Twenty Eighteen

These days I'm not much of a fan of New Year's Resolutions. Back in the day when I used to write those lists my resolve was bound to backfire. Looking back, I now understand my resolutions did not come with action plans or came with too high an expectation.

2018 is nearing completion, and no, I am not going to write a NYR. Instead I intend on using the next few weeks to rest, and take mental stock.

Doing the mental stock thing, I am following the recommendations of Marie Forleo. Marie is pure rocket fuel for my brain. Watching her videos really makes me think. And I do not mind revisiting her old videos, because, you know what? It's easy to forget, and travel off course. You are The Captain of your journey, but every good Captain refers to their Navigator. Yes, Marie is a Navigator of sorts.

With those brain farts out of my system, I want to share with you, my 2018 in review.

Let it begin:

Leonard Street (Australian indie fashion label) invited me to showcase my sloth doll designs in their Fitzroy store. The sloths are handmade armature (meaning, the limbs can move) felt dolls. Their clothes were made from the offcuts of Leonard Street fabric. Such an amazing project.

I am a regular contributor for the craft arm of My Poppet. My content has ranged from felt to paper projects. An exciting highlight was attending PAX as a media representative for My Poppet. Reporting my experience of this colossal event for My Poppet Living.

I have been a regular craft design contributor for the Australian magazine, Handmade.

I produced a downloadable ebook – a tutorial for making a simpler version of my Leonard St sloth designs.

I received a commission to make classroom finger puppets. The puppets were intended as a classroom tool, for students to express their feelings, in their transition to high school. These finger puppets have armature in the arms.

Although not craft design orientated, it is a worthwhile point to mention, I was hired as a photographer for a Fortieth Birthday celebration. It was both a highlight of my year and a creative job, therefore worth mentioning.

Worthy mention:

I handcrafted a felt furniture set. The bed and couch were designed to suit the dimensions of an LOL doll...

... and it was well received.

Finger Puppets + Other Things

Commissioned finger puppets,
made by Melissa Gaggiano.

I was recently commissioned to make finger puppets, to be used as classroom tools. The purpose of the puppets is to act as a prop, through which children can express their thoughts and feelings. Such a wonderful thing, and I couldn't have been more thrilled to create something that could be beautiful and useful.

I have also been making accessories to go with this sloth doll. I made a book and pencil out of felt and thread. I've made felt books before, but this was the first time I crafted an actual felt pencil. That was different. I can hardly wait to get this off to the intended birthday kid.

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

Oh Yeah! And...

... it's my birthday.

Pretty in Pink

© Melissa Gaggiano

    When I came across this small metreage of pink tulle it called... Nae, in a whispering cry it told me to pick it up and pay for it. At the time I had no need for the fabric. There was no master plan for it to be turned into something more beautiful, or alternatively disastrous. Any fabric addict can understand what I am talking about here.

    As luck would happen I did find a use for this gorgeous material, and much sooner than I had imagined would happen. This tulle had me imagining Marie Antoinette, as played by Kirsten Dunst. Of course I didn't have nearly enough material to create anything that grand. The next best bit of inspiration did come along, in the form of Kylie Minogue.

    The previous week I took my daughters to the Kylie on Stage exhibit. All three of us were utterly enamoured and arrived home with stars, pearls and sequins in our eyes.

    This week is my eldest's birthday and I decided to make her a pretty party dress to celebrate. And so a meeting of many wonderful ideas – Kylie, pink, tulle, sequins, birthday, love for my daughters – culminated in my pattern making and sewing this gorgeous slip of a dress, which can be worn with singlet, shorts and leggings.

By the way, did you know the fabric tulle is named after the French city in which it is manufactured.

Doodling #12

Melissa Gaggiano illustration

Birthday Art

Illustration by Melissa Gaggiano.

    Today I worked on a birthday card for a relative. It is the easiest thing to buy a birthday card and there are some lovely cards out there. But when I have the time for it, I do prefer crafting the cards myself.

Lighting It Up



Photography by Melissa Gaggiano

    I was given spending money for my birthday. I visited a Typo store and bought myself a couple of journals and these atmospheric fairy lights with miniature lanterns. I set up the lights on my bedside shelf. I love, love, love my new lights.



Photography by Melissa Gaggiano

Growing Granny

    I am now at the 25 mark. 25 granny squares, that is. I am rather enjoying this project now that I am confident enough to not have to refer to instructions as I produce each square. If not too under the pump with other things I can manage to do one square per day.
    The past week has been busy and my goodness, it sure has gone quickly. One of my activites included sewing a birthday dress for my eldest daughter. She loves, loves, loves Alice in Wonderland. So, naturally enough I sewed the blue dress and matching apron, which she will wear to her own birthday tea party.

    And now I say adieu. I am sleepy and want to watch the fifth Harry Potter film I picked up today, before going to bed.

Your First - My First

My paper cut art.

    This afternoon I was busy constructing a Birthday card for a little boy about to turn one. This is actually a paper cut illustration. I tell you what it was no easy feat. The drawing is the easy bit. The real concentration comes with the actual cutting. You need a steady hand, but the end result is so totally lovely and therefore worth it.

    For a long time I have been inspired by a fellow crafter, Ellia Hill - she makes such stunning illustrations with her paper cuts. So when it was on my project list to make a Birthday card I decided to try my hand at paper cut art. 

    By the way I highly recommend you check out Ellia's artwork at http://www.etsy.com/shop/greenbeanbaby

Excitable Me

Today my Dad gave me an extremely early Birthday present. As in, my Birthday isn't for another two and a half months. I received the film New Moon on Blu-Ray. How good is that? How lucky am I?

I haven't seen New Moon yet, and I am highly addicted to the Twilight saga, so I am very much looking forward to watching this movie.

Almost time to start rereading the saga (Hey! Don't throw that book at me. I told you I'm addicted.)

Thank You Dad!

Happy Birthday Dad

Yesterday was my Dad's Birthday. Being that he has long been a fan of the Dr Who series, I drew this picture of Tom Baker (the Fourth Doctor) as a birthday gift.

I'm back, baby!

I once again have a bit more time to spare for good old blogland. The past few months I had been back at my old job after having a year of maternity leave. While I was back at work my husband took his paternity leave and staid home with Gwen. We have once again reversed the roles. Michael is back at work, and I am home with the bub.

So what is the latest in the world of moi?

I had already watched the True Blood telly series, so I decided to read the stories that started this southern sensation. I'll tell you something funny. When I first watched True Blood I though Sookie's family name was Steakhouse. It is good to see that the series is faithful to the feel of the original stories, but with just enough of a twist that their is no predictability from watching the show or reading the books.

I also watched a fun sci-fi telly series titled Warehouse 13. I highly recommend watching this show. It sort of a family fun, X Files, meets Indianna Jones, meets Buffy. And this comes as no surprise, as one of the creators of this show is the utterly brilliant Jane Espenson — writer and Co-Executive Producer of the Buffy series (All Hail Jane!).

The other week it was my SIL's Birthday, so I made her this card (and yes, she does have an appreciation for cats)…

I am actually crocheting!

My husband's birthday is just around the corner. So for his Birthday I am crocheting a coin purse for him.

Since childhood, Michael has been a hardcore fan of The Legend of Zelda. So this will be the inspiration for the coin purse. The purse will be a drawstring pouch which will latch onto trousers.

I found just the right coloured yarn and have begun making the little coin purse.

Pahr-Tee at the 321

Lat night my lil family headed out in style over to Fitzroy where there was a lovely soiree, which we had been invited to. It was at in.cub8r Gallery and the party was to celebrate the Second Birthday of both in.cub8r Gallery and MixTape.

Although we couldn't stay more than half an hour (it was baby's first big night out) a lovely time was had, and there was so much 'wonderful' to see. The walls and display cases were filled with papercrafts, ornaments, jewellery, wall poster art and indie fashion. I just wanted to buy a little something of everything.

Before heading back home I bought a couple of books from the gallery:

• Issue 9 of Mixtape zine
• Handmade Nation

Optimus Prime

This here cover art is something that I made for my cousin's Birthday card.

The colours blue and red always look so amazing together, don't you think?

Is there a Doctor in the TARDIS?

Last week it was my Dad's Birthday and as a present I crafted, with paper, the above likeness of the TARDIS.

My Dad has been a fan of the BBC Dr Who series almost all his life and pretty much from the age of two I have shared this interest with him. More recently I have been able to introduce  my husband to the Dr Who series when it was relaunched by the BBC (Woo-Hoo!) and now in the following years I look forward to introducing The Doctor to my daughter (Good times!).

Birthday Flowers

A few weeks ago I made these birthday cards with 3D flower ornamentation for the front decoration. There were a few birthdays coming up at the time, so it was a great opportunity to have some fun and play with paper.

Birthday

Today is my birthday. Yesterday M-Boo and I had lunch at Dad's. We all ate murtaba, satay chicken with hot n sweet satay sauce. We watched "The Last Starfighter", which was one of my favorite films from the eighties.

Today M-Boo's parents will stop by for morning tea and later in the day M-Boo will see the new Indianna film with brother/sister in law.

Wow. Feeling tired already.

I am looking forward to seeing the new Indianna film. M-Boo and I grew up watching the Indianna movies. For a time I wanted to grow up and become a female version of Indianna.