Sakura by Roslind Sherman

 

Sakura by Roslind Sherman

On my last blog post I shared about participating in the Progressive Paper Doll group on Facebook. I wanted to share with you today some photos of the paper doll I received in the Enchanted Garden theme paper doll exchange.

Sakura by Roslind Sherman

 I received this incredible original paper doll “Sakura” designed and created by the very talented artist Roslind Sherman.

The packaging Sakura arrived in

The packaging of  Sakura was a gift in and of itself!

Sakura by Roslind Sherman

Roslind shared with me that Sakura meant beauty and joy.

Sakura and background paper screen by Roslind Sherman

In addition to the paper doll Sakura, I received a letter telling me a bit about the doll written by Roslind.   I also received a beautiful handmade paper screen also created by Roslind.

Sakura and background screen by Roslind Sherman

I was completely blown away by the intricate layering of papers to create both this beautiful paper doll and background screen.

Sakura by Roslind Sherman

Thank you again Roslind for sharing such a beautiful gift of talent and joy with me!

 

If you would like to make my original art paper doll Estelle, I just placed a free tutorial on how to embellish and assemble her on my OrsinisAngels YouTube channel.  Just click on the picture below to see it.

 

Estelle Art Paper Doll Free Video Tutorial by Marla Niederer

My Paper Doll Estelle is also now available as a digital download in my shop.  To find out more or purchase the download just click on the picture below.

 

Estelle an Articulated Paper Doll by Marla L. Niederer Digital Download

If you wish to see and find out about my self-study classes you can click on the picture below.

 

Self Study Classes by Marla L. Niederer

If you wish to see all of my free video tutorials on my OrsinisAngels YouTube channel just click on the picture below.

 

Free video tutorials by Marla L. Niederer

To see all of my free tutorials click on the picture below.

 

Free Tutorials by Marla L. Niederer

To find out more about me just click on my picture below.

 

About Me

Until next time…….

 

Warm hugs,

Marla

 

 

 

Art Journaling and Air Dry Clay

 

photo by Marla L. Niederer

I love to create and surround myself with pretty little things and I thought I would share a few things that have been on my work table lately with you. 

I designed and created this pretty little art journal to work in while watching different art videos and trying out new techniques.  I recently signed up for Ivy Newport’s Studioworks which gives you access to her online art magazine and art classes.  So far I have been having quite a bit of fun with it.  The theme for this month’s magazine was flowers so the journal I created has a flower theme too.

 I used my silhouette design space to design the journal and cut it out except for the signature pages inside it.  For the front cover I used a print of a watercolor painting of flowers I did to embellish it.

 

Pretty Little Art Journal by Marla L. Niederer

 For the inside cover I used some public domain images from the Smithsonian as part of a collage. I also used some stamping and vintage lace.

 

Pretty Little Art Journal by Marla L. Niederer

I used some vintage sketching paper for most of the signature pages.  For my first two page spread I created a mixed media piece inspired by my beautiful Valentine’s Day flowers that I received from my awesome son.

 

Pretty Little Art Journal by Marla L. Niederer

For the center spread of the signature I used a black and white print of one of my paintings.

 

Pretty Little Art Journal by Marla L. Niederer

I created a little pocket to keep some paper ephemera in the back of the journal.  I used some public domain images from the Smithsonian and vintage wallpaper for the floral designs in the back of the journal.  I also used seam binding tape to reinforce the spine.  I used some of my rubber stamps to embellish the seam binding before attaching it to the journal.

 

Pretty Little Journal by Marla L. Niederer

I’ve also started to work with air dry clay again.  I’ve been working on creating this sculpture called Seher which is the same theme for the shadow box I created in the last paper doll exchange that I participated in.  I’ve never used LaDoll clay before and am really enjoying the smooth texture it has. 

 

Seher clay Sculpture in process by Marla L. Niederer

I also saw a clay over wooden clothespin Grodnertal inspired doll made by Rhonda King on facebook that intrigued me so I had to try my hand at it.  I actually used a drill to make the holes in the clothespin since my beloved husband bought me one for such things but I hadn’t really used before.  So instead of having him drill things for me I did it myself and I know it’s silly but it was such fun! So this is the armature for my own Grodnertal inspired clothespin doll. 

 

Grodnertal inspired clothespin doll armature by Marla L. Niederer

I also wanted to share with you that my Sleeping Mermaid Class is now a self study class.  You can find out more about it by clicking on the picture below.

 

Sleeping Mermaid Self-Study Class by Marla L. Niederer

To see more of my self study classes click on the picture below.

 

Self Study Classes by Marla L. Niederer

To go to my OrsinisAngels YouTube Channel where all of my free video tutorials can be found, click on the picture below

 

Free Video Tutorials by Marla L. Niederer

To see all of my free tutorials you can click on the picture below

 

Free Tutorials by Marla L. Niederer

To find out more about me click on my picture below

 

About Me

Until next time……….

 

Warm hugs,

Marla

 

Painting Buddy and Using the Cricut Maker

Buddy by Marla L.Niederer

My son adopted two kitties a little over six months ago.  They are both absolutely adorable and my son Jason sends me pictures of them and their antics frequently.  So I decided to paint one of them, named Buddy, from a picture that Jason sent.  The pictures make me smile and I hope the painting I did brings a smile to your face too.

Graphite sketch by Marla L. Niederer

First layer of watercolors by Marla L. Niederer

Second layer of watercolors by Marla L. Niederer

Since I am still having difficulties with my right arm I painted this predominantly with my left hand.  I started out with just a graphite pencil.  I then added several layers of watercolors.  I kept adding layers until it felt done to me.  I am working on learning when to let a painting be and stop before overworking it. 

More layers of watercolors by Marla L. Niederer

Even more watercolor layers by Marla L. Niederer

Here is the completed painting of Buddy.

Buddy by Marla L. Niederer

I thought I would also share with you what else I have been working on the past week.  My husband gifted me with a Cricut Maker machine about a week ago.  If you are not familiar with the machine, it cuts, scores, embosses, foils, a variety of materials such as paper, kraft board, cardstock,  matt board, vinyl, fabric, chipboard, leather, very thin wood, and foam.  It really is quite an amazing machine. Getting it to do all of those amazing things is quite a learning curve for me though.  To use the machine you need to become familiar with its software, learn how to download and upload svg files, amongst other things.  I didn’t even know what a svg file was before last week! Luckily there are all kinds of tutorials out there and plenty of free svg projects to try out while learning.  I came across Jennifer Maker on YouTube and she is such an excellent teacher. I watched several of her beginner tutorials on using the machine and was able to set up the machine and make my first cut with it the first day I had it.  She shares a large amount of projects for the machine for free also.  I downloaded her Layered 3D Christmas ornament for my first Cricut project on day two.  On day three I decided I was going to create my own design.  I learned that it is going to take more than a week to learn how to create my own designs using the Cricut Maker Lol!

First cut with my Cricut Maker machine

Project designed by Jennifer Maker created on my Cricut Maker machine

So I plan to continue to learn how to create with it and play with its software for now.  Hope you are also enjoying a creative week and I’ll leave you with a picture of my view from my studio from this week.

 

Outside my studio window

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

 

Self Study Classes by Marla L. Niederer

I will be teaching The Goddess online starting May 11^th on AforArtistic.  You can find out more by clicking on the picture below.

 

The Goddess Online Class with Marla L. Niederer

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

 

Little Lion Art Doll 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I thought I would share what has been on my workbench lately

Just before I went to Indianapolis this fall to teach my Sleeping Mermaid class my favorite sewing machine stopped working.  I didn’t have time to play with it until I returned from my trip and it needed a new belt.  I have never changed one before so I watched quite a few YouTube videos from the Singer Featherweight Shop and finally was able to get it working again.  While I was at it I polished it with Caruba wax and it now looks and runs like new!

 

My Singer Featherweight

This is a good thing because right now I am getting materials ready to teach my Moulin Rouge Dancers at AFICC this spring.

 

Moulin Rouge Dancers by Marla L. Niederer

I did get a little off task though.  My granddaughter is really into dragons now so I decided to design and create one just for her.  It is kind of a silly project but I had so much fun making it!   I thought I would share with you a few process and completed photos of the dragon. 

 

Needle sculpting the dragon head

Sewing the wings to the dragon

Completed dragon  for my granddaughter

close up of dragon by Marla L. Niederer

Rear view of dragon 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

 

Moulin Rouge Dancer 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/

 

La Fae Verte with her dragonfly wings by Marla L. Niederer

And if you don’t want to wait until spring, there are several new instant downloadable PDF tutorials in my shop

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

Mistique by Marla L. Niederer

Until next time……..

warm hugs,

Marla