Romance is the Music of Life

Think back to a time when your heart was filled with romance.  A time when all the colors in the world were more vibrant, when you danced in the rain on a whim, when everything was brighter, when waves of laughter were easier to capture, when the world was viewed with wide eyed wonder, and when your heart was filled with song. 

Claudette by Marla L. Niederer

This is the world that Claudette belongs to, the world of romance.  The world in which harsh realities, worries, and cares cease to exist.  A world in which you are invited to enter.

 

Claudette by Marla L. Niederer

You are invited to join me in an online class Claudette, a cloth needle sculpted mixed media cage doll,

I was inspired to create Claudette, after waking up with remembered words from a dream.  The words were:  Romance is the Music of Life.  Her creation was also inspired by cage dolls, half dolls, Marie Antoinette fashions, and of course romance.

 

Claudette by Marla L. Niederer

If you wish to find out more about the Claudette online class starting on February 12, 2019 or wish to sign up, you can click on this link to AforArtistic.

https://aforartistic.com/claudette-a-cage-doll-marla-l-niederer-cloth-doll-artist.html

 

Bridgette by Marla L. Niederer

I also have several art doll making instant downloadable PDF tutorials for sale in my shop

https://www.etsy.com/shop/OrsinisAngels

 

Moulin Rouge Dancers by Marla L. Niederer

If you are interested in taking a live doll making class from me I am scheduled to teach my Moulin Rouge Dolls workshop at Artistic Figures in Cloth & Clay in Columbus Ohio April 25^th – 28, 2019

www.CyndysDolls.com

 

La Fae Verte by Marla L. Niederer

I am also scheduled to teach a class on how to make dragonfly wings for dolls and bears at the Philadelphia Artist Doll & Teddy Bear Convention May 2^nd -4^th

http://www.quinlanmuseum.com/convention/

Until next time…….

warm hugs,

Marla

Do you Ever Wonder Where Inspiration Comes From?

I just wanted to share where my inspiration came from for one of my latest creations, Claudette.   I have always been a bit fascinated with Santos or cage dolls and when I saw a sale on decorative bird cages I had to buy them and try my hand at creating one.  Shortly afterwards I woke up from a dream remembering the words, “Romance is the Music of Life.”  It just seemed like the perfect theme for my cage doll.  So, I decided to create an altar to romance inside of the birdcage by filling it with handmade crepe paper flowers and a handmade frame filled with a romantic picture.  While searching for a picture to place in the frame I found a portrait of Queen Charlotte painted by Esther Denner in 1761 on Wikipedia.  I fell in love with her costume.  The bodice and ruffled choker created for Claudette were inspired by this painting.  I didn’t use it for the picture in the frame of the altar because I found a painting of Princess Henriette playing the viola by Jean-Marc Nattier that seemed much more appropriate for the theme.  Once I start working on a project it seems like inspiration for different aspects of the project just seem to keep popping up all around me!

It’s not too late to sign up for the online class Claudette: a Cage Doll.  If you would like more information about the class click on the link below :-)

http://www.aforartistic.com/claudette-a-cage-doll-marla-l-niederer-cloth-doll-artist.html

Claudette: A Cage Doll

I just wanted to share that I will be teaching a new online class,  Claudette:  A Cage Doll, on A for Artistic starting March 31.   If you are interested in more information click on the link to the class

http://www.aforartistic.com/classes/open-classes/claudette-a-cage-doll-marla-l-niederer-cloth-doll-artist.html

Claudette

 I just wanted to share with you my newest creation, Claudette!   Claudette is a mixed media, needle-sculpted cloth, ball jointed, cage art doll, with a cloth facial overlay.  She was inspired by romance, whispered words remembered from a dream, and Santos cage dolls.

She has a shrine to romance inside her cage skirt.  I used a variety of mixed media techniques to create the picture frame inside her skirt cage shrine.  

I hope you like her!

Entering the World of Romance

Now that my Bridgette online class is over I have immersed myself completely into my next project, Claudette.  Claudette will be a very romantic version of the cage doll.  And since Claudette lives in the world of romance guess what fantasy world I have been living in lately? I should be decorating my home and getting ready for the holidays but instead I just can’t seem to leave Claudette’s world of romance.  I spent the past few days playing with paper, paint, and cardboard to create the romantic and vintage style frame and flowers that will be used in her embellishment.  I woke up ridiculously early this morning and had to “gild” the frames by using an idea that just popped into my head. 

Of course this fantasy world has also influenced my search for the end of the internet.  I thought I would share a few romantic tidbits I found this week.

Did you know that December is one of the biggest times of year for getting engaged?  According to an article in USA Today (that of course I found online) the four big proposal days of the year are Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s. 

The Romantics, an American power pop and new wave band from Detroit, Michigan formed in 1977 on Valentine’s Day according to Wikipedia.  You can hear them perform one of their hits “What I like About You” on youtube by clicking on this link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqnw5IfbZOU

Enjoy!