Making: Ceramic Mobiles

I had this idea yonks ago to make some mobiles, using hand painted porcelain pieces strung from wood with linen string. Like most ideas I have, it sat at the back of my brain and perpetually near the bottom of my ever growing to-do list. But the other week I finally had some time to play around with making the pieces, and it was super fun - I made some different shapes and used colours I don't usually use. 

Then after the usual waiting, waiting, waiting for ceramics (for the clay to dry, then to sand it, paint it, then get it to a kiln and fire it and refire it!) the pieces were finally finished and ready to go last week, so I got to bring them to life. And I'm kind of in love and now I can't wait to make some more. The first batch are in the shop, I hope you like 'em too. 

Shop Visit: Fibresmith

Today I *finally* visited Fibresmith, an amazing new cloth and yarn shop in Yarraville, and had my mind blown with loveliness. It's run by Leslie, of Maze and Vale, with the help of lovely staff Alison and Kara. The shop's a great edit of yardage and fabric pieces, yarn, buttons, mags, supplies and more and I highly recommend a visit if you're in the area and into such things. It's also the only place you can buy Leslie's amazing screen printed fabric and hand dyed yarn, which is worth travelling for. And of course I couldn't resist taking some snaps. Prepare to SWOON. 

If you're interested in seeing more of Leslie's work, she was actually the very first person I visited for my side project Studio Space, when she worked out of West Footscray (she now has a studio in West Melbourne).

Stockist: Perfect Splash (Paradise Structures)

Just a little heads up for local Melbourne folk that Spin Spin goods are now stocked in the amazing Perfect Splash (was Paradise Structures) in Footscray. The shop is run by sisters Alana and Annabelle, with help from their trusty tiny pooches Harvey and Charlie and features jewellery, clothing and records and tapes from local makers and musicians. Yay! When I dropped the goodies off I couldn't help but also take a couple of snaps of the space, which is so sweet AND has the best afternoon light. I usually don't have much time for wholesaling my products but it's nice to be able to work on this recently. More shop reveals soon!

If you're in the area tomorrow, Saturday 19 August 2017, Paradise Structures will be hosting a live recording of the fab Wowee Podcast (by Esther Sandler of Togetherness Design and Penny Min Ferguson from Min Pin, from 2:00-5:00pm. 61 Victoria St, Footscray.

Oh, and check out this amazing drawing by Alana and Annabelle, which appeared in Esther's Bloomin' Beauties exhibition at BSIDE Gallery in Fitzroy earlier this month.

30% OFF SALE NOW ON!

Yep, the biggest sale ever - 30% OFF* Use code: JUNE30.

Available in both shops - spinspin.com & spinspin.etsy.com. Lots of one-off things and once they're gone, that's it. Oh, and there's slightly different stock in each shop!

*Excludes gift vouchers. Available until 11:59pm AEST Tuesday 13/06/17.

Fabric fabric fabric, buttons buttons buttons

Every now and then I reach *peak fabric*, ie: I end up swimming in a sea of the sceenprinted goods. This week was one of those times, so I promptly made up a whole bunch of colour-coordinated fabric packs, which are available as of today. And if you want to be the first to hear about such things in the future, make sure you sign up for the (infrequent) mailing list and get first dibs.

Oh, and I also went crazy making fabric covered buttons, so all orders received in May will get some buttons thrown in, for good measure. I hope you love buttons as much as I do.

Happy Friday!

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Featured
Return Fare - Victorian Public Transport Tickets 1850s to 1980s - Two Colour Screen Print
Return Fare - Victorian Public Transport Tickets 1850s to 1980s - Two Colour Screen Print
A$260.00

Created as part of the Creative in Residence 2025 at the Victorian Archives Centre, Public Record Office Victoria.

This poster features various Victorian public transport tickets, from the 1850s to the 1980s. Inspiration comes from trades of the past, including letterpress printing and sign writing. Misregistration of the two colours is a feature of the design, and no two prints are the same.

IF_IconicFootscray.jpg
FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
Iconic Footscray - A2 Editioned Fine Art Giclee Print
FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
A$230.00

Numbered & signed fine art giclee print. Part of the Iconic Footscray series. Features illustrations some of Footscray’s Iconic buildings, businesses and signage, including: Franco Cozzo, Footscray Market, Little Saigon, The Royal Hotel, Rudimentary cafe, Olympic Donuts, Olympic Tyres, Uncle Toby’s, Sims supermarket and Bar Josephine/Pie Thief & Wing La cakes!

Edition of 100.

Refer to other listings for illustrations of individual buildings.

FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
Footscray Signage - A2 Editioned Fine Art Giclee Print
FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
Footscray Signage - A2 Editioned Fine Art Giclee Print
FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
A$230.00

Numbered & signed fine art giclee print. Part of the Iconic Footscray series. Features illustrations some of Footscray’s iconic business signage, including: Franco Cozzo, Footscray Market, Little Saigon, The Royal Hotel, Rudimentary cafe, Olympic Donuts, Olympic Tyres, Uncle Toby’s, Sims supermarket and Bar Josephine/Pie Thief & Wing La cakes!

Edition of 100.

Refer to other listings for illustrations of individual buildings.

FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
IF_OlympicDoughnuts.jpg
FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
Olympic Doughnuts Footscray - A2 Editioned Fine Art Giclee Print
FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
A$230.00

Numbered & signed fine art giclee print. Part of the Iconic Footscray series. Features an illustration of Olympic Doughnuts, Footscray, Victoria.

Edition of 100.

FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
IF_FrancoCozzo.jpg
FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
Franco Cozzo Footscray - A2 Editioned Fine Art Giclee Print
FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
A$230.00

Numbered & signed fine art giclee print. Part of the Iconic Footscray series. Features an illustration of Franco Cozzo’s Footscray shopfront, including building detail and signage.

Edition of 100.

FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
Rudimentary Footscray - A2 Editioned Fine Art Giclee Print
FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
Rudimentary Footscray - A2 Editioned Fine Art Giclee Print
FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
A$230.00

Numbered & signed fine art giclee print. Part of the Iconic Footscray series. Features an illustration of Rudimentary cafe, Footscray.

Edition of 100.

FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
IF_FootscrayMarket.jpg
FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
Footscray Market - A2 Editioned Fine Art Giclee Print
FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
A$230.00

Numbered & signed fine art giclee print. Part of the Iconic Footscray series. Features an illustration of the exterior of Footscray Market, on the west side.

Edition of 100.

FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
IF_BarJoPieThief.jpg
FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
Bar Josephine / Pie Thief / Wing La Footscray - A2 Editioned Fine Art Giclee Print
FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
A$230.00

Numbered & signed fine art giclee print. Part of the Iconic Footscray series. Features an illustration of the shop fronts Bar Josephine, Pie Thief (RIP) & Wing La cakes, Footscray.

Edition of 100.

FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
Uncle Toby's Footscray - A2 Editioned Fine Art Giclee Print
FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
Uncle Toby's Footscray - A2 Editioned Fine Art Giclee Print
FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
A$230.00

Numbered & signed fine art giclee print. Part of the Iconic Footscray series. Features an illustration of the Uncle Toby’s factory, Footscray.

Edition of 100 .

FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
IF_OlympicTyres.jpg
FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
The Olympic Tyre & Rubber Factory Footscray - A2 Editioned Fine Art Giclee Print
FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *
A$230.00

Numbered & signed fine art giclee print. Part of the Iconic Footscray series. Features an illustration of the former Olympic Tyre & Rubber Co building in Footscray, including building detail and signage. The building, situated near the West Footscray Train Station, has been restored and converted to apartments.

Edition of 100.

FINE ART PRINTS, * ICONIC FOOTSCRAY *

September

Not only is it September, but it's nearly the end of September. How did this happen? The Royal Melbourne Show is on, another radiothon is over for my favourite station RRR and it's definitely spring in still-cold Melbourne.

Here are some snaps of the things I've been working on lately - lots of ceramics, lots of watercolour patterns and lots of fabric (that I don't have proper photos of yet), soon to be added to the shop and/or for sale at some upcoming events. 

Lots of new ceramic spoons including the above.

Lots of new ceramic spoons including the above.

The first and only mug I've ever made. 

The first and only mug I've ever made. 

Lots of hand painted porcelain studs now available in my shop.

Lots of hand painted porcelain studs now available in my shop.

I'm obsessed with pattern making in watercolour. This is my latest.

I'm obsessed with pattern making in watercolour. This is my latest.

I did an ink audit this week and sorted them by colour group. Pinks and reds win.

I did an ink audit this week and sorted them by colour group. Pinks and reds win.

This cake is THE best banana cake ever. Thanks, Hello Lunch Lady.

This cake is THE best banana cake ever. Thanks, Hello Lunch Lady.

On a different not, today I listened to this podcast from The Jealous Curator while working (found via Tess at Creative Minds Publishing & CWC) and recommend it to any creatives who love hearing artists talking about their work and their thoughts. Sandra Eterovic is so generous with her thoughts and her ideas, what a gem.

And finally, there's a post about me at the Maribyrnong Makers Market blog.