What is on my Workbench?

I just thought I would share what is on my workbench this week with you.  I am in the process of creating some dolls for wedding cake toppers and I am also working on some needle sculpted ball jointed cloth dolls.  Here is a sneak peek.

Since I use watercolors for skin tone and facial coloration I decided to make a watercolor paint-box inspired by some antique paint-boxes.  I used a metal tin for the actual paints and a cigar box to keep everything in.  I really enjoyed the entire process and plan to make a few more. 

If you want to learn how to needle-sculpt cloth dolls and how to use watercolors for skin tone and facial coloration I am about to start teaching an online class on A for Artistic that includes instruction on those techniques.

  If you would like more information or would like to sign up just click on the link to AforArtistic.

Hope to see you in class!

http://www.aforartistic.com/flower-fairies-with-marla-l-niederer-cloth-doll-artist.html

The Call of the Mermaid

Sometimes inspiration is so strong it calls me out of sleep.  I have been waking in the wee hours of the morning, early enough to see the mists rolling across the fields, for the past two days.  It is as if this tiny little mermaid is too impatient to be created and decided to call me out of my sleep.  Isn’t it wonderful to be so happy to do what you do that you can’t wait to wake up in the morning to start your day? 

If you are interested in taking an online art doll class, I am teaching Poinsettia on A for Artistic.  

The class begins July 10^th for Christmas in July.  It’s never too early to start making gifts for the holidays!  If you would like to learn more about the class just click on the link to A for Artistic below.

http://www.aforartistic.com/christmas-in-july-poinsettia-with-marla-niederer-cloth-doll-artist.html

How to transition from a full time job to becoming a full time artist

I am in the process of transitioning from working full time with a full time pay check to becoming a full time artist without the full time paycheck.  Jumping into the starving artist realm has always been financially scary for me so I have pretty much always worked full time with my art placed on the back burner.  But as any of you artists out there that have made the same choices by now know, it is really difficult to find the time to create when you have exhausted most of your energy into making a living outside of the art field and keeping up with your other responsibilities in life.   So I finally set aside 51 days last summer to create art every day.  It was wonderful!  I couldn't wait to get up each morning and start my art projects for the day.  Thoughts of my artwork filled every waking moment and filled my dreams as I slept.    I smiled so often my smile grew wider than the Cheshire Cat grin.  My heart sang.  I glowed with inner calm and contentment.  I even lost some unwanted weight.  One of my dolls won the people’s choice award at the Figurative Artist Consortium in Ottawa.  Another one of my dolls won second place in a Doll Street Dreamer’s contest.  I taught an online doll making class on A for Artistic.  Then I went back to work.  I gained back the weight.  My heart doesn’t sing like it did last summer.  My smile isn't as wide as the Cheshire Cat’s grin.  I stopped glowing.   Life is short.  I am fortunate that my husband has always been my number one fan and has always encouraged my growth as an artist.  My husband and I had several conversations and both agreed that it was time to take my art off the back burner and leave the education field earlier than we had originally planned for me to do.   So as of July 1^st this summer I will be a full time artist.  I plan to share with you what works and doesn't work during this transition and first year of living the full time artist dream.    I will share some of the things we have been doing to prepare for this change in a later post.  Until then I am wishing all of you well and hope you are able to find some time to be creative.

 

P.S.  If you are interested in taking my online class Mistique it is starting on May 22^nd and you can sign up for it by clicking on the link below.

http://www.aforartistic.com/mistique-cloth-ball-jointed-doll-with-marla-niederer.html

Angel Ornament

I just wanted to share with you the Angel Ornament that I just completed.  It is a variation of the Sea Spirit Ornament that I am currently teaching an online class for.  If you would like more information about the class or would like to sign up just click on the following link.
http://www.aforartistic.com/sea-spirit-ornament-with-marla-niederer-cloth-doll-artist.html

Sea Spirit Ornament Workshop

I am really looking forward to teach the Sea Spirit Ornament Workshop online starting November 6th!  For more information and to sign up for the class click on the link below.

http://www.aforartistic.com/classes/online-classes/sea-spirit-ornament-with-marla-niederer-cloth-doll-artist.html

Sea Spirit Ornament Workshop

I am very pleased to announce that I will be teaching the Sea Spirit Ornament Workshop online at A for Artistic in the beginning of November.  As soon as the class opens up on A for Artistic I will post a link to it.  The class will teach the skills of needle sculpting a cloth doll face, using watercolor pencils for facial features, needle felting hair, and bead embellishment all while you will be creating an heirloom ornament!  Hope to see you in class!

Mistique Workshop

I just wanted to share with you some pictures of the Mistique doll workshop that I taught on A for Artistic.  This doll was created by Christine Chumley.  Isn't she just lovely!

Warm Hugs Tutorial

I was very moved by a website I found while surfing the net during the winter holidays.  It is called Enchanted Makeovers and its website is http://enchantedmakeovers.org/    The organization transforms homeless shelters for women and children into spaces for individuals to thrive in, not just survive.  It sets the stage for individuals living in the shelters to become empowered during the process.  I was so moved by what the organization was doing that I contacted Terry and asked her if it would help to create a pattern and tutorial for a cloth doll that her organization could use.  I wanted to develop a pattern that was very child safe, easy to make, and very warm and cuddly.  I couldn’t think of anything better than a pattern of a kitten made out of fleece called Warm Hugs. 

I finally completed the tutorial and would like to share it with you.  Please use this free pattern to create as many Warm Hugs as you wish to donate to organizations such as hospitals, safe houses, homeless shelters, police stations, Enchanted Makeovers Doll Adoption program

http://enchantedmakeovers.org/category_37/Doll-Adoption.htm
 and to give to any and all children in need of comfort and a warm hug.  This free pattern can also be used to create Warm Hugs to be given as a gift to anyone that you deem may need or want a warm hug.  Please respect the energy in which this pattern was created as a gift to all of the many warm hearted doll makers out there to use and create a gift of warmth to be given as a comfort for others.  Please do not sell any items created with this pattern.

Click on this link for the introduction to the tutorial

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7zUscfURQ-eTERMcHdEZWs2bHc/edit?usp=sharing 

Click on this link for Warm Hugs lesson one

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7zUscfURQ-eLVBBSXZCT0JORTA/edit?usp=sharing 

Click on this link for Warm Hugs lesson two

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7zUscfURQ-eS18zb1hXakI0dVE/edit?usp=sharing 

 Click on this link for Warm Hugs lesson three 

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7zUscfURQ-eRHdQU2ZkVEh0UFU/edit?usp=sharing

 

 Click on this link for the pattern for the head

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7zUscfURQ-edHZ0aEFkVl83dUU/edit?usp=sharing 

Click on this link for the body pattern

 https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7zUscfURQ-eUF9wMUdDcHNJbG8/edit?usp=sharing

Click on this link for the dress pattern

 https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7zUscfURQ-eR3lfWGZ6OGhXekk/edit?usp=sharing

Click on this link for the vest and tail pattern 

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7zUscfURQ-eeUFuc1RwVTBlams/edit?usp=sharing

Day 31 of 51 Days of Art

Today is the 31^st day of the 51 days I set aside to create art.  The act of engaging in artistic pursuits for 31 days has created changes within.  There is an ever-present inner smile that brims from ear to ear that often finds itself expressed upon my face.  There is more of a bounce to each step I take, laughter flows more freely, and there is an ever-growing calm that pervades my essence.  I wake each morning excited about what I am going to work on each day and often find myself working on projects way into the night.  I have not found o loss of projects to work on, instead a multitude of new projects have been added to my list. I’d like to share some of the progress I have been making with my art.

I am currently teaching an online class Mistique on A for Artistic  which you can find out more about here  http://www.aforartistic.com/Mistique.html  .  While teaching the class I get to talk to wonderful doll-makers from all over the world every day!  

I am still working on the Make a Face Challenge.  She is not finished yet, needs much more regal embellishment!

This is the beginnings of one of the sea nymphs dancing in my head.  I am currently trying to figure out how I want to make her tail fins and hair.  I will share more pictures soon.

And I am still working on putting together a free tutorial for Warm Hugs for Enchanted Makeovers.