Melissa Gaggiano – Artist~Designer~Writer: July 2016

Sunday, 31 July 2016

Cat Rabbit Appreciation Hour

For those who have been following this blog you will know that I took the family to the latest Cat Rabbit exhibit at Tinning Street Presents.

The Cat Rabbit experience has had a massive influence in our lives the past few years. As a doll maker my own technical skills improve from studying the work of other textile artists such as Cat. More than that, I am able to share that passion with my kids, who in turn are inspired and want to make things for themselves. It's a wonderful little craft revolution that is taking place in my home.

Once I bought a copy of Owl Know How, a book by Cat Rabbit and Isobel Knowles, which came with a pattern for making a basic Cat Rabbit designed owl. So sometime today, my youngest is going to make her little owl.

My eldest wrote a little something about the Cat Rabbit excursion…

Saturday, 30 July 2016

Keeping Cat Rabbit In Mind

Cat Rabbit: Kept in Mind
Tinning Street Presents exhibit

Today I took the family to Tinning Street Presents gallery to check out Cat Rabbit's textile exhibit Kept in Mind. It was a long trip for us, coming far from the other side of the city, and most definitely worth the hike.

Cat Rabbit created a variety of art dolls, wall pieces and charms reminiscent of things from her past - books, breakfasts, trips to Japan. There are familiar elements with her work, such as the cat dolls. Cat Rabbit has a real life cat who is both parts companion and muse, so his face appears in much of her work.

The peach people are a relatively new development in Cat Rabbit's doll making and are constructed with a combination of hand stitched felt and needle felting. Cat Rabbit has branched out into needle felting this past year, and this works very well with her sculpting the faces. The peach faces look like a coloured illustration as a result.

The art dolls are not complete without clothes and accessories. I love the fact that she thinks of the small details. None of us are complete without our bags and wallets filled with stuff that make up our lives, and the same goes for her big-little animal people.

For more information about Cat Rabbit you can find her here or on Facebook.

Cat Rabbit: Kept in Mind
Tinning Street Presents exhibit

Tuesday, 26 July 2016

What is Creativity?

What is creativity? A lot of people presume creativity is limited to what they regard as the traditional arts. In much the same way some people have the terrible concept of a 'starving artist'. Well, I am here to tell you that creativity comes in mysterious ways. So mysterious in fact, that half the time you don't even realise you are being creative.

Creativity is the act of creation, but it is so much more than that. It is the spark of an idea. It is that moment when your boss drops a problem on your lap, and you find a doable solution. It is finding a new path to work, while avoiding peak hour traffic slow spots. It is coming up with a new cake recipe when all you've got is plain flower, and one egg to work with, and you absolutely cannot drop in at the grocery shop.

Creativity is how we respond to the world and what life throws our way.

Saturday, 23 July 2016

Not Giving Up

Thursday, 14 July 2016

Ramona Flowers

Embracing my inner winter-land Ramona Flowers…

#BustTheRules

What's that, Holtzmann? #Ghostbusters, in theaters Friday. #BustTheRules

A video posted by Ghostbusters (@ghostbusters) on Jul 13, 2016 at 6:55pm PDT

Wednesday, 13 July 2016

Punk Rock Mermaid

Tuesday, 12 July 2016

Right Now

Thursday, 7 July 2016

Wilderness Explorer

What to do on an inclement school holiday? Watch the film Up, eat scones, then… totally inspired by sweet little Russell, I get the kids designing their own Wilderness Explorer badges.

Watching the credit roll at the end of Up I'm tickled pink when I notice a Wilderness Explorer badge with a slice of pizza on it. Does that mean Russell earned a badge for eating pizza?

Below are the badge designs my kids came up with. Smile.

Wednesday, 6 July 2016

Clara Doodle

Early morning doodle: My youngest often asks me to draw things for her. It's been good for me - because I've learnt to draw quickly on the fly and not worry about being perfect.

Tuesday, 5 July 2016

Let's Make Books Today

It is a wet wintery day. The conditions are perfect for staying in doors and craft books. Every crafty supply I could think of for the kids is on the table.

Monday, 4 July 2016

Gossip and Doodling

I have begun watching season one of Gossip Girl and I am loving the show. Yes! Yes! I know the show came out ages ago. I'm kind of a late bloomer.
I had a little play in Illustrator which resulted in this Gossip Girl inspired doodling.

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