Canes « Polymer Clay Etc.

27 videos, step by step, beginner cane workshop

What people are saying about this tutorial. jennifer rose Just finished this first workshop on how to make canes, and I must say I learned so much. This is exactly what I have been looking for, someone who could explain cane making in a step by step that process that I could replicate. I watched the videos, went into my studio and began to create all of the canes Alice showed. I finally have results I can be proud of, and I say thank you so much for doing this workshop. My only question now is when do we get more workshops. If you are only going to take one online class let it be this workshop. Thank you Alice for your hard work, and your dedication to helping others learn the joys of polymer clay.

Cane Mapping and Extrusion Online Workshops

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.

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.

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

If 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

After 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

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.

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

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

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)

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”

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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. 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?

Workshops for 2015 at 215

I was pleasantly surprised on New Years day to realize that 215 is going to be lucky numbers for me… 2015… Studio 215. I’m thinking good things are going to happen. I wish us all a happy, successful and productive 2015.

Just look at my class space set up with pasta machines, glass tiles, blades and tons of Polyform tools just waiting for you to come and play and learn. Kind of “leave your baggage at home”. Bring just what you need for that workshop and maybe your favorite blade.

Here are the workshops I’ve scheduled to teach at Studio 215 in January and February. Studio 215 – 215 North Ridgewood Dr. – Sebring, FL

The exciting news for those beginning in polymer, my Studio is fully stocked with pasta machines, glass cutting boards, blades, and all kinds of great Sculpey tools. I have all kinds of things for you experiment with so you can decide if polymer clay is for you before you invest. Or you may just want to come and make a project or two without having to own all the equipment. I’m also reserving one night a week as open Studio night with a small fee for those of you that have no place to work at home or just want to come clay with other enthused polymer people. no need to bring tools or equipment, just bring your project. Mondays will be open studio night beginning in April.

New! Introduction to Polymer Clay

Instructor Alice Stroppel

full day $75

Sat. Jan. 17 9am – 4pm

Sat. Jan 31 9am – 4pm

two evening – 3 1/2 hrs. $45 each class

Mon. & Tues. Jan. 19 & 20 6pm-9:30pm

Mon. & Tues. March 2 & 3 6pm-9:30pm

In this beginner’s workshop you’ll be able to work with polymer clay without the expense of buying all the tools and equipment needed for a successful experience. You’ll learn how to condition, cane, create and cure.

I’ll teach you how to make a Skinner blend and fill you in on some of the rich history of this incredibly versatile medium.

We’ll make a few basic beads and you’ll wear your new necklace home.

Building an Essential Cane Inventory

Instructor Alice Stroppel

one day $75

Sat. Jan. 24 9am – 4pm

Sat. March 14 9am – 4pm

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 are a beginner, you should begin with my Introduction to Polymer Clay workshop or class before attending this workshop. Or teach yourself the basics online with the many free tutorials available.

Master Class

Instructor – Meisha Barbee

Mica Shift with Appliqué’ Pendant

Meisha Barbee is coming to Studio 215 in Sebring, FL and will be teaching surface design. You won’t want to miss this workshop.

In her own words, “On the first day, students will make an array of small canes in a pleasing color palette to be used in creating a finished pendant. This will include my Signature “Fractured” mica cane.

Students will be encouraged to bring their own personality to the work by applying their unique color and design sensibility. I will provide color consultation to those students who need it.

The second day of the class will be for constructing the pendant. I’m a firm believer that Good Design doesn’t have to be labored. I will share my simple construction and finishing techniques, so every student should go home with finished work they can be proud of.”

No Refunds given after two weeks before class date. Balance due two weeks before workshop begins.

To reserve your seat, contact me at alicestroppel@gmail.com

As a winner of the Niche Award in 2008 and finalist in 2011, Barbee has been recognized as a leader in her field. A member of the International Polymer Clay Association, as well as her local San Diego Guild,

“I’m inspired by good design. I spend my life seeing and responding to good design all around me. It’s just something I do naturally, so I think I’m tuned in to current trends without really trying. Color and design are my passion. I respond to the color and patterns of textiles, textures in nature and architecture, the harmonious balance of interior spaces, and so on. Good design is everywhere. I also appreciate and respect good craftsmanship. It speaks to the integrity of good design, and I always try to execute my designs with that in mind.” Meisha Barbee

$175

Sat. & Sun. – Feb. 21 & 22, 2015

9am – 4:30pm

PLUS – Syndee Holt in May and Randee Ketzel in June! Maureen Carlson in 2016! Amazing amount of fun coming. Stay tune for more information on these Workshops

Alice Stroppel’s Studio 215

Sandy Camp and a New Scrap Technique

I have a lot to do this week. I’m very excited to tell you that I am going to Sandy Camp in California next month. I’m going to be doing a demo. Thanks so much to the San Diego Polymer Clay guild and Nancy Ulrich for letting me join everyone this year.

I’m very excited to get to spend some time with my buddy Meisha Barbee. After all she’s kind of responsible for me deciding that the Stroppel Cane was worth sharing. Remember our collaboration featured on Polymer Clay Daily? Fun!

I’m spending some time making girlfriend bracelets to take along with me plus some other goodies.

But in-between I’m using scrap to create some fun pieces. Jainnie Jenkins named them Scappy girls. Love that, thanks Jainne.

The hair and clothes are mostly from scraps. I textured them, cured them, then stained the whole piece. Mounted it on mat board and then framed them.

So many ideas too little time.

I have a big silver project I’m working on too this month and it doesn’t even include this pile of silver I brought home after a thrift shop adventure that put me into overload. *g*.

Wish me luck!

If you’re going to be at Sandy Camp, see you there.

Polymer Clay Veneer

A reclaimed table finds new life in my house. It started out as a wobbly table made from solid oak but with a few years and coats of red paint under in it’s history. I brought it home and almost ave up on fixing the wobble, but fortunately my husband, who is not a wood guy, saved the day and came to the rescue for both me and the table.

I spray painted teal over the red and then sanded a bit here and there. Let her dry and then I was ready to start. I’ve been doing large pieces to frame and hang on the wall and thought why not give furniture a try.

This is the same technique I use for my smaller pieces of wall art too, I call it cane mapping. Laying out a map and filling it with clay.

I started with a smaller table and it worked pretty well so I decided to give this larger one a go. It’s 28″ H 29″ L 18″W.

I start out by making a paper pattern of the top and draw my design on the paper. Then I place the pattern under a large piece of glass and just start laying clay.

Once I have a good deal completed I bake it and then move on to the next part of the pattern. I end up with several large puzzle pieces that I then glue onto the table top. If I work on too large a piece I tend to rest my hand on on drop something on the part that was finished and have to redo parts of it, Baking in pieces helps to preserve the work I’ve already completed.

I use Liquid Fusion clear urethane adhesive. It dries fairly quickly, but takes 24 hours to completely dry. When I was finish with all the pieces for the top, I glued them together right on the wood.

Then I exuded a matching teal round snake from the edge. I baked it in four sections in roughly the same shape as the edge of the table. I use Premo because it’s flexible and it was easy to apply. However, to make sure it stayed in place, I taped it all around and left it until morning.

I don’t add a finish to the top, if I could stand to do it, I might sand and buff it. But until I get myself a do-boy…well…it will just get pretty with age and develop it’s own patina. I feel this way… it’s plastic…water won’t hurt it…you can wash it with a damp rag. The only thing I will do it make sure to use a coaster for hot beverages. I know the bracelets that I made years ago and wear often have this wonderful feel to them. So I say use it what’s the worse that can happen?

Thanks for all the wonderful words of encouragement, the likes, the shares, on Facebook and thank you in advance for any comments left here. On to the next project!!!

Follow me on Facebook if you want. https://www.facebook.com/alice.stroppel

Mystery Project

I’ve been having so much fun on Facebook with this project. I posted pictures of the first part of the project featuring six of my girls with the tag line, “Bet you can’t figure out what this is going to be”. So many of you had great guesses and wonderful compliments, I thank you so much for playing along because it made it that much easier for me to continue working on it until it was finished.

As I continued to work and post pictures you continued to guess.

It kept getting taller and taller. ……..

……until I finally finished it and here is the big reveal…TADA…It’s a table.

I found two base metal lamps at my local thrift store and combined pieces from each to create this crazy table. It’s very sturdy and well weighted. You might even classify this project a found object project.

I have a couple more lamps that I bought but they don’t come apart so I’ll see how they work out in the oven.

By the way, I bake in a full size oven that I have in my studio and it was easy to bake this table because is was in pieces. The next ones will be a challenge I think.

I cover a bit of each piece with clay and then bake it so I won’t mess up what I’ve just done. when it’s cool, I add more clay and bake again. I can do this as many times as I want and bake for as long as I want because I have calibrated my oven and I know that it is always on the correct temperature.

So what’s your next big project?

Polymer Clay Etc.

Polymer Clay Canes for Beginners

Online Workshops with Alice Stroppel

Catagories

Comments

Blogroll

My Other Blogs

Recent Posts

Meta

Cane Mapping and Extrusion Online Workshops

Coupon Code for Polymer Clay Canes for Beginners

Online Workshops Ready to Launch

Workshops for May and June 2017 at Studio 215

Cane Mapping Furniture Workshop – June 23 – 26, 2016

Birds Everywhere

Workshops for 2015 at 215

Sandy Camp and a New Scrap Technique

Polymer Clay Veneer

Mystery Project

Archives

The Stroppel Cane

What is a Cane?

Polymer Clay Canes for Beginners

Online Workshops with Alice Stroppel

Catagories

Comments

Blogroll

My Other Blogs

Recent Posts

Meta

Related articles across the web

Related articles across the web

Related articles across the web

Related articles across the web

Archives

The Stroppel Cane

What is a Cane?