Time to Repair, Make, Reflect

In this time of social distancing, which can make a messy cocktail of loneliness and boredom, it makes all the difference having activities to keep your mind busy and engaged in a healthy way. Here I've put together a bunch of new projects that can help you in this slightly new found hermit existence.

My Poppet Makes: Darning Socks

Have you got a pile of holey socks which, apart from the unravelling blackholes, could be perfectly fine. Rather than throwing out those holey socks, head over to My Poppet and try a simple darning tutorial. A few things I love about this activity – it's easy, basic sewing; it'll add colour to your otherwise humdrum socks; it doesn't take long to repair the holes, and will extend the life of said socks.

Kidspot: Worry Doll

A loss of routine and uncertainty can produce distress. The act of working with your hands can help calm the mind, whether it be through sewing, drawing, baking, or really any form of creation. If you or your family members are feeling lost and out of sorts during social distancing, try making a worry doll. I have produced my own version of a worry doll for Kidspot, in a very easy to follow video tutorial.

Did you know worry dolls originate from a Guatemalan legend? It is a Mayan tradition to present children with a worry doll to free them of their nightmares. Before going to bed a child can whisper their worries to the doll. The doll is placed under the pillow, and the next day the child wakes worry free. Exploring deeper into the origin of the worry doll the tradition is connected to the legend of  Princess Lxmucane, who received the gift of problem solving from the sun god.

Kidspot: Stationery Caddy

Another recent Kidspot craft tutorial I recommend checking out is a DIY Stationery Caddy. You'll laugh when you see what I used to make this. While home based learning is in progress, having an easy to carry stationery container can be the perfect item, and craft activity, for the kids' temporary school space.

My Poppet Makes: DIY Paper Cherry Blossom Mobile

One last item in my activity round up, if you have a love of paper craft, mobiles, cherry blossom, and Japanese culture, then I have something for you. It is a DIY Paper Cherry Blossom Mobile. That's a mouthful! You can decorate your home with one of these mobiles. Or make a handful of them for a garden party. 

An amazing plus to this project – if you own a Cricut cutting machine, there is an SVG file version of the flower template. Having a Cricut will save you so much time and energy in cutting out these intricate flower designs.

Kidspot Will Have You Charmed This Mother's Day

KIDSPOT – MOTHER'S DAY CRAFT

The past few days I have been in full project mode. Those are the best times – producing work that is both pleasurable and challenging. As an added bonus, the creation process is a form of renewable energy as it feeds both my drive and imagination.

So what have I been working on lately? It is charming! It is lovely! It is a Kidspot – Mother's Day craft project. Head on over to Kidspot to find out how to make this sweet charm.

What else is happening in the land of Melissa. There's lots of brainstorming, chats with the little one about making a fairy village in the garden. We've already got a miniature prayer statue back there, so there really needs to be a village to go with it.

Catching up with an old friend, sparked an idea for a 'date night' outfit. Think twin flamingo shades, pom-pom shirt, with matching wedge sandals and toe nail polish. If the outfit makes your date turn and run, I say it wasn't meant to be.

Bunny + Egg = Buggy

 

© Melissa Gaggiano

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! 

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

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.

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.

Gameboy + Pac Man + Fish Girl + Fast Food

I'm busy. You're busy. Everyone's busy. It's that time of year. We're all rushing to get things done, as if Christmas and New Year is this unspoken cut off period. We all know it's drawing near. In fact, we've had a whole year to brace for the festive season. And yet, here we are, losing our sanity, collectively.

Oh well.

The past week I have been hand making presents for family and friends. Nothing says friendship appreciation like a felt crafted Nintendo Gameboy and a tray of fast food.

As of tomorrow, I will try listening to my own inner voice, and stop... Maybe.

Angel Baby

{My Poppet link}

"Who is the dream who starts me dreaming

Angel baby

Then keeps me worrying and schemeing

You, angel baby, you"

The year is drawing to a close at a pace that I can hardly believe. Time doesn't stand still, and neither do we. There is always something to work toward, and always a time to rest. The planet rests. Flowers rest. Animals rest. Humans are animals, and we too need our rest, as much as we need good work to thrive.

On that note I'd like to take you to My Poppet to access my latest DIY. It is an easy as paper angel project. This decorative piece makes a lovely time out project. So head on over to My Poppet, and get into it!

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.

 

DIY Legend of Zelda Cosplay

{My Poppet link}

For the average ghosty it is that time of year – Halloween! But for some it's Halloween all year round. That's right! I'm talking about cosplayers. And for all you cosplayer wannabes I've written an article tailor made just for you. So head on over to My Poppet and read about my design journey when I made a Linkle cosplay outfit.

DIY Legend of Zelda Character Costume

DIY LoZ Korok Mask

My Poppet Makes

Ding dong!

Halloween is around the bend.

Masks on!

Mischief is in the air.

My latest craft tutorial is now live at My Poppet. It is the perfect project for all you Legend of Zelda enthusiasts. And even if you don't know about LoZ, head on over anyway, to find out what Koroks are all about, and how to make this mask for the lil' Korok in your life.

My Poppet – DIY Korok Mask

A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies

{My Poppet}

I just discovered that a group of butterflies is known as a kaleidoscope. How neat is that? I can picture it, being inside a kaleidoscope filled with butterflies. In fact that give me an idea for another project, but that's for another time. Right now, I want you, to check out my latest butterfly craft project, over at My Poppet.

And if you cannot get enough of butterfly craft, My Poppet also has this butterfly lantern, for you to try.

Sloths, Sloths + More Sloths

© Melissa Gaggiano

Total Sloth update!

© Melissa Gaggiano

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.

© Melissa Gaggiano

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

© Melissa Gaggiano

Chopstick Hairy Accessory

© Melissa Gaggiano

This just in! My latest craft tutorial for My Poppet is now live. Mosey on over to My Poppet and learn how to make this 'sparkly as a star' hair accessory.

© Melissa Gaggiano

Tuxedo Mask, Mermaid + Other Cuties

This has been a week of announcements and other fun things.

Firstly, there is this finger puppet tutorial that I created for mypoppet.com.au. If you're a fan of Sailor Moon and making crafty things, then this project is for you.

My Poppet Project

In Handmade magazine, issue 37-3 you will find my Lambie doll design. Lambie is as soft as a pillow, if not, softer. You will want to make this fellow and tote him around for cuddles.

I was commissioned to make "Mirabella", a cloth mermaid doll. She was constructed using a variety of techniques:
- She is machine and hand stitched.
- Her facial and body details have been painted and drawn.
- Her hair is partially needle felted.
- Her body has internal armature.

In other things I have been constructing miniatures. Miniature food...

... and miniature sloths.

Leonard St Sloths in Fitzroy

At last! I can show you the very project that has kept me so very busy the past few weeks. I have created two, super loveable sloths for the Australian fashion label – Leonard St. 

These limited edition, collectable sloths are on display in the Leonard St Fitzroy store and are also available for sale. 

Leonard St – Fitzroy
132 Gertrude St
Fitzroy VIC 3065

Store Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 6pm 
Sunday: 11am – 4pm


A few facts about these sloths:

• The sloths are made using a varied combination of doll making techniques, including hand stitching, needle felting and armature.
• Both new and upcycled materials (Leonard St fabric offcuts) have gone into the making. The most prominent material used is felt.
• The sloth dolls have armature, meaning they can be posed. Even the sloths' claws have armature.
• The sloths are 95% hand sewn.
• The sloths' clothing has been loosely inspired by Leonard St designs.
• From conception to, pattern making and right down to the final stitch, the sloth project took 48 working hours. That's 24 working hours for each sloth.

Each sloth comes with:

• Certificate of authenticity.
• Miniature accessories – a bag and felt crafted coffee cup.
• Box packaging, with a window view of the sloth inside.

Visit Leonard Street in Fitzroy and say hello to the sloths on display. For more information about these sloths and commissions send me an email.

Purse + Owl + Stuff

Handmade magazine – # 36-12

The 2018 April issue of Handmade has dropped in news agencies, and would you believe? I'm a cover girl! Well, sort of... kind of! Two of my designs are cover girls. That counts doesn't it? Check out Handmade to find out how to make the Mermaid Purse and the Pocket Owl.

In other news, I've been full steam ahead, as I work on a top secret project. Obviously it's not so secret because I'm telling you that I've got something in the pipeline. But it's secret enough that you'll just have to be patient and wait for the ultimate unveiling.

The past few days a viral meme garnered my attention – #artvsartist . So, I decided to participate.

#artvsartist

Tiny Heart & Selfie Doll

© Melissa Gaggiano

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.

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

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.

© Melissa Gaggiano