Tracy Graffin » Retro Stuff

Featherston Makeover

Tracy — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 02:31:36 +0000

A daunting project for any upholsterer, but John (of Modern & Antique Furniture Upholstery) rose to the challenge of restoring a mass of chewed-over, shredded fibres back to a fantastic Featherston Dining Chair (the 1953 A310H, to be exact).

The chair was one of Paul’s finds, neglected in a shed while awaiting the Cinderella treatment, but now earning ‘favourite reading chair’ status in the Graffin collection.

More on Mr Jones

Tracy — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 07:07:31 +0000

So architecture expeditions have led us around the suburbs lately, armed as we are with the catalogue of Raymond Jones’ built residences (read post about his recent exhibition here). We located 4 out of 4 in Dalkeith, Nedlands and City Beach.

My favourite is the 1957 Kiernan House (top). It’s been (sympathetically) extended and its clean modern lines complement the roofline of its next door neighbour, the McMillan House, designed by Jones in 1956. A great little midcentury niche amongst the surrounding Tudor-esque mansions.

The original splendor of the Lisle House, City Beach (above), is a little obscured, but hey – it has survived! It sits high on the hill with the semi-circular frontage facing the ocean. My kind of house.

Iwan Iwanoff Northam

Tracy — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 02:49:06 +0000

Well it may seem day-trips to the Hills are becoming habitual. Yesterday we joined the German Car Club for a cobweb-blowing exercise and the chance to revisit the pinnacle of architectural hero Iwan Iwanoff’s work – the Northam Public Library and Council buildings.

The early-70s buildings remain largely intact, although a small side balcony had an alarming lean to it, unfortunate retro-fit conduit tubes line the outside, and ugly Government Sports signage mars one entrance. But I followed the age-old optimism of photo buddy Frith “we’ll shoot around it”! The BreastScan bus proved a slightly distracting imposition – who could dream-up a more contrasting image: girly pink with brutalist grey concrete?

More local Iwanoff’s here.

Sewing Files

Tracy — Tue, 24 May 2011 02:54:35 +0000

For the vintage sewing girls – I made Butterick 2245 as a cocktail dress (see, I’m accessorising like illustrations now!), but the jury is out on kimono sleeves. Sure, they save heaps of time and can look quite lovely as shorty sleeves.

But I really like a fitted bodice, and there’s a lot of ease in a mid-length kimono-sleeve dress, to enable you to lift your arms at the end of it! I love the midriff section, and the summer frock version looks divine. Maybe it will hang for a while before getting an outing!

Raymond Jones, architect

Tracy — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 08:41:20 +0000

UWA has recently celebrated the work of Raymond Jones. I managed to visit the exhibition at the Cullity Gallery and grab a copy of the fantastic catalogue last week.

Mr Jones is one of my (new) heroes – a star of the modernist scene. He has designed a vast range of homes and public structures, including our local landmark, St Cecilia’s Church, with the rocket structure out front.

Jones integrated buildings with their natural environment, had a fondness for feature rock, skillion roofs, walls of glass and flowing spaces, and hates airconditioning and modern residential monstrosities. His early drawings are beautiful – try and get hold of a $20 catalogue from the UWA Architecture dept. if you can.

UPDATE: there’s a Raymond Jones house at 139 The Boulevard, Floreat, for sale right now. View here.

Hot Rods from Hell at Deville’s

Tracy — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 08:26:39 +0000

This promises to be a hootin’ tootin’ good gig by the Deville’s Pad gang.

Get down this Sunday the 20th March. Cool poster illustration by that funkster Mr Yaniger.

Favourite Christmas things

Tracy — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 08:41:43 +0000

The fab Picknick design (by Marianne Westman for Rorstrand in the late 50s) has been reissued for kitchenware items, available in Australia from Angelucci. I had this tray expedited prior to Christmas – great for transporting necessary refreshments from the kitchen to poolside!

And my sister, so handy with the Singer, made this fantastic iPad sleeve for me – it’s a snug fit, great retro fabrics front and back. I think she should take orders!

50s Rose Print Dresses

Tracy — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 08:10:19 +0000

There’s something breathtakingly gorgeous about a 50s rose print dress. Posh Girl Vintage (red and yellow silk dresses above left) has the most beautiful vintage dresses. I dream of walking into a fabric store and finding a gorgeous red rose-print silk like this.

Taking a modern spin on the vintage look is top right, a J.Crew number, and the red box-pleated frock from ModCloth – it’s tempting girls, with the current USD exchange rate!

More from the Retro Record Bar

Tracy — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:37:50 +0000

For your reminiscing hi-fi pleasure, some great L.P. covers from the collection of Paul’s parents… Elvis’ smouldering good looks, vertical hair, Hawaiian memories and fab type.

There was a Jane Fonda exercise workout record, but I left that one well alone.

Eames Powers of Ten

Tracy — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 07:57:48 +0000

It’s no news that Charles & Ray Eames were the most creative, prolific and inspiring design duo, ever! Their surname has even passed into cliché-ic use on eBay as a search term for all things mid-century.

I’ve just watched their amazing short film Powers of Ten, which explores the scale of things from micro-organism to galaxies, travelling at distances the power of Ten.

So apparently, the impending date 10.10.10 is of special relevance. Their grandson Eames Demetrios carries on their legacy, and blogs about some of the Powers of Ten events that are being held around the world. As he so fittingly says “much of the magic and many of the problems of the world are all matters of scale…. having an understanding of scale makes us all better citizens of the world.”

Palm Springs anyone?