Part 1 (What) – Handmade Spice Spinner with Mexican Ceramic Aesthetic

For my final project, I created a spice spinner inspired by traditional Mexican ceramics. I made this project for my mom because food and cooking are a big part of our culture. I wanted to make something that would be useful but also would have a special, personal meaning. My aesthetic was based on Mexican ceramic pottery, which has bold colors, hand-painted designs, and a handcrafted, rustic feel. I decided to use wood as the main material because traditional Mexican ceramics are often made from brown clay, and I wanted my piece to have that same earthy, natural feel.
At first, I planned to have 16 jars on the spinner, but as I worked on the design, I decided to change it to 12 jars. I thought 3 jars on each panel would look better and fit better with the size of my base. I did not create any initial sketches for this project. I went straight into CAD modeling to plan the design. I made a full CAD model of my spinner that showed the base, the top piece, the panels for the jars, and where the lazy Susan bearing would go.

For inspiration, I looked at examples of Mexican pottery and Talavera tiles. I wanted the spice spinner to feel handmade and traditional, but I also wanted it to feel clean and simple. I looked at spice racks and lazy Susan designs online to understand the structure, but I adapted it to fit my aesthetic. I knew from the beginning that I wanted the focus to be on the lids of the spice jars. I wanted the lids to look like tiny pieces of Mexican pottery.

When I was gathering materials, I made a last-minute decision to stain the wood. I found a stain color at the store that was a rich, natural brown, and I thought it would help bring out the rustic feel I was aiming for. I stained all the wooden parts of the spinner before assembling them. I am really glad I made that decision because it made the wood look more finished and matched better with the handcrafted ceramic theme.
For the lids, I decided to use Sculpey polymer clay. I molded the clay over the jar lids, baked them, and then painted the designs by hand. Originally, I thought about using lots of colors to match traditional Mexican pottery, but after working with the clay and thinking about the overall look, I decided to keep it simple and only use white paint. I wanted the designs to still feel traditional but not too busy. The simple white paint made the designs pop against the brown stained wood and kept the whole spinner looking clean and organized.

My main vision for the project was to create something that felt handmade, warm, and traditional, but also looked clean and simple. I wanted every piece of the spinner to feel like it belonged together. The stained wood, the hand-painted lids, and the natural feel of the materials all helped bring the aesthetic together. The rustic wood and the simple white designs gave the project a calm and welcoming look, which is exactly what I wanted.
Even though I did not do any hand sketches, my CAD model showed the full design and helped me figure out the right proportions and spacing. The spinner has a round base and a round top piece. There are four panels that hold the jars. Each panel holds three jars, and the jars fit into holes that I cut into the wood. I made sure the jars fit tightly so they would not wobble when the spinner turns. The lazy Susan bearing is attached to the bottom piece, which lets the whole spinner rotate smoothly.

I also paid close attention to the small details. I made sure the wood edges were sanded smooth, and I made sure the stain was even across all pieces. I glued the clay lids securely onto the jar lids using E6000 glue, which is strong and dries clear. After painting the lids, I sealed them with a water-resistant Mod Podge to protect the paint from chipping or getting ruined if the lids are handled a lot.
One of the most important parts of this project was making sure the design matched the aesthetic I wanted. I feel like I was able to keep the traditional feel of Mexican pottery while also making something clean and modern enough to fit into any kitchen. The stained wood gives it that rustic, warm feeling, and the simple white painted designs on the lids give it that handcrafted pottery look I was aiming for.

Overall, I think my project really embodies the aesthetic I set out to capture. It feels handmade and traditional but is still simple and clean. It fits the cultural style I was inspired by, and I think it will be a really special gift for my mom. I am really proud of how it turned out, and I learned a lot through the design and building process. I am excited to keep working on the finishing touches and make sure it is fully ready for the final presentation.