My name is Marina Schilling, maker and creator at Handmade-and-Marina.

I live and work from Bunbury, Western Australia and have been living here for the past 17 years with my husband and three children (two of whom have flown the nest already).

I am of Naga Indian ethnic background. My parents are of the Lotha/Kyong tribe of Nagaland in north-east India. It is from my mother and her weaving heritage that I’ve had the opportunity to learn the ancient craft of back-strap weaving. I incorporate this in my small business as well as other traditional crafts and skills acquired along the way.

My market stall business began 20 years ago with handmade natural soaps. I gradually added other products to my repertoire based on personal/family needs, interests as well as customer requests.

So, I can now describe what I do, as a variety stall of handmade items ranging from the original small batch olive oil soaps to natural skincare, hand-stitched journals, deliciously pure beeswax candles, scarves handwoven on backstrap loom with handspun local wool, eco-dyed upcycled garments, naturally dyed eri silk scarves, chilli condiments (hubby’s passion and department thus lending his name to it!), natural home-care products…the list is still open-ended.

Amidst all this, I am passionate about accessing raw materials and collaborating with local producers, craftspeople and artisans to make way for goods that are lovingly & truly South-West Australian made.

I also love supporting the work of village level producers, spinners & weavers of eri silk in north-east of India where my parents still call home and use this special and unique silk for my natural plant dyed and plant printed scarves and shawls.

I am open to wholesale enquiries and custom orders and look forward to interacting with you.

Using local raw materials, valuing age-old crafting practices and techniques, hand-spinning and weaving wool & silk,

practicing the art and craft of natural, eco-friendly dyeing using plant materials and processes, presenting to you the handmade and beautiful…..

These along with the philosophy of the “slow craft movement” encapsulate handmade-and-marina.