Make your own Bilum by Sylvia Baker
In 1985 my mother, Sylvia Baker, self published a book she had written and illustrated about the technique for making bilums...a type of net bag made by the people of Papua New Guinea.
She had learnt and documented the netting technique during a stay in Papua New Guinea about which I know very little.
The author died not long after the book was published.
There has been an increased interest in traditional crafts in recent years and bilum work has appeared in textile exhibitions in major galleries.
While the book is listed on Amazon no copies appear to be available.
The book is soft cover, A4 size, 46 pages including instructional text, diagrams, and colour and black and white photographs. The photographs show both traditional bilums and samples and small objects made by the author.
A limited number of unused copies from the original 1985 print run are still available from me. If you are interested in purchasing one of these please make contact via the form below and include your mailing address. I would also be interested to know how you found out about the book and of any involvement you have in the textile/craft field.
Lovely people are now sending me excited stories and beautiful photographs of the bilums they have made from the instructions in Sylvia's book. You can read about them and see pictures on the Bilum Blog!
What are Bilums?
She had learnt and documented the netting technique during a stay in Papua New Guinea about which I know very little.
The author died not long after the book was published.
There has been an increased interest in traditional crafts in recent years and bilum work has appeared in textile exhibitions in major galleries.
While the book is listed on Amazon no copies appear to be available.
The book is soft cover, A4 size, 46 pages including instructional text, diagrams, and colour and black and white photographs. The photographs show both traditional bilums and samples and small objects made by the author.
A limited number of unused copies from the original 1985 print run are still available from me. If you are interested in purchasing one of these please make contact via the form below and include your mailing address. I would also be interested to know how you found out about the book and of any involvement you have in the textile/craft field.
Lovely people are now sending me excited stories and beautiful photographs of the bilums they have made from the instructions in Sylvia's book. You can read about them and see pictures on the Bilum Blog!
What are Bilums?
