New Free Video Tutorial: How to Sew Really Cute Felt Bear and Raccoon Hats for a Small Doll

 

Cute Felt Bear and Raccoon Hats for a Small Doll by Marla L. Niederer

I just wanted to share with you my new free video tutorial that I just posted on my OrsinisAngels YouTube channel!   It demonstrates step by step how to sew your own bear and raccoon felt hats for small dolls.  The dolls in the tutorial are 9 & ¼” tall cloth dolls. 

Bear and Raccoon Magic Dolls by Marla L. Niederer

 Below is the pattern template for the hats.  Just click on the picture below and print it out.

 

Really Cute Raccoon and Bear Hat Pattern for Small Dolls by Marla L. Niederer

To use the template pattern trace it onto freezer paper.  Cut the freezer paper pattern template pieces out.  Iron them, shiny side down, onto the felt you are using for the hat in the colors that you choose.  If they have sewing lines don’t cut out the felt until you have sewn the sewing lines.  Then cut around the sewing lines leaving a seam allowance.  The video will show you exactly how I do this so you may wish to watch it first.

 To view the video just click on the picture below.

 

Free Video Tutorial:  How to Sew Really Cute Felt Bear and Raccoon Hats for Small Dolls by Marla L. Niederer

If you liked this free tutorial you may wish to check out the online video class I am getting ready to teach called Bear and Raccoon Magic. In the class you will learn how to create the two dolls (from head to toe including all costuming and hairdos) that wear the hats in the free tutorial.  You can find out more about this class by clicking on the picture below.

 

Bear and Raccoon Magic Online Video Class by Marla L. Niederer

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

 

Self Study E-Classes by Marla L. Niederer

You can find out about all the free tutorials I offer by clicking on the picture below.  It will also bring you to one of my newest free video tutorials on my OrsinisAngels YouTube channel

 

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

 

New Free Video Tutorial

 

Face Template for Cloth Doll making by Marla L. Niederer

I’ve been enjoying the nice weather here lately.  We jumped from winter weather to summer, not that I am complaining!

 

Along with enjoying the beautiful apple blossoms on our trees, I’ve also been enjoying nice walks by the river.

 

After my wrist surgery, I’m finding clay easier to work with than needle sculpting and stuffing cloth dolls.  So I have been doing a bit of experimenting with PaperClay for doll making.  This is a picture of the first doll I have been working on since my surgery.

 

In Process PaperClay Doll by Marla L. Niederer

If you missed my Facebook postlast week, I recently shared a new free video tutorial on how to use a face template for facial features on a needle sculpted cloth doll on my OrsinisAngels YouTube Channel.  You can see the video here

 

Free Facial Template Video Tutorial

I’m still teaching the Goddess online on AforArtistic and getting ready to teach the Sleeping Mermaid class in June.  You can find out more information about the online classes I am teaching by clicking on the picture below.

 

Online Classes with Marla L. Niederer

You can find out about my self-study classes by clicking on the picture below.  I just added downloadable face templates to my shop but don’t purchase them if you are buying a doll making class.  Each class has a face template included for that specific doll.

 

Self Study Classes by Marla L. Niederer

You can find out about all the free tutorials I offer by clicking on the picture below.  It will also bring you to my newest free video tutorial on how to needle sculpt a cloth doll nose if you missed it last week.

 

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

 

 

 

China Patterns in my art journal

I recently had surgery on my wrist so while I have been recuperating I have been taking a lovely online class from Idania Salcido.  For the class, I am working in my journal left handed and using watercolors instead of acrylics because they are easier for me to use now.  I chose to use patterns from my china teacups and saucers.  In the class she also encourages her students to play around with colors.  I must admit I’m having quite a bit of fun with this.

 

Playing around with colors

I also wanted to thank all of you for following my progress all of these years by sharing with you a free video tutorial on how I needle sculpt a cloth doll nose.  You can view it on YouTube by clicking on the link to my OrsinisAngels YouTube channel.  I hope you enjoy the video.

 

How to Needle Sculpt a Cloth Doll Nose by Marla L. Niederer

You can find out about my self-study classes by clicking on the picture below.  I just added two new ones to my shop!

 

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

Thunder: Second Portrait for 40 Portrait Challenge

I wanted to share with you my second portrait for the 40 portrait challenge. 

Thunder by Marla L. Niederer

This is a portrait of Thunder Awesome Niederer.  He is one of the kindest, intelligent, amusing, and most awesome human beings to walk upon the earth.  He also happens to be our beloved son.

Graphite sketch for Thunder by Marla L. Niederer

I started the portrait in water soluble graphite pencil and then did several layers of watercolors.

I have started working on portrait number three but am still in the initial phases. 

 

Initial watercolor layers for Thunder by Marla L. Niederer

My class Sleeping Mermaids is winding down but getting ready for my next online class The Goddess. Hope to see you in class!

 

Sleeping Mermaids by Marla L. Niederer

The Goddess by Marla L. Niederer

Until next time…….

warm hugs,

Marla

40 Portraits Challenge and Woodland Faery Journal class review.

Online classes are so much fun!  Not only do I enjoy teaching them but I also enjoy taking them.  What I love about them is that you can enjoy taking a class in the comfort of your home.  You can take them at your own pace and if something happens to disrupt your class time you can always go back to it at a later date when you have more creative time.

Since I just joined a 40 portrait challenge on Facebook, I decided that it was time to create another art journal.

Toni Burt, a mixed media artist, teaches several classes online and in one of them she teaches how to make a woodland faery journal. 

Woodland Faery Journal by Toni Burt

The journal she made is really pretty and uses some mixed media techniques that I don’t really use so I decided to give it a try.   The class videos are clear and informative.  She takes you through the entire process in real time without any fast forwarding.  The class is one of her shorter ones and priced quite reasonably.  The videos are broken up into roughly 20 minute to 35 minute videos.  This seems to be a good length of time for each session.  Not too long and not too short.  I found the videos quite easy to follow.   She uses water-soluble graphite pencils which I had never heard of before.  Of course I had to purchase a set and try them out.  I bought a set made by Faber Castle and now absolutely love them.

Keeper of the Earth Journal cover by Marla L. Niederer inspired by Woodland Faery Journal Class

I created the journal substrate pretty much as directed in the online class but then I decided to go in my own direction.  I did use the mixed media techniques she shared for the background but wanted to use my own artwork instead of copying her artwork.  I also did not have many of the supplies she used such as the water-soluble markers and inktense sticks.  Since I had my watercolors out and ready to use, I used them instead.  The design I chose was based on a figurative fiber art sculpture that I had created quite some time ago called “Keeper of the Earth.”  I did want to make some changes though but kept that theme.  I also used quite a bit of Toni’s color palate since it was warm and earthy.

Keeper of the Earth Journal cover by Marla L. Niederer inspired by Woodland Faery Journal Class

These are pictures of the journal cover before sewing in the watercolor paper signatures that I will be using.

 

Keeper of the Earth Journal cover by Marla L. Niederer inspired by Woodland Faery Journal Class

Bottom line, it was a really fun class to take and a good way to start off my 40 portrait challenge.  Out of five stars, I give the class Five Stars.  Here is a link to the class if you would like to check it out.

https://www.toniburt.com.au/current-classes/woodland-faery/

I wonder do fantasy portraits count as portraits?  If so consider my journal cover the first of my 40 portraits!

 

Sleeping Mermaids by Marla L. Niederer

I am still teaching the Sleeping Mermaid workshop on A for Artistic.  If you are interested in taking the class it remains open for the rest of the month.  You can find out more information about it and or sign up here

https://www.aforartistic.com/Sleeping-Mermaid-Workshop

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

A chair for a Mignonette

I am still working on my ball jointed French Mignonette inspired doll.  This week I worked on her hair, embellished her dress, made her shoes, and created a chair for her to sit on.  Oh what fun I had!  I still plan on adding a few more embellishments or two. 

As I promised last week, I am going to share some interesting tidbits I found out while researching French Mignonettes before creating this doll.

One interesting tidbit of information is that the earliest French Mignonettes were made in France, often had jointed limbs, wigs, and inset eyes.  The mignonettes paralleled the current doll trends and were quite elaborate.  However, the French doll makers were so busy keeping up production of the larger dolls that after the first year or so they started buying the tiny bisque dolls from German doll manufacturers.  The dolls were then dressed and completed in France and sold as French Mignonettes.

In order to share another interesting bit of information, I will need to give you a little bit of a back story.  As you may already know, my blog is called Orsini’s Angels, as is also my doll making business.  I named it after my grandmother, Dominga Orsini.  She moved to New York City during the late 1930’s where she found a job as a seamstress in the garment district.  One of my aunts, at a later time, also worked in the garment district as a pattern maker/designer.  My aunt took me to work with her on occasion when I was a child.  I would spend the day there sketching the models.  I can’t imagine where the love of fashion, fabric, and sewing came from!  Anyway, to make a long story short, I found out in my research that there were several mignonette doll designers in the early 1900’s that would then have the dolls created in bisque form by German manufacturers.  One of these doll artists was named Jeanne Orsini who lived in New York City during the early 1900’s.  Her last doll patent was dated in 1920.  All of her dolls were smiling except for one.  I couldn’t find much else about her during my search or if she is in anyway related to me but found the information quite intriguing. 

Hope you enjoyed this post and wish you a very creative week.

warm hugs,

Marla

If you are interested in learning how I use watercolors for skin tone and facial coloration on cloth needle sculpted dolls I am teaching live classes on this process.  The next class will be presented at the Quinlan Artist Doll and Teddy Bear Weekend Event.  You can find out more about the class and how to sign up here.

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

I am also teaching a live class this summer on the same process at the Thousand Islands Arts Center in Clayton NY.  You can find out more about the class by downloading their summer class catalog by clicking on this link 

http://www.tiartscenter.org/

 Or by sending an E-mail to Marcia Rogers

marcia@tiartscenter.org

You can also give Marcia a call at

315-686-4123 ext. 203