My Place: Barbara Wilson (+ giveaway)

A horrific car accident killed her husband and left Barbara Wilson widowed with three young children. She was badly injured in the crash herself and turned to weaving as a therapy. Forty years later, there is no looking back. Barbara is an award-winning textile artist and at 80, she still travels far and wide to promote her designs.

It's not hard to guess which room in the house is my favourite. The garage has been converted into a weaving studio and most of the space is taken up by my loom. This is where I spend most of my time if I'm not travelling. It's where I come up with new designs and create my garments.

At the moment I'm into cobweb scarves. They are very modern and colourful. I always say that you have to stay in touch with the times. Weaving might sound old-fashioned to some people but the craft is very much alive.

We moved to Bayfair from Matamata 15 years ago for no other reason than that my [second] husband wanted to go fishing. This place is not as big as our previous house in Matamata. I have a large loom here but in the old house I had four.

I don't mind that it is small because I am away a lot. I am always travelling and have been around the world a few times in the last 40 years. I've done fashion shows in Europe and travelled to the USA 11 times. This year, I have done four different shows in Australia since June.

I guess it is time to slow down a little but I just love what I do and still have a real passion for it. You could say I live life in the fast lane. What else should a person be doing at 80?

Just a few weeks ago, I had the whole family here. I have five children, three with my first and two with my second husband, and 15 grandchildren. Some of them live overseas, in London and Australia, and it was so good to have everyone here at my little place.

In my retirement years, I would like to help people find their way through trauma. I might not have the formal education but I think I know a thing or two about it from personal experience.

Desinger scarf giveaway

Barbara's kitsets are the perfect way to make your own unique scarf. Barbara sources only the finest NZ merino wool, hand dyed silk, combined with an array of colourful and textured fibres and ribbons, making your own scarf a guaranteed success. Along with your soluble plastic and easy to follow instructions, the cobweb design allows you the freedom to  express yourself, and even add your own pieces for your own personal touch.

Indulge magazine and the Bay of Plenty Times are giving away one of Barbara's designer scarf kitsets in red. Go to the indulge magazine Facebook page, like, leave a comment on the post and be in to win.