This Party Dress

© Melissa Gaggiano

The Gilded Cat

© Melissa Gaggiano

Somewhere along the way I want to blur the lines between my concept drawings and the dolls I make.

Flowers + Lace

© Melissa Gaggiano

Ripponlea Draws Me In

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano

A spontaneous trip to Ripponlea Estate was the perfect anecdote to suburban winter blues. The estate is host to a 20s-30s fashion exhibit, so between that and walking the gardens I exposed myself to a new source of inspiration in my work.

The exhibit Night Life continues for an extended period (until 27th August) at Ripponlea Estate. Check it out while you still can.

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano

Walking Alone

© Melissa Gaggiano

Sometimes when people disappear, there is this feeling that we are walking alone.

Ronaldo C

Doll making by Melissa Gaggiano

 This week a spontaneous doll project happened when a lil' boy's birthday suddenly popped into calendar. What to do? What to do? I like making dolls that have a meaningful connection to the recipient, so after a bit of brainstorming I made a football doll based on Ronaldo Cristiano of Real Madrid.
I know very little about football, but after this week I know a little more than nothing. For instance I now know that Ronaldo is a spunk, and so is this little doll. My favourite part was making the shoes.
Last year I made another doll using a similar pattern. You could say it is a sister doll to this one.

Doll making by Melissa Gaggiano

Doll making by Melissa Gaggiano

Bubble Pop Electric Tennis

© Melissa Gaggiano

Potential

© Melissa Gaggiano

I like the word 'potential'. I see it in every little thing that I create. From the wordy note that I write on a paper napkin in a restaurant, to a doodled sketch, or in this case a digital concept image.

My First Sewing Project

My first sewing project... 30 years ago.

Vintage Paper Doll Bookmarks

{My Poppet}

Hey y'all! Are you looking for something else to make? Are your fingers itching' for some colouring in? Yes! Then head on over to My Poppet and get cracking with this retro cute bookmark tutorial from moi.

Idea! Test! Vary!

Instagram

It is a week of busy here. That means new ideas are tested, variations of old patterns are made, lots of notes are written, and a lovely apron is worn throughout all this.