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Showing posts with label felt. Show all posts

Friday, 8 May 2020

Felt Art + Marbling Design + Learning

Are your running out of craft ideas? Not to fret, as I've got you covered with another two projects.

Head over to Kidspot to get your hands on a Felt Art Template set I created. This set is the perfect starter kit for creating felt images. This activity is perfect for isolation, or travel (life after isolation).

My Poppet: DIY Marble Design Hat

In My Poppet land, I have shown how simple and easy it is to marble a three dimensional blank canvas.

Here's a fun fact about the marbling ink (Bokuundo) used in this project. I bought the marbling ink from an art store fifteen years ago, and it's still good to use.

WC Digital Portrait © Melissa Gaggiano

I have signed up for a swag of short art courses. I've completed a portraiture course that combines water colour with digital elements. The other courses I'm working through include BJD making, Art Toy Design, and Pop-up Book Making.

Friday, 30 August 2019

Coffee, Macarons, Pigeon Post + Hot Dogs

In the week that was there has been coffee and macarons. As in, I've been making coffee and macarons, not in the kitchen, but with my sewing supplies. Doesn't that look a treat?

One of the kids has started on a letter writing journey with an an imaginary postal pigeon. I have enabled her. Together we have created a postal station in the yard. It is a place for the 'pigeon' to deliver letters, and rest.

Before the above landing pad was made the fence acted as a temporary postal station for the pigeon, and sure enough, the next day, their was a mail collection card letting us know the kid's letter had been received by the pigeon.

On a end of day whim I made a variation of a hot dog. It is a dachshund, resting on a bed that appears suspiciously like a bread roll. No hot dogs were harmed in the making of this lil guy. My littlest has named him Saucy. This is not at all weird.

Friday, 24 May 2019

Running with the Horses

Book: Running with the Horses by Alison Lester
Softie: Horse craft by Melissa Gaggiano

It happens sometimes that a book will draw to you. It's pull is like a delicate spider's thread. While knowing nothing about the book, you just know that it owns you, and you have no choice but to take it home to read.

This is what happened when I borrowed Running with the Horses, a library book by Alison Lester.

I sat with the kids and together we read the book. Each of us taking a turn in reading through the story to one another. It was a sort of magic that 'reading together' creates. Story time is like the foundation for our memories. But it's more than that. With a story like Running with the Horses we feel and experience something so totally different from the life we know.

The textile artist in me was so moved. Inspired by one of Alison's illustrations I created a softie horse, based on the 'little blue horse' belonging to Nina. The felt designed softie has stitched spirals just like Nina's horse.

Find out more about Alison Lester.

Book: Running with the Horses by Alison Lester
Softie: Horse craft by Melissa Gaggiano

Friday, 26 April 2019

Play Clay, Hey!

The past six months we have been composting, and fantastically it really has cut back so much garbage waste. To give you an idea: before composting, on average we were going through 2-3 bin bags a week; Now we are averaging 1 bin bag a week.

In lots of tiny little things we find ways to save and reuse materials which would otherwise make it's way to the bin. For instance, the Big Bunny has recently been visiting and done his annual dump... of foil covered chocolate eggs. I have this funny habit of balling up the foil while eating said chocolate. And wouldn't you know it, I got the idea that these balls/cubes of foil could be used for beading. So guess what we're saving from the rubbish pile this year.

We love playing with felt. As materials go it's perfect for everyone regardless of what you're sewing skills are. It doesn't fray, is generally speaking tough stuff, and comes in so many cheery, bright colors.

My youngest will often be in the mood for sewing. Out comes the felt box and off she goes whipping together a jacket and pants (pictured above: I wish this came in my size.).

A huge part of the creative construction in my home has been centered on what can be done with paper and fabric. For some time my youngest has wanted to get more into clay exploration. So this week we finally made that happen with air drying clay (bought from Riot Art).

Our approach to clay play is the same for any other craft medium, which is fairly unstructured: Make what you want to make. If it doesn't work, try a different approach. If it still doesn't work, we'll superglue the broken bits later. I find the kids are more likely to persist if someone's not critiquing the crap out of their development. Having said that, some of the things that the kids want to make can turn into a collaborative event – this is when they want/need a little guidance. It's good for me too, just sitting with them, crafting away at something. We're creating memories together.

Right now I've got the clay pieces fast drying on heater vents. The clay will be ready to paint when school is out.

Monday, 22 April 2019

Bunny + Egg = Buggy

The Easter weekend arrived, and there were some last minute crafting activities.

I blew an egg, and turned it into a bunny. The knack is to not pop your eardrums in the process. The kids loved the result, and wanted to make their own.

We had a grand plan to attend a public Easter egg hunt, but holy bunny-egg, you should have seen the queue. The kids were a bit disappointed that didn't happen, but when we got home I hid the chocolate merchandise so they could find it 'again'.

For the egg hunt I made the kids Easter baguettes. I used felt, craft glue, needle, thread, scissors and a sewing machine. Technically these bags were a draft. Got it on the first go!

Friday, 25 January 2019

A Fashionable Sloth

This week has been topsy turvy. I have been busy, exhilarated, a bit broken, resting, contemplative, patient, and figuring things out. Isn't this normal, for all of us really?

My fashionably attired, felt crafted, armature sloth doll is available in my Big Cartel store. She is a worthy addition to your doll collection.

I have been in development mode.

Developing what?

Developing stuff. Some of which you'll have to wait and see, but other things I can tell you about now. For instance I am having a go at needle felting a huuuuuuuuu-ge doll. It's a new direction for me. So I've got to be patient and not worry about the result.

I ordered felting wool from Highland Felting & Fibre Supplies. I'm so excited about working with these wonderful colours. Some of which will go toward making the above mentioned doll.

My youngest has been inspired by what I do. This week she has crafted a Sailor Moon mask, a hot dog, and an Easter egg. How neat is that?

Sunday, 11 November 2018

The Doll Box

One of my recent design creations has been to make a box home. It was for a little girl who loves LOL dolls. The furnishings have been designed to perfectly fit the dimensions of an LOL doll. The box doubles as both gift packaging and an actual doll room.

The furnishings of this box doll room include:

bed
pillow
double sided quilt
bunting
pot plant
book shelf
books x2
couch
couch cushions x2
chest

Materials I worked with include:

felt
print fabric
thread
hobby fill
wire
foam board

Send me an email if you wish to commission me to make this doll box.

Sunday, 16 September 2018

Sloths, Sloths + More Sloths

Total Sloth update!

It's the year of the sloth, here. I recently made a handful of 15 CM sloths for indie Australian fashion label Leonard St, in their Fitzroy boutique. Earlier in the year I made a couple of larger (fully dressed) sloths for them, and now the newly made, smaller sloths will join their remaining sister in the Leonard St store.

In addition to that, I have just finished another run of these sloths for my own doll store.

Sunday, 25 March 2018

Tiny Heart & Selfie Doll

I have been busy making this felt heart turtle. I haven't made one of my turtles in quite a while so it was a challenge remembering the process. The turtle is intended as a birthday present for later in the week. The turtle comes with a cardboard box. The way I made the box reminds me of old school travel trunks that were made of leather and metal.

Ann-nnnd, in other things! My youngest has been disappointed to hear that a friend will be leaving for another school. She decided to make a farewell gift for her friend. She painted a doll version of herself. The pattern is a scaled version of the daddy doll project that she painted several weeks ago.

Monday, 19 December 2016

Tiny Turtle

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.

Monday, 5 December 2016

Pinkie the Roller Disco Turtle

Looky-looky! There's a new turtle in my store. She's Pinkie the roller disco turtle.

Pinkie is a handmade felt crafted OOAK turtle. She is sweet. She is awesome. She is awesomely sweet… and she's pink. Check her out!

Thursday, 10 November 2016

Cupcake Cactus

Are you looking for end of year presents with a touch of indie pop? How about a cupcake cactus?
You can send me a message for commission details.

Tuesday, 8 November 2016

It's a Cactus

I can't be stopped. I'll find a way to create something. I may not be destined for greatness, but I was destined to make neat things.

Thursday, 6 October 2016

Tropica

This week I have been working on a birthday present for a lil' girl. Since the theme of her party is tropical I went with that concept when accessorising the doll.

Monday, 19 September 2016

Slow Progress is a Beautiful Thing

I have been working on these two Clueless cloth art dolls for a couple of months now. Three winter viruses slowed my progress right down. And now I'm almost there. The only thing left for Cher and Miss Dionne is to trim their hair and make accessories – one bag and one hat.

Thursday, 15 September 2016

A Hawk, Pony and a Clueless Girl

A Hawk, Pony and a Clueless Girl… sounds like the title for an obscure book or movie.

This week I surprised myself by the amount of crafting I wound up doing. In addition to working on the Clueless doll project, two other craft projects spontaneously dropped into my lap.

Today it is 'footy colours' day at my eldest's school. She wanted to wear a Hawthorn uniform, but… have you seen the price of those shirts?! Oh my! So instead I made her a Hawthorn Hawks badge, which she is now wearing with pride. I made this badge with my new needle felting tools.

Needle felted Hawthorn Hawks badge
made by Melissa Gaggiano

My youngest liked the Hawthorn badge and asked me to make her a badge. Since she has yet to declare her loyalties to any team [though she is beginning to show an interest for soccer], I decided to make something cute for her. I needle felted a My Little Pony image onto one of her shirts. I have just finished this little project, and now my eyes are tired and I have one sore, speared finger.

Earlier this week I finished designing and sewing the jacket onto Cher, the Clueless doll. Now that I know the jacket pattern works I will duplicate it for Miss Dionne, the other Clueless doll. After that the only thing left is to make accessories for these dolls.

Wednesday, 22 June 2016

Turbo Turtle Ready to Roar

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

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