Week of the Dolls

My youngest daughter with her Journey inspired doll.

    Over the past week there has been a fair share of doll making in this creative environment. I continue to work on a Journey [That Game Company] inspired art doll. It has been a matter of sculpting the pattern pieces bit by bit. Building up the doll a little at a time. The process for making this doll really has been so very different to my other designs. It is an experience I am learning and growing from.

    My youngest has watched me make the Journey doll and naturally she wanted to make one herself. I took a break from my doll making as I encouraged and guided my daughter in designing and sewing her own Journey inspired doll.

My Journey doll: A work in progress.

My Journey doll: A work in progress.

    I pulled out one of my older doll designs, made her a bag and off she went on her merry way as birthday gift for a lil' girl turning five. I love this doll design. I remember making it while watching the Elvis Presley film Roustabout. Ah, happy memories!

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

Poc Pocs

My youngest enjoys watching Abney & Teal, and I will be honest, so do I. In fact the whole family loooooves watching Abney & Teal. Sometimes the girls play with garlic, pretending they are Poc Pocs. Sometimes I have to tell the girls not to take the garlic because it's needed for dinner. And I have discovered garlic appearing in the washing machine after doing a load. So you get the idea.

My youngest asked me to make a Poc Poc, and I kept saying 'tomorrow' while I worked out in my head how I was going to craft it.

Finally 'tomorrow' became 'today'. It is too-darn-hot-to-go-outside weather and I had an idea of how to sculpt a fabric Poc Poc. So here is where I am at…

Second Draft

© Melissa Gaggiano

    The second draft and the first mock up of a wolf mask all rolled into one. Model testing is next on my agenda for this mask. Stay tuned...

Wolf

© Melissa Gaggiano

    As a side project I have begun work on drafting a wolf mask. I am making the mask for a photographer, who is planning on a 'fairytale' themed photo shoot. As always, watch this space so you can follow my design process.

Hybrid

© Melissa Gaggiano

    When I woke up this morning I did not know I would spend my day doll making. I fully anticipated a day of writing. But after a round or two of Solitare I realised that wasn't going to happen. So I turned off the laptop, pulled out the Sculpey and set to work, practicing doll sculpting [for which I am a complete noob].

    After baking the doll head, for which I'm rather proud of in a very rough, round about way [Hey, It's progress! You should have seen my previous attempt]. I then decided to practice painting the face. And while I was at it, why not give the new girl a body.

    Before I knew it I was holding my first ever hybrid sculpted-cloth doll. Something I had been wanting to do for such a long time. She's far from perfect, and there are a lot of things I would do differently the next time round, but I love this little draft. So much so I'll make her  a fifties dress and give her a name. She deserves it I think.

© Melissa Gaggiano

    By the way… Is it just me, or do you think the doll looks a bit like this lass?

Who's That Doll?

© Melissa Gaggiano

    Just a quick blog pit stop. I've almost finished making my new line of dolls, and thought I'd share a mysterious back of the head shot. Feeling mucho relieved about completing this range. Stay tuned for further updates...

Stuffing, Stuffing, Stuffed.

© Melissa Gaggiano

    And for those who appreciate a behind-the-scenes of doll making. Here is a snap of where I am at on my current doll project. I spent half the day stuffing arms, heads and bodies. Not always as easy as it looks. Tomorrow will be all about sewing the body parts together.

On His Way

Doll making by Melissa Gaggiano

Doll making by Melissa Gaggiano

    Another quick Link update. He is coming together and holding his own… things. Good on him.

Check. Check. Check.

Doll making by Melissa Gaggiano

    Link? Check. Shield? Check. Sword? Check. What next? Sword holder, Majora's mask, bunny mask and Deku mask.

    My hands are occupied with sewing. My ears are occupied with the sounds of Frozen [4th viewing request by Keira]. My mind is thinking of a million wonderful creations that may just happen once I finish making Link.

Hat + Ears

Melissa Gaggiano doll design

    This is where I'm at with the Link doll. The transformation of this doll has been incredible. I just love how the little pieces make up the whole.
    The next phase is working on the accessories, starting with the shield.

Look At That

Melissa Gaggiano doll design

    Will you look at that. I wasn't sure how I'd address Link's hair. Using my usual felt wigs [the mermaid dolls] and the floppy yarn hair [a more recent design feature] wasn't going to work with this doll. Staring at the illustrations of Link I realised that his hair needed to be flat, curved and layered in individual pattern pieces.

Hard To See

Melissa Gaggiano doll design

At first it's hard to see how it's all going to come together when faced with a couple of unconnected, flat pattern pieces. But as you build on it, that doll takes on a life of it's own. Keep on, keeping' on!

Legend of…?

    A new project in the works… A Legend of Zelda doll. Not saying much. Very busy. Here's a snapshot of where it is at. Gotta keep on, keeping on.

Melissa Gaggiano Photography

Cute + Scary

Doll design by Melissa Gaggiano

    I have begun work on a doll design for my eldest. Knowing that I was making a Monster High doll for my youngest, she wanted to have her own. So I asked her to do a drawing of how the doll should look. I have interpreted the drawing with a couple of modifications.

    My eldest is super excited and can't wait for me to finish the doll. If she had her way I would have been working on the doll well into the night, but after 8 hours I had to put my foot [and sleepy head] down.

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

It's Coming Along

    And now for another peek at the dolls I am crafting. They're coming along nicely.

Melissa Gaggiano Photography

Come Together

Melissa Gaggiano doll design

    I have spent this week working on a collection of handmade dolls. If the fish tail is not a giveaway I can tell you it is a collection of mermaids that I am making. And right now I am working on stuffing the arms and legs - all 32 limbs.

What's My Name?

Melissa Gaggiano doll design

    On and off this week I have done a bit of doll making. She isn't complete - no arms and no name. Usually I know exactly what to name my dolls. This time round though it's just not coming to me. Maybe you can name this doll.