About

- Sharon Karpany -

Created from the need to motivate my Indigenous sisters of South Australia.

My name is Sharon Karpany and I am a proud and strong Ngarrindjeri woman, mother and grandmother. My people come from the South East of South Australia from a little place we call Raukkan, it sits 80 kilometres away from South Australia’s capital city – Adelaide.

From a very young age art was my  passion from primary school I became interested in art and once I began high school my passion would grow stronger. I started painting murals on buildings and windows and as I stepped into adult life my creativity would lead me in many directions.

I was given many opportunities to discover the different methods of artistry through renovating houses, restoring old vintage cars including caravans – 4 of which I still own, 3 are holdens and a 1964 VW convertible. I enrolled myself into a leadlight course learning everything I could and have created something out of nothing many times over, I love to express my creativity and have been lucky enough to stretch it as far as I could possibly take it from the many opportunities that I have been lucky enough to experience.

In 2021 I volunteered my services to a small Indigenous Organisation called Tiraapendi Wodli where I held an arts and crafts workshop/classes making face masks for our community when COVID was at it’s peak. We started off with 4 women and our group would grow very quickly and in a short amount of time. Being a part of this wonderful, strong and vibrant group was what I was searching for and finally found. We all had one thing in common, we were a group of women going through several forms of loss – loss of our matriachs, the loss of gatherings and the loss of connection/interactions that we all had as children and young adults. Through this wonderful group of women we began to reconnect and gather for yarns and over our morning tea we would have a good ole hearty laugh, connecting with these women gave me a sense of belonging and the sistahood began once again through stories of ancestors, kinship and connection reemerging and flourishing once again.

Through my volunteer work at Tiraapendi Wodli and the love of art I created Ngarrindjeri Dreaming, it is an outlet in which I can showcase my designs in all different forms from, Unique Designed Leather handbags and makeup pouches, purses and tote bags, coin purses, toiletry bags, ties, scarves, polo shirts and paintings in which I can continue story telling in my own form. Through my volunteering with Tiraapendi Wodli and the love of all things artistic, sewing, arts, painting my love for art reemerged and Ngarrindjeri Dreaming became and my love for expression in art and colour has led me to where I am today and my love and respect for my culture and my passion to continue story telling in my own form.

Proud Ngarrindjeri People

My family are proud Ngarrindjeri People who are renowned basket weavers, carrying on the oldest living culture of weaving here in South Australia which is thriving today. Raukkan community is situated on the south-eastern shore of Lake Alexandrina in the locality of Narrung, 80 kilometers southeast of the centre of South Australia’s capital, Adelaide  Raukkan which means “meeting place” is “regarded as the home and heartland of Ngarrindjeri country.

David Ngunaitponi, known as David Unaipon was an Aboriginal Australian man of Ngarrindjeri people, a preacher, inventor, and author. Unaipon’s contribution to Australian society helped break many Aboriginal Australian stereotypes, and he is featured on the Australian $50 note in commemoration of his work

Raukkan once called Point McLeay mission in 1859 and became an Aboriginal reserve in 1916. It was finally handed back to Ngarrindjeri people in 1974, and renamed Raukkan in 1982.

My great grandmother, Louisa Karpany was Queen of the Murray.

We make and create with pride and joy and give back to our communities the knowledge and expressions of the pride we have as Ngarrindjeri people.

What our customers say

Thank you for your kind words

“ I’ve purchased a huge range of Ngarrindjeri Dreaming merchandise and I am extremely happy with the quality products and service. “

“ Purchased a beautiful set of oven mitts for a present in the UK sister loved loved loved them . Great quality and beautifully made. Will definitely be purchasing again. “

“ Loved the vibrant colours of Ngarrindjeri Dreaming's range. Ive been a repeat customer quite a few times…great gifts for someone who has everything. “

“ Loved receiving my unique pressies from ND, fast postage to QLD, no doubts I will be back. “

“ Surfing facebook and found Ngarrindjeri Dreaming, loved the gorgeous vibrant colours, purchased a Polo Shirt for my husband and he loved it, so much so he has now all 3 shirts. “

“ Loved the variety of home made wares and the beautiful colour range, i have purchased the toiletries bag, the make up bag set for my sister and a tote bag for my mum and they absolutely loved their stuff. “

What sets us apart?

Sharon Karpany paints, designs and hand makes every Ngarrindjeri Dreaming product through a multitude of platforms, giving you an authentic, completely unique Indigenous range of goods aimed to inspire and motivate her community and beyond.