Dolly Doctor

Circa 2014

    Quite a while ago I made my youngest a softie doll based on the steam punk character - Robecca Steam. The doll is made of felt and has been well loved, and had a lot of play. Consequently the doll had quite a few wear holes in her upper body. So I put on my dolly doctor hat on and did some patch up sewing.

Before repairs
[sad face]

After repairs
[yay]

So Pleased

    Today I completed the Robecca Steam doll. My littlest is so pleased. She spent the morning reminding me to keep at it [just like every other day this week] and after 19 hours I got there. K is now playing quietly with the doll. So now, I can crawl up in a ball and try to sleep off this virus that hit town last night.

Melissa Gaggiano doll design

All That Hair

Doll design by Melissa Gaggiano

    After three hours of hair work, I am almost there. Next step is to design and sew the goggles that sit on the doll's head.
    Goodnight, so tired now.

Almost There, Just a Littler Further

Doll design by Melissa Gaggiano

    Getting there with the Robecca Steam doll. Only two things left to to make - the hair aaaaand the steampunk goggles.

Progress

    My youngest is an excellent manager. She has been making sure that I stay on track making her Robecca Steam doll. So I really don't have too much time to wax lyrical about how well the project is coming along, because I know the little one will come in any moment and ask me to keep working on the doll. But I thought I'd share this snapshot of where it is at…

Doll design by Melissa Gaggiano

Constructing Robecca Steam

Photography + doll design by Melissa Gaggiano

    At the request of my youngest I have been working on a handmade cloth doll based on Robecca Steam, of Monster High fame.

    I made the decision to work with felt fabric as it is a friendly material. When I say friends, I mean that you don't need to turn or burn edges because the material will not fray.

    The basic template was drawn up on paper before choosing the fabric. However many of the more decorative details are being designed as I go along with the fabric cutting. This makes the design and construction an ever developing journey. The idea that I started with is so completely different from where it will end.