Sun 14 August marked the end of Machines and Makers. We tailed off with a terrific set of talks from 5 of the exhibiting artists and the curator Jude van der Merwe.  

Machines & Makers attracted many individuals and groups fascinated by sewing machines - a group from Donovan Village were thrilled to have the curators of both shows, Jude van der Merwe and Sarah Toohey, on hand to discuss the works.

Throughout the Machines & Makers project, we have had been privileged to have Andrew Samson and Kudzanayi Tapera from Curtin University Screen Arts volunteered their time and expertise to capture moments of the Machines and Makers project. Watch it here!

What a day was had by all! So many stories shared and experiences had - what a pleasure to be involved with such a happy event. To see so many people just having a lovely time was priceless. A huge thank you and congratulations to everyone involved and everyone who enjoyed the inaugural Machines & Makers Open Day. Here are just a few pics that capture (nearly) the atmosphere.

The Machines & Makers Open Day whet the appetite of many sewing machine collectors and sewing enthusiasts with Collectors Gordon Freegard and Charles Lithgow showing samples from their respective collections and being on hand to discuss machines with other enthusiasts.

Visitors learnt how to cut a pattern; use a dressmakers mannequin; try a treadle machine and sort their cuffs from their collars in the ironing competition that got the large and enthusiastic crowd all steamed up!

Visitors also shared their sewing stories, brought in their old clothes, textiles, sewing tools for expert advice in the Old Stuff Road Show whilst browsing through the eclectic vintage and collectable stalls.

Sewing Machine Collections are fascinating to view and the Collectors behind them are equally as fascinating with their wealth of knowledge about machines and their history. 

My grandmother recently bequeathed me her old sewing machines, one dating from the 1950s and the other a Singer belonging to her mother made around the turn of the 20th century.

As historical artefacts sewing machines maintain an enduring presence that triggers many associations, be they personal, social, political or economic.

Such meanings emerge in the exhibition Machines and Makers curated by Jude van de Merwe and partly inspired by a collection of 200 sewing machines owned by former Singer repairman and Hills resident Charles Lithgow. A strong line-up of local artists has explored the sewing machine as a device that works upon the imagination as much as it does upon social relations.

The Mundaring and Hills Historical Society Inc. presented 'A Stitch in Time' at the Mundaring District Museum 9 July -29 November. This historical exhibition explored the machines, the shops, the tools, the patterns and the garments painstakingly made by 'the makers' from the 1850’s to the 1950’s.

We were honoured to have two fantastic women Susie Vickery and Nalda Searles present inspiring talks and workshops on Saturday 9 July as part of the Machines & Makers exhibition. See what we got up to here!

It's been a busy week in the final preparations for tonights opening. 'Machines & Makers' curator, Jude van der Merwe has been weaving her magic with the assembled works (ably assisted by Linda van der Merwe), while Curtin University Film and TV students captured the install.

With so many exciting events planned as part of the Machines & Makers Community project you can now get organised with the Machines & Makers event list and calendar. 

We thought we were doing pretty well with the sewing cliche's in the buildup to Machines & Makers but this morning, The West Australian - thewest.com.au had us in stitches with their headline - our thanks to Stephen Bevis and his crew for getting to the point.

Machines & Makers project partners, St John of God Midland Public & Private Hospitals are showcasing a preview installation, featuring a working treadle machine and a series of paintings by Judith Forrest

Behind the scenes preparations are in full swing for our next exhibition 'MACHINES & MAKERS'! Thank you to all of you who have been hand sewing buttons onto each of these cards! To be distributed in local businesses and venues, and if you bring one back to us we will give you a 10% discount on any purchases during the exhibition, keep an eye out for them!