Practical art projects for family and friends...

 

I have a new hobby atm (at the moment) in creating patchwork-like sewn shoulder purses and adding gold, silver or black accessories to them.

This particular one pictured has one of my favourite wool designs. I've added a black trim and gold accessories.

I've made one for my mum and each child, my little sister, my niece, and a good friend so far, and I still have a few more to make.

I like this particular art project because it's practical. It brings me a lot of joy when I'm able to make art that's practical and usable for my friends and family to enjoy and use daily, and what better than a purse for ladies?

I gifted my eldest the purse above. It is made from Turkish wool with a paua-like sheen, and I just love the blue, aqua, and gold accents. I added a longer shoulder strap as it's more handy than the shorter straps I added to other purses.

I'm not sure what my next art project will be, as I've started at the beginning of the year in sewing patchwork quilts, embroidering pillow cases, but with the onset of winter, I've seen a pattern of crocheting beanies that I definitely want to give it a go...

Film by Fritz Filisi...

 Here's a note from my beloved on his PhD journey so far...

Youtube Link

https://youtu.be/MYeBBQ1y6Oo

google drive

https://f.io/GHoWKsb2

 

 

Talofa & Kia ora Everyone,

My name is Fritz Filisi, and I am pleased to share my 10-minute test film, created as part of my PhD admission process, scheduled for 14 June 2025. I would be sincerely grateful if you could kindly share the YouTube link within your networks. Your support in distributing the film will significantly help promote it within local communities and bolster my candidacy for this important academic opportunity.

The film is also set to be submitted to the following three international film festivals:

1. South Pacific Film Festival – Auckland, 16 May 2025
2. Pacific Island Film Festival of NYC – New York, 11 July 2025
3. Pacific Ocean Short Film Festival – Melbourne, 15 December 2025

The film explores auala, an ancient funerary custom still practiced in Sāmoa today. When a chief passes, orators gather to recite genealogies and oral histories that link titles, clans, and land to the sacred lagi (heavens) of the old gods. The narrative is presented through the perspective of Tofaeono, a high chief from the village of Si’umu. The film is taonga to my village of Si’umu and its people.

Thank you for your time and support. Your assistance means a great deal.

 Fa’afetai tele lava,

 Tofilau Fritz Filisi

Army vet' and friend...

 

This long ANZAC (Australia New Zealand Army Corps) weekend was a time to spend with family and to go on long 5km walks with my beloved. A path is pictured on the left at our local bay.

I have the honour and pleasure of being friends with a former student who was an army veteran and is almost 80 years old.

He is still studying at the Wānanga where I work, and he has an amazing story of courage, tenacity, and sacrifice. He served a few tours overseas and is still able to tell his story.

He also shared one of his stories in one of the community short anthologies I had the privilege of collating and Indie publishing. He is a treasure, and I'm so blessed that his stories crossed my path as well...

Easter with family...

 

I spent Easter Friday with my family and attended a church service at Life Church in Manukau. They staged an Easter Production with filmed scenes and beautiful songs. It was very touching.

It was a poignant reminder that Easter is not about chocolate Easter bunnies, Easter eggs (a northern hemisphere ode to spring), or hot cross buns (although there were some served with butter after the service) but about acknowledging a critical event that changed the course of history, whether or not people believe in God or a man named Jesus. It had a definite meaning in my life growing up, and it has meaning in the afterlife.

I wish you all a happy Easter with the depth and meaning that it was intended as a holiday to spend with the family, but a weekend to contemplate where we and our loved ones would spend the afterlife when our time on this journey ends. 

That's when Easter takes on a whole new light, and what the cross symbolises with the act that Jesus willingly endured, whether or not we believe in Him. As He is not a religion, but rather described as a religious leader of all time. I think the question is not whether or not we believe in Him but rather where you want to spend your afterlife...

"Minecraft" family movie review...

 

Last weekend, my beloved shouted our family to the movies to watch "Minecraft," as about seven of them in my family were Minecrafters. I would just watch their creations on screen and marvel at how amazing their created worlds were.

I found the movie quite entertaining and Jack Black is one of my fave comedians and have enjoyed his acting on movies such as Jumanji and Gullivers Travels etc. Jason Mamoa was funny in his pink outfit and brought back the 80s-90s vibe too.

It was interesting to find out that it was filmed in NZ as my children had identified Ōtāhuhu College as one of the venues with the high school scenes and other scenic landscapes. I also found it interesting that the corner store and suburb looked very much like a rural scene outside of Auckland and other city centres.

All in all, I highly recommend it if you're not looking for a serious plot twist and Rachel House's voice packs a punch as the villain. I still remember when I first saw her in travelling theatre productions where they performed at schools (when I was a high school teacher) and her voice was stand out then!

Neurographic art therapy...

 

Yesterday in my combined noho or overnight weekend stay with two classes, I was given the opportunity by my colleague to deliver an art workshop with half of the class.

As last year, she had taken a neurograpic art therapy workshop that I had attended and I decided to do the same.

The beauty about the workshop was that one has the freedom to be able to make it something special for each of the attendees.

As an artist (which I didn't tell), I allowed each to consider an issue that they were going through and then to leave on the page by making large scribbles on a blank paper using a marker without lifting the marker off the page.

After that, I encouraged each attendee to flatten out all of the sharp edges with curved lines. You can see some examples on the pic above. In smoothing out the edges, I asked each attendee to consider what kaitiaki (guardian) solutions might make it less stressful i.e. would smooth out the edges.

The next step was to use water colour paints to paint each area with either warm, colour or families of colours. As you can see above, I used an array of colours and especially contrasting colours. In doing so, I asked them to consider what kind words could be spoken into the situations.

I gave it some time to dry and then began to encourage each to add embellishments. That sometimes in life things happen and that there're not always understandable but that it was worth it to be together and share in this activity.

I also encouraged each to consider a title for their masterpiece and also a story to explain the reasons behind that composition of the picture and what the different parts stood for. This was certainly an interesting exercise as some shared in tears, happiness and joy...

Polyfest celebrating 50 years with Cook Islands drumming...

 

Yesterday, I was so proud of my youngest, who was a drummer in her school's Cook Islands group at the annual Polyfest (Polynesian Festival), which also happens to be the largest gathering of its kind in the world!

It was her first year, as she has been so interested in Cook Islands drumming. Like her, I enjoy listening to Cook Islands drumming and the drum dance. 

This was due to my being brought up in a church congregation with Cook Islanders, Samoans, and Niueans. I learnt to dance all of the dances, but the most difficult ones to learn were the Cook Islands drum dance and the Samoan sāsā (slap dance). 

My daughter's Cook Islands group had seven drummers; she was the tallest and second in line. I also liked the colouring of the girls' costumes, which the mothers and their helpers completed with headdresses, decorated bra tops, and skirts.

Her entering the competition also stopped the drought that had happened with my older two children, who were unable to compete in their school Tongan groups in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic isolations and in 2021 due to the mosque shootings. Interestingly enough, they did not try out for the Samoan groups because they wanted to learn other cultural dances.

Polyfest celebrates its 50th year since the first competition in 1976 (I don't know about the maths). The lady's painting pictured above the dancers pays tribute to Tupou Manapori, whom I met when I was also teaching in Otara, where she also taught at the time. 

She was a strong advocate for the Cook Islands languages to be taught in schools alongside other Pasifika languages, and this has come to fruition with Samoan, Cook Islands te re (languages), Tongan, Niuean, and others. Some languages, like Samoan, are now taught in university degrees.

I'm so thankful for those who first considered starting this festival 50 years ago, as the Polyfest has grown from strength to strength, and it has become a place where Māori, Pasifika and other indigenous languages, songs, dance, costumes, etc., are taught to students and these cultural legacies and treasures live on...

"Got to be starting something" choreography by Jerky Jessy...

 

Just love the energy and vibrancy of these dancers. When I first watched it, it definitely caught my attention not only because it's one of Michael Jackson's great dance songs but it also gives a lot of room for expression and interpretation.

This is definitely not a dance that I would recommend to those who haven't danced in a long time and isn't it a lot different from the waltzing styles, of the 60s, and ballroom dancing etc. It definitely has a neat vibe. Check it out!

Creative expression through embroidery...

 

I can't help it as I enjoy taking on new creative projects that challenge my artistry where I can enjoy the expressions of my love of colours.

It was actually my mum whom I watched embroider many years ago when she joined a group for engaging Pasifika elderly in embroidery and other crafts.

She was my inspiration as she gifted me with some of her pillow cases that I've just completed making up (that's another future blog) and also some of her cushion covers.

It was neat to see as she had been accompanied by her younger sister and they both enjoyed the time together and with the group. Sadly, the group was not able to continue as the leaders were unable to continue it but it was neat to see my mother enjoying herself in that space as at the end of the year they would have a group exhibition with other groups to share their handcrafts and celebrate with lunch.

Here is an example of a calico pencil case project that I bought and decided to experiment with stitches and colours. I especially love the blended colours of some embroidery thread that starts with a bright red then darkers and lightens. It definitely gives another dimension to any embroidery project...

Petition for cancelling School lunches contract...

 

It was sad to read about the debacle of free school lunches since the change of government. It involved cancelling local providers for a large contract to a company that couldn't provide high-quality lunches for local schools.

There is now a petition to stop such contracts and to hopefully return back to local contractors who can provide good meals for children in schools.

I've signed the petition and hope that many will, too, as these children are our future leaders and participants in society who need to be looked after well. However, in not providing nutritious value for money lunches for vulnerable children has become a joke compared to when it was first provided (in an earlier blog).

I'm glad that Tanya Waikato has initiated this petition as it brings to the public's attention to what a sorry mess this has become. With the present government trying to cut corners in providing health and well sourced lunches for children in schools perhaps we need to consider a new and better government that could do better for the future...

"Snow White" at the movies...

 

This weekend, I went to see "Snow White" the live action movie and was somewhat disappointed in the storyline and some of the scenes. I did read the reviews before watching as I have been a fan of Disney remakes from animated to live action movies but this one did fall short of expectations.

I don't need to repeat the negative reviews as there are so many of those views. I thought instead to consider a couple of the things that did seem to work for me as the opening storyline about a princess's happy family and kingdom and scene with dancing promised a lot.

The main character, Snow White's singing was on point with two familiar songs from the original movie but it was interesting to see that the dwarves they chose were animated. The nasty queen was okay in the portrayal but her dancing scene didn't come off as well.

If it is a movie that you're wanting to take your family to watch then it might be good to read the original story and see how different it is from the current movie's interpretation. It is so 21st century that even the original story doesn't make the cut...

Indie Book Publishing Opportunity with Pacific Hibiscus...

 

I've finally launched my Indie Book Publishing company under the banner of my parent business, Pacific Hibiscus, which I launched 10 years ago.

During COVID-19, I stopped and waited for that sacred time to pass. Now, I have begun again to write, but this time also to support others who want to get started and published.

Due to my workspace and other communities I'm involved with, I won't be able to take on any big projects, but I certainly would like to work on small projects for those starting out.

This is quite exciting, as I think I might really enjoy it. I have just put the 'feelers' out to see if any are interested in starting their projects with my support and guidance.

If anyone is interested, please contact me on Facebook and DM (direct message), or via email at helenftauau@gmail.com or on this blog. The rates are very reasonable and negotiable, starting out easy for the next couple of months before I set the prices. 

Sponsoring a local child through "Variety"...

 

Today, I pledged to sponsor a child locally through "Variety" (a children's charity), which provides opportunities for children to be financially supported through monthly donations.

I started doing it as encouraged through my local church and still do it through "World Vision", sponsoring a child in Sri Lanka.

I also sponsor the organisation of "Kids can" to support children locally as I saw how much is supported children when my children were in school and I wanted to make the same effort to support other children now that my two eldest children are in their 20s.

As a parent of two children growing up fast, I remember that it wasn't easy paying for uniforms, stationery, transport to school and back, lunches, toiletries, general groceries, and the list goes on. That was with two parents working.

Now, I also have the opportunity, through "Variety", to sponsor a local child monthly to assist where I can. I'd also like to send out a challenge to any who read this blog to consider sponsoring a child or giving a donation to help out a family.

I know that it has been a blessing for me to support not only my family and extended family but also be in a position to support the wider community. I'd encourage this especially for those who are on salary and have discretionary money to spend i.e. those to like to travel overseas, or eat out at restaurants regularly, or like to buy expensive toys (you know what I mean).

For me, it's a blessing as it gives me the opportunity to bless another as I have been blessed and what's especially important is that they don't even need to know who the giver is. So that to be anonymous is also special as I think it can build faith and hope in believing that someone cares beyond that or family and one's immediate community.

So why not give it a go and give a child hope for a better future in believing that someone cares beyond what they can see in front of them and that miracles can happen sometimes when you least expect it i.e. in making someone's dream come true (through child sponsoring)...