Empress Wu Designs with Wilma

A bilum is a string bag made by hand in Papua New Guinea, using a string looping technique. Traditionally, the string used was hand-made, from plant material – the bark of a plant called “lepa”. Now, however, most bilums are made from store bought brightly coloured yarn and many contemporary patterns have become popular, even those generated by computer. Bilums are used to carry a wide range of items, from shopping goods in large bilums to personal items in purse-sized varieties. Mothers often carry their babies in bilums, and the bilum is said to be “womb-like” and associated with security and reassurance for a baby. In the past, bilums were used to carry food home after gardening or hunting. Bilums were also used to decorate an area where a dead person would be laid for viewing. Another really important and significant use of bilums was as contributions to the payment of the bride price. Bilums remain as a prized gift to exchange with friends or visitors. As I have recently retu...

Rotarians from Yea, Victoria clebrate the installation of a water tank at Mando village, PNG. It is said that the Mando spirit moves mountains. However, it takes a team of Rotary volunteers to complete a project job list. In the last threee years, we have provided free primary education by building new classrooms, reduced the infant mortality rate by encouraging mothers to have their babies in the hospital or medical centre by providing maother and baby packs, began the process of including students with special needs in the school, supplemented family incomes by teaching living schools and establishing pig and chicekn breeding projects at the school. Here is a video summary of what has been achieved our recent trip - MANDO 2010 VIDEO Thanks to our intrepid leader, Wendy Stein for the production of this clip to highlight the achievements Clean water on tap Village men help unload new tank  Teacher housing upgraded  Replacing the floor of the principal's house Interior d...

We have just returned from working as volunteers in Mando, a small village in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. This is the third year in a row that we have been to Mando. It is a magical place, about 2000 metres above sea level, so sometimes it seems we are living in the clouds. The people are friendly, open and keen to learn new skills. In the next few blog posts, I hope to share with you stories from Mando, but for the moment, here are some of the beautiful  faces of Mando. A white face is a mysterious to this little one. Moka Moka boys, preparing to welcome an AusAid delegation Year 4 treacher and students Village women learning to crochet. Babysitter Veronica and baby. Waiting to welcome more Rotary volunteers. Mudman from Asaro. Jeremy made a bag - his first attempt at sewing with a machine. Still waiting for the volunteers to arrive. Year 7 girls learning to sew - great tablecloths! This little boy thought Jim was his Australian uncle and then was disappointed...

Rarely have I been able to create a doll in a day, but I did this wise old man last Friday with the help of my friend, Bobbi from "LamboArt" . Please look at Bobbi's blog . Bobbi shared her technique of making a wire armature, wrapped with polyester fibre fill and fabric and of course, with polymer clay head, hands and shoes. Bobbi and I have discussed at length whether these creations should be called art dolls or mixed media sculptures?  I was still undecided until late in the afternoon whether this doll in fact was male or female. I did make the scroll later during the night , but I was really happy with this finishing touch, giving the doll some purpose. As for wrapping, while my mother was visiting, I was inspired to try some simple temari from a book she lent me. Here they are - nothing as beautiful or complicated as my mother's or niece's temari, but I enjoyed the whole process of measuring and dividing the ball , wrapping and embroidering.   ...