Katey Brooch

Illustration by Melissa Gaggiano.

    It is a wonderful feeling when inspiration returns. I am energised and work quickly. Yesterday I flipped through one of my sketch books and found a cartoon portrait I had done many months back. A wave of inspiration hit me and I just knew this face needed to be seen. Her name is Katey Brooch and she can be printed off, for the purpose of scrap booking or turned into a badge. The choice is up to you. Yo ho!

Of Owls and Pirates

    March would appear a time of change. A new month clicks over and the weather suddenly realises that it is not meant to be hitting us with 35° plus days. Thank the goddess for the cool change. 

    The other day, wanting an opportunity to do something crafty with my eldest I found a wonderfully easy paper owl activity. Together we made a team - I cut, my eldest glued. We now have four paper owls decorating her bed and she has plans to add more owls to her collective. We'll probably be doing that next week.

    Click here for the paper owl tutorial.

    I have also been designing and sewing a pirate costume for my eldest's pirate dress up day coming up at kinder. I made a pair of elasticated pants, a sleeveless jacket and a felted heart eye patch. I am pleased to say that not an extra cent was spent, as I used the materials already in my possession.

Original pirate concept.

Finished pirate garment.

Sketch Book Peek

My Sketchbook

    Here are some items from my sketch book. My eldest has a pirate costume day next week at kinder, so I was thinking of making something like this.

Sketch by Melissa Gaggiano.

    I do try to steer away from owls in my work, but let's face it, inspiration wise I am surrounded by owls. Whether it be the owls in Harry Potter, Owl from Winnie the Pooh, the owl on my kids' learn farm, the owl statues in neighboring yards, the crafters whose blogs I follow. And so it would seem I am drawn to owls.

Sketch by Melissa Gaggiano.

Bend & Snap

    On Sunday I went on an excursion into the city with my friend, Belinda. We had a lovely day of it visiting the Bend & Snap market. Eating penne and meatballs for lunch in an alley restaurant at Melbourne Central [I still think of the place as Daimaru even after all this time]. Checking out Outre Gallery. Making return trips to Bend & Snap as I struggled to make a decision. Eventually I took the plunge and bought this cute 'tourist' fox made by Caylie of The Creature Workshop. Belinda bought the bunny.
    We then finished off the excursion by splitting a lusciously warm and moist, chocolately chocolate brownie at the Max Brenner Chocolate Bar. We sat and talked for ages about crafting and drawing.
    Awesome, awesome day!

Check out Caylie's work:
Etsy shop - www.etsy.com/shop/TheCreatureWorkshop
Her blog - thecreatureworkshopblog.blogspot.com.au

Nesting Moon

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano.

    Check out this beautiful photo that I took of the moon tonight. It looks like a lovely egg in a nest of clouds.

Coraline Complete

    I didn't see it coming to an end so soon, but I completed making the Coraline doll early this evening. My eldest is simply rapt. She hasn't parted with the doll since I handed it to her. I am glad she likes it so much.
    What will I do now?

As the Sun Rises

This morning the sun was a flaming ball of red fire as it rose up from behind some trees and houses. This view was from my front door step.

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano.

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano.

Knitted Top Done

    I made a knit pattern for Coraline's top. I was going to make sleeves, but decided against it. I will be making a raincoat jacket for this doll and I was concerned that with knitted sleeves underneath it would be too bulky for the doll.
    Oh yeah! And for those following the progress of this doll you will have noticed she has had a haircut.

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano.

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano.

    Next stop, making Coraline's raincoat.

Sketch Book Peek

Sketches by Melissa Gaggiano.