Thrums Books: 11 books
Embroidering within Boundaries
Afghan Women Creating a Future
Language: English
Release Date: October 1, 2017
Fifteen years ago, Rangina Hamidi decided to dedicate her life to helping rebuild her native Kandahar, Afghanistan. The Taliban had been driven out by American forces following 9/11, but Kandahar was a shambles. Tens of thousands of women, widowed by years of conflict, struggled to support themselves...
by Eric Mindling
Language: English
Release Date: October 1, 2016
Language: English
Release Date: October 1, 2016
Oaxaca Stories in Cloth includes more than 175 sensitive, intimate, full-color portraits of traditional people of the Oaxacan hinterlands who continue to wrap themselves in the clothing that expresses their ancient, living culture. Eric Mindling captures this vanishing world with artistry and respect,...
Textile Fiestas of Mexico
A Traveler's Guide to Celebrations, Markets, and Smart Shopping
Language: English
Release Date: October 1, 2016
This book, geared to independent-minded travelers, presents the most safe and accessible regional markets and artisan events in Mexico, with an emphasis on finding the finest quality traditional textiles and shopping ethically. Where and when to go, how to get around, what to look for at each location,...
by Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez
Language: English
Release Date: September 1, 2017
Language: English
Release Date: September 1, 2017
Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez has gathered artisans of all ages to share their knowledge, lore, and deep skills, highlighting many of the techniques used by craftspeople in the Andes. They reveal clever highland secrets for everything from skeining yarn and knitting in reverse to weaving tubular borders...
Rug Money
How a Group of Maya Women Changed Their Lives through Art and Innovation
Language: English
Release Date: September 7, 2018
Recognizing the dire need for more income-generating opportunities for Maya women in Guatemala, an accomplished American textile artist volunteered to teach one rug-hooking class. What follows is a surprising and heartening story about artistry, creative economies, and how access to opportunity truly...
Women Artisans of Morocco
Their Stories, Their Lives
Language: English
Release Date: April 16, 2018
Morocco: Ancient cities, adobe fortresses of centuries past, fertile plains of wheat and olives, carpets of wildflowers, endless deserts, wild mountains, and isolated rural villages. And of course, the fabled open-air markets framed with stacks of woven rugs and other handicrafts, exotic scents wafting...
Silk Weavers of Hill Tribe Laos
Textiles, Tradition, and Well-Being
Language: English
Release Date: October 1, 2017
Part travelogue, part silk-weaving primer, this is a tender portrait of an American family's travels in Laos's Houaphon Province. As they learn about the ancient silk weaving traditions in the hilltribe community of Xam Tai, they gain an appreciation for the strong sense of well-being in Lao culture....
Maya Gods and Monsters
Supernatural Stories from the Underworld and Beyond
Language: English
Release Date: April 1, 2017
Through captivating stories and lush illustrations, this book draws on ancient myth and lore of the Maya people and gives life to wild and quirky gods, magical monsters, and strange creatures. Fiery characters such as the Lords of the Underworld, Water Lily Jaguar, and the Horrible White Bone Centipede...
Spider Woman's Children
Navajo Weavers Today
Language: English
Release Date: September 7, 2018
Navajo rugs set the gold standard for handwoven textiles in the U.S. Their history and value to collectors is unparalleled. But what about the people who create these treasures? You might be surprised. Spider Woman's Children is the inside story, told by two women who are both deeply embedded in their...
Traditional Weavers of Guatemala
Their Stories, Their Lives
Language: English
Release Date: November 9, 2018
Against the backdrop of Guatemala, this book presents portraits of artisans working in the ancient traditions of the Maya paired with insights into the creation of the textiles and the events that have affected their work. Weaving, spinning, and basket making have sustained the Maya economically and...
by Deborah Chandler
Language: English
Release Date: April 5, 2019
Language: English
Release Date: April 5, 2019
The vibrant character of Guatemala is most visible in its handwoven textiles, which are still in everyday use and readily available in native markets all over the country. A Textile Traveler's Guide to Guatemala is an excellent resource for discovering artisans, markets, shops, and those storied regional...