Frankie and Swiss

Christmas Holiday dates 2017-2018!

2017-12-09T05:32:00.002+11:00

Wow, it’s been a while between posts! We’ve been busy bees which is a great thing for our business. And now we are in our 7th year. Yes, 7! Time seems to be speeding up with each day and year that passes. Some changes we saw this year: Rachel jetted off to France for a year and we welcomed Vanessa to our crew. Mareesha and Robyn are going strong and Jacqui continues to captain the ship in South Yarra while Michelle works quietly away in the USA on a big huge project. More on this really really soon!!!!! A massive thanks to everyone involved in Frankie and Swiss and all our wonderful supporters:) We appreciate you! Yay team F&S!

We’ll be heading off on holidays from 21st December 2017 and re-opening on Monday 15th January 2018.

Thank you to all of the amazing people we’ve worked with during the year!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Workshop: Artwork to Fabric with Jacqui Baxter

2017-06-05T16:52:00.001+10:00

We're hosting Jacqui Baxter's beautiful workshop 'Artwork to Fabric' Saturday 24th of June. Be surrounded by flowers and foliage in our (beautifully heated) studio and learn watercolour and ink techniques from the best. We'll then transform your artwork into a tea towel or cushion!

To book in click here.

The results! Beautiful illustrations printed onto Belgian Cotton/Linen and sewn up here in the studio.

BOOK HERE!

Design School! 25th and 26th February

2017-02-18T10:13:00.001+11:00

Digital Textile Design - Weekend Short Course
25th and 26th February
$350
10am – 4pm each day
Venue: Frankie and Swiss, 8/199 Claremont Street, South Yarra

Develop textile designs from concept to cloth. Create digital artworks and learn how to create a seamless repeat pattern ready for print.

Covering the basics of digital textile design using Adobe Photoshop and (to a lesser degree) Adobe Illustrator including:

Digital image manipulation and editing.
How to prepare a hand-generated design, a photograph and a digital design for print.
File formats, file preparation for print, resolution/quality and colour management.
Creating a seamless repeat pattern.

Prerequisites: Beginner knowledge of Adobe Photoshop. You must be able to bring your own laptop with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

The Frankie and Swiss studio is brimming with colour and pattern and will provide a visual reference and context for developing your very own customised fabric designs.

At the end of the workshop, you’ll have gained both practical and theoretical experience in developing a textile print from initial concept through to final digital design. You’ll have the chance to see first hand the digital print process.

This course is facilitated by Rachel, our in-house textile designer at Frankie and Swiss. Rachel studied Textile Design at RMIT and has been part of the Frankie and Swiss family since the business was established in 2011.

Get in touch and enroll now!

We're hiring!

2017-01-26T10:12:00.000+11:00

We're excited to announce that we are looking for someone to fill a full time position here in the studio! The Frankie and Swiss business is growing and we're looking to expand the team by welcoming in a new accounts manager. If you're interested in joining our vibrant team, click HERE to apply.

Christmas Closure dates 2016/17

2016-12-06T07:41:00.000+11:00

Well! 2016 is coming to a close very shortly, time flies quicker it seems the older I get! We are so proud of our team at Frankie and Swiss. It's 6 years now!! YES, 6 YEARS!! Rachel has been with us since the very beginning in 2011 and Mareesha, printer wrangler extraordinaire is a few years in! And Robyn, our accounts guru, is about 5 years in! There are also all the work experience people that come and help us out as well. And a massive thankyou of course to our loyal customers, we really thank you for coming on this amazing journey with us. Awesome:) Over the past few years, things have just got busier and busier, we have ramped up our production capabilities with in house sewers and also we have our second much loved printer. It's amazing, and we are truly blessed to have talented people make this all happen every single day! Yay Team F&S!!!

Soooo, this post is actually supposed to be about deadlines for print and production for Christmas, I just got a little sidetracked with gratitude;)

Take a peek below:

Official cut of dates for receiving order before the holidays:

- Print and Sew 2nd December (whoops, this has already passed, but depending on quantities, we may still be able to slot your job in!!)

- Print Only 9th December

Also please note!
We’ll be heading off on holidays from 20th December 2016 and re-opening on Monday 16th January 2017.

Thank you to all of the amazing people we’ve worked with during the year!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

5th November–Belinda Marshall workshop!

2016-11-03T12:33:00.000+11:00

Have you ever wanted to try abstract acrylic painting? In this workshop you will be gently guided through a project working with acrylics on a wood panel.

The workshop will give you an introduction to colour mixing composition and working with layers.
You will have the opportunity to play and experiment and be inspired by your own creative potential.
Materials included and a yummy treat + tea/coffee will be provided.

Take home your first little ready to hang painting {and your works on paper}!

** Workshops will be limited to a small number of students **

Belinda Marshall will be teaching the workshop based on her years of self-taught creative practice.

DATES:
Saturday 5th November 2016
1.30-4.30pm
Frankie and Swiss Studio
Studio 8, 199 Toorak Road
South Yarra

No experience necessary, all materials are provided, all you need to do is bring yourself.
Refunds on workshop bookings are not available, however if you can’t attend the class you are more than welcome to send someone in your place!

** If you are interested in future dates, private group bookings or would like to know more please email on belinda@belindamarshall.com **

WHAT TO BRING:
An apron will be provided but please wear clothes that you don’t mind getting splashed with paint!

*PLEASE NOTE: Refunds on workshop bookings are not available, however if you can’t attend the class you are more than welcome to send someone in your place!

Fashion Illustration Course

2016-07-19T18:08:00.001+10:00

The fabulous Angie Rehe is holding a new Fashion Illustration course here in our colourful studio. They are always such fun with such a great teacher! Bookings via the Drawing Salon.

Creative Women’s Circle

2016-06-30T10:02:00.001+10:00

Today is the last day for a little discount off membership with the Creative Women’s Circle! Get on over to the website and sign yourself up!

If you’ve never heard of the CWC, let me tell you all about it! We are super huge fans of the CWC, firstly because it’s the brainchild of our friend Tess McCabe, an all round amazing human. Secondly, it’s a great forum to meet and chat with like minded creatives around Melbourne (there’s interstate meetings too!). And thirdly, the resources the CWC provide are top notch. Informative blog posts, podcasts, a breadth of information at your fingertips, interviews, networking opp’s, and so much more.

From the CWC:

“ Have you been meaning to join Creative Women’s Circle for a while? Well, now is the time to join us and reap the benefits. The CWC Mid-Year Membership Drive is on until June 30 – you can save 10% off the full price of membership, just in time for the end of the financial year (and it’s tax deductible!).

There are a whole host of benefits, including the opportunity to join a Members-only Facebook group (launching in July!) to discuss the highs and lows of being a creative, entrepreneurial woman; the chance to attend and vote at the AGM in August; plus discounted event tickets, product discounts, and the chance to attend Member-only events.”

Go have a look, you’ll be super happy you did:)

New Angie Rehe Courses

2016-02-24T14:11:00.000+11:00

The ever wonderful and talented Angie Rehe is running a few new courses. Get in fast as they book out quick! Held right here in our studio.

Fashion Illustration – Capturing “The Look”

Spend a day learning how to capture someone’s style and look quickly, as a fashion illustration.

Quick fashion portraits are hugely popular – stylish sketches capturing a person’s look make great mementos and an excellent way of documenting fashion. How do you do it? What captures the person? How to do it quickly? Learn the fundamentals of fashion illustration and how to create these sketches, includes live-model sketching. Snacks and materials provided.

When: Saturday 27^th February 10am – 4.30pm

Cost: $165 includes materials (including paper).

Bookings & enquiries: salon@patsyfox.com

Venue: Frankie and Swiss: Studio 8, 199 Toorak Road (Corner Claremont Street) South Yarra.

Fashion Illustration Fundamentals suits a broad range of people from beginners to those with some drawing experience. It’s a comprehensive 12-week course which will take someone from the very foundations of fashion illustration through to an understanding of the various media most useful in this discipline, as well as exploring more advanced media and concepts such as compositional planning, training your selective eye, alternative views, and menswear.

This course is excellent for reviving previous drawing skills and taking them further, or for applying skills from a related discipline such as fine art or graphic design, to the art of Fashion Illustration.

Everyone can learn to draw; they just need the right approach and techniques.

Tips and short cuts included.

(This course leads directly into the Advanced Fashion Illustration course.)

When: Wednesdays 6.30pm – 9.30pm March 9th – May 25th 2016 (12 weeks)

Cost: $875.00

Bookings & enquiries: salon@patsyfox.com

Venue: Frankie and Swiss: Studio 8, 199 Toorak Road (Corner Claremont Street) South Yarra.

Advanced Fashion Illustration This course was created due to the popular demand of students who could see the exciting direction of their work and wanted to take it further. Sessions are experimental, challenging, and varied – they are continually evolving and responding to student requirements, exploring media, techniques, and styles. Incredible results are achieved and many past and current students are working commercially or in their own practice.

When: Tuesdays 6.30pm – 9.30pm March 8th - May 24th 2016 (12 weeks)

Cost: $875.00

Bookings & enquiries: salon@patsyfox.com

Venue: Frankie and Swiss: Studio 8, 199 Toorak Road (Corner Claremont Street) South Yarra.

Tropical prints

2016-02-23T17:32:00.001+11:00

The studio is being gradually turned into a tropical paradise as we've been stuck on big leaves, bright flowers, lush textures and exotic birds in our recent creative ventures.

Tablecloth printed on the 100% Linen. Chair fabric printed on the Belgian Cotton/Linen.

Weekend Short Course: Digital Textile Design

2016-02-18T01:31:00.000+11:00

We're back for another year and are super excited about the upcoming

Upcoming Courses by Angie Rehe

2016-01-19T17:09:00.000+11:00

The very talented Angie Rehe is holding two new courses over Jan and Feb right here in our studio. The first is a super fun-looking watercolour and ink workshop. For the second one; we're getting involved! Create your artwork with Angie, and we'll print it onto beautiful natural fibre fabric.

Watercolour & Ink Technique for Fashion

Illustration (January 31st)

Are you sick of making mud pies with your watercolours and inks?
This intensive workshop will look at the ways that both media are used, starting with the various qualities of the media, and the importance of tools – brushes, paper, etc.
We’ll start with a range of fundamental techniques and progress through some advanced effects. It will be creative, it will be fun, you will love it!

When: Sunday January 31st 10am – 5pm
Cost: $155 (includes snacks and materials – you just need brushes/palette/water jar)
Bookings: salon@patsyfox.com
Venue: Frankie and Swiss: Studio 8, 199 Toorak Road Sth Yarra

Fashion Illustration for Digital Textile Printing

Workshop (February 6th)

This workshop is a collaboration between The Drawing Salon and Frankie and Swiss, the fabulous boutique textile printers whose beautiful venue The Salon’s classes are held in. Spend the day enjoying a Fashion Illustration workshop, experimenting with inks and watercolours to produce an artwork which you can then have applied to your choice of textile product. Frankie and Swiss will be on hand to demonstrate the process of scanning an original artwork, preparing it for printing, then printing it out onto fabric using “Florence”, their digital printing machine.Over the weekend, I will scan and prepare your artwork and on Monday Frankie and Swiss will put your print into work. Within 2 weeks your product will be delivered to you. If you love it so much that you want to have one made for everyone that you know, or you want to start your own cushion/tote bag/tea towel empire, you can also order more! (Please note you can order more up front for a separate fee straight to Frankie and Swiss – email me for pricing – wholesale prices apply to orders of 6 or more.)

So what can you choose from?
1 x 45cm square cushion made from 100% cotton canvas, printed front / plain back, invisible zip on lower edge, with black or white piping.
or
2 x 100% linen tea towels.
or
1 x Tote bag made from 100% cotton canvas, finished size 46cm x 37cm, with black or white webbing straps perfect length to wear over your shoulder. Printed front side.
All made right here in Melbourne, of course!What to I need to bring?
Colour pencils
Your paintbrushes with a palette and water jar.When where and how much?
Saturday 6th February 10am – 4.30pm
Frankie and Swiss studios, Studio 8, 199 Toorak Road
South Yarra Victoria 3141
$245 inc gst and postage.
Strictly limited to 12 places.
Bookings and enquiries salon@patsyfox.com

NEW WHOLESALE PRICING!

2015-11-04T17:59:00.000+11:00

Many of you might know Florence, she is the cornerstone of our little business here at Frankie and Swiss. She is our wide format textile printing machine... Our trusty and old friend Florence has been with us from the very beginning since 2011. At the time she was a revolutionary piece of machinery, Strong, solid and shiny! But with the rapid technological growth and development of our industry we've seen a huge improvement in the speed and quality of wide format textile printers.

We have been fortunate enough to grow our business and have now found ourselves in the very exciting and wonderful position where we can continue to grow by upgrading our respected and much loved Florence with a faster and improved machine. We have spent the last couple of months preparing our new printer and she is finally up and running. So from today, our new printer will affectionately be known as Florence II (yes, we are quite attached to our old girl!!)

So, on to the exciting stuff!! Florence II is much faster which in turn will enabling us to offer a very competitive wholesale pricing rate. This new Pricing will allow us to support our much loved Australian design industry and 'give back' to the industry that has been so supportive of us for the past 4 years. You can download the new pricing and information document HERE!

So, many of you might be wondering where that leaves our old friend Florence and what the next stop in her journey as a wide format textile Printer will be...Well, she staying here with us! We hate goodbyes so Florence will be staying just where she is!!...

Workshop: From Artwork to Fabric With Jacqui Baxter

2015-10-26T14:42:00.003+11:00

New Jacqui Baxter workshop dates are in!!! We had such an amazing time a few months ago at our last Jacqui Baxter spontaneous illustration workshop so we've lined up another!!

By far the most beautiful workshop we've ever held!

The final product!! So beautiful!

For bookings head to www.frankieandswiss.com.au//DesignSchool

Upcoming Digital Textile Design Short Course

2015-10-15T17:58:00.000+11:00

After such a fun and successful first 'term' of our Design School Short Course: 'Digital Textile Design' we are back by popular demand and running another!

Starting with basic Photoshop and Illustrator skills we go through how you can utilise these for digital textile design, including how to create full drop and half drop repeat patterns. At the end of the course each student has the opportunity to print 1/2 a metre of their very own textile design onto any of the natural fibre fabrics in our range.

Over 4 weeks, every Thursday night - starting 5th of November. 6-9pm.

Bookings via our Design School page.

Bring your own laptop computer with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. :)

Claremont Artists' Market Tomorrow!

2015-08-21T12:49:00.000+10:00

We'd love for you all to pop on down to our South Yarra studio tomorrow (Saturday 22nd) and check out all the beautiful things that will be here. We have 20 stall holders bringing their amazing goods - a range of home wares, jewellery, art pieces, furniture, gifts, plants, leather goods and lots of other lovely things! Come in, have a chat to the makers and peruse all the goodies!

The studio is in the building on the corner of Toorak Road and Claremont Street (look for Bank of Melbourne) - entry via Claremont Street - either through glass sliding doors, or through side door in alleyway.

Studio Events

2015-07-31T17:58:00.000+10:00

For those of you who have been in to visit us at our Frankie and Swiss Studio in South Yarra, you will know that we are very fortunate to have a beautiful, big, creative open workspace. We have decided to encourage the use of the studio space and make it available outside of our usual operating hours for workshops, meetings and events…

We have quite a few exciting events booked in, the first of which is an Art exhibition with a twist!

JUNGLe

Mr. Congo is a poet, artist and DJ. He has DJ-ed for some of the top venues around the world. Mr Congo fuses hiphop, jazz and art into his creative endeavours and is renowned for introducing people and connecting multiple interests and skills to energise creativity in one another. His creative attitude towards life allows for a broad scope of interest including interstellar travel, artificial intelligence, African- American culture, and using the written/spoken word as a medium of connection with people. He continues to learn about life through listening to others experiences as they travel this timeframe with him and after him.

Mr Congo is bringing this fusion of art to the Frankie and Swiss studio on Friday 14^th and Saturday 15^th August from 6pm.

A great opportunity to come and meet an interesting, eclectic artist doing what he does best, we’ll be here too so come and say hello!

If you are interested in booking the studio space for an event, please contact bridie@frankieandswiss.com.au

Craft Cubed Event

2015-07-23T15:51:00.000+10:00

We are so excited about our Craft Cubed satellite event this year!! Along with Magdalena from Unleash Creative we have organised a day of embroidery fun in our studio! 'Australia's embroidery Queen' - Sonia from Dandelyne will be here in the studio sharing her tips and tricks to get everyone embroider-ing like a pro!

Artworks have been supplied by Hello Pants, Santiago Sunbird, Kirbee Lawler and Marc Martin which we are printing onto fabric - ready for embroidery embellishment. The choice of artwork will be a tough one as they are so stunning, but this means you can't go wrong! At the end of the day everyone will have a beautiful piece of fabric to take home (as well as embroidery hoop and needle to continue your masterpiece if you don't finish on the day).

Head over to the Unleash Creative website to book your spot! Saturday 15th of August.

Give a Flying Duck Competition

2015-07-14T16:51:00.001+10:00

A few weeks ago The Flying Duck Hotel ran a competition with our help to find a selection of awesome, duck-related artworks.

To see the winners pop over to @theflyingduckhotel on Instagram or Flying Duck Hotel on Facebook.

We loved the winning designs, but also had to show you all a few of our favourites - these ones definitely need an honourable mention!

Keep an eye out on The Flying Duck Hotel's instagram for the launch party! Yay - see you there!

L.E.A.F Series New Addition!

2015-07-10T13:29:00.000+10:00

We are super excited about our newest collaboration with local artist Angie Rehe. Angie is a Melbourne-based designer and illustrator and has been working in the fashion industry since graduating from university in the late 80’s. She's a "gun for hire" doing freelance work for print advertisements, fashion websites, brochures, invitations, design storyboard presentations, books, trend forecasting, greeting cards, stationery and bridal commissions. Hilarious, vivacious and insanely talented Angie brings some 'tude to our L.E.A.F series.

Together with Angie we have created these gorgeous silk jewellery rolls featuring her beautiful illustrations. The rolls are so great for keeping jewels safe on all sorts of adventures! We love all the pockets - no more disastrous messes of necklaces to de-tangle.

The range of four jewellery rolls; 'Parisian Girls' (we love these sassy ladies) and 'Jewels' in three colour ways. Printed on Silk Crepe de Chine and hand made in Melbourne. Available through the L.E.A.F series store.

In between creating stunning illustrations Angie also runs Illustration courses right here in our studio! They look like a whole lot of fun and there are a few new courses starting soon! Check out deets below.

The Amazing William Morris

2015-07-02T16:50:00.000+10:00

On a recent trip to Europe I visited some beautiful textile museums, probably the most inspiring being the William Morris Museum in London. Situated in his old family home, it is a great overview of his life and work.

If you’re not familiar with his name, you will definitely recognise Morris' textile designs; intricate, flowing and truly timeless, they are just as admired today as they were when first produced in the late 1800's.

Some of William Morris' most popular designs.

Morris' ever-evolving business started as an interior design consultancy firm which also produced the items they used to ‘deck-out’ some of the wealthiest people’s homes of the time. He was a big player in the Arts and Crafts movement and eagerly encouraged the resurgence of traditional British textile arts and artisan manufacturing. Morris was quite revolutionary in his socialist views, he despised the Industrial Revolution and the ugliness it brought with it.

Hand drawn and painted wall paper design, fabric length and wood block-cut at the William Morris Museum.

I found the similarities of the textile manufacturing world that Morris lived in and our own local textile industry fascinating. The difficulties he faced such as ethical manufacturing and affordability for the ‘everyday’ person are very much topical for us at Frankie and Swiss and for many of our customers. He had setbacks and failures along the way (like painting a hall at Oxford University without proper preparation so that it faded within months) which is always encouraging to hear that these kind of things can happen to the most successful of people!

Wall paper and textile swatches in the museum. (We like Morris' views on gentler dyes and colours!)

I also visited museums in France, Switzerland and more in England with some of the most incredible textile pieces. The richness of the textiles and garments that were created even from very early times across Europe and the Middle East always blows me away.

Beautiful embroideries and jacquard woven fabric at Musee des Tissus in Lyon, France.

Another must-see destination for me in England was Chatsworth House (if you're an Austen nerd like me, it's Pemberley in the 2007 movie). What I loved most about this stately home was the way the beautiful, old artworks, furniture and home-wares were displayed alongside modern art pieces. The juxtaposition gave a life to the house and showed the older pieces in a new light - very different from some of the stuffy old castles! It gave modern art and design a place in the history of the house. Check out the incredible modern art exhibition of chairs they currently have scattered through the house here.

Antique Japanese wallpaper, heavily embroidered curtains and a modern art chair installation at Chatsworth House.

Back in the studio and I'm still of course getting to see beautiful, printed textiles.

-Rachel

Call for Entries!!! The Flying Duck Hotel Design Competition

2015-06-05T18:32:00.001+10:00

The Flying Duck Hotel, Prahran

The Flying Duck Hotel is on the hunt for duck inspired works of art!

Under New Management and re-opening soon, with a whole new look!!

Sky is the limit here! Photography, digitally rendered and traditional

drawing to sketching, painting or collage….

The only criteria is that it has to be of ducks, inspired by ducks or of

The Flying Duck Hotel itself!!

Top 40 design will be displayed in the pub with full credits to the artist

How it Works

1. Create your duck related design.

2. Download the entry form (see below)

3. Submit your design. Email us at florence@frankieandswiss.com.au with your entry form and design file.

4. Hashtag your design at #giveaflyingduck (optional but so much fun!)

5. Winners will be selected by The Flying Duck Hotel Management

Download Submission form Here

Prizes

1st place Prize: $500

2nd Place Prize: $250

3rd Place Prize: $250

The judges will also decide on their favourite top 40 Duck or Duck inspired designs which will be displayed on the walls of The Flying Duck Hotel.

Submission guidelines

Multiple submissions welcome

Entries must be submitted:

as a JPEG file at 150dpi

no larger than 10MB

The closing date for entries is Monday 22nd June 2015

Inspiration!

The Flying Duck Hotel is looking for an eclectic array of designs so basically if it’s in the spirit of Ducks it’s good to go!

check out:The Flying Duck Hotel

Or head to their social media pages Instagram/ Facebook

Angie Rehe drawing class

2015-05-15T13:24:00.001+10:00

Angie Rehe of The Patsyfox Drawing Salon is doing an

Introduction to Fashion Illustration course

at Frankie and Swiss!

Classes start on Monday 25th May.

For bookings or more info head to www.thedrawingsalon.com.

There are only a couple of spots left so get in quick if you would like to come and join in!

Intern Projects

2015-04-10T17:55:00.002+10:00

At the Frankie and Swiss studio we are very fortunate to have many creative and talented individuals regularly coming through our doors as part of work experience or internships. We love allowing our workplace students and interns the chance to come up with their own projects that tie in their own interests and studies with something that fits into the Frankie and Swiss world!

This gorgeous recycled fabric bag was created by Eleanor Carrucan, who spent her week-long, year 10 work experience with us. With limited time Eleanor jumped right in and with a mixture of hand and machine sewing created this lovely addition to our collection of ideas to recreate beautiful items from what would otherwise be waste.

Options for projects include working to design briefs, learning about 'Florence' (and the process of digital print onto natural fibre fabrics), helping us tackle various jobs around the studio and working on projects that recycle our scrap fabric. We love the way that each person we invite to be part of our team, brings with them their own interpretation of how these projects might look and we wanted to share with you some of the results.

The very talented Leanza Tang joined us for a couple of months last year. Leanza was in the final stages of completing a BA in Textile Design at RMIT - majoring in Weave, Leanza chose to take on design briefs to create some new “basics” for our textile design library (more on that soon!). We love her use of layers, textures and colour combinations.

Fabric swatches of the range Leanza created for our Textile Design Library (more on that soon!).

To see some of Leanza’s stunning woven creations that she has been working on this year

The super lovely Charlotte Campbell spent her time very patiently working on a recycled fabric project with some stunning results. The brief for Charlotte’s project was that she could use any of the offcuts of fabric around the studio but they had to be used in a way that made any printing unrecognisable. Using a mixture of different techniques from spinning to knitting and sewing, Charlotte came up with several items, all of them unique and beautifully hand made.

Amy Lawrence came to Frankie and Swiss from Kangan Institute where she is studying Applied Fashion Design & Technology. With an interest in Fashion illustration and an amazing talent for biro illustration, Amy got to work on a series of artworks to be used as placement prints and included in our Textile design library.

Amazing illustrations by Amy all done in ball point pen illustrations (really!)

Biro Bowie! Another of Amy's illustrations printed on to 100% Linen to create a very cool tea towel.

We are always impressed by the amazing talent and beautiful individuality expressed as each of these creatives took a brief and brought their own interpretation to the project. How lucky are we to have so many amazingly talented people coming to spend time with us and add to the creative energy here in the Frankie and Swiss studio?

Studio Update!

2015-02-25T15:31:00.001+11:00

Happy New Year to you all! We hope 2015 is off to a great start!

We've been getting back into the swing of things here at the studio and are busy working on some pretty exciting projects - more on that later!

In other exciting news; many of you would have met Bridie, one of the F&S team, Bridie is heading off overseas with her charity Ndoto Afrika. Ndoto Afrika is a grass roots initiative which focuses on fundraising for and overseeing sustainable, community based projects in Africa.

Bridie on her last trip to Africa

Ndoto Afrika events over the last two years have not only been important fundraisers but have also been incredibly fun nights, filled with art, music and great food. The Melbourne event was held here in the Frankie and Swiss studio.

Bridie's hard work and passion we've seen over the last few years has resulted in the first project getting under way in Tanzania. Bridie will travel to Chamwino in Morogoro (Tanzania) where the community is in desperate need of basic sanitation facilities. Ten toilets will be built in three different schools, making a huge difference to the well being of the student's and their access to education. On-going education for the community on hygiene will also be a focus to ensure the sustainability and longevity of the project.

Toilets being built in Tanzania.

Here at Frankie and Swiss we are super proud of Bridie's amazing dedication to such a worthwhile project and we wish her all the best on her trip. She will be missed here in the studio for the month that she's away!