The Unveiling

© Melissa Gaggiano

    I told you something special was in the works. Well here it is! After an epicly short week of planning I am pleased/proud/ecstatic to announce the unveiling of my first artistic display. Just one week ago serendipity worked her magic when Tim the Librarian invited me to put together my own display at Cheltenham Library. Thank you so, so much Tim. You rock!

    It was a such a busy, activity filled week. I felt like I was planning a stage play. I was measuring, drawing, conceptualising, cutting, gluing, painting, printing. And what you see here is the result of my endeavours...

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

 

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

 

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

    For those living in the Cheltenham come visit Cheltenham Library, borrow a book, have a chat with the librarians and most definitely check out my doll display. You'll love it. The kids will love it.

Cheltenham Library

12 Stanley Ave, Cheltenham, 3192
Melway: 78 J6

Precious Heart, Precious Lungs

CurlyPops Fundraising

    If all things were fair there'd be no conflict, no sickness…

    Over the years I have made friends with people who…

    There is no easy way for me to start this dialogue. But there is something really cool I want to share, and to get there I've got to walk through a heart breaking subject. For some this is literal.

    A couple of years ago, via the online crafting community, I made the acquaintance of a crafter with a degenerative lung condition. I loved her beautiful crafts but I was just as invested in her actual life line. This individual was on a waiting list for lungs transplant. She had a couple of those 'close but no cigar' situations. Calls in the middle of the night saying that they might have a match. Then it happens, this woman finally gets her bitter sweet happy ending. The loss of one star means that another star may continue. I am happy to conclude that my acquaintance has had a healthy set of lungs encased in her body for two years and her life has been back on track.

    Now let me get to the point of my post. CurlyPops [aka Cam], the aforementioned survivor has participated in the creation of a colouring book as part of a fundraiser for the Heart & Lung Transplant Trust (Victoria) Inc. All profits of this book go toward funding "the second chance accommodation project, which helps to fund the costs of accommodation for Interstate and Country Victorian Heart and Lung Transplant patients during their compulsory three month post transplant rehabilitation program at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne". Check it out, while you're here visiting.

Big Little Plans

© Melissa Gaggiano

Big Little project in the works.

I'll be hard at work next couple of days.

Stay tuned. More details to come.

The Book of Life

    Yesterday hubby and I went on a cinema date, the first one in ages. I think the last time we went together was to see Tim Burton's The Lone Ranger. Yeah, that long ago. My Poppet had run a blog giveaway for which I had won tickets to see The Book of Life and I am so glad I got to see this movie. Oh man, it was just so pretty, with all those colours.

    And the voices! I am crushing on Manolo [voiced by Diego Luna]. Maria [Zoe Saldana] is the perfect heroine, and Joanquin [Channing Tatum] had me laughing at his bravado, and manly attempts to win a woman's heart.

    The film had me wishing I still knew my Spanish. I was reminded of my graceful high school Spanish language teacher, Ms Cerona. I thought about the illustrator, Catalina Estrada, and her work, that I like so much. Now I just want to immerse myself in more hispanic art. I also want to watch the The Book of Life again, and I can't wait to show my daughters - I know they would just love this one. Will just have to wait for the Blu-ray to come out.

    Now, I wonder if there are any dolls based on this film.

www.bookoflifemovie.com

Sparkly Awesomeness

    Every project begins with the tiniest fragment of glimmering light. This glimmering light only takes a fraction of a second to explode into larger than life sparkly awesomeness.

    That is how it was for me when I saw this photo on Pinterest. I didn't know how or why but something about the fashion photo called to me… 

Pinterest

    So I 'liked' and saved the photo. After months of sitting in a pin file, me revisiting the photo and pondering over it, I finally came to the conclusion that I had to bring this faceless person to life. And so I did… 

    This is where I got my inspiration for the Avril fashion doll.

© Melissa Gaggiano

You can find my Avril dolls in my store. Also just a reminder of a blog giveaway I've got going on - details here.

Big Beautiful Doll Giveaway

© Melissa Gaggiano
Sirene & Avril dolls

    Fresh off the press - I am hosting a handcrafted doll giveaway. That's right, you've heard it here first.

    There are two prizes, therefore two winners, because I think nice things should come more than once. Up for grabs are two beautiful dolls made by... me. There is the long time favourite Sirene mermaid doll and the newly designed Avril fashion doll. One doll per winner.

    To go in the draw to win one of these adorable dolls, simply leave a comment below, telling me what sort of dolls you'd like to see me make in future. It's as easy as that. Really it is.

    This blog giveaway will run until… 28th April, 4PM. After that I will stick my hand in a fedora hat and pull out two names. Goodluck!

Postscript: Entries open to Australia, and internationally.

Life Lesson #3

© Melissa Gaggiano

Decorative Mushroom

© Melissa Gaggiano

Supplies

• Scrap felt - red, beige and white
• Needle and thread
• Scrap thin elastic
• Hole puncher
• Scissors

© Melissa Gaggiano
Mushroom Pattern Pieces

Steps

1. Print and cut out the supplied pattern pieces.
2. Using the Inner Section pattern cut out 2 pieces of beige coloured felt. Using the Top Section pattern cut out 2 pieces of red coloured felt.
3. Using a paper punch cut a handful of circles out of white felt.
4. Cut a small piece of elastic, tie ends together in a knot. Sew looped elastic to the top of 1 Inner Section piece.
5. Hand sew the white felt pieces to one of the Top Sections.
6. Layer all four felt pieces together, ensuring the Top Sections are on the outside of the Inner Sections. Also have the elastic loop poking out at the top.
7. Blanket stitch along the outer edge of the mushroom and tie off at the end.
8. You now have a cute lil' red mushroom decoration.

© Melissa Gaggiano