Mouse + Paper + Clay

The weekend gone presented an interesting turn of events. There was an impromptu crafternoon, which led to the creation of Giuseppe, a needle felted mouse. Having wanted to make a little creature like this for quite some time. And the time never feeling quite right, until now. 

© Melissa Gaggiano

Since Giuseppe turned out as well as he did. I went at it again, and made another little mouse... even smaller.

After a tidy up one of the kids was on the verge of throwing out their recent paper sculpture. Before the paper was recycled, I took a photo of it, for a remembrance. This image makes you want to go on a holiday, does it not?

The kids make things with minimal input from me. Occasionally I show them techniques that I've figured out, but for the most part I give them the space to freestyle it. Yesterday though, we had a situation which required a collaboration between mama and child. The result was this Princess Peach statue.

Star Makers

In some respects I am in hibernation. There are moments of busy, business. There are also periods of quiet rest. The work of a crafter is quite physical, and especially so for a content creator. It was therefore important that I learn to pace myself, take up physio, and correct my workstation. All this, and battling head colds (It is winter). The good news is, my new habits are beginning to work, and will hopefully lead to my work being more sustainable.

During this quiet time I've enjoyed taking a time out from things like Instagram. Instagram is to be enjoyed, like flipping through a magazine very quickly. But it's not something that you want to become ritualistic. Imagine standing in a news agency all day, skimming every magazine in sight. You'd 'like' a lot of things, but how much of what you see is absorbed?

My best creative periods are when the kids invite me to make something with them. There has been clay sculpting, needle felting (Ouch! Ouch! OUCH!),  and more recently, moulding with a hot glue gun. Credit for the hot glue gun activity comes from an article about Moriah Elizabeth, in a recent issue of Total Girl magazine. All good fun!

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?

© Melissa Gaggiano

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

© Melissa Gaggiano

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?

Talk About... Pop Cactus

My Poppet tutorial

Talk about, pop cactus

Talk about, pop cactus

Pop, pop, pop, pop cactus

It's another proud day for me, as a new tute of mine is now available at My Poppet. If you love pop, felt craft and cacti then this is the perfect thing for you. Check it out now!

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

It's a Cactus

© Melissa Gaggiano

    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.

Slow Progress is a Beautiful Thing

© Melissa Gaggiano

    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.

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.

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

     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.

© Melissa Gaggiano

Finally a Needle Felter

My new needle felting tools
Clover pen style tool & mat
Arbee wool

    This week I finally, finally picked up a needle felting tool kit. After admiring the work of fellow doll makers who have been combining needle felting with their sewing, the time was right and I acquired the tools.

© Melissa Gaggiano
Needle felting test run

    One of the likeable aspects of the pen style tool is that it comes with three needles, which are removable. Depending on the type of needle felting you can use just one, two or three.

    I can hardly wait to try this on my next felt doll. Exciting stuff!

Fab Finds 19

    Today my Fab Finds theme shall be needle felting. This is something that I've heard about on the grape vine [aka world wide web], and I have seen many wonderful textile sculptures that have been produced as a result of needle felting.

    I decided to share some four cute and easy to follow needle felting tutorials that I found on Youtube. These just may inspire you too. So, take a look at what I found for you…

1. Needle Felting Basics by Pufftique:




2. Needle Felted Mushroom by Sweetorials:



3. Needle Felted Rabbit also by Pufftique:




4. DIY Totoro Plushie by Bubzbeauty: