Embossing Seal Press

Old tools are one of my favourite collectables and I found this embossing seal press in a junk shop a couple of years ago.  The original manufacturers badge is still attached and reads, Jordon & Sons Ltd, 120 Chancery lane, London.

The feel of the embossed paper under your finger tips is irresistible so instead of just sitting on my desk I decided to give it a little vintage inspired make-over.  Now every new pattern I print will be embossed with my very own top secret seal!

Happy sewing.

Delpozo

I've fallen just a little bit in love with the Spanish brand Delpozo.

  

Now designed by Josep Font, it sits somewhere between ready to wear and couture.  The attention to detail and workmanship are exceptional but for me it's the pattern cutting.  Often highlighted by interesting colour combinations I find myself making little origami 5th scale mock-ups on my kitchen table.

 Videos of the previous four collections can be viewed via the website along with shots of each of the styles.  All of the images shown were taken from the the AW2013 collection.

 

Caring for Collectables

 It took six days of hell to go from this...

...to this.

The pace of the studio pack-up was definitely slowed by my constant discovery of forgotten treasures; lace made by my grandmothers, ribbons, vintage clothing, furs and buttons.  A tin of metal and Bakelite buttons given to me by a couple of great aunts had sadly started to rust and melt into each other.  All were sorted and repacked but it raises the question about how best to look after these precious objects.  I've never met a maker who didn't have a collection of some kind so the conundrum must be common place.

 

My clever friend Shellie recently launched a magazine dealing with exactly this topic.  A recent graduate of the Masters of Cultural Materials Conservation at Melbourne University, she and her friends saw a need to make this information available for collectors of all types both large and small.  

One successful crowd funding campaign later and The Condition Report was born.  The magazine offers insights into how collections are cared for and encompasses everything from a framed painting to rare and precious textiles.  You can subscribe or buy a copy directly from the National Gallery of Victoria or the Queensland Art Gallery of Modern Art

Another way to support the project is via a little book called The Conservator Versus Life.

Have a question or topic you'd like to see covered, contact The Condition Report right here

Sewing Table

Spotted recently, a beautiful little desk at Antikmodern just made for sewing. 

 It's Danish c1960 and would be a perfect match for the sewing box/ trolley featured previously.  The drawers are adjustable and it still has it's original lock and key...so tempting!

Music Louis Vuitton

 Had to laugh when this morning when I spotted a gaggle of teenagers dressed in cheap knock-off styles from the SS2012 Balenciaga show designed by Nicolas Ghesquière.

The opening music from the first Nicolas Ghesquière designed show for Louis Vuitton was perfect.  The utterly wonderful Viviene Westwood in an interview with Deborah Orr for The Gentlewoman expressed my thoughts perfectly..."I think if you really like something, then you should try to buy it. And if you can't afford it, don't get something that is half price but that you really don't like.  Don't do that."  Fabulous magazine, one of my favourites and with Vivienne on the cover it's perfection!

Enjoy the tune!

Playlist
Copy Cat - Skream
Please Turn Me Into The Snat - Connan Mockasin
Ghost / Haunted - Beyonce