Sunday, 15 November 2015

Face Painting Template

My daughter's face painting ideas.

    Today my eldest decided that she was going to be a face painter when she grows up. What an epic idea!

    As a fun weekend project I suggested she create a folio of face painting ideas. Being that we were out of printer ink I created a face stencil that can be used many times over. 

    For those who like this idea, and have plenty of printer ink I have created for you a printable template (see below) for coming up with face painting ideas. I look forward to seeing the designs you come up with - include a link in comments below.

Printing spec: Scale to fit on A4

    Alternatively if you want to create a reusable face stencil simply create a copy of the below stencil. Ensure you use relatively strong card and cut out using a sharp art knife.
© Melissa Gaggiano

Friday, 13 November 2015

More Stuff

© Melissa Gaggiano
    I am working on a few more pieces to add to my stall, for next week's Christmas market. Altogether there will be badges, dolls, tooth pouches, photos and illustrations.

Fab Finds 16

And now for my latest fab finds - people, art, things to be excited about…

1. Many of us have heard of Helena Christensen, the model. Did you also know she is a photographer. It is not unheard of, a model making the transition to behind the camera. I find Helena's work to be detailed and smart. In this series of photos for VS magazine, I can feel the isolation of this solitary female. There is something buried just below the surface, a sense of waiting for something to come to head. But I wouldn't say the female is hiding, because in many of the images she appears exposed to windows, light, the road.
© Helena Christensen

2. Tere Hurst is a maker of animals. She illustrates them and hand crafts them. Many of her animals are clothed, bringing to mind my love of Wind in the Willows.
©2015 by murmur fremo

3. I am loving the colours and textures from the Neptune's Daughter range by Cassandra Verity Green. I'd wear these items in a heart beat.
© Cassandra Verity Green

4. The Oatmeal tells a story, Plane, with a surprising reveal toward the end of this strip. I won't say what, you'll just have to read for your self.

Wednesday, 11 November 2015

All a Glitter

© Melissa Gaggiano
    What do Kylie Minogue and I have in common? We both love glitter.


    Today I have been sorting out odds and ends for the upcoming market. I have made bunting and updating signage from a previous installation, with just a bit of glue and a whole lotta glitter.

Monday, 9 November 2015

A Market Stall Of Her Own

© Melissa Gaggiano
    Clearly I am very excited about this event. I'll be there selling my handmade wares. There will be felty food, fashion dolls, cat fairies, mermaids, and even a sloth.

Sunday, 8 November 2015

The Power of Three...

    … will set us free.

© Melissa Gaggiano
    I have now just finished sewing up the three Avril dolls. Time to relax, sort of.

Stay on Target

© Melissa Gaggiano
    I'm on target, for the Christmas market. I had forecast that I would finish the Avril dolls by the end of today. And darn it, it will be done, even if it means taking these babies on the road with me.

    Just a reminder of which market I will be setting up at…

Thursday, 5 November 2015

Fab Finds 15

And now for my Fab Four update…

1. I am finding a lot of cool new, old, always been there-but only just caught my attention stuff on Pinterest. One such find has been The Pale Rook, which is a textile art project by Johanna Flanagan. By day Johanna is a fashion and textiles lecturer. And by night she puts on her super cape and makes these period looking dolls from salvaged materials.
© Johanna Flanagan
2. The True Cost - I heard of this documentary through a cousin. I've seen a trailer for this and now it is on my must watch list. I highly recommend this documentary to anyone wanting to have a career in the fashion industry, and to anyone who has ever worn clothes. Yep, that be all of us. This documentary will have us questioning a very real cost to the clothes we buy.

3. If you've got young kids and watch ABC chances are you know what I'm talking about when I say Abney & Teal. The kids love this show! My husband loves this show!! I love this show!!! Well anyway, I found this behind the scenes blog entry by Joel Stewart of what went into making this incredibly detailed program.
© Joel Stewart
4. If you're on the look out for cute, comfortably crafty then check out Muita Ihania. Her site is a hub of sweet inspiration.
© Muita Ihania
And that wraps up my fab finds for today.

Avril Three

© Melissa Gaggiano
    Work continues as I prepare for the Xmas market. I am now creating Avril dolls and am halfway there with these three dolls. I just need to make their clothes and sew on the faces.
    Now time for me to get some exercise then back to the sewing, yes.

Tuesday, 3 November 2015

Done, Done + Done

© Melissa Gaggiano
Three little mermaids… done, done and done. Set and ready for the Xmas market. The fishtail fabric has an amazing holographic effect.