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This year’s NIADA conference was a wonderful experience. The location, the weather, the people, the dolls, the classes, the food, the black bear, everything was perfect. I just didn’t see much of the programs because I had a very full schedule. But I met a lot of very nice people and had a lot of fun.
One of the highlights was the conference souvenir: The Book. We all waited a long time for this BEAUTIFUL NIADA Art Dolls book. It is made by Shelley Thornton and Chris Chomick, who both did a great job. It is a big heavy hard cover book full of the best pictures of the works of old and new NIADA artists. I am very happy with the way my pieces are included, and I am proud to be part of this great organization. More info about (ordering) this book on marlaineverhelst.com/bookniada.htm.
It makes a great gift for the Holiday Season.
Time flies and the NIADA conference 2009 is coming up. The conference will be held from September 8 through 13 in Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts near Knoxville, Tennesee. The conference is open for everyone, not only NIADA members, and I heard already from several of my Texas friends and many others that they will be there. Great!
The conference is set up a bit different than other years. September is so much more convenient for me than mid-summer. In summer I always had to choose between my family holiday and NIADA, and choosing for NIADA could lead to a divorce.
The setting is choosen because this will give us plenty of room and occasions to have contact. It will be so much more intimate than staying in a big hotel. During and around the conference there are several interesting workshops set up. You can also take these classes if you do not attend the conference. Also the Gallery Show on Sunday will be open to visit for everyone. Check the Niada website for all details. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you might have any further questions.
I will be there for sure together with Ankie Daanen. We already booked our flights. And we hope to see you there. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet so many wonderful NIADA artists, to see their beautiful work, to learn from them and to have a lot of fun.
I worked very hard the past few weeks to get new pieces ready. Not only on Sunday April 5th the DABIDA day exhibition will take place (special guests Brian and Wendy Froud, please look at the DABIDA website) but I also have to ship a few pieces to Japan next week for the World Ningyo Exhibition organized by Chieko Ogawa. I met Chieko in the US a few times when she was the editor for a Japanese doll magazine.
For the Japan exhibition I am going to send my piece “Waiting for a prince 3” and the brand new piece “Fly like a bird” that I show here.
Question: the hair of the doll is Tibetan Lamb. How do I keep it in this shape?
My friend and colleague Ankie Daanen will be flying to Japan herself for this exhibition. Lucky her!
The 2009 NIADA Convention will be held in Arrowmont, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, September 8-13 2009. Maybe we will meet there. Detailed information is available on the NIADA website.
I will be teaching a 2 day class ‘Head, Hands and Feet in Direct Sculpted Porcelain’ and together with Ankie Daanen a 2 day class ‘Dutch Touch Theatre’.
Details and registration on www.niada.org/masterclasses.html
Pictures NIADA, Atlanta 2001 (exhibition and workshop)
As a board member of the Dutch and Belgian Institute of Doll Artists DABIDA I am very proud to announce that Brian and Wendy Froud will be our special guests on the 3rd DABIDA Day in Essen (Belgium) on April 5th 2009. Brian and Wendy surely are a source of inspiration for almost everybody who is making fantasy dolls. Years ago I have met Brian and Wendy in Santa Fe, NM at the legendary Santa Fe Doll Art Shows
Brian looks like one of his own characters and also Wendy with her long waving red hair looked like one of her own faery creations. I am looking forward to meeting them again. They will make the 3rd DABIDA Day a very special one.
A couple of years ago we were in the U.K. for our family holidays and there I saw the typical landscape and the weird knotty trees. I could understand where Brian gets his inspiration. It is easy to believe there in faeries and goblins.
Book introducing DABIDA members: http://marlaineverhelst.com/bookdabida.htm
Yesterday I started the jury process for the National Polymer Clay Guild
I am a juror for the section ‘Sculpture object’ in the yearly Progress and Possibilities challenge. I don’t work in polymer clays but I was asked to judge the work based on my own experience, background and knowledge. Although it is going to take a lot of time (over 100 entries) I enjoy it very much. The quality level is amazing and I see so many beautiful things that I feel like a child in a candy store. On the weaker pieces I try to give my honost but positive comments knowing how much love and efforts the artist has put in it. Having fun,
Marlaine
Together with my fellow DABIDA members Ankie Daanen, Yvonne Flipse, Nel Groothedde, Tine Kamerbeek, Ana Salvador and Gerda Schaarman from The Netherlands I am invited for an interesting project in Lithuania in the last weekend of June. Together with local Lithuanian doll artists and doll artists from other countries we will work together with Lithuanian celebrities (politicians, actors, writers, musicians, business people). The doll artists have to bring one of their pieces for an auction and one piece that is half done. The piece in progress will get finished working together with one of the celebrities. On the picture my half done piece. I tried to come up with something that could have input from a second ‘artist’ (the Lithuanian celebrity). We will have to paint and decorate the boxes and put something inside. The theme of the project is ‘Love’.
I hope to post a picture of the finished piece later. Fall 2008 there will be a big auction on Lithuanian television with all the dolls that were finished in Lithuania. The project is a charity event for children with cancer and will have a lot of publicity.
I am looking forward very much to the trip to Lithuania.
Marlaine
In 2006 DABIDA was founded: The Dutch and Belgian Institute of Doll Artists. I am an artist member and board member. On April 6th 2008 the second DABIDA day -with an exhibition and demonstrations- will take place. 
And everybody is invited for the 2009 DABIDA challenge. More info on www.dabida.eu (in the menu on the DABIDA site select Doll Award 2009). The English text you will find below the text in Dutch.
The closing date is February 1st 2009 so it will give you plenty of time to come up with something really special. If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
If you select ‘events’ in the menu you will find more info on the 20th anniversary of this puppet theatre festival in Southern France: Festival International de la Marionnette in Mirepoix (August 2008).
Recently I got a request from the National Polymer Clay Guild in the US. I was asked to be a juror in their annual (Spring 2008) exhibition/competition called Progress and Possibilities.
I do not work in polymer myself but I was asked as an experienced designer. I feel very honored. If you work in polymer please use the link to the website of the Guild to learn more about the contest and entry rules and guidelines. Maybe we will meet again online.
