Happy Halloween!

I hope you are enjoying a Happy Halloween today!

I’ve been working on watercolor cards this week and having quite a bit of fun with them.

 

Happy Halloween card by Marla L. Niederer

I’m finding creating them is helping me get into a better routine of practicing my watercolor painting.  They are quick, simple, and fun!

 

Bird Birthday card by Marla L. Niederer

Since it is Halloween I also thought I would share a treat with you.  I have been playing around with making Chai tea Pumpkin Lattes lately.  They have actually become one of my beloved husband’s favorites also.

 

Pumpkin Latte

This is the recipe to make your own.  Boil some water and pour ½ cup hot water over your favorite Chai tea.  Let it steep for 5 minutes.  Then in a pot add ½ cup of your choice of milk (I have been using hemp coconut milk).  Add 2 tablespoons of pureed pumpkin.  Add ½ to 1 tablespoon of maple syrup (depending on your sweet tooth), ¼ teaspoon of vanilla, and a dash of cinnamon. Then pour your steeped tea minus the teabag into the pot.  Heat till simmering while whisking all the ingredients together.  Pour into a lovely teacup, add whipped cream if you wish, and enjoy!

It's the last day to sign up for my online step by step video class called Dia De Los Muertos.  You can find out more about it by clicking on the picture below.

 

Dia De Los Muertos Necklace Online Video Class

You can find out about my self study classes by clicking on the picture below.

 

Self-Study Instant Download Classes

You can find out about the Little Lion and Little Santa Art dolls I have for sale by clicking on the picture below.

 

Art Dolls  by Marla L. Niederer for sale

You can find out about all the free tutorials I offer by clicking on the picture below.

 

Free Tutorials

If you want to find out more about me click on my picture below.

 

About Me

Until next time…….

 

warm hugs,

Marla

Watercolor painting practice and playing with clay

Watercolor Painting by Marla L. Niederer

I thought I would share with you what I have been working on this week.

 

Watercolor Painting by Marla L. Niederer

 I am trying to get into a better routine of painting with watercolors so I started practicing portraits in one of my art journals.  I find watercolor painting so relaxing and meditative. 

 

Watercolor Painting by Marla L. Niederer

During the time that I worked as a special education teacher I worked with preschool children for part of my career.  I used to have them play with watercolors on Wednesdays.  It was so calming and fun for them too.

 

Working on clay doll from Colleen Colquhoun Athen's online class

For the Art Connection Summit, even though I am teaching two online classes, I decided to take one too.  I used to use clay in my doll making before I seriously went into cloth art doll making.  It has been quite some time since I have used clay so I thought it would be fun to take Colleen Colquhoun Athen’s class too.  It is taking me some time to complete the class doll but having fun with it. 

 

You can still sign up for both of the online classes I am teaching.

To find out more about Bear and Raccoon Magic Online Video Class click on the picture below.

 

Bear and Raccoon Magic Online Video Class with Marla L. Niederer

To find out more about the Dia De Los Muertos Necklace Online Video class click on the picture below.

 

Dia De Los Muertos Necklace Online Video Class with Marla L. Niederer

You can find out about my self study classes by clicking on the picture below.

Self Study Classes with Marla L. Niederer

You can find out about the Little Lion and Little Santa Art dolls I have for sale by clicking on the picture below.

 

Art Dolls for Sale by Marla L.. Niederer

You can find out about all the free tutorials I offer by clicking on the picture below.

 

Free Tutorials by Marla L. Niederer

If you want to find out more about me click on my picture below.

 

About me

Until next time…….

 

warm hugs,

Marla

What I have been up to lately and how to make Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

 

Bear Magic by Marla L. Niederer

Even though the Art Connection Summit ended last Monday, the two online video classes I created for the summit, Raccoon and Bear Magic, and Dia De Los Muertos Necklace, are still going on.  The summit was so much fun and I always enjoy sharing my classes with other doll makers.

 

Dia De Los Muertos Necklace by Marla L. Niederer

I’m still working on my two Queen Ann inspired dolls that I shared with you recently. 

 

Queen Ann inspired dolls by Marla L. Niederer

They now both have hair and hats.

 

Queen Ann inspired doll by Marla L. Niederer

Queen Ann inspired doll by Marla L. Niederer

Queen Ann inspired doll by Marla L. Niederer

I had so much fun creating them!

 

I also experimented with creating a pumpkin cream pasta sauce this week.  My beloved was quite leery to try it but after he did we both decided that it was definitely yummy!

 

Pumpkin cream pasta sauce

I made it by first baking the pumpkin and pureeing it my food processor.  I then sautéed quite a bit of garlic (6 cloves) along with a chopped onion in olive oil.  I added 2 cups of pureed pumpkin and one can of whole coconut milk.  I added some chipotle pepper, cinnamon, smoked paprika, salt, and cilantro to taste. I then served it over some cooked pasta and grated some asiago cheese over it.

It was so rich and creamy! 

 

You can find out more about the Bear and Raccoon Magic online video class by clicking on the picture below.

 

Bear and Raccoon Magic online video class

You can find out more about the Dia De Los Muertos online video class by clicking on the picture below.

 

Dia De Los Muertos Necklace online video class

I have just added a Lion Art Doll and some art doll Santas to my shop that you can see by clicking on this picture

 

Little Santa Art Dolls by Marla L. Niederer

To find out about my self-study classes click on the picture below

 

Self Study Online Classes

For my free tutorials click on this picture.

 

Free Tutorials

To find out more about me click on my picture.

 

About me

Until next time………

 

warm hugs,

 

Marla

Queen Ann inspired Dolls on my Worktable

I thought I would share what has been on my worktable over the past few weeks.

Queen Ann inspired dolls by Marla L. Niederer

These are two 9 & ½” tall needle sculpted cloth ball jointed dolls inspired by Queen Ann dolls.

Queen Ann inspired doll by Marla L. Niederer

Queen Ann inspired doll by Marla L. Niederer

I used tube watercolors to create two different skin tones for the dolls.  I then used watercolor pencils and artist pens to add the facial detailing.

Queen Ann inspired dolls by Marla L. Niederer

They are both in the costuming phase.

Queen Ann inspired doll by Marla L. Niederer

Queen Ann inspired doll by Marla L. Niederer

I had so much fun creating these shoes!

Shoes for Queen Ann inspired doll by Marla L. Niederer

I will create hairdos and pretty little hats for them next.

 

There is still time to sign up for the two classes I am teaching at the Art Connection Summit which begins next Thursday.  I am teaching Bear and Raccoon Magic, an online step by step downloadable video class at the Art Connection Summit next week.  You can find out more about the class by clicking on the picture below.

  

Bear and Raccoon Magic online video step by step class

I’m also teaching an online step by step downloadable video class on how to create a bead embroidered necklace called Dia De Los Muertos at the Art Connection Summit.  You can find out more about the class by clicking on the picture below.

 

Dia De Los Muertos Necklace online video step by step class

I have just added a Lion Art Doll and some art doll Santas to my shop that you can see by clicking on this picture

 

Art Dolls for Sale

To find out about my self-study classes click on the picture below

 

Self Study Classes

For my free tutorials click on this picture.

 

Free Tutorials

To find out more about me click on my picture.

 

About Me

Until next time………

 

warm hugs,

 

Marla