Bandboxes

 Quite a few years ago I had visited the Shelburne Museum in Vermont and was fascinated with the collection of antique bandboxes that were on display. 

 

Reproduction bandboxes by Marla L. Niederer

If you are not familiar with them, they are boxes that were made and covered with wallpaper.  They were used to store items such as bonnets, gloves, thimbles, etc depending on the size of the box.  They were quite popular in the 1800’s and became a cottage industry.  Many of the papers used were hand block printed although some of the wallpapers used were machine printed.

 

Reproduction bandboxes by Marla L. Niederer

After my visit to the museum I purchased the book Bandboxes by Edwina Cholmeley-Jones on how to make a bandbox using traditional methods.  I also purchased everything I needed to make them but became busy with other things and never wound up getting around to making them until now.

 

Reproduction bandbox by Marla L. Niederer

I spent the past week making some of the bandboxes from the book using a pattern for a sewing box.  It took a lot of time to create each one since they are hand sewn. 

 

Reproduction bandbox by Marla L. Niederer

The first box I created I used scrapbooking paper to cover the outside of the box and box lid.  I lined the box with pages from an old book I had.  I then antiqued the box with sepia ink.

 

Reproduction bandboxes by Marla L. Niederer

Then I decided to get a bit creative and hand stamped paper to cover the outside of the next three bandboxes that I made.  I also used pages from an old book I had to cover the inside of the boxes.  It was quite a fun project to do.

 

Hand stamped reproduction bandbox by Marla L. Niederer

Now all I have to do is decide what I will put into each box!

 

Hand stamped reproduction bandboxes by Marla L. Niederer

Until next time………….

 

warm hugs,

Marla

 

I am so excited to be teaching two online classes for the Art Connection Summit in October.  You can find out more about the online summit here.

 

Until then feel free to enjoy some of the free tutorials I have posted here.

 

Free Tutorials

If you wish to find out about the self-study classes I offer click on the picture below

 

Self-Study Classes

For information about the online classes I teach click on the picture below.

 

Online Classes

If you would like to learn more about me you can click on this picture.

About me

Working on Two Brand New Video Classes!

Okay, so I haven’t been sharing a lot about my doll making lately.  That is because I have been very focused on creating two brand new completely downloadable video classes giving step by step demonstrations of how to create two very different projects that I promised I wouldn’t tell you about yet!

Supplies used to create my new classes

So I am definitely feeling like I want to burst with the news about these classes that I would love to share with you but promised not to so a promise is a promise right?

Supplies used to create my new classes

 I can share that I will be teaching two classes for the Art Connection Summit in October hint hint.  I will keep you posted as soon as I can about the new video classes I will be teaching.

Until then feel free to enjoy some of the free tutorials I have posted here.

Free Tutorials

If you wish to find out about the self study classes I offer click on the picture below

Self Study Classes

For information about the online classes I teach click on the picture below.

Online Classes

If you would like to learn more about me you can click on this picture.

About Me

Free Coloring Page

 Along with my other projects I have recently become fascinated with line work in drawings.  Some of you may be familiar with a meditative form of drawing repetitive patterns called Zen Tangles.  Some of the art work from Zen Tangle artists are quite beautiful although the goal is to enter a space of calm, not to create beautiful art.  But from my perspective as an artist, beautiful art is much easier to create from a state of calm.  So it is not surprising that the intricately patterned drawings are beautiful.

I haven’t really delved into Zen Tangling but did draw a landscape using lots of patterns and lines and thought you might enjoy using it as a coloring page.

Just click on the free coloring page above and print it out on paper.  Enjoy!

Online Classes

Self Study Classes

Free Tutorials

About Me

Creating Art

I have been working away on a secret project that I can’t share with you yet.  So until I can I thought I would share some of the other art I have been working on lately.

I gathered these roses from my garden recently and decided to use watercolors to paint them.  They are old fashioned roses that we found living by our home when we moved here.  They are not only beautiful but also have the most amazing scent.

Watercolor painting by Marla L. Niederer

I also have been working on a sketch of our friends beautiful daughter Aubry.  I would like to make it into a painting when I am done with the sketch.

Aubry by Marla L. Niederer

I hope you have been enjoying some creative time also.

Until next time....

warm hugs,

Marla

P.S.  The secret project that I am working on is for the virtual Art Connection Summit that will occur this coming October.  I have to keep it hush hush but a hint is that I am teaching two classes on it.  

If you want to be kept posted about the summit you can check out its website here.

Art Connection Summit

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About Me

Just wanted to share Jami Roux’s Moulin Rouge Dancer with you!

I always love it when doll makers share pictures of their completed dolls with me.

 

Moulin Rouge Dancer created by Jami Roux from  class presented by Marla Niederer

I just received pictures from Jami Roux of her completed Moulin Rouge Dancer from the class I am teaching on AforArtistic.  I just love how she came out!

 

Moulin Rouge Dancer created by Jami Roux  from class presented by Marla Niederer

Thank you Jami for sharing your beautiful work!

There is still time to sign up for the Moulin Rouge Dancers online class here  https://www.aforartistic.com/moulin-rouge-course

 

Moulin Rouge Dancers by Marla L. NIederer

I just started teaching my Sleeping Mermaid Class online also.  If you are interested in finding out more about it the link to the class is here.   https://www.aforartistic.com/Sleeping-Mermaid-Workshop

 

Sleeping Mermaids by Marla L. Niederer

I’m also very excited to be teaching at the Art Connection Summit virtually in October.  I can’t share with you the classes I will be teaching yet but am very excited about it.  You can click on the link below for more information about the summit.

https://artconnection.gallery/

Until next time……..

Warm hugs,

Marla

Thoughts of the Day

I support the protests and Black Lives Matter.

There are many individuals that do not seem to understand the full ramifications of what it is like to face prejudice and racial injustice on a day to day basis, what it is like for a mother to fear for her children’s safety and lives every time they walk outside the door.  The fear that their child may be stopped by an officer, pulled out of his car, and have his life breath removed by an officer’s knee.

Racism is so systemically ingrained into our society that many are unaware of the damaging effect that their language can have upon others.  Many individuals use a variety of racist terminology without awareness that their words are filled with prejudice.  There are also many subtle, but no less damaging, racist thoughts embedded in our language.  Why is everything evil considered dark and everything good considered light?

What happened to George Floyd is not an isolated event, look at how many similar deaths have occurred in our collective past. It is just that at this time there is social media to capture these events whereas they were covered up before.  It is also at this time that many are just sick and tired of having to put up with inequality and injustice on a day to day basis.

If you are viewing this and have strong opposing views; please give a moment to try to understand what it may be like living a life through another’s circumstances.  Try to have empathy for the moms who fear the real danger her sons and daughters face every day.  Try to be open to the conversations that can help implement needed change in our society.

My wish is not to add discomfort for anyone during this time of great unrest, it is just to ask for you to consider the perspective of others that may not be identical to you in appearance, in religion, or lifestyle. 

Diversity brings strength and beauty.

-OrsinisAngels

Sleeping Mermaid Class is Open for sign ups

 I am so excited to be teaching the online Sleeping Mermaid class again starting  June 23^rd on AforArtistic! 

Sleeping Mermaid by Marla L. Niederer

I had so much fun creating my Sleeping Mermaids that I wanted to share them with you again.

 

Sleeping Mermaid by Marla L. Niederer

In the class you will be presented with a variety of unique needle sculpting techniques, how to create a swivel joint at the neck, how to use watercolors for skin tone and facial coloration, and how to embellish your mermaid with beadwork.

Sleeping Mermaids by Marla L. Niederer

If you wish to sign up for my Sleeping Mermaid class or just find out more about the class you can click on the following link to AforArtistic

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

Hope to see you in class!

Until next time……

warm hugs,

Marla

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About Me