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

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

Getting Ready to teach the Sleeping Mermaid Workshop in Indianapolis!

Sleeping Mermaid by Marla L. Niederer

I have been quietly working away getting ready to teach the Sleeping Mermaid workshop in Indianapolis to the Indy Dollmakers.

 

Sleeping Mermaid by Marla L. Niederer

While getting ready I had a little bit of fun embellishing the second Sleeping Mermaid that I made for the costuming tutorial included in the class. 

 

Sleeping Mermaids by Marla L. Niederer

I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Until next time…….

warm hugs,

Marla

Flower Fairies

I always enjoy having my tea out on the screened in porch during the warm weather months.  During the past few mornings the air is starting to show the signs of Autumn’s approach with the cool crisp mornings and colors of fall beginning to appear.  I love all of the seasons and live where they can all be enjoyed. But, the end of summer always leaves a slightly melancholy feel.  A wish to extend the summer warmth and sun lingers into the fall until the colors become so vibrant and the air so crisp that all there is left to do is but embrace Autumn’s spectacular arrival.  And with these feelings I started to work on this project of flower fairies.  Maybe it’s my way of prolonging the beauty of the summer flowers along with the embrace of the approaching change of seasons.  I have more beading to do, hair to add, and headdresses to create.  Check back in from time to time and I will keep you posted on how they turn out.

If you are looking for a new project to do I will be teaching an online class, Mistique, on A for Artistic starting September 29^, 2015.  You can find out more about it by clicking on this link.
http://www.aforartistic.com/classes/open-classes/mistique-cloth-ball-jointed-doll-with-marla-niederer.html

How to keep an Osprey from making a nest on your solar panels

I woke up to a beautiful morning today and went for an early walk before the day became too warm.  On my walk back home I noticed an Osprey perched on the roof of our barn.  In the past few years more and more Ospreys have been making their home in our area and we have a nest a short distance from our house.  I enjoy watching them and having them close by.  But, I really don’t want them nesting on top of our solar panels which are on top of the roof of our barn. 

After my walk I typically enjoy my tea on the screened in porch during the warm weather months and I did the same today.  The Osprey didn’t move from its position on the top of the roof the entire time.  After having my tea I asked my husband what we need to do if it made a nest there.  He wasn’t quite sure but I hoped there was something to do to gently discourage it.  Now since it was still beautiful I went out again on the screened in porch to do a little doll making and yes the Osprey was still perched on top of the barn roof.  So I got my camera.  I have tried several times over the years to get a good picture of one of the Ospreys and had been unsuccessful so I thought now might be a good opportunity.  Well, as soon as I took a couple of quick pictures the Osprey flew off.  I couldn’t get one of it flying away but learned a new lesson on how to discourage Ospreys from nesting on your roof, take out your camera!  

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

Season's Greetings

Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday season and wonderful New Year!

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!