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Monday, September 26, 2016

Monday Morning Inspiration/The Artistry of Sewing

Last week I had the opportunity to see the movie, The Dressmaker, starring Kate Winslet. I posted this picture last week when I talked about my experience as I just love it. One of the things I loved about her character was that she was confidant in her skills as a dressmaker. She knew that she had the power to not only make a garment, but transform. And that's what all of us do. As I thought more about the movie, I thought about some pictures that I have saved, so I thought I would share them today. A bit of a celebration of this wonderful skill.


Lucy from I Love Lucy. If you've seen the episode, the effort did not turn out so well. 
The story was that her husband Ricky was upset about how much she was spending on clothes. So she decided that it couldn't be that difficult to make a dress. The result was a disaster. Just proves that it isn't as easy as some may think, and it does take skill that is honed over years to produce a truly beautiful garment. 


Ginger from Gilligan's Island. If you've seen the show, you know that a group went out for what was supposed to be a 3 hour tour and ended up on a deserted island. They were quite the ingenious group, but where did she get the fabric???


John Lennon. I would love to know the story behind this picture. If anyone knows, please leave a comment and share.


Quite a long way from the pretty Hollywood pictures, but I love this picture. Bras she has made all draped around her and ready to be sold. 


I think this picture is priceless. An art being handed down from one generation to another. Reminds me so much of my time with my grandmother. She too had a treadle machine.


A woman and her machine. It's amazing to me that she can balance it on her head! I think the machine represents so much more than just a means for making clothes, it's also a means of income, and thus, freedom.


I especially like the picture below as it states what all of us are, we are quite simply, artists. We have skills that are either being honed, or have been honed over many years. What we do is no longer about making clothes to save money, it's about expression, and it's about freedom. We make our own choices. 


If you have a chance to sit down at your machine today, take a moment to look at your machine and realize that it's not just a machine, it's a tool that we use to create, transform, and bring beauty into our world. 

Have a wonderful week!
Rhonda



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30 comments:

  1. What a beautiful and inspiring post! Thank you!

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  2. What a great post with fun images. I hope to see The Dressmaker with sewing friends soon.

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    1. What a fun outing you will have. Hope you have time after the movie to go out, maybe have a glass of wine and share your thoughts :)

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  3. What a great post! Hoping to get some time with my machine before the day is over...

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    1. It's always a good day when we have a little machine time :)

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  4. What a marvelous collection of photos you've shared. I feel filled with respect for my sewing skills. Thank you.

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  5. This post is so inspirational !!! I love all the images especially the grandmother sewing with her granddaughter - that's how I learned .

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  6. Beautiful post, thank you. I'm looking at my hand crank as I write. It's heavy! She must have a neck of steel to carry it on her head.

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    1. Wow, you have a hand crank! I've never actually seen one. I think she is made of steel in more ways than one :)

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  7. Thanks for the lovely post! John Lennon once said that if he didn't make it in the music business, he wanted to be a tailor. He would have changed our world either way!

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  8. Thank you for your thought-provoking post. I will sit at my machine today after more than a week away from it. I am recovering from bunion surgery and have been doing needlework. I've missed my time with my machine.

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    1. I hope that your foot is healing well. You are a true artist, always finding a way to create regardless of your situation. I hope you are soon dancing!

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  9. I had a tear in my eye Rhonda - it may be PMT or it may be that I REALLY APPRECIATE my lovely straight stitch Janome - I kiss her sometimes! Making my daughter's silk bustier gown it sewed through 8 layers of canvas and then sewed 2 layers of silk chiffon equally well!
    The Dressmaker was set in a town near where I live. Recently spoke to a friend who told me her Father met the same demise and her Mother was the dressmaker to rich families in the local district - can't help but wonder if The Dressmaker was based on this story; perhaps they found it in archived newspapers. My friend's recollection gave me shivers - wonderful movie, Kate Winslet does a very fine Aussie accent!

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  10. Thank you for the post. I'll remember it when I am trying new skills where I am still an amateur.

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    1. You are not alone. If we are not learning, we are not growing :)

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  11. I love this post. Thank you Rhonda for a breath of fresh air on a Monday as I begin another work week not behind my machine. Thank you for the reminder of the power that us sewists have in our machines.

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    1. If it weren't for sewing, you and I would never have met, and I for one would not want my life to exist without you :)

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  12. What a wonderful collection of pictures! How lucky we are that we sew. Thank-you for sharing these.

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  13. I am yet to see that film but hope to do so soon.
    Your pictures are wonderful (again). It's so good to see so much variety in people who sew. I feel privileged to be one of them.

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