Totoro Summer Dress

© Melissa Gaggiano

    This Totoro summer dress has been waiting on the back burner for about a year. Finally it got made with a little help from my eldest. Technically it was her sewing project, but after a round with both the overlocker and sewing machine she gladly let me do the rest. Would you believe I got this made in one day?

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

Beginning of a New Journey

Journey
That Game Company
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    Over the weekend I played the computer game Journey for the very first time. A long awaited experience for me, ever since watching a review of it on Good Game.

    Journey was a unique gaming experience for me. At times it was an emotional roller coaster ride. It's a short game, but it is replay-able game in that there is a lot to learn, and no two journeys are exactly alike.

Doll making sketches by
Melissa Gaggiano

    I was so inspired by this game, and having finished The Clueless Collection I have decided to sculpt a new doll based on the little soul that I play. I'm thinking of using armature and felt. I'll be doing some embroidery and putting my new needle felting tools to use. Watch this space for updates...

The Clueless Collection

© Melissa Gaggiano

    Inspired by the film Clueless, the Clueless doll collection has landed. 

The film Clueless
This scene was the inspiration for my dolls.

    These art dolls stand 42CM tall [head to foot], and have armature [bend arms and legs]. The dolls have been made from felt, cloth and include hand painted facial details.

    Contact me via my About page if you wish to buy one or both of these dolls.

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

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Miss Dionne

© Melissa Gaggiano

    Miss Dionne from the Clueless doll collection is now complete. She is has a hand painted face, is made from plain weave cloth, felt and has internal armature for movability of limbs.

    If you are interested in buying this collector piece simply send me a message via my About page.

Slow Progress is a Beautiful Thing

© Melissa Gaggiano

    I have been working on these two Clueless cloth art dolls for a couple of months now. Three winter viruses slowed my progress right down. And now I'm almost there. The only thing left for Cher and Miss Dionne is to trim their hair and make accessories – one bag and one hat.

A Hawk, Pony and a Clueless Girl

    A Hawk, Pony and a Clueless Girl… sounds like the title for an obscure book or movie.

    This week I surprised myself by the amount of crafting I wound up doing. In addition to working on the Clueless doll project, two other craft projects spontaneously dropped into my lap.

    Today it is 'footy colours' day at my eldest's school. She wanted to wear a Hawthorn uniform, but… have you seen the price of those shirts?! Oh my! So instead I made her a Hawthorn Hawks badge, which she is now wearing with pride. I made this badge with my new needle felting tools.

Needle felted Hawthorn Hawks badge
made by Melissa Gaggiano

    My youngest liked the Hawthorn badge and asked me to make her a badge. Since she has yet to declare her loyalties to any team [though she is beginning to show an interest for soccer], I decided to make something cute for her. I needle felted a My Little Pony image onto one of her shirts. I have just finished this little project, and now my eyes are tired and I have one sore, speared finger.

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

     Earlier this week I finished designing and sewing the jacket onto Cher, the Clueless doll. Now that I know the jacket pattern works I will duplicate it for Miss Dionne, the other Clueless doll. After that the only thing left is to make accessories for these dolls.

© Melissa Gaggiano

I Do It For Me

© Melissa Gaggiano

    I am proud to announce a new digital art collection - I Do It For Me. Check it out here, and interpret as you will.

    At the time of drafting these images I was thinking of the strong female characters from some Tarantino and Rodriguez films. Aesthetically sexy, their movement, clothes and hair attract the male eye, but surprise, surprise these women have an inner core strength. The way they dress, talk and behave, they do it for themselves, and not for the pleasure of external parties.

Skirts for Cher & Miss Dionne

    The past few weeks have been an off period for me. Three head colds in a row! Not fun, at all. So now I look forward to spring, the mild warm air and gentle cool breezes it provides.

    Yesterday I threw myself back into the Clueless doll making, and produced two skirts for Cher and Miss Dionne.

    I get excited at every step of this doll making process. When I come up with a doll making project I am incredibly enthusiastic. Then, when I get started there is a flicker of doubt how it's going to turn out. The potential for a scrap- doodle disaster of epic sewing proportions is always there when I am constantly evolving my design and sewing techniques. Thankfully though I have learnt to let it go when a pattern piece doesn't work out - toss it, have a sandwich, return and design a new pattern piece. Bit by bit as a piece is added to the doll I see her coming to life.

    Keep on at it!