spacecraft store

new botanicals

2011-01-22T16:12:00.000-08:00

Botanical artworks- Featuring Fennel and Peppercorn.

Wild Fennel Foeniculum vulgare

Southern European native from the Apiaceae family, introduced to Australia. An invasive, perennial herb that can grow up to two metres high. Fennel is considered to be a serious environmental weed in Australia and is commonly found along railway tracks, industrial wastelands and unkempt coastal sites.The example used to create this design was found in autumn in an overgrown site at the edge of port Philllip Bay, in the Melbourne suburb of Williamstown.

The Peppercorn Tree : Schinus molle

According to my arborist friend Andrew, and I believe him, Scottish Presbyterian ministers introduced this tree to Australia. As missionaries in Peru the Scots learnt the peppercorn tree was useful as it omitted a pheromone, which repelled flies. The branches hung low to the ground creating a protective curtain against insects. So the Scots, maddened by flies in the Australian outback, planted the Peruvian trees to create a sanctuary to read and relax. Architects and planners obviously used to know about this, as witnessed by mature peppercorn trees planted where people are forced to stay put, along railway platforms, in school playgrounds etc.

edition of architectural cushions

2011-01-20T21:13:00.000-08:00

cushions - photo screen prints

2011-01-13T19:39:00.000-08:00

(Click image to see larger)

cushion / colour theory

2011-01-12T18:39:00.000-08:00

the margarita dress - three new editions

2011-01-11T16:29:00.000-08:00

The Margarita Dress new editions - printed after construction, the detailed neckline reminds me of folded paper. Three print ideas in editions of 20 only, so you and 19 other people in the world. shown above - Unite, Corea & blue biro doodle.

Spacecraft on the Design Files

2011-01-04T14:55:00.001-08:00

Stewart and Donna Russell's Merricks home is featured in today's post on The Design Files.

Thanks Lucy!

image by John Laurie

2011-01-03T20:50:00.000-08:00

NEW Queensize Patchwork Duvet Covers

2010-12-23T14:48:00.000-08:00

In store now!

Festive cushions

2010-12-16T19:22:00.000-08:00

New beautiful red cushions just dropped into store!

Christmas Queen Bee candles

2010-12-15T17:58:00.000-08:00

Queen Bee candles are made from 100% beeswax, and a Christmas range has come into store, in time to snap one up to decorate your table for Christmas lunch.

Sansoni cushions

2010-12-10T19:24:00.000-08:00

FESTIVE SEASON TRADING HOURS

2010-12-02T17:51:00.000-08:00

click opening hours for larger text

12 ANGELS now in stores

2010-11-27T19:30:00.000-08:00

Twelve Angels was created in the spacecraft studio by Stewart Russell.

recollections on the origins of the idea:

It was a sunday, I was rearranging a bookcase when I came across an old

sketchbook... full of ideas for artworks, diagrams and descriptions. It was

from a long time ago, probably only a year or two out of art college. Some of

the projects had been realised, but I stopped at an idea I’d almost completely

forgotten. There were about six pages of notes and sketches of Angels, I

was trying to link an essay by Walter Benjamin, I guess 1940’s, and the Wim

Wenders movie, Wings of Desire which would’ve been early 80’s. On the last

page I’d scribbled down a line on Walter Benjamin’s critique of a Paul Klee

drawing...

“ the angel of history - being drawn inexorably into the future by progress, but

travelling forward into the future looking backwards - facing our history”.

Then Grace and Flora came back and I realised the bookcase would have to

wait for another day - so I grabbed the camera and we went in search of Angels.

The process of recreating a photograph as a screen print is underpinned by creating a

halftone film from a continuous tone photograph. From that point, once the image is on

screen you can begin to explore the possibilities.

One evening, after a long session of testing print qualities, we were looking at a wall of

prints and discussing how to proceed. Then an idea emerged, pehaps we could show

the range of processes. So rather than making a decision on a single approach I decided

to make twelve Angels, created individually using sections of the studio backing cloth,

elaborately layered botanical imagery, masks, stencils, transparent and semi opaque

washes or simply priming fabric highlighting the qualities of the photograph.

Thanks to the spacecraft team that worked on this project, Clara Gladstone, Marina Breit

and Danielle Smyth.

Twelve Angels NOW IN STORES

spacecraft studio - new work

contact studio to discuss / view (03) 9329 4129

NEW CUSHIONS

2010-11-27T19:26:00.000-08:00

Now in store (click on image to see bigger)

2010-11-13T18:18:00.001-08:00

Spacecraft T-towels

2010-11-08T19:02:00.001-08:00

While searching the amazing archives of old Melbourne architecture we came across this gem, the Melbourne CBD plan from 1954. It's so extreme, you would be laughed out of the house if a planner came up with any one of these concepts today. To play a bit further with this one we asked our local bush foods expert about what could have been found in these areas previously, and added some localities for these too.

Australia always offers up good tales of historic authorship, especially in naming and giving things title. The gum we call 'Yellow Gum' and often print with was taken from the tree just outside the studio in North Melbourne, this beauty also goes under the name of 'Tarrk' for the Djadja Wurrung people or 'Rosea Leucoxylon Connata' in Latin. We're enjoying the play between the Indigenous and the Latin names.

2010-11-07T15:56:00.000-08:00

2010-11-06T21:54:00.000-07:00

NEW Kids Clothes

2010-10-23T19:09:00.000-07:00

New Kids Clothes have come into store, fantastic colours, and varying prints.

NEW Backing Cloth Artworks

2010-10-15T17:47:00.001-07:00

(click on images for close ups)

Contact stores for further details:

Spacecraft South

527 Malvern Rd, Prahran 3181

+61 (0)3 9530 2530

hawksburn@spacecraftaustralia.com

Spacecraft North

225 Gertrude St, Fitzroy 3065

+61 (0)3 9486 0010

gertrude@spacecraftaustralia.com

NEW round cushions

2010-10-14T20:03:00.000-07:00

We have a great new round cushion design in store now- Le Corbusier's ‘Unite d’Habitation’ in Marseilles. Available in three sizes.

NEW Melbourne Artplay 3D

2010-10-07T17:41:00.000-07:00

The Melbourne Artplay 3D sets, limited numbers in stores now

This set contains 1960's and 70's images of the Royal Exhibition Buildings, Victorian Parliament, The Mercy Hospital, and Melbourne streets.

Printed onto door pieces, 50's and 60's, floor boards from the Botany Bay Wool Store and recycled clear acetate.

(Click images for close ups)

ARTPLAY 3D

This Artplay 3D set is a freeform model-making kit that gives the owner title to realise imagined city masterplans, cathedrals, low cost housing schemes, modernist residences, shopping centres, power stations, tree houses …

Artplay 3D is made by hand screen printing 1960’s & 1970’s photographs of Melbourne architecture onto wooden blocks fashioned from timbers salvaged from heritage buildings.

There’s a sense of familiarity working with these wooden blocks and images, they trigger memories, perhaps from childhood or a film, or even a constructed image from a story.

The photographs include architectural details from a range of genres and architectural styles, however the photographs were taken between 1964 to 1974 : Victorian Parliament, Mercy Hospital, Exhibition Building, tram commuters…

The wood comes replete with the tell tale signs of a previous life, a length of tongue and groove floor, a section of a 1950’s door, a keyhole… All the pieces in this set have a legacy both in their materials and their form.

The dark, fine grain beams were saved from the Botany Bay Wool Store, selected from rambled mix of original cut Australian timber, milled in 1846. The multiple species used proves a patchy early knowledge of the various timber qualities. The Wool Store was demolished in Nov 2009. Those original cuts live on in this set.

Another story of natural heritage is found in the exceptionally light 1950’s redwood door sections made from old growth Red Cedar from British Colombia, part of the giant arborvitae ‘tree of life’ group. Looking at the grain of this wood it’s possible to realise the scale and age of this species, 6m around and 80m high, living up to 1500 years and now found in this first edition of Artplay 3D.

* * * *

NEW Spacecraft Linen

2010-10-02T18:52:00.000-07:00

Fresh into store is our new two colour Spirea duvet, printed onto a 400 thread count High grade Egyptian cotton.

We have also had a new run of patchwork duvets in Queen and King size come into store. Each patchwork duvet design is a one-off, and from a small production run.

new products in store

2010-09-23T21:57:00.001-07:00

New Barefoot stools and candle holders

Queen Bee 100% beeswax candles, among our favourite are the eco bulbs and the new bee hives.

cushions

2010-09-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

Some composition ideas for coordinating cushion colours.

REMEMBER- ARTWORK AND QUILT SALE ENDS THIS WEEKEND 26TH SEPTEMBER

SALE

2010-09-09T23:46:00.000-07:00

spacecraft quilts on SALE

2010-09-09T23:42:00.001-07:00

We are reducing all of our patchwork quilts as part of our sale- beginning today, the 10th of September until the 26th of September. Click on the image for a close-up.

Botanical Artworks

2010-09-09T23:08:00.001-07:00

new cushions

2010-08-28T23:11:00.001-07:00

Click for a close-up

NEW Backing Cloth Artworks

2010-08-28T21:50:00.001-07:00

Contact stores for further artworks and information:

Spacecraft South

572 Malvern Road

Prahran 3181

Victoria AUST

+61 (0)3 9530 2530

Spacecraft North

225 Gertrude Street

Fitzroy 3065

Victoria AUST

+61 (0)3 9486 0010

KIP AND BRAND

2010-08-26T22:25:00.000-07:00

New stunning leather jewellery made by Brisbane-based Kip and Brand now in store

EST

2010-08-22T22:18:00.001-07:00

Beautiful est products now in store. Available is a range of handmade extra virgin olive oil rolled soap balls with the most incredible fragrances from natural herbs, plants and spices; fresh goats milk soap- all natural, great for skin irritations or sensitivities; body balms, lip heal, body remedies, and more.

New Backing Cloth Artwork in pastels

2010-08-12T23:30:00.001-07:00

Contact Stores for Details:

Spacecraft South:

527 Malvern Road

Prahran 3181

ph: (03) 9530 2530

Spacecraft North:

225 Gertrude Street

Fitzroy 3065

ph (03) 9486 0010

State of Design Exhibition

2010-07-15T20:24:00.000-07:00

Come along to our Exhibition opening- tonight (Friday 16th July) 6-9pm. There will be drinks and nibbles, and the artists will be there to talk about their amazing collaborative gleaming and design projects made as part of the State of Design Festival. The exhibition will be open until the 31st July- Monday-Saturday 10-5, Sunday 11-5.

Spacecraft South

572 Malvern Road

Prahran 3181

ph (03) 9530 2530

New smaller Backing Cloth Artworks

2010-07-14T17:40:00.000-07:00

New 70x70 cm and 70x35 cm Backing cloth artworks. Contact stores for more information.

Spacecraft North side

225 Gertrude St, Fitzroy

03 9486 0010

gertrude@spacecraftaustralia.com

Spacecraft South side

572 Malvern Rd, Prahran

03 9530 2530

hawksburn@spacecraftaustralia.com

A4 Artworks

2010-07-14T17:35:00.000-07:00

A selection of our A4 artworks available from Gertrude Street.

ARTPLAY 3D

2010-07-10T21:45:00.000-07:00

Artplay 3D has now made it to our stores

The first edition consists of 30 sets, initialed and numbered.

Prints featured are Le Corbusier's Unite d'Habitation in Marseilles, Amsterdam's House of Faces and St Mark's Basilica in Venice.

20 wood blocks are in each set, box dimensions are 32cm x 42cm x 12cm. Each set boxed weighs approximately 8kgs.

ARTPLAY 3D

This Artplay 3D set is a freeform model-making kit that gives the

owner title to realise imagined city masterplans, cathedrals, low

cost housing schemes, modernist residences, Tokyo shopping

centres, power stations, tree houses …

Artplay 3D is made by hand screen printing 1960’s photographs of

architecture onto wooden blocks fashioned from timbers salvaged

from heritage Melbourne buildings.

There’s something familiar about working with these blocks, they

trigger memories, perhaps from childhood or a film, or a

constructed image from a novel.

1960’s photography, St Mark’s Basilica, historic wood, Amsterdam,

Unite d’Habitation, tell tale signs of a previous life, Le Corbusier, a

keyhole… All the pieces in this set have a legacy both in their

materials and their form.

The pale, heavy tongue & groove floor boards were taken from

one of the first cuts of Australian old growth Carrie Pine, milled in

1880 for Lonsdale House, later to become The Emporium in the

1930’s. Heralded by the National Trust as a heritage landmark, the

building was demolished in January 2010. Those original Carrie

Pine tongue & groove boards live on in this set.

Another story of natural heritage is found in the exceptionally light

1950’s redwood door sections made from old growth Red Cedar

from British Colombia, part of the giant arborvitae ‘tree of life’

group. Looking at the grain of this wood it’s possible to realise the

scale and age of this species, six metres around and eighty metres

high, living up to 1500 years and now found in this first edition of

Artplay 3D.

New Backing Cloth Artwork

2010-07-08T21:57:00.000-07:00

New to our Hawksburn and Fitzroy stores- contact stores for details:

Spacecraft Hawksburn

572 Malvern Rd, Prahran +61 (03) 9530 2530

hawksburn@spacecraftaustralia.com

Spacecraft Fitzroy

225 Gertrude St, Fitzroy +61 (03) 9486 0010

gertrude@spacecraftaustralia.com

NEW CUSHIONS

2010-07-06T21:09:00.000-07:00

Great new spacecraft cushions now in store. Back are our fantastic lion and mother and child prints. Also available classic fennel in red and on soft blue fabric, and hand drawn lines on soft blue. A full colour Munich market scene as well as a photographic cheese print, and a sepia photographic cherries print. New and classic sansoni available also. Click on image for close up.

Kids clothes

2010-06-29T23:10:00.000-07:00

A great new print run of kids clothes has come into store- available in striking primary tones.

Sizes range between newborn to age 5.

New Jewellery

2010-06-26T22:16:00.001-07:00

New double sided Spacecraft Backing Cloth Necklaces now available.

2010-06-25T23:43:00.001-07:00

NEW WRAP SKIRTS AND WRAP VESTS NOW IN STORE.

Brilliant black on black and red on soft jersey wrap skirts and fantastic black and grey lines print on the versatile wrap vests.

URBAN CROP at Spacecraft

2010-06-23T23:11:00.000-07:00

We are very excited to be getting Urban Crop plants into Spacecraft stores. From tomorrow, be sure to find bright yellow and white tulips blossoming in our windows- and available to buy.

Urban Crop is the brainchild of Melbourne's much loved not-just-a-Horticulturalist, Joost Bakker,and his business partner Renee Nutbean, and is a thrillingly environmentally conscientious venture- from the crop packaging to the soil. All of Urban Crop's flowers have their roots and bulbs still intact and sitting in Joost's special soil- so they are a living plant rather than a dead cutting, and last much longer. You can let the plant live as is in it's fantastic brown bag, and save the bulbs for planting next season. Alternatively you can compost it after it's past it's bloom, or return to us and we'll hand the remains to Urban Crop for composting, keeping our soil rich and our minds clear.

To check out more information visit Urban Crop's website, and for a bit more, visit Lucy's post about Urban Crop on The Design Files.

2010-06-17T23:48:00.000-07:00

10-20% Interior SALE

(on until the end of June)

Cushions

2010-06-17T17:12:00.000-07:00

A selection of our current cushions in store.

Featuring our classic red lines, red and black peppercorn, neutral birch, photographic Venice, forest and wooden floor prints. We've also got a new fig vine print and LeCorbusier print on stunning demask.

New Artworks

2010-06-11T22:33:00.000-07:00

New Backing Cloth and Fennel Botanical artworks available in store now.

Wild Fennel Foeniculum vulgare

Southern European native from the Apiaceae family, introduced to Australia.
An invasive, perennial herb that can grow up to two metres high. Fennel is considered to be a serious environmental weed in Australia and is commonly found along railway tracks, industrial wastelands and unkempt coastal sites.
The example used to create this design was found in autumn in an overgrown site at the edge of port Philllip Bay, in the Melbourne suburb of Williamstown.

The Backing Cloth Artworks
In the Spacecraft studio there is a table just dedicated to experimentation, new designs, trials and print-off. The backing cloth covering the table becomes saturated by the progressions and ideas of the studio. Gradually chance compositions are found and caught just before they are forgotten beneath the next project. Somehow these artworks reflect the energy of the studio in full flight.
They are one off images, a record of the Spacecraft printing process. Each artwork is signed by Stewart Russell, dated and given an indicator of when the cloth was on the table. These pieces are originals that cannot be repeated, making them very popular.

New Patchwork Bed Linen

2010-06-09T22:44:00.001-07:00

Beautiful patchwork bed linen now in store
click images for close up.

Made in Melbourne using high quality Egyptian cotton, hand screen printed at the studio using water based inks.
Each patchwork cover is a one-off.
Limited quantity available.

SALE

2010-06-05T20:35:00.000-07:00

Look out for our sale sections happening now at Spacecraft.
Between 20-40% off selected women's and kid's clothing, bags, Bed linen, cushions and more.
Limited time.

Sally Campbell

2010-06-02T21:16:00.000-07:00

We've just had some new Sally Campbell cushions and quilts arrive in-store.
Beautifully handmade in India, each item completely unique.
"Working with villagers in different areas of India, Sally's aim is to keep alive the disappearing art of handmade textiles." Taken from Sally's website
Hand dyed, hand woven, hand stitched- hands on! Don't miss out.

new blog!

2010-06-01T22:23:00.001-07:00

images from our Hawksburn store, Malvern Road, Prahran

Welcome to our new Spacecraft store blog. Here you'll get to view new and upcoming products, artworks and design, and be informed of spacecraft events.

We thought we'd introduce our first post with a few images of our two stores.

images from our Gertrude Street Store, Fitzroy

As you can tell, each store has it's own personality and style. Be sure to check back here soon for more updates.