• In January 2023, I purchased an item off of Craigslist that would alter the course of my coming months. The item in question is a 1951 Singer sewing machine. This was a risky proposition. The machine was dirty, its wiring was falling apart and I didn't even know if I would like sewing.

    After cleaning and rewiring the machine, things were looking promising. This 72 year old hunk of cast iron and cogs radiated craftsmanship and repairability. I examined every screw, gear and lever that work in unison to deliver the perfect stitch. I sensed a certain connection to the machine that I had never felt before. Or sew it seamed…

  • The truth is most of us have no clue where our products come from, how they work and what they're made of. We get caught up in the assigned meaning and status corporations and culture attach to them. This is intentional. Companies don't want you fixing their products yourself. Instead, they want you to buy the next new thing. It's frustrating to see that as technology advances, durability declines. As a result, "fixing it yourself" becomes a more meaningful act. Not only are you being resourceful, you are pushing back against the fast paced consumerist culture that is polluting our planet.