History

Pattern Level Key

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Education and Professional Qualifications

High School of Music & Art, New York City - Fine Art and Academics.

Cooper Union, New York City - Bachelor of Fine Arts.

City College and Hunter College - N.Y.C.- graduate work in secondary education.

McCall's Magazine - Full time & in-house staff artist and designer.

New York City Schools - High School Fine Art Teacher - Fine art and Commercial art instructor. Responsible for specific courses of study and curriculum. Advisor to the prize winning, Arts & Literary yearly publication. Pratt Institute of Art - Master Teacher Program- Mentored Pratt student teachers in the art of teaching, lesson planning, and motivational skills.

Other Links to My Work Several of my patterns can be seen and purchased on the web.

My patterns are also sold at various shops in the United States, Canada and Australia. I sell my original dolls at several specialty shows, boutiques and directly from my studio.

Teaching Philosophy

My goal as a teacher is to provide a relaxed and stimulating atmosphere in which my students can learn new skills and techniques. My aim is to give students the means to put these new skills to immediate use so that they will be able to apply them to their future dolls. My classes are designed to provide the most intensive, and technical step-by-step instruction possible in an intimate one on one setting so that they may continue to work on their own toward completing their doll between sessions. My patterns are designed to give the doll maker who is not in class with me every bit of instruction and support possible by including detailed written instructions accompanied by step- by -step illustrations.

I love to travel and welcome offers for me to come to teach workshops to your doll club or group.

Publications and Exhibits

Most recently my work has been published in Patti Culea’s new book in 2003 “ Creative Cloth Doll Making” and in the internationally distributed magazines: Somerset Studio Sept. 2002, Belle Armoire – Art to Wear the Premier Issue April 2001,Cloth Dolls & Animals Fall 2002, Boca Raton magazine, and various newsletters and articles in Australia, Canada and the United States. Please see the interview with me published exclusively in France in the wonderful and most informative French Ezine- www.ladyperles.com (the French language text may be translated to English by going to www.babblefish.com, a free global language translation website.

A recent review states "Marcia Acker-Missall draws on her fine arts background to create colorful whimsical characters. Her Patterns are beautifully illustrated with very detailed needle sculpting instructions. Marcia's three patters will really tickle your fancy: Critter Cushions, a mix and match patterns for creating wonderful creatures; Gilda & Glenda the Guardian Grannies; and Fairie-Kins." The Diamond Dollies Cloth Doll Club Inc. Newsletter, Australia has published an interview with me including photos of my recent work. I have also been profiled in the internationally distributed Diane McDonald Designs Newsletter, Australia. My patterns are sold at various quilt and doll making shops in the United States and abroad. I also sell my work at several specialty shows and boutique shops and from my own studio.

My first formally published pattern is Critter Cushions which was followed by Gilda & Glenda the Guardian Grannies. I am now finishing up on the writing and publishing of my next pattern, FAIRIE-KINS, which will debut soon as a class at Quilters Marketplace. This pattern is the next generation in a series of the Critter Cushions. Fairie-Kins offers new challenges to learning and skill development. It has more challenging faces to draw; color and needle sculpt, including an adorable double chin. It also includes construction of wired shimmering wings, and painting and glittering of Fairie antennae and Jester's collars.