Guilded Fire

© Melissa Gaggiano

Another gorgeous doll design concept. She's on fire!

Coffee Break, Masks and Other Challenges

In things that have been happening:

© Gwen Gaggiano

My eldest has offered to paint my portrait if I can go a month without drinking coffee. I'd love to have my portrait painted, but I don't know if I can sustain myself through caffeine withdrawal. I mean, my aim in life is to be less grumpy, and I can only imagine what the lack of caffeine might do. Perhaps the trick is to build it up – go one day without coffee, then have a coffee the second day. Two days without, one day with. Et cetera, et cetera!

Felt craft: The Legend of Zelda – Link with Bunny Mask;
Deku mask; Majora's mask.

My husband's birthday is just around the corner and I made him a headband. No, really!  I did. For a bit of context, years ago I made him a LOZ Link doll. Each year after that I make an accessory to go with the doll. So far I've made a Deku mask, and Majora's mask. This year I made the bunny headband mask. I'm thinking that one day we will need to build a treasure chest to store these pieces. Perhaps it can look like an actual LOZ chest.

© Melissa Gaggiano

My doll design development continues, as always. Working with armature, continued improvements to the pattern with each new doll. This week I have been exploring wig hair. Playing with a synthetic weft, as well as a needle felted hairdo. My next step is designing shoes and a crochet top for the blue haired doll. The crochet top is a massive challenge as I am experimenting with a super fine crochet hook and embroidery thread. Might work, might not! We'll see!

Handmade Feature

Handmade 36-6

The latest issue of Handmade is landing. I am so proud to announce that I am one of the featured contributors for issue 36-6. Look for it at local news stands and check out my Santa doll design.

The Gilded Cat

© Melissa Gaggiano

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

Eye Candy

© Melissa Gaggiano

Visit my Etsy store for ready made doll art pieces –

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

Or find out about my custom doll service –

http://emjietreasures.blogspot.com.au/p/custom-doll.html

Tiny Turtle

© Melissa Gaggiano

     It is an achievement and a satisfyingly wonderful thing when the design you construct comes together just as you had hoped. It is an even better feeling when you come back to your work and decide to rejig it - enlarging, shrinking, a different limb, that pattern piece that was a mask can now be a hair bow, that sort of thing.

    I recently challenged myself to take my now familiar turtle design and make an even smaller version. There was no knowing if it was going to work. After all smaller may mean using few materials, but it is by no means easier. Big hands doing little things.

    In the end I managed it and apart from scaling down the pattern pieces there was only one actual pattern piece change from the original design and that was in the legs.

    The only thing left to do is to name this lil turtle baby.

© Melissa Gaggiano

Something for Laodicea

© Melissa Gaggiano

     One of two projects I was working on this past week is this mermaid. I have made mermaids before, usually of the big cuddly variety. This time I designed a removable fishtail for my fashion armature doll design.

    Another reason for me to be getting excited about this design is my use of needle felting to make the hair. I love this technique. It's my new thing.

    I made this doll as a response to the lovely Laodicea who kindly illustrated a caricature of me recently. You can read about the drawing here.

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

Mermaid for Mimosa

© Melissa Gaggiano

    This shimmery, shiny, pretty mermaid is ready to swim to her new home. Hooray for dolls finding homes.

Constructing Beauty

    Constructing Beauty… sounds like the title for a fashion industry documentary, doesn't it. In actual fact I am celebrating the finished work of a rockabilly inspired Belle doll [think Beauty and the Beast]. She comes complete with rose, and a book titled 'Embrace Your Inner Beast'. Now although you can't tell by these photos but Rockabilly Belle sports a wilting tattoo on her left arm [hidden below her coat]. Isn't she a darling?

    If you are interested in commissioning a cloth art doll, check out the details here.

Beginning of a New Journey

Journey
That Game Company
{link}

    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...