Leonard St Sloths in Fitzroy

At last! I can show you the very project that has kept me so very busy the past few weeks. I have created two, super loveable sloths for the Australian fashion label – Leonard St. 

These limited edition, collectable sloths are on display in the Leonard St Fitzroy store and are also available for sale. 

Leonard St – Fitzroy
132 Gertrude St
Fitzroy VIC 3065

Store Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 6pm 
Sunday: 11am – 4pm


A few facts about these sloths:

• The sloths are made using a varied combination of doll making techniques, including hand stitching, needle felting and armature.
• Both new and upcycled materials (Leonard St fabric offcuts) have gone into the making. The most prominent material used is felt.
• The sloth dolls have armature, meaning they can be posed. Even the sloths' claws have armature.
• The sloths are 95% hand sewn.
• The sloths' clothing has been loosely inspired by Leonard St designs.
• From conception to, pattern making and right down to the final stitch, the sloth project took 48 working hours. That's 24 working hours for each sloth.

Each sloth comes with:

• Certificate of authenticity.
• Miniature accessories – a bag and felt crafted coffee cup.
• Box packaging, with a window view of the sloth inside.

Visit Leonard Street in Fitzroy and say hello to the sloths on display. For more information about these sloths and commissions send me an email.

My Big Little Shop

© Melissa Gaggiano

It is an exciting start to the week for me. It gives me a thrill to announce I've opened a store  for my limited edition collectable dolls.

If you're looking to buy something that is handmade by the designer and is OOAK, then my store is a most excellent place to give a look-see.

melissagdolls.bigcartel.com

Mirka Mora

A few years ago, my eye was drawn to a newspaper article about an iconic Melbourne artist. Her name is Mirka Mora. My knowledge of Melbourne culture was a somewhat limited (I'm still learning), so this was the first I'd heard of her. And I was fascinated (How could I not?).

In addition to being an artist, Mirka, along with her family ran cafes and restaurants in Melbourne. An entertaining woman, Mirka was known to sometimes do things to catch her patrons by surprise.

Mirka's paintings are innocent, and whimsical. There is a freedom of the ocean in the way she fills the canvas. Objects and creatures overlapping. There is no particular pattern that I can see.

My thoughts returned to Mirka, when the owner of Blue Dog Gallery shared with me a photo of Mirka sitting amongst her handmade art dolls. Well, blow me down! I didn't know that Mirka also made dolls( Or maybe I had simply forgotten).

I had the inspired notion to design and make an art doll inspired by Mirka Mora. And so I did. I made a brand new pattern just for this doll, and she is sewn, and hand painted. I gave the doll wings, because I saw wings and ducks appearing in photos of her artwork. Studying a few happy snaps of Mirka's paintings, I went ahead and painted the skirt in my own interpretation of her style (It was fun, letting myself be unrestricted). And of course the finishing touch – a paint brush in hand for this angel artist.

Le Papier Apartment

My Poppet Makes

Here it is! My April contribution for My Poppet Makes is now live, and you know what? It's a good day for paper crafting... Ah! Who am I kidding? There isn't a bad day for crafting and making. So, head on over to My Poppet Makes to find out how to make this Parisienne inspired paper apartment.

Purse + Owl + Stuff

Handmade magazine – # 36-12

The 2018 April issue of Handmade has dropped in news agencies, and would you believe? I'm a cover girl! Well, sort of... kind of! Two of my designs are cover girls. That counts doesn't it? Check out Handmade to find out how to make the Mermaid Purse and the Pocket Owl.

In other news, I've been full steam ahead, as I work on a top secret project. Obviously it's not so secret because I'm telling you that I've got something in the pipeline. But it's secret enough that you'll just have to be patient and wait for the ultimate unveiling.

The past few days a viral meme garnered my attention – #artvsartist . So, I decided to participate.

#artvsartist