Bunny Craft + Green Bean Baby + Jay Stelling

{My Poppet}

In the week that 'was' and 'is'. I have been feeling quite a bit ill. But I'm slowly recharging.

In more interesting news, I'm proud to announce a new sewing tutorial is now live on My Poppet. It's a cute little hand sewn bunny to add to your Easter fun. Even if you don't celebrate Easter, it's still a fun project to do.

{Green Bean Baby}

While I've been in rest mode, I've kept my fingers busy with a bit of therapy embroidery. I bought a digital embroidery pattern from the amazing Ellia of Green Bean Baby. If you like doing embroidery, check out Ellia's Etsy store to see more of her digital patterns, as well as a few other wee wonders the lady crafts and designs.

{Jay Stelling: Whistle-Stop Thistle}

Before signing off, I'd like to share one final interesting tid-bit with you. Doll artist, Jay Stelling, makes some of the sweetest lil' fairy folk that I've ever seen. I honestly love the baby belly bods of Jay's small people.

Jay is working hard to bring her lil' people to more people, by way of an illustrative-photographic book – Whistle-Stop Thistle. To find out more about this, head over to Jay's Kickstarter page.

New Venture

© Melissa Gaggiano

    I am pleased to announce a new opportunity on my path has opened up. I have a stockist for a selection of my hand crafted dolls. You can scream with delight right along with me now.

    The stockist sells beautiful,sweet hand crafted, locally designed wares. Plus it doubles as a coffee shop. Which makes complete sense since crafters tend to be caffeine fiends. 

    Here's everything else you need to know about the stockist:

16 Bays/ Sue B Design/ Cafe

Shop 7 16-18 Station Road

Cheltenham, Victoria, Australia

    Shout out to Sue B for this amazing opportunity - Thank you!

Avril Three

© Melissa Gaggiano

    Work continues as I prepare for the Xmas market. I am now creating Avril dolls and am halfway there with these three dolls. I just need to make their clothes and sew on the faces.
    Now time for me to get some exercise then back to the sewing, yes.

Done, Done + Done

© Melissa Gaggiano

Three little mermaids… done, done and done. Set and ready for the Xmas market. The fishtail fabric has an amazing holographic effect.

Great Value

© Melissa Gaggiano

    I have something special for y'all. Yeah, I know, I said y'all. Incidentally I have read a lot of books, and my favourite stories are written by southerners, about southerners. So it was inevitable that some southerner lingo would become a part of my vocabulary. But I digress…

    I wanted to just let you know about the great value mark downs I've made on my lovely handmade items, in store. If you've been keeping an eye on my store, now is a fantastic time to buy something special for a loved one, or yourself. I've got mermaids, country fashion dolls, and felt brooches. Check it out!

The Unveiling

© Melissa Gaggiano

    I told you something special was in the works. Well here it is! After an epicly short week of planning I am pleased/proud/ecstatic to announce the unveiling of my first artistic display. Just one week ago serendipity worked her magic when Tim the Librarian invited me to put together my own display at Cheltenham Library. Thank you so, so much Tim. You rock!

    It was a such a busy, activity filled week. I felt like I was planning a stage play. I was measuring, drawing, conceptualising, cutting, gluing, painting, printing. And what you see here is the result of my endeavours...

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

 

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

 

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

    For those living in the Cheltenham come visit Cheltenham Library, borrow a book, have a chat with the librarians and most definitely check out my doll display. You'll love it. The kids will love it.

Cheltenham Library

12 Stanley Ave, Cheltenham, 3192
Melway: 78 J6

Big Beautiful Doll Giveaway

© Melissa Gaggiano
Sirene & Avril dolls

    Fresh off the press - I am hosting a handcrafted doll giveaway. That's right, you've heard it here first.

    There are two prizes, therefore two winners, because I think nice things should come more than once. Up for grabs are two beautiful dolls made by... me. There is the long time favourite Sirene mermaid doll and the newly designed Avril fashion doll. One doll per winner.

    To go in the draw to win one of these adorable dolls, simply leave a comment below, telling me what sort of dolls you'd like to see me make in future. It's as easy as that. Really it is.

    This blog giveaway will run until… 28th April, 4PM. After that I will stick my hand in a fedora hat and pull out two names. Goodluck!

Postscript: Entries open to Australia, and internationally.

Something to Love + Share

    Come and visit my online store or share the below link with a friend. You might find something quite special.

www.etsy.com/au/shop/MelissaGaggiano

Melissa Gaggiano doll designs

Mermaids Abound

    I am proud to announce my new line of mermaid dolls are now available in my Etsy store. Check it out and share the love with friends and family. 

www.etsy.com/au/shop/MelissaGaggiano

Melissa Gaggiano doll design

Melissa Gaggiano doll design

Hot Woman

    I am pleased to announce on this wild and wooly day that I have a new piece of art available on Red Bubble as both a print and an iPad case.  You can check it out here and here.

Illustration by Melissa Gaggiano.

Illustration by Melissa Gaggiano.

Check out more of my work at www.redbubble.com/people/emjie

Take a look at my dolls available and on sale at Etsy - www.etsy.com/shop/MelissaGaggiano

Newsflash Feature

Design by Melissa Gaggiano.

    It was a bit of a slow afternoon, but I got a real rocket up the bum when I discovered one of my favourite bloggers featuring my mermaid dolls on her Zesty Finds. Thank you Kellie!

Check out the feature at 74 Lime Lane.

Check out the mermaid dolls selling at Etsy.

Alma

    Here is a short film that is both 'horrific' and 'cute'. And believe me, I never thought I'd be using those two words in the same sentence. Some of the elements in this story felt like the beginning of a Dr Who story. What do you think?


Alma from Rodrigo Blaas on Vimeo.

A Possibility


    A couple of times in the past few years I have commissioned the talented doll maker, Evie Barrow to make pirate princess dolls for my daughters. And now I have thought up the perfect way to display these dolls in my daughters' bedroom - a wall mounted shelf that looks like a pirate ship.
    This project would need me to use carpentry skills which I do not yet have. But I am so keen to make this shelf that I'm willing to learn a bit of the trade.


Drawing by Melissa Gaggiano.




Model by Melissa Gaggiano.

 

    The following are the pirate dolls created by one of my most favourite designers, the delovely Evie Barrow.

Tip of the Day: Look out for Evie's Bearded Men brooches.

Great Blinking Flights of Fire

Today I really want to talk to you about a fellow blogger who has being capturing my attention of late. Her name is Bec, and her lovely blog is Blinking Flights.

For those unfamiliar with Bec's work she handcrafts these really cute dolls and to boot — is a wonderful illustrator.

The thing that I like about Bec's style is the innocent, childlike quality. Her dolls are so cheerful and unique, especially as each comes with a swing tag character profile. Guaranteed — no two dolls will ever be the same.

Now, Bec has an online store that you can visit, if you follow this link. So check it out and you will find heaps of wonderful toys that would make an excellent gift for anyone — boy and girl; young and old.