Sloth, Turtle, Walda and the faces

My latest uploaded OOAK pieces currently available in my Etsy store.

Lights Camera Fashion – Kanari Pinku

The day has arrived, and it's been a long wait. What am I talking about? I'm talking about Lights Camera Fashion, a group exhibit hosted by incube8r. This exhibit has been in the itinerary for near on six months. The doll took a few months to make, and social distancing delayed things along the way. But we got through that alright, and incube8r is now able to open their doors for exhibits (Yay!). 

The theme of this exhibit is fashion, and the artists involved were invited to use art to intepret the fashion industry. My play on fashion came from multiple sources. I'd been reading books about Akira Isogawa and Romance Was Born, which became a mental visual source of inspiration for me. I also had the film Pretty in Pink heavily on the brain. If you're not familiar with this story – girl on wrong side of the tracks makes good with her rags, but chooses wrong boy from right side of the tracks (Yeah! I'm a Duckette – if this confuses you, you'll need to watch the film to be 'un' confused). I named the doll Kanari Pinku, which basically translates to Pretty Pink.

I've made a one off fashion art doll for this exhibit. Materials include fabric, clay, wire, thread, paint, yarn, acetate, and hobby fill. The doll is truly a one of a kind as her clay face has no mould. I've used a variety of techniques to make this doll. She has wire armature inside. Her clothes have been embroidered and spray painted. Her synthetic weft hair has been hand stitched and styled (and spray painted). Plus the doll comes with her own star stand (also spray painted). My proudest point of this doll is her kimono which is also a hoodie. Now I only wish this kimono came in my size.

If you're about Melbourne I recommend visiting incube8r, not only to check out Lights Camera Fashion, but to also explore the onsite shop offerings from local artists. Make a day of it in Fitzroy.

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.

Apple Bomb is Here

© Melissa Gaggiano

After many hours of work, Apple Bomb has finally landed. Apple Bomb is a thoroughly modern Snow White. At concept stage her name became Snowdrop. Through development her name changed to Apple Bomb as her fiery personality developed.

Apple Bomb is a royal and an activist. She raises awareness and is aiming to make social changes to end child slave labour.

Apple Bomb is mostly hand sewn, has hand painted facial details. Most of the fabric used came from left over fabrics; The denim jacket was originally from my old pants. Decoration on the headband was needle-felted. And the body has an internal wire armature.

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

Magnifique Bleu

Doll design
© Melissa Gaggiano

When things are quiet here, it usually means I am being busy in other departments. The past several weeks have been devoted to new design development. One of those designs happens to be this new armature prototype.

I am proud of all that has been achieved, but with this new design I feel I have reached a tall peak. Here's to today's success, and to the next mountain.

Journey's End

Journey inspired game art doll.
Based on Journey by That Game Company.

    It took me a while, but look I got there. I just finished construction of my Journey doll. For those not in the know Journey is a soul moving game by That Game Company. After playing the game only twice I was inspired to make an art doll, which is what you now see.

    The doll is made from felt, thread, stuffing and armature. A variety of sewing stitches were used to pull the doll together. There was much trial and error in getting the pear body shape just right. Along the way I realised that the wire I was using for the doll's skeleton could be used in the ribbon that trails from the body, to make it look like it was floating behind.

    It was an exciting experience bringing this doll together. It was like putting together a three dimensional jigsaw puzzle, but one that not yet been created. Get  your mind around that.

Journey inspired game art doll.
Based on Journey by That Game Company.

Week of the Dolls

My youngest daughter with her Journey inspired doll.

    Over the past week there has been a fair share of doll making in this creative environment. I continue to work on a Journey [That Game Company] inspired art doll. It has been a matter of sculpting the pattern pieces bit by bit. Building up the doll a little at a time. The process for making this doll really has been so very different to my other designs. It is an experience I am learning and growing from.

    My youngest has watched me make the Journey doll and naturally she wanted to make one herself. I took a break from my doll making as I encouraged and guided my daughter in designing and sewing her own Journey inspired doll.

My Journey doll: A work in progress.

My Journey doll: A work in progress.

    I pulled out one of my older doll designs, made her a bag and off she went on her merry way as birthday gift for a lil' girl turning five. I love this doll design. I remember making it while watching the Elvis Presley film Roustabout. Ah, happy memories!

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

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!

Multiplying Turtles

© Melissa Gaggiano

    The turtles are multiplying! I recently received two custom orders for these cute little Turbo Turtle art dolls, and now I am about to begin a third custom order. The turtle family is growing! 

    If you are interested in these turtles, there is a pre made one available in my Etsy store. Or if you wish to custom order one, simply drop me a line here.

Turbo Turtle Ready to Roar

© Melissa Gaggiano

     I am pleased to announce the completion of this commissioned felt art doll - Turbo Turtle is ready to begin his new life.

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

Commissioned Turbo Turtle

© Melissa Gaggiano

    This week I am working on a commission piece - Turbo Turtle. This is my third felt turtle, and yet totally unique in his own right. No two… or three turtles are exactly alike. The details on the shell do not follow a pattern and are cut, sewn in an organic way… much like how freckles form. In a world of super mass production I am proud to say that even if my dolls are cut from the same pattern, they will all have a different personality.

Turbo Turtle

© Melissa Gaggiano

    And now I have finished making a OOAK handmade felt turbo powered turtle. This turtle has places to be and turtles to see so he likes to move a little faster than the average turtle. So he wears skates on his feet and rockets on his shell. Such a clever turtle!

    Turbo Turtle is now available in store. Get in quick!

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

Turtle Project

A week of ups, a week of downs. Doing things that keeps the world spinning around. When things are quiet on the blog front, often that means things out in the ultra real world are far from quiet. At the moment I am in the middle of a turtle project. Think felt. Think turtle.  Think pizza. Think skates and rocket boosters.

You can follow my progress of the turtle on Instagram.

Meet a Doll Named Donna

I just finished making a new art doll which is now available in my store.

World meet Donna!

© Melissa Gaggiano

Meet Torres and Gillian

    Each doll I have developed has been a continual evolution. I am not one to keep producing the same old design, each doll I make is always going to be unique and an improvement upon the last. I have gone from large floppy, cuddly cloth dolls and over time moved more toward articulated fashion doll concepts. This year I have been playing with armature [that's what makes a doll poseable], and now with no further ado may I present two new poseable fashion dolls, in store now -

https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/MelissaGaggiano

{Instagram}

Under Wraps

    Last year I made a Link (Legend of Zelda) art doll, which came accessorised with shield and sword. At the time I had wanted to include other accessories, such as a Deku mask (as seen in the Majora's Mask computer game). For a number of different reasons the mask wasn't made, but it was always there in the back of my mind. It was something that I still wanted to make. Almost on the anniversary of making this Link doll I finally made the Deku mask.

See here the visual diary of the Link art doll being made:
Entry 1: Legend of
Entry 2: Hard to see
Entry 3: Look at that
Entry 4: Hat and ears
Entry 5: Shield
Entry 6: Check, check, check
Entry 7: On his way

Avril Meet World

© Melissa Gaggiano

    And now I finally get to present to you a new range of dolls. World meet the Avrils. Avrils meet world. I have produced 3 yellow haired beauties and one star doll with two colour hair. You will find these lovingly, handcrafted dolls in my online store.

© Melissa Gaggiano