures in the next week or so!

I'm in the German magazine, Patchwork Professional!

The current issue of the German quilting magazine Patchwork Professional features my work (“Up and Away!”) on the cover; and inside has an interview, photos of more of my work, and information about how I created “Bonnie & Clyde” (below). It is such a thrill to be featured, and even more special to have been chosen to go on the cover!
 

I’m in American Quilter Magazine!

“Fall Color” by Susan Brubaker Knapp (2013)

My work, “Fall Color,” is featured in the September 2013 issue of Amerian Quilter magazine! The article explains how I made the piece, with a focus on my thought process, and how I worked through some technical and artistic issues as I created the piece. A line drawing pattern is included if you want to make your own version.

It is made with fusible applique and a lot of thread sketching.

The piece is based on a photo I took several years ago of some beautiful maple leaves on the street in front of my house. I loved the photo for its beautiful, strong, clear color, and detail:

Here are some detail shots of the finished piece:

The magazine is available in the United States on newsstands and at quilt shops and many craft stores. To find out more, or to subscribe, visit www.americanquilter.com/publications/

P.S. I just got home this morning from New Zealand. I didn’t have much time, or good internet connections, when I was there, so I only blogged once, but there is a lot more coming later this week. I had a fabulous time!