Back to Basics

Vintage Sewing Machines.

I guess vintage is just my second nature. I love anything that is old with character and history, such as a teaspoon, furniture, cars, buildings; the list is endless.

Talking about sewing machines, it is obvious that before civilisation, makind sew or rather, put together pieces of fabric to make a garment by hand up until the industrial revolution in the 1800's. With this movement, machines were invented in order to help decrease the manual work load in factories as the demand for clothes increased.

It is known that during the rise of industrial revolution, dress became more complex due to the invention of sewing machines, and production of pattern books that encouraged the booming business for sewing machines.

Elias Howe is regarded to be the one who successfully managed to build the sewing machine after many other earlier attempts.

See: http://www.history.rochester.edu/Scientific_American/mystery/howe.htm

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/images/I031/10302078.aspx

A shop in London that

tells a visual story of  vintage sewing machines.

How's this for a window display? Quite cool, I think. A shop in London's All Saints Road , Notting Hill.

Different Makes of Sewing Machines after the Industrial Revolution.

The Willcox & GibbsSewing Machine Company was started in 1857 as the answer ...

moah.org

Steampunk sewing machine

I love the " detailing" on this vintage machine.

This is what I remember growing up with and seeing in almost every house hold.

Source:

http://adore-vintage.blogspot.com

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/an-interview-with-antique-sewing-machine-collector-harry-berzack/

From Gaudi To Couture!

The Fusion: 
  Architecture, Design & Fashion 

Antonio Gaudi, a 20^th century Spanish architecture, the visionary, and,  also believed to be the last builder in stone.  Gaudi, a strong believer in God's existence and a devoted Roman Catholic, who most of his inspirations came from nature forms and also by isolating himself and had a huge interest in reading.  Looking at his work, you will see influences from some parts of the world, mainly the middleast.   Gaudi was open minded with material he used, and made sure that they corresponded with his vision, and he wanted his work (buildings) to tell a story, with much emphasis on decoration,  vibrant colours and a great attention to details. 

For me, each of his work is a masterpiece, 'a work of art', a joy to look at.  His techniques were never repetitive, even in the quality of materials that he used, (integration of materials) and that’s the way he intended it to be translated.   His work is just wonderful to look at, the swirls, curves, stained glass, ceramics, domes, grillwork, pillars, columns, stone arrangements and not forgetting the woodwork . His work is aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, the elements within the work are arranged in a balanced compositional way. 

Some described him as a true genius, but on the other hand some thought he was ridiculous.  Well, isn't that the case in point even today? It is all a matter of personal opinion.   The world would be a boring place if we all liked or disliked the same things.  Gaudi simply enjoyed what he did, regardless of the critics out there! That's something to be taken on board folks.

Enough said about Gaudi.  Here are some few images of Gaudi's work I played around with, to create some funky silhouettes.   

Stained glass & Mosaic 

http://www.gaudidesigner.com/uk/colonia-guell.html
http://connect.in.com/gaudi/photos-1-1-1-0c8dfc16cdbe4f914fe278649c08dff5.html