Goddess Online Class

The Goddess by Marla L. Niederer

I’m very pleased to announce that I will be teaching the Goddess as an online class for the first time for AforArtistic September 23 2019!

The Goddess by Marla L. Niederer

The Goddess was inspired by Kuan Yin, a Goddess of Compassion, one who hears the cries of all beings.  Others know her as a Bodhisattva, one who puts off Nirvana in order to liberate all sentient beings. Many representations of Kuan Yin depict her as a beautiful oriental woman in flowing gowns carrying a vessel filled with the waters of compassion.  She is often depicted standing or sitting upon a lotus blossom. 

 

The Goddess by Marla L. Niederer

In this interpretation of Kuan Yin, I chose to place a hand crafted and hand painted lotus blossom upon her head as a headdress.  She wears a skirt and shawl of hand painted cheesecloth which represent the waters of compassion.  Her costume is hand beaded with silver lined glass beads. 

 

The Goddess by Marla L. Niederer

The Goddess is a 19” tall needle sculpted, hand painted art doll with ball joints and a facial cloth overlay.  The head has very unique sculpted eyes utilizing an advanced technique that gives the appearance of inset eyes.  In this class you will learn a variety of unique needle sculpting techniques such as how to attach a cloth overlay on the face, creating a swivel neck, creating ball joints at the hips, knees, ankles, elbows and wrist. In addition, the class presents instruction on how to utilize tube and pencil watercolors for skin tone and facial coloration.  Unique costuming design is included in instruction along with how to needle felt a hairdo. This workshop is designed to stretch your cloth art doll making skills to a whole new level!

 

The Goddess by Marla L. Niederer

I can’t wait for the class to begin and hope to see you there!

You can find more information about the class and how to sign up by clicking on this link to AforArtistic.

 https://www.aforartistic.com/goddess

Until next time…..

warm hugs,

Marla

Pretty Little Things

I thought I would share with you some of the things you will find in my studio.  The first thing you will see is my featherweight sewing machine.  It was made in Great Britain during the 1950s.  It only can sew one type of stitch, the straight stitch, but it sews this stitch better than any other machine I have ever owned.  It is perfect for all of my doll making machine sewing.

 

My Favorite Sewing Machine

 I picked it up in an antique show quite a few years ago and ever since then every time I look at it a smile just comes to my face.  I don’t know who owned it before me but I like to think that a lot of happy things were created with this machine before it came home with me to my studio.

 

Sewing Companion by Marla L. Niederer

The second thing you will see in my studio is my Sewing Companion which I designed and created.  She is needle sculpted cloth and hand painted with watercolors.  She wears a pincushion hat and a scissor keeper on the front of her skirt. 

 

Sewing Companion by Marla L. Niederer

Of course I had to create a beaded fob for the scissor she wears!

 

Sewing Companion by Marla L. Niederer

I just posted a new video of a project I have recently completed on my Facebook page: OrsinisAngels

https://www.facebook.com/OrsinisAngels-2019422221627537/?ref=br_rs

if you wish to stop by for a look.

Until next time……….

Warm hugs,

Marla

Just Wanted to Share….

Just wanted to share some pictures of what Christy Chumley made after taking my class The Goddess at Artistic Figures in Cloth and Clay last spring.  This is the picture of my Goddess

 

Goddess by Marla L. Niederer

and these are the pictures of Christy’s absolutely lovely Goddess.  I just love the colors she used!

 

Christy Chumley's Goddess from class taught by Marla L. Niederer

Christy Chumley's Goddess from class taught by Marla L. Niederer

Christy Chumley's Goddess from class taught by Marla L. Niederer

If you would like to learn how to needle sculpt I just opened my Etsy shop OrsinisAngels and have a couple of instant downloadable classes available on it.  You can see it here:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/OrsinisAngels?ref=l2-shopheader-name

Until next time…….

Keep Calm and Needle Sculpt on

warm hugs,

Marla

Article in Art Doll Quarterly

Keeper of the Earth by Marla L.Niederer

I just received my preview copy of the Winter 2018 Art Doll Quarterly and am so excited to see my article on Keeper of the Earth in it!  Here is a sneak peek of the article. 

I also wanted to share what has been on my workbench this week.  One can never have too many beads can one?

Can you guess what I will be using the beads for?

Until next time…….

warm hugs,

Marla

Wouldn’t you want to make your own Little Lamb Lissette?

Little Lamb Lissette by Marla L. Niederer

I was wondering if you would like to make your own Little Lamb Lissette?  I created her after admiring a vintage little lamb created for the French market.  I decided to create a little lamb of my own inspired by the one I saw. She would make a lovely companion for one of your dolls or bears. After I had sewn her head and body I decided to needle felt wool fleece on her.  I will be teaching a one day class on how to make her in two different locations. 

Little Lamb Lissette by Marla L. Niederer

I will teach her at the Quinlan Artist Doll and Teddy Bear Conference in Philadelphia April 2018.  If you are interested in joining me there for the class just drop me an E-mail orsinisangelsclass@gmail.com

I will also be teaching this one day class in Clayton NY at the Thousand Islands Arts Center this summer.  The date is still to be determined.  To find out more information about the class in Clayton contact Marcia at 315-686-4123 or send her an E-mail Marcia@TIArtsCenter.org

I just updated my 2018 workshop page.  If you wish to see more classes I will be teaching in 2018 just click on this link

http://orsinisangels.blogspot.com/p/2018-workshops-and-events.html

Until next time……

warm hugs,

Marla

Whispers of Mermaids

Sleeping Mermaid by Marla L. Niederer

One of the things that happen when you immerse yourself in your art every day is that it can take you deep within the fantasy world you are creating.  Since this spring I have been immersed in the world of Mermaids and Goddesses of the Sea.  It is almost as if they have all been whispering in my ear, waiting to be brought into being.  It all started with this Sleeping Mermaid which I exhibited at the Quinlan Philadelphia Artist Doll and Teddy Bear show this past spring.

Sleeping Mermaid by Marla L. Niederer

I then was given the request of creating a custom Mermaid which is now living in a wonderful home.

Small custom mermaid by Marla L. Niederer

Small custom mermaid by Marla L. Niederer
Since I was making the custom Mermaid, I couldn’t just make one so I made this one which has also found a wonderful home.

Small sleeping mermaid by Marla L. Niederer

Small sleeping mermaid by Marla L. Niederer

Then I started working on Goddess of the Sea. She is far from complete.  At this stage she is just painted with watercolors and waiting for her bead embellishments, hair, and setting.

Goddess of the Sea by Marla L. Niederer

Goddess of the Sea by Marla L. Niederer

I’ll share more pictures as more work on her is done.

Until next time........

warm hugs,

Marla

Mardi Gras Class

Mardi Gras Tassel Doll By Marla L. Niederer

I always love it when doll artists that take my classes share with me their finished doll.  This past summer I taught a class on how to make a tassel doll in Clayton NY at the Thousand Islands Arts Center.  This is what the Mardi Gras Class doll looked like.

Mardi Gras Tassel Doll By Marla L. Niederer

Cande Houghton took the class with no experience of ever making a doll before.  She shared with me a picture of her completed doll.  She did an absolutely wonderful job!

Tassel Doll Created by Cande Houghton from the Mardi Gras Class

If you are interested in this class I will be teaching Mardi Gras at the Thousand Islands Arts Center next summer again in addition to another class called Little Lamb Lissette.  

Little Lamb Lissette by Marla L. Niederer

Both classes will be one day classes.  Clayton, NY is a lovely place to vacation in the summer and I would love to have you join me in class.

Until next time……

warm hugs,

Marla

Just wanted to share

Goddess by Marla L. Niederer

I always love to see the creativity that doll makers exhibit when taking one of my classes.  Julia Gausvik took my class the Goddess at Artistic Figures in Cloth and Clay this past spring.  

Goddess workshop doll completed by Julie Gausvik

She shared with me these pictures of her doll from the class that she completed.  She did such a wonderful job completing her.  I just love the colors she used!

Goddess workshop doll by Julie Gausvik

 

Goddess workshop doll by Julie Gausvik

 If you happen to be in Clayton NY this weekend I will be presenting a free needle sculpting tutorial at the TIAC Arts and Crafts Show on Saturday August 26, 2018 from 10:30AM until 2:30 PM.  If you get a chance stop by and say hello.

Until next time…….

warm hugs,

Marla

Mermaids on my Workbench

Sleeping Mermaid by Marla L. Niederer

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” – Jacques Yves Cousteau

Reclining Mermaid by Marla L. Niederer

I have always loved to be around water, be it a lake, river, or ocean.  I always feel calmer, more peaceful, and uplifted when I am near it. 

Reclining Mermaid by Marla L. Niederer

 I have also always held a fascination with mermaids.  Maybe it’s the femininity they represent, maybe it’s the beauty they are always portrayed with.  

Sleeping Mermaid by Marla L. Niederer

So when asked to create a commissioned small sized mermaid, of course my response was YES!   I was so happy to create this little mermaid that I couldn’t just make one!   

Mermaids by Marla L. Niederer

They are far from complete.  They need hair, headdresses, and all sorts of embellishment.  But, I thought it was time to share what has been on my workbench lately.  

Some of the watercolor paints I used on the mermaids

I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Until next time……

warm hugs,
Marla

Mardi Gras Doll by Marla L. Niederer

If you are interested in taking a live class, I am teaching a one day class at the Thousand Islands Arts Center in Clayton NY on July 27,2017.  If you wish to find out more about the class or to sign up give Marcia Rogers a call at the Thousand Islands Arts Center at 315-686-4123.  There are still a few places in the class left.

Mardi Gras Doll by Marla L. Niederer

A Watercolor Weekend in Kingston

My Beloved and I just recently spent a weekend in Historic Kingston Ontario.  It is such a delightful city to visit.  We enjoyed an absolutely amazing gluten free meal at Olivea. 

My Beloved and I

Since joining a watercolor group last fall I have really been enjoying taking my watercolors with me wherever I go.  While there I was able to do a little bit of watercolor painting at the waterfront.

Watercolor painting by Marla L. Niederer

 I also spent a little time painting in front of the Prince George Hotel. 

Watercolor painting by Marla L. Niederer outside of the Prince George Hotel

When we returned home we made our own sushi at home. 

 

Home made sushi

Until next time……

warm hugs,

Marla

The Quinlan 2017 Artist Doll and Teddy Bear Conference in Philadelphia

Marla Niederer and her one of a kind figurative art Keeper of the Earth

I so enjoyed attending the Quinlan 2017 Artist Doll and Teddy Bear Conference in Philadelphia this past May!  I thought you might enjoy some of the pictures I took at the conference.

Keeper of the Earth by Marla L. Niederer

It is always so inspiring to see all the amazing works of art exhibited at the Quinlan Conferences.

Figurative Art Dolls by Joe MacPhale

Mother Goose by Lillian Alberti

Sleeping Mermaid  by Marla L. Niederer

Lucia by Joy Calhoon

Can I Keep Her by Tami Eveslage

Petite Valiant by Mary Ward

Prudence Penelope Patchwork by Marguerite Surich Noschese

Noam by Nina Tugarina

Each Artist had their own sales table.

Marina Bondarencko and sales table

Mary Ward and her sales table

Marla Niederer's sales table

I always enjoy visiting with old and new friends at the Quinlan Conference.

Joy and I

 

Pam and Dolores

At the Quinlan show you can always count on enjoying several banquets throughout the conference.

 

Saturday evening banquet

I brought my beloved to the Quinlan conference for the first time in 2016.  He enjoyed it so much that he attended the event with me again this past May!

 

Bob

Can’t wait to attend the 2018 conference!

warm hugs,

Marla