Worker Bee Wednesday

Photo credit: Rabbit Hole Ideation Cafe 

Creativity is in the air, everywhere I look around!

Read: If you didn't get a chance to pop in to the Avid Reader workshop with author Kelly Doust, her new book, Minxy Vintage is just the ticket to get you up to speed. This wonderful little book will help you breath new life in to your vintage finds - or any other sad looking pieces in your wardrobe. Kelly combines her creativity with her love of vintage to transform 50 worn down threads in to fashionable, modern outfits, fit for any fashion forward Queen. With the addition of a simply gorgeous front cover, this one is a must for the bookshelf.

Shop: When the lights are away, the designers come out to play! The Style After Dark market has kicked off again in Melbourne boasting a variety of locally designed goods, from clothing to headwear and all things in between. You'll get first dibs on new designers threads and maybe even find that 'one off' piece you've been searching for. Shopping can be hard work, but luckily the market also offers some delicious snacks that will keep you energetic into the night. The market is held every Thursday night from 5:30-9:30pm until 24th November.

Rummage: It's time to adorn your best vintage attire and head on down to the The Brisbane Vintage Fashion and Decor Fair. This delightful affair will be showcasing some impressive vintage collections from notable pre-loved enthusiasts. If you're not already in the swing of vintage after browsing the stalls, be swept back in time with the lovely vintage vinyl that will fill the air. There will also be a variety of alfresco bar and dining options to ensure you don't run out of energy! Check out the details here.

Attend: Harness the power of three! Where? At Creative3 of course! The Creative3 forum nudges individuals and organisations alike to come together in creativity, investment and enterprise in order to create successful creative businesses. This year's impressive program delves in to the brains of leading edge thinkers and experienced creatives from around the globe. The three day event, which kicks off today in Brisbane, will have a lil something for everyone, with 20 speakers and 10 panel sessions shedding some light on creative business... that's a lot of inspiration right there! Check out the program and ticketing information here... you might even spot Seam's editor ducking in and out of sessions between organising the final touches for the launch this weekend!

Study:  If Alice was to fall down the rabbit hole today do you know what she would find? Some great coffee! The Rabbit Hole Ideation Cafe  is the newest coffee kid on the West End block. Not only does this new little space offer stella caffeine-laden beverages, it also provides a space for busybodies to meet, work, share and create. Come in and test out one of their workstations... they provide wi-fi, a desk of your own and $2 coffees delivered straight to you! With exam season on its way, there's no excuse not to pop in and say hello (and study of course)!

Happy Weekend!

Photo Credit: Sweets Workshop

Another busy week has passed (phew!), which means another weekend is now upon us (hooray!). Haven't made any plans yet?  Great news... we've found a whole bunch of super cool stuff guaranteed to send your week off with a bang.

Melbourne is kickin' their weekend off in arty style with three brand-spanking-new exhibitions at Craft Victoria. The suave Flinders Lane gallery will pay homage to The Machine, Pachamama's Poncho and The Antarctic Kingdom of Gondwanaland in what will be a month long residency. As one door opens, another door closes... head on down to the Pickle Festival on Saturday afternoon! The NO NO Gallery is closing shop and is celebrating with a jar full of vinegary fun! Neat pickles, pickles on the rocks, or chocolate covered pickles (really?), if your urkin' for a gherkin, this one definitely has you covered.

"But I'm from Sydney!" I hear you say, well read on... It's Food Fight time! Get your plastic ponchos ready cos this one's going to get exciting. Food Fight is a yearly collaborative exhibition and accompanying zine, which this year is all about picnics! This super swell initiative from the Sweets Workshop, is all about pitting image against text, recipe against illustration, photograph against story. Make sure you get down to the official opening on Sunday at the Sweets Workshop Gallery.

Perth is making old new again with a modern day production of Adam and Eve. The Wet Weather Ensemble have twisted the olden day story to what they describe as the first ever hook-up. The Garden of Eden takes the shape of a 'doof doof' nightclub, while the innocuous couple make a promiscuous transition into two desperadoes lookin' for a good time. For the sake of mankind... go see this one! For ticket information click here.

We're not forgetting you Brisbane! Continuing with the artsy theme, the Prisoners of Age exhibition is now on at the Brisbane Powerhouse. Photographer Ron Levine, interviews and photographs elderly prison inmates from across the United States and Canada. The exhibition presents a personal interpretation of some of the most marginalised members of society. If you are loving vintage, but running out of ideas of how to rock it, Kelly Doust is spreading some vintage knowledge at an Avid Reader workshop on Friday night. The author of Minxy Vintage, will be providing vintage lovers with new ways to rejuvenate tired, but much loved clothes... vintage mixed in with the weekend, how swonderful!

Worker Bee Wednesday

Photo credit: Perth Zine Collective

Here's some way cool stuff to get you through your working week... and beyond!

Read: Have you ever wanted to look into the mind of a creative? Well put your reading glasses on and get comfy... Conversations with Creative Women is a collection of interviews with 14 of Australia's most talented creative women. The book gushes with inspiration, as each of these women shed light on their road to success. This literary gem could be just the ticket you need to get your own creative juices flowing! Pre-order your copy here... you can even save $5!


Shop: As a keen vintage shopper, I love a good op-shop rummage as much as the next, but when House of Maryanne has already hand picked a range of nifty vintage pieces, you can leave your brogues in the cupboard. Maryanne Bridges, the craftswoman behind the online house, collects and sells pre-loved clothing from around the world. With HoM stock updated weekly, your days of hittin' the op-shop high street could soon be dwindling! Those of you trying to save your pennies, look away now... To snap up some of HoM's beautiful pieces visit the facebook page. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3 (or writing 'sold' in the comment box)!


Visit: If you haven't had time to visit The Festival of Unpopular Culture yet, that's ok, it's running until October 16th, so there is still plenty of time to check it out. The festival is a celebration of alternative ideas, garnished with exhibitions, parties, concerts and overall radness. The sole aim of the festival, is to strip away prejudice, and run free in creativity. For more unpopular details, visit the website.


See: With a month of residency already under their belt, Perth Zine Collective have extended their stay at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts until the 30th October (hip, hip hooray!) These pint-sized publications are on display in the zine library and are available for purchase... you can even have a go at making your own little zine! Opening hours are Tues-Sun 11am-6pm.


Stamp: I'm sure if there are any eager bakers out there, at one point or another, you've had to defend the homemade authenticity of your baked goods... well not anymore! This super cute 'homemade' stamp from The Spoon Sisters, lets everyone know just how much of a genius baker you are... you know it's true!

Meet Me Monday: Cyndy Kitt Productions

Photo Credit: Cyndy Kitt Productions

At Seam, we love the idea of giving something old a new life. Usually we are talking about clothing, but today's it's sewing machines. Meet Cyndy Kitt Vogelsang of Cyndy Kitt Productions. This lovely lady restores some amazing old machines to their former glory and sells them to people who are equally appreciative of history and the craft of clothing.

What made you want to start collecting and refurbishing old sewing machines?
I've always wanted to study and collect vintage and antique treadle sewing machines, but it was only when my housemate Darren opened Anne Bonny's Locker, a vintage furniture store, in late 2008 that I was finally able to realise this desire; I still don't have the means or space to keep the machines forever, but they are mine until someone comes along and buys them.

Can you tell us about the process of refurbishing such lovely old machines?
Every machine is different, but the main problems relate to inappropriate storage, lint build up, rust, grime and old oil, which has evaporated to glue and seized the mechanism. Sometimes machines are too far gone. Buying on eBay is definitely a gamble, sometimes I get a lucky bargain, other times a machine that looks great in the online photo turns out to have an irreparable problem.

Do you do a lot of sewing in your spare time?
I still have my industrial machines at home on which I make costumes for a local community theatre group and do occasional repair and dressmaking jobs. In addition, I use the treadle sewing machines in the shop to make items that I sell in the shop, markets and on Etsy. I like to work every machine for at least 20 hours before selling her to ensure I have found and fixed all problems. Lack of use is bad for a vintage machine.

What do you love most about these machines?
The simple engineering and their solidity. And after years of sewing on noisy industrials, the quietness is a real blessing.

Do you have a favourite brand or model?
I have a particular love of the bureau style timber treadle cabinets made by the Australian companies Bebarfald and Pinnock, but they were usually fitted with imported sewing machine heads (often “badged” with their own branding). I have a huge respect for lesser known US makers such as White, Standard, National and Free; German made machines are almost universally high quality (Pfaff, Gritzner), as are the post World War II Japanese made machines. As for Singer, I am a little ambivalent, I often tell people that they were the “Ford Motors” of sewing machines; they did make some very fine machines but they were slow to innovate and that is what killed them as a manufacturing company – Singer lives on as a brand but their factories closed decades ago and they no longer manufacture sewing machines.

follow the finch

Photo credit: Linsey Rendell

So last weekend I was wandering about the Young Designer Markets, minding my own business (well not really, I was snapping photos of trendy folk), when the follow the finch stall jumped out into the walkway, grabbed me and took me prisoner among its pretty handmade wares. And it was awesome!

Follow the finch is one delightful little label, stocking wallets handmade from carefully curated combinations of recycled fabric, notebooks featuring vintage music parchment and typewriter-ed titles, and sunglass cases made from vintage fabrics and old dress patterns. My favourite of the wares though is the kitchen clutch – named just so because they’re made from top-notch, never-been-used, vintage tea towels. The designer Renee inherited a whole stash of English tea towels from her grandmother and rummages about op shops when the collection is running low. The designs are all limited run and Renee makes everything by hand herself – from her business cards and swing tags to all the products.

She’s based near Byron Bay, so you won’t see her friendly face at markets every weekend, but check out the finch’s facebook or website for when she’ll next be flying about (and online sales of course).

Meet Me Monday: Liebe Bluhm

Photo Credit: Liebe Bluhm

Today we meet the lovely Megan Cook, the genius behind vintage collection - Liebe Bluhm! As a veteran in the vintage hunting business, Megan spills some of her little secrets about the label and her personal style.

Is there a story behind the name?

I wanted to create a label name that was special to me. My mother’s family background is German. ‘Liebe’ means love in German and ‘Bluhm’ is my mother’s maiden name. Growing up my bedroom was always filled with antique furniture and knick-knacks she had collected and I used to play dress-up with her old dresses, hats, bags shoes and scarves. She is the person who has always encouraged my love of everything vintage and antique. 

Why do you love vintage?

I love that each piece has a history, has been loved by someone and that love is then passed on to the next person to continue and create a new story. I once bought a vintage bag [and] inside was a florist’s note with a message from her husband,

“To Darling Dee, Thanks for 8 wonderful years. Love Bill” 

… it’s a humble reminder about life and peoples existence.

Who is your style icon and why?

I don’t think I have just one style icon. It’s hard to pick just one... I love finding inspiration in strange places and from many different people. Maybe Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, they have been a secret style obsession for many years.

What's the one vintage piece you found that you just couldn't part with?

It’s not a piece of clothing, it’s my vintage dressing table. I bought it about 5 years ago and absolutely love it. I think every girl should have a lovely dressing table.

It’s not very cool, but I really like…

Relaxing with a cup of tea, chocolate and a beautiful magazine. It’s even better if it’s raining outside. Ah heaven.

What’s one thing other people may not know about you?

In my final year of Fashion Design I was on the Kerri-Anne Kennerley Morning Show with six of my classmates. Very hilarious!