Here is an interesting and somewhat humorous blog page from Marco Mahler, mobile maker. He examines why a "mobile" created by Google would not work in reality.

http://www.marcomahler.com/blog/

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my mobile making friends! Here are some mini-mobiles I made as tree ornament gifts for friends:

Tree ornament gifts by Carolyn Kingston

Here are photos of some of our group's latest mobiles, and a couple of candid photos of works in progress from our November mobile making gathering at Munroe Center for the Arts. We're having fun, and becoming more skilled all the time!

Ursula's tabletop mobile

Ursula at work

Diana testing for balance in mock-up of a mobile (with Holly)

Holly's Mobile

Carolyn at work 

Carolyn's tabletop mobile

An amazing story about a Calder mobile brought to the PBS Antiques Roadshow in 2010:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/archive/201003A30.html

Here's some of what the Kinetic Mobile Making Group is Making:

Ursula's Mobiles:

Hope

Dance

Carolyn's Mobiles:

Birds in Flight

Calypso

John's Mobile:

Shadows a la Calder

Here is an interesting statement by Calder about his process in making mobiles. I find it encouraging to know he didn't always design them in great detail beforehand!

On The Making of Mobiles

Alexander Calder

I used to begin with fairly complete drawings, but now I start by cutting out a lot of shapes…some I keep because they’re pleasing or dynamic. Some are bits I just happen to find. Then I arrange them, like paper colle, on a table, and “paint” the – that is, arrange them with wires between the pieces if it’s to be a mobile, for the overall pattern. Finally I cut some more of them with my shears, calculating for balance this time.

I begin at the small ends, then balance in progression until I think I’ve found the point of support. This is crucial, as there is only one such point and it must be right if the object is to hang freely. I usually test out this point with strings to make sure before bending the wires. The size and angle of the shapes and how to use them is a matter of taste and what you have in mind.

To most people who look at a mobile, it’s no more that a series of flat objects that move. To a few thought, it may be poetry.

On September 23 the five members of our mobile making group went to the Alexander Calder exhibit at the Peabody-Essex Museum in Salem, MA. Don’t miss a spectacular presentation of 40 of his stabiles, mobiles and maquettes of several of his large outdoor sculptures.

A year ago I discovered task board. Task board has interesting properties that are add a new dimension to making kinetic mobiles. Task board comes in white and wood tone, and is available in different thicknesses. 1/16 of an inch is best for making mobile components. With dampening it can be molded into curved shapes.

This video takes you through the steps of working with taskboard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUa55-br8_4