American Brocade

Technology and Style: A Mismatch?

2/21/2019

At first consideration, it would seem that “vintage” and/or “hand made” and “technology” don't belong in the same sentence. Many people, though, regularly peruse Instagram on the web to virtually see and discuss vintage and hand made fashions and home décor. Many vintage and handmade items are bought and sold on web platforms such as Etsy and eBay, too. Lest you begin to feel hypocritical, dear reader, even the most vintage of vintage items, that is, the oldest, were created using technology.

In this age of information, much of the technology in daily use is so complex that the contributions of earlier forms of technology are dismissed. Compare, for example, the motherboard of a computer with a sewing needle. It is true that a computer enables all kinds of essential tasks from writing to talking to, well, computing. The simple needle, though, provides us with modesty, style, comfort, and health. Even needlework novices can usually sew on a missing button to close the front of a shirt. More sophisticated sewers decorate with hand embroidery or quilting. A hand made quilt comforts and warms even with the thermostat lowered for the night. Blankets and clothing, of course, are necessary for life itself. No one would survive a winter without a coat and hat.

Needles making these important contributions include knitting and crochet as well as sewing needles. Use of sewing needles is accompanied by scissors and rulers. Technology is not just integral to the creation of vintage and hand made fashions and décor, it is an essential part of individual items. Not only buttons but also zippers and snaps enable better fitting and styled items as diverse as dresses, jackets, tote bags, and pillows. Style often includes nonfunctional sequins, beads, crystals, and chains, too. Must each one be created by hand from natural materials? Imagine the time required to apply hand made beads to a gown.

If mass produced sequins constitute an acceptable exception, is there a place for Velcro in newly hand made clothing and décor? Are machine stitched quilts hand made? Should a sweater created on a knitting machine be deemed mass produced? Directors of art fairs have already answered these questions in favor of all of these items. These decisions are minor, though, compared to the technological embellishments of the near future. If a backlit wristwatch featuring an alarm and a timer is jewelry, it's only a matter of time before smartphones are bejeweled and hand painted. Will you prefer a smartphone incorporated into a decorative headband, bracelet, or eyeglasses over the handheld variety? Are you ready for the future of fashion?
Copyright, American Brocade, 2019

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How to Dress Naturally in Style

2/14/2019

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In an era of rapidly developing technologies, the fashion industry is constantly bombarding us with new products and services. Their sophistication is such that they promise not just to cover but to erase any unfashionable physical characteristics. A concern about technologies such as Botox and plastic surgery is that they can erase generational, ethnic, and individual identities. Facial expressions including wrinkles are important nonverbal characteristics of your personality. In an era of racial and ethnic diversity, plastic surgery to render a nose, cheekbones, or chin similar to the social majority suggests definitions of beauty are still biased. Even hair dye, hair straightening or curling, and cosmetics can be used to camouflage differences in age and ethnicity. Instead, consider developing your beauty through techniques for optimal health. The web abounds with advice, recipes, and exercises to achieve glowing skin and a svelte physique. Are there comparable recommendations for attire?

It is just as conveniently and affordably possible to dress naturally as it is to eat naturally. Consider protecting the environment and expressing your unique style by purchasing vintage clothing. Often, such clothing is of better quality than new mass produced attire. Vintage clothes of a certain age are usually sewn from natural fibers such as wool, cotton, and silk. They often are assembled using dressmaking techniques that foster durability and fit. Their designs are original and limited in their production and distribution. Even if an item needs professional cleaning and repair, it is still likely to cost less and last longer than a comparable contemporary item.

In contrast to the technological foundations of the web, itself, clothing made by hand is readily available online. No matter your age, size, or tastes, shopping the web will offer you numerous creative and appealing fashion choices. Often, fashion entrepreneurs will create a piece of clothing just for you. That means you can choose natural fibers, ensure an appealing and comfortable fit, and request retro or futuristic designs. Hand made can even include hand knit, hand embroidered, or hand sewn. Although knitting and sewing needles and scissors are technologies, they require work by hand and don't lend themselves to the mass production of clothing. No electricity is needed either; you contribute to reducing environmental pollution, too. Shopping at an art or artisan fair enables you to make the same contribution. Often, the open air booths or pop-ups have no or limited access to electricity. Even more such events prohibit the sale of mass produced goods. Designer clothing, then, is readily available and can be comfortable and affordable.

Copyright, American Brocade, 2019

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How to Decorate with Quilts

2/8/2019

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Quilts are often associated with farmhouses and bedrooms. It is true that the sizes of such fiber art are chosen to fit beds. Their colorful patchwork patterns add a homey charm to to the architecture of plainly constructed and finished rooms. While functional displays of skillfully and lovingly hand made quilts are admirable, quilts are quite versatile. Considered as fiber or textile art, they offer many more possibilities for home décor. That queen size bed coverlet or lap robe will look as colorful on a bedroom wall as on a bed.

Wall display will enable you to better view and appreciate the patterns of patchwork and stitchery. Although such quilts are meant to be functional and are seldom representational art, their designs and colors often utilize perspective to challenge and enchant the eye. Displayed on a wall, your quilt will last longer, as its cleaning can be much less frequent. The batting will act as insulation, too, just as it does on your bed. Warm or cool air as needed will be better retained in the room. Sound will be dampened, so to provide greater quiet and privacy.

Consider purchasing or creating quilted pieces that are the size of small or medium paintings. Quilting is often associated with the economy of scraps of fabric and collaborative quilting bees. No investments in bolts of fabric or studio space required. In contrast, quilted fiber art may incorporate vintage fabrics, but its intention is primarily decorative. Economy and anonymity aren't objectives for its creation. As works of art, such quilted pieces are signed and dated by the artists. In addition to being an important accent to a room, they often depict or memorialize an important event or social issue. In addition to quilting, they may utilize needlework techniques such as embroidery, ruching, pleating, and trapunto. The fabrics may be hand dyed or hand woven. They may also be of varying weights such as gauze, wool, or silk.

Fiber art can be hung on a finished dowel or framed like a painting. For better protection from dust and inquiring fingers, frame these quilted pieces under glass. Like hand made bed quilts, fiber art can become a treasured family heirloom. Inheriting a work brings memories of its origin and meaning. Often, there are memories of shared moments with loved ones in a room graced by the piece. Because fiber art is signed and dated by the artist, it can also be an investment for you and your family. Later in life, you may chose to donate a work to a museum or sell it to another art collector. Your taste and appreciation for quilting will then be shared with many other people.

Copyright, American Brocade, 2019

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How to Decorate with Miniatures

2/3/2019

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Many people have collections of small items that memorialize special moments with family or friends, commemorate achievements, and celebrate events that mark rites of passage. Often, such items are just gifts from relatives and friends. Rather than packing them away for posterity, burying them in the back of a jewelry box, or storing them in a junk drawer, consider decorating with them.

Such small items can be an important reminder of your personal history. That is, all of the people who love and admire you and all that you have accomplished. Imagine being cheered when you are sad, encouraged when you are anxious, and comforted when you have erred; all that support just from walking down a hall or sitting in a niche in your home. Your tchotchkes can add color, style, and personality to your home décor, too. As much furniture, carpeting, tile, paint, wallpaper, and window treatments are mass produced, they offer little in the way of distinction. Homes remain simply houses – places to shelter from the elements, grab a night's sleep, and eat a meal. At best, they can resemble the work place with walls painted in neutral colors, durable flooring, and reproductions of paintings.

So, empty your junk drawer, bring the boxes of trophies, plaques, souvenirs, and wedding gifts down from the attic, and review the contents of your jewelry box. Organize your finds according to their sizes, dimensions, colors, and memories. Style aside, there are some memories you may wish share only with immediate family members. Reserve a space for those items in a bedroom or study inaccessible to guests. Because they are small, you can group the items in order to display them.

Begin by grouping them by topic such as sports trophies or a generation such as high school diplomas or rings. You might display a chronology such as a biography of your daughter, the college graduate. Next, consider their dimensions. Three-dimensional items such as trophies or statuettes will need space on a table top, bookcase, or shelf. Two-dimensional items must be displayed on a wall. Walk through your home to identify spaces in a hallway, stairway, window nook, or the corner of a room. Consider the second landing wall on the way to the second floor. What about the corner behind the rocking chair in the nursery?

Now, arrange and re-arrange each set of items until their colors and sizes complement one another. When you are satisfied with your arrangements, bring them to their appointed locations. A dresser scarf, table runner, or shadow box are possible enhancements to your displays. You might frame a quote from a family member about the achievement celebrated by a trophy or diploma. Congratulations! You have created material rather than virtual memorials or shrines to your family heritage. They will lend the warmth of both color and cherished memories to your home. Add to your miniatures collection at americanbrocade.com.

Copyright, American Brocade, 2019

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How to Be Stylish Without Trying Too Hard

1/31/2019

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A handmade accessory can add style and color to your most casual or even everyday clothing. Think faded denim jeans, a thick cotton turtleneck, a wide wale corduroy skirt, a neutral linen maxi dress, black leggings, and a cable knit sweater. For many women, these items are wardrobe basics. They are readily available, so no power shopping is needed to acquire them. That also means that they don't reflect your special tastes or signature style very well.

Still, it's comforting to know you fit in; it's also nice to be comfortable in clothes that fit you well. Ease of care for such clothing is often a necessary bonus for busy women whether they are running a home or an office. How can you retain all of these advantages of your current wardrobe while showcasing your unique style and personality? Accessories in the form of jewelry, scarves, hose, belts, and bags are the answer. They usually need even less care than clothing, vary in thousands of ways, and are available in a wide range of prices. In the age of the web, you can quickly find one-of-a-kind pieces, too. Many artisans will create a custom item just for you.

What to choose from so many options? A handmade pendant necklace will enhance the clean lines of a turtleneck or elegant maxi dress. Argyle or cable knit socks can add color and formality to those denim jeans. A patterned scarf tied creatively will dress up a corduroy skirt. With a selection of accessories, you have many more ways to vary your attire without investing in more clothing. Just change how you accessorize your outfit. Handmade items mean no one can copy your signature style. They also add sophistication because they are wearable art. See some handmade finds at americanbrocade.com.

Copyright, American Brocade, 2019

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