about
About the Blog
spin off stuff is a collection of DIY + art + design + craft ramblings by Melanie, the crafty half of the Spins & Needles craft + DJ night duo. this blog focuses on behind-the-scenes of Spins & Needles, inspirations for each event, making stuff, and just plain good fun.
What is Spins & Needles?
Spins & Needles is a creative night out that mixes art/craft/design do-it-yourself (DIY) projects with funky beats spun by DJs in galleries, bars and other public spaces in Canada and internationally.
Known for its alternative take on the nightlife experience, the event travels to cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Halifax, New York, San Francisco, Austin, Chicago, Germany and London (UK). It collaborates with local and large players in art and cultural scenes, such as Maker Faire, Renegade Craft Fair and Etsy Labs. Spins & Needles played a large role in inspiring Canada’s national art institution, the National Gallery of Canada, to create their afterhours event Artsparks.
Spins & Needles and spin off stuff have been featured on television, radio and in a variety of online/print articles including: BUST Magazine, BurdaStyle, Makezine.com, Interweave Press, Metro, CBC Radio, CBC Television, National Post, Ottawa Citizen and Flavorpill (London).
You can also find us here:
- Spin Off Stuff Etsy store
- Spin Off Stuff Flickr page
- Spins & Needles Craft + DJ Night
- Spins & Needles Flickr page
- Spins & Needles Twitter Page
- Spins & Needles Facebook Page
- Spins & Needles Youtube Page
About Me
hello. My name is Melanie. I’m a crafty type who is into DIY-ing it, creative collaborations, airports and tuk tuks, mixing the traditional with the innovative, rummaging through thrift/charity stores and garage sales, peeping into other people’s homes via design blogs, and eating rice pudding.
I’m currently based in Ottawa, Canada, and have lived in Toronto, Montreal and London, UK. I love traveling and the excitement of exploring local cultures. You’ll often find me in transit and on runways.
By day, I facilitate partnerships and networks in the arts across Canada for our national arts funding agency. By night, I produce Spins & Needles in Canada and beyond, teach others how to silkscreen and other creative techniques at various workshops, and fiddle around with graphic/web design and my blog.
You can reach me at spinsandneedles @ gmail . com.
