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Cane Mapping and Extrusion Online Workshops

cane mapped fish Alice Stroppels

I’m so happy to tell you that I have uploaded two new workshops to my online school. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you’ll see Cane Mapping and Extrusions.

Cane mapped bird Alice Stroppel

The extrusion workshop consists of thirteen videos that equal over an hour of instruction.

This workshop will show you how to make small unique canes from extruded polymer clay. You can use these canes to make everything from buttons beads and pendants to cane mapped pieces.

It’s only about the techinque used in making the canes, not the finished pieces.

It’s all part of building your cane inventory so that when you are ready to begin a project you have many canes to choose from.

I use lots of extruded cane in my cane mapping pieces.

butterflies - Alice Stroppel - Cane mapped

The butterfly on the left is made with both extruded canes and traditional canes. The one on the right is all extrusions.

framed cane mapped Fish - Alice StroppelIf you love mosaics, color and polymer clay, if you love the look of complex canes but simply don’t want to create a giant complex cane, if you love one of a kind pieces, and if you have tons of left over canes, this is the can mapping workshop for you!

This is the workshop I teach at my Sebring Studio and around the country at polymer clay guilds and retreats. The difference is you can rewind and watch each step over and over if you want.

In almost 2 hours of videos you’ll learn the basics by cane mapping this fish portrait and the butterfly on the left above. I’ll show you a few unexpected canes and different slices that you can incorporate into your designs.

This is an intermediate class and having some Skinner blended canes in your stash will make your designs pop.

Thanks so much for taking a look .

Coupon Code for Polymer Clay Canes for Beginners

Your Brain on Clay - Alice StroppelAfter a couple of months of shooting and editing over 27 videos, my polymer clay school is finally open.

The first workshop consists of 27 video that take you through every step of the way I make my canes. The clay I use, the colors I choose the way I make skiner plugs and why I keep such an inventory of canes and plugs are all important steps to my final creations.

I’ll show you how I make thirteen different canes. Some of them simple and a couple a bit more complicated. You’ll see why follow the steps in part 1 of this course make part 2 eazy to accomplish.

This first Workshop, Polymer Clay Canes for Beginners is only the beginning for me too. I hope to add more workshops and show you exactly how I get from A to Z when I’m creating.

Here’s a short welcome video for you to watch. 

And for those of you who follow my blog please use this discount code to receive $10 off Polymer Clay Canes for Beginners.

SAVE10

This discount will only be available until the end of the month of Aug. 2016

Here’s the link to Polymer Clay Workshops by Alice Stroppel

And thank you for being part of this incredible polymer community.

Online Workshops Ready to Launch

Beginners Cane workshop

I’ve been working hard for the last few months preparing an online workshop to kick off my newest adventure with teaching polymer clay

I’ve started my online school that will feature more than just tutorials. For me it’s a new take on the online video or pdf.

Visit my Blog Alice Stroppel’s Studio 215 for more info.

Polymer Journeys

PJ 2015 Front Cover_1I’m proud to say that one of my pieces is included in this inaugural issue of an exciting new polymer retrospective, Polymer Journeys. Sage Bray is the mastermind behind this publication along with her exceptional magazine The Polymer Arts.

It’s a beautiful look at some of the worlds most talented polymer artists. A fabulous coffee table book even for those who don’t work in clay.

Thank you again Sage and team.

 

Workshops for May and June 2017 at Studio 215

Here are a few of the workshop available at Studio 215 in Downtown Sebring, FL

Download application blank for Alice’s workshops here

Weed Pots
Saturday June 4th

10:00am – 4:30pm
$75
Bring your canes or if you don’t have canes
You can use mine for $15 more

weed pot birds, alice stroppel




Saturday May 7, 2016
and again on
May 28, 2016
Beginner’s Cane Workshop

9pm – 4:00pm
$75
you provide the clay
Or
$90 clay provided

Beginners workshop - Alice Stroppel

In this class you will learn caning basics. Skinner Blends, plugs, canes and how to slice cane for application.

You’ll leave the workshop with at least one finished piece.

Not sure what a “cane” is? Watch this short video explaining the process.

___________________________________________________________________________

Download application blank for Alice’s workshops here
Thursday June 2, 2016
Build Your Cane Inventory
Prep homework required

$75
9am – 4:00pm
you provide the clay
(available at Studio 215)

cane inventory workshop - Alice Stroppel

Have you put off learning to cane because you believe it’s too hard, complicated, time consuming, precise, uses too much clay _______ fill in the blank? You not alone, but I can help.

If you like my style of work, I want to assure you that my canes are easy, fun and not at all precise. I don’t make large canes and I use every little bit of clay to make some interesting accent canes to use in all sorts of projects.

I firmly believe that you will be delighted at how much more creative and productive you’ll become if you have your cane inventory waiting for you when an idea hits. If you have to stop and make each component cane before you can begin, most times you won’t even start.

This class is for all levels of expertise, the only requirement is that you know how to make a Skinner blend and that you come to class with your Skinner blends and plugs already made. I’ll provide you with the instructions ahead of time.

By taking this workshop before any of my others you have plenty of canes ready to complete the projects we will be making.

Not sure what a “cane” is? Watch this short video explaining the process.

___________________________________________________________________________

Cane Mapping Furniture Workshop – June 23 – 26, 2016

I’m pretty excited about offering this new cane mapping workshop for furniture at Studio 215 In downtown Sebring, FL .

I have a full size kitchen stove that is just waiting to be filled with student’s work.

Class size is limited to 6 students, I hope you can be one of them.

Download application here

Cane Mapping Furniture

Cane Mapping Furniture
3  1/2 days
Thursday – Sunday
June 23 – 26, 2016
Limited to 6 students
$250.00
$100 deposit required”

AliceStroppeltealtablefinished2sm

Learn how to cane map on a large scale. We’ll be covering a small table (you provide) with colorful polymer canes.

Tables should not be larger than 20” in any direction. You should have your table completely ready to accept your artwork. Sanded, painted etc. If you are painting it yourself, don’t paint the surface where your artwork will be attached.

Bring your favorite canes and create your person piece of art-furniture.

Once you learn how to cane map for furniture, you’ll be able to apply that knowledge to large wall pieces and other items.

Day one – plan your design,  make skinner blends and canes.
Day two – begin mapping your design.
Day three – Continue with your design and do final prep to  your table.
Last day – Apply finished art to your table.

barcartalicestroppel

This is a little cart saved by my sister Sheryl. Her neighbor was throwing in out. A bit of paint and some polymer and it’s taken on a new life.

Alicestroppeltable3w

This table is special to me, it was our first telephone table in our first apartment. I won’t be teaching faces canes in this workshop, but you could bring your own.

alicestroppelsinglegirl

Here’s another thrift store find. But there is no reason why you can’t can’t bring a new table.

International Polymer Clay

IPCA International Polymer Clay  Nov. - Dec. 2015

IPCA International Polymer Clay Nov. – Dec. 2015

I am honored to be the featured artist in the Nov. – Dec. International Polymer Clay Publication. I was interviewed and more of my work can be seen inside.

I’m  humbled by the polymer talent around the world and feel extremely fortunate when I’m asked to be included in that family.

Many thanks to Corliss Rose and the International Polymer Clay Association.  

Are you a member? If not, I suggest you take a minute to look at everything this organization has to offer. Here’s their membership page. 

Even if you are not a member, you can still get a free copy of the  publication. Just email editor@theipca.org and they will send you the e-publication.

Houston Lone Star Retreat

Houston Lone Star Retreat

I’ve just returned from teaching at the Houston Polymer Clay Guild’s Lone Star Retreat and what a great time I had. I’ve blogged about it all here on my Studio 215 site.

And just so you know, I’m teaching a “build your cane inventory” workshop on Oct. 3, 2015 at Studio 215. Read all about it here.

 

Catching Up or What I’ve Been Up To

It’s been over a month since I’ve posted here on Polymer Clay Etc. and so much has happened. All good, exciting and fun.  You might have seen these images and heard all this before on Facebook etc. but this is for my friends who aren’t on those other social media sites.

First of all I had a private Pen and Ink workshop with Mary Jane Reinhart and she created a great bracelet that day. You should see the work she’s doing now, fabulous! Plus she’s so much fun, I love having her in the Studio.

Mary Jane Reinhart

eye - Mary Jane Reinhart

I was over the moon when I received the newest addition of Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine,  just before I left town for a retreat.

Belle Armoire Jewelry Magazine 

Laurie Prophater wrote a wonderful article about a challenge she proposed to Meisha Barbee, Julie Eakes and me when they were all staying at my house and playing at Studio 215 while Meisha was teaching. (Read about the fun we had here.) I’m thrilled to be published along with these talented women. Thank you Laurie for thinking of such a enjoyable project.

Next I met up with several claying friends in Denver, Syndee Holt, Julie Eakes, Meisha Barbee, Libby Mills, and Emily Levine, we had a great time.  Crazy but oh so much fun!

syndee, Julie, Meisha

 

Then it was on to the retreat where we exchanged bowls. 25 incredible bowls came home with me and this exchange started me on my bird obsession. I posted about my bird bowls and my larger bird wall piece here.

I came home with many wonderful things from an auction we have every year and I purchased some lovely pieces from my friends to sell at Studio 215 with more to come. I can wait to share some of them with you. I’ll be posting them on my Studio 215 blog and on my Studio 215 Facebook page. If you’d like to see what I’m up to at the Studio, sign up to receive a notice each time I post, my newsletter, and like my Facebook page.

I can be found on Instagram , Twitter,  and Tumbr too. Whew.

Last week I was featured by Cynthia Tinapple on Polymer Clay Daily  and that is always treat and a compliment. Thank you Cynthia.

I was featured with my newest face that I created for the auction at the retreat. I was flattered that there was many bids on it.

Alice Stroppel Face 8-15

I made this cool graphic using an app called Canva. My friend Meredith Arnold shared this with me and I can’t stop using it. Very cool, thanks Meredith.

Here’s another graphic made with Canva showing off my newest bird weed pot prototypes that I worked on while on retreat. I hope to get more of these done showcasing different critters and characters. I’m smiling and that is always my goal, to create things that make me smile.

Alice Stroppel bird weed pots

The beginning of September brought more laughter and fun at Studio 215 when several of my favorite people came to take a Profile Face cane class with me. We had a great time for sure.

Polymer clay face cane studio215--9-3-15

Dottie, Kathryn, Barbara, AnnaMarie, Majel, and Mary Jane are new converts to polymer and I believe they aren’t getting away without clay sticking in they brains. They’re having as much fun as I did with I first started, but they’re lucky to have others to share the experience. Thanks, ya’ll are making me so happy to see you having so much fun and making such cool things.

Then to top it all off, Kathryn Obidzinski has been my apprentice for several months now and before I went on retreat she started a palette knife polymer clay self portrait. I think she created a wonderful piece. I know she had fun, learned a lot and I hope I can reel her in to explore polymer clay a bit more.

Katherine-Obinzinski

 

I’m spending the rest of the day prepping for the Houston Polymer Clay Guild’s Lone Star Retreat. I’ll be teaching along with Randee Ketzel and Sarah Shriver. Next month it’s Sandy Camp in San Diego. Just too much fun!!!

 

Thanks for stopping in, Alice

 

 

Birds Everywhere

I’ve been obsessed with birds over the last few months. (I’m blaming Laura Prohater and Barb Harper, you two know why *g*) It’s all ending with this crazy bird, or maybe its just the tip of the iceberg, maybe there are more of these guys in my future.

Alice Stroppel's Crazy Bird

He’s 18″ tall and I’m either going to frame him or free hang him. I’m working on a hanging solution that will allow me to hang my characters without a frame.

Now the real reason birds have haunted my dreams. I’ve been working on these bird  bowls for an exchange I’ll be taking part in. In the beginning I thought I must have lost my mind to think I would ever finish 26 bird bowls. especially since several broke apart in the oven until I figured out you can’t take the bowl out and add more things and then bake again. I think it was late one night and I was oh so tired. But lesson learned. Alice Stroppel's bird bowls  I really have learned so much about making bird bowls so there might be more on my table soon, or maybe even a workshop at Studio 215.

I used quite a bit of extruded canes with these birds and with my Charming Canes. Looks like I’m on an extruder kick. It fun, effective, and attractive. so what’s not to love?