There is a certain kind of magic in Fiona McDonald’s work. Not the kind you learn, but the kind you conjure. You might even say it’s a trick of the eye.
Trick of the Eye is the brand name of Fiona’s creations, transforming the overlooked and the unwanted into something entirely new. Old socks become goblins. Worn-out pyjamas find new life as soft sculptures. Discarded toys are unravelled, reimagined and reborn.
Trained at the Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney, Fiona has spent decades refining a practice that moves between drawing, painting and sculpture. But it is her hand-crafted figures, equal parts whimsical and slightly mischievous, that have become her signature.
“I am currently working with unwanted clothing that is heading for landfill,” Fiona said.
“I make goblins with these items, from tiny goblin babies made from baby socks to large goblins that sit on chairs.”
Nothing is wasted. Fabric offcuts become stuffing, fibre fill is salvaged from old cushions, and even damaged knitted toys are taken apart and rebuilt.
“I unravel the yarn, wash it and refashion it into its forever form,” she said.
Each piece carries traces of its past life, but also something new. A personality. A story. A quiet kind of humour.
Trick of the Eye is not a place where ideas take shape in what Fiona describes as a “very chaotic” creative space. The finished pieces, however, find their way into the world through a place that feels just as magical.
At Granny Fi’s Toy Cupboard, the magic becomes something you can step into.
Run by Fiona’s daughter, Beattie Alvarez, the Armidale shop is filled with handmade creatures, stories and carefully crafted pieces that blur the line between toy and art.
It is a true family effort, with Fiona’s goblins sitting alongside Beattie’s dragons and other creations, all made by hand and built around a shared love of storytelling and imagination.
Together, Fiona, Beattie and Beattie’s husband create a wide range of handcrafted items, from dragons and goblins to mandrakes and storybook-inspired pieces.
And they’re always hard at work making magic, with new creatures set to debut at this weekend’s Seasons of New England expo in Uralla.
At its core, the businesses are driven by storytelling, craftsmanship and a shared belief in the value of handmade work.
“Our unofficial motto for the shop has always been ‘heirlooms, not landfill’,” Beattie said.
That philosophy runs through everything, from the materials used to the way each piece is designed to last. Whether ordered online, in store in the Armidale Mall, or picked up at event’s like this weekend’s Seasons of New England, Trick of the Eye and Granny Fi’s toys and treasures are made in New England to be kept, and to be loved, across the world.
Were celebrating all things made in New England! Read more Made in New England stories here.
It’s not too late to nominate your locally made products or business – find out more here.