One More Lady in Red

I dressed a second French Mignonette inspired ball jointed cloth art doll this week while working on the finishing touches for the first one.  I will be bringing both dolls to the Quinlan Artist Doll and Teddy Bear Weekend Event in Philadelphia on May 1st for my sales table.   If you are in the neighborhood pop in to say hello, or better yet sign up for the convention and spend the entire weekend with all of your doll and teddy bear friends!

I am also teaching a class at the event on Friday April 29^th.  

There are still a few slots open if you are interested in learning how I use watercolors for skin tone and facial coloration on needle sculpted cloth dolls.  You can find out more about the weekend event and how to sign up by clicking on the following link

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

If you prefer to take doll making classes in the comfort of your own home I am teaching Bridgette, a ball jointed cloth doll on A for Artistic starting on May 25. 

You can find out more information on the class and how to sign up by clicking on the following link

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

If you are planning on spending any time this summer in the romantic Thousand Islands Region (which I highly recommend for vacations) I will teaching two different sessions this summer at the Thousand Islands Arts Center in Clayton NY on the use of watercolors for skin tone and facial coloration on needle sculpted cloth dolls.

You can find out more about the class by clicking on  the following link to download their summer schedule

http://www.tiartscenter.org/

Or you could send Marcia Roberts an E-mail

marcia@tiartscenter.org

Or give her a phone call at 315-686-4123 Ext: 203

Inspiration

I’ve always loved antique dolls and always have found inspiration in them.  Over the years I have gathered a small collection of vintage dolls.  I usually find them in an antique shop on my travels.  As I was traveling to Vermont this week I stopped at an antique shop and found this beauty.  She is a German made papier-mâché half doll.  I believe she is from the 1920’s era.  These dolls were often used as a topping for a pin cushion, candy box topper, powder box topper, table brush, etc.  Although I have a few china half dolls she is my first papier-mâché one.  I wonder what new creation I will be inspired to create now!

P.S. P.S.  Although my Bridgette online class is coming close to its ending it’s still not too late to join in on the fun.  For more information about the class click on the following link

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

 

Bridgette Class

I am eagerly anticipating the start of my new online workshop Bridgette on http://www.aforartistic.com/bridgette-with-marla-l-niederer-cloth-doll-artist.html

I hope you will join me in class!

Bridgette a Tuck Comb inspired Fiber Art Doll: Or settling into the Life of a Full time Artist

There have been very few days that I have not engaged in the creation of Bridgette over the past two months.  This project drew me into the world of Jane Austin as I researched her clothing and her time period.  There were many days that I gathered lemon balm, rose petals, and lavender buds from my gardens to brew a relaxing tea sweetened with honey to drink as I settled into my needlework.  Now that Bridgette is complete it almost feels like when you finish reading the most delicious book that completely draws you into its carefully crafted world.  Now that the story has ended it is time to leave the world the author created behind.  Only this time I am the one who created the world that drew me in!  It reminds me of a humorous quote I saw on Facebook not that long ago.  It stated, “I am an Artist.  This means I live in a perverse fantasy world with unrealistic expectations.  Thank you for understanding.”  When I showed the Facebook post to my husband Bob he just laughed and laughed.  Funny because it’s true.

Bridgette is a cloth needle sculpted ball jointed doll with a face overlay inspired by the Tuck Comb wooden dolls of the past. Watercolors were used for her skin tone and facial coloring.  English Mohair was used to create her stylish hairdo. She is dressed in clothing inspired by Jane Austin’s time. She dons a soft lavender colored cotton batiste empire waist gown with hand embroidered satin floss and glass bead flowers.  Bridgette wears hand crafted high heeled mules, a feather headdress, a pearl choker, and earrings.  I hope you like her.!

 Bridgette will be taught as an online class on A for Artistic.  I will keep you posted on details soon.

Tuck Comb Dolls

It was a blustery winter day, and I had the day off from my day job, so I pulled out some needle sculpted ornaments  that I made and a package of paper clay and decided to try out some ideas I've had to create tuck comb inspired dolls.  The ornaments were going to be practice heads but I really like how they are turning out so I may make them into complete dolls.  I will keep you posted on my progress!