bracelet « 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.

Double Trouble – Fish Bracelet

I ordered some brass bangle blanks to play around with. I really like the way the bangles look even though I mostly use the cuff blanks. I like the cuffs because they fit most people even when ordering online, the bangles really have to be tried on in person to be sure.

But here’s the fun part, at least to me. I moved the cane mapped fish I was working on from a flat to be framed piece to a cuff bracelet. and really liked the way it looked. Here’s it is.

So when my order for the bangles came in, (I ordered 2), I thought how cool would it be to put the fish on the two bracelets. I made two fish and cut them down the middle and placed each piece on different bangles.

When the bracelet is worn the fish spin around and become a mix and match, just like those Cracker Jack prizes when the bodies, heads and feet of characters could be mixed and matched, remember? It made me laugh.

Now to do it with my faces.

Green Fish Bracelet – Cane Mapping Polymer Clay

I was very happy to use several very old canes on this fish. I find him really interesting. When I’m wearing him you see the middle part with all the greens and yellows.

When I wore it today I had several compliments and one lady was very surprised, as I turned my wrist, to see it was a fish. A fun piece to wear.

Faces on Bracelets – Pen and Ink on Polymer Clay

I took time out from cane mapping to finish this face bracelet. It’s pen and ink on polymer clay. I’ve had the bracelet covered and baked for months so it was about time I finished it.

Cane Mapped Parrot Bracelet.

blue parrot bracelet- Alice Stroppel

While making samples and demo pieces for my cane mapping workshop in June, I realized that this parrot was just the right size to fit on a bracelet blank. Here’s the finished bracelet. Luckily I have another Parrot for the workshop.

Very Florida-ish don’t you think? Even though I’ve yet to see a parrot in my backyard.

Workshop at West Coast Polymer Clay Guild, The Polymer Arts Blog and Art Deco

The Polymer Arts

My Circles and Squares necklace was featured yesterday by Sage Bray on The Polymer Arts blog. I do enjoy this piece very much and always have one or two people tell me how fun it is! When I’m told that my work makes people smile of makes them happy, I consider my job accomplish!

I’m always so excited to see my work featured in The Polymer Art magazine or blog, I appreciate the fine work that Sage is doing for our polymer clay community and feel privileged to included with the vast array of talented artists working in polymer clay. Thank you Sage.

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West Coast Polymer Clay Guild

No picture here! I can not believe that I spent the whole day with this lovely, funny group and didn’t take one picture. I blame the guild member actually, I asked them to remind me and to not leave without a group picture. But every single one of them forgot to remind me.

I really apologize ladies, it was my fault after all. Next time I won’t forget.

All of us at this workshop want to send a giant thank you to Polyform’s Education Manager Iris Weiss and Polyform Products for supplying all the clay and then some.

We had a really great time though, what a talented group of women. I hope to get back to New Port Richey again soon.

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Art Deco

I’ve been drawn to Art Deco all my life. Maybe it was visiting Miami when I was a kid and seeing all those fabulous art deco buildings, or just the clean lines of the jewelry or the advertisements and art work created in that style. I think it might be the romanic vision of the ’20s that draws me in. Such large changes taking place in clothing, hair styles, woman’s rights…the world was changing dramatically.

Right now I’m working on this bracelet using my pen and ink technique. I wanted something new with pen and ink to take to the Orlando Area Polymer Clay Guild when I teach there next week. Working on slides in this style as well.

Having a ball actually, one more panel on this one and I’m finished.

Stroppel Cane Necklace and Bracelet

I was messing around with a large Stroppel Cane a couple of weeks ago and came up with this idea. This is actually my second one like this because I wanted to make a simple necklace to match. They are both simple and quick to make but the possibilities are endless.

I left the black surfaces lumpy-bumpy just because, but those surfaces could be smooth or covered any way your imagination takes you.

I used a square cutter to cut the hole in the middle but had to go back and trim again with my blade because the cutters aren’t sharp enough. I used my blade to trim around the outside. Of course you can use oval, circle or square cutters.

Tomorrow I’ll share the new camera phone light box set up I just ordered. Actually you can use it with a regular camera too. Very cool.

Pretty in Peacock

A grand peacock came to live in my studio today. I’m telling you I really like the way this process is working for me. Making bracelets this way is a blast.

This peacock is quite big and showy. I haven’t wore him out yet, he wasn’t finished when I went to dinner last night. I did wear the toucan though and everyone noticed it. It makes me happy to be able to share my polymer clay creations with people. They are always so amazed at what polymer clay can do, if they even know what it is to begin with. I feel like an ambassador for PC.

It allows for so many interesting shapes and spur of the moment design decisions that result in some pretty amazing results.The peacock just asked to be wrapped around onto itself. It is an interesting design that doesn’t really have an uninteresting side. I took many more pictures of it just because you can’t fully see it from just a couple of shots.

On this side, you can’t really tell what it might be, just a colorful something.

Still having fun here! Today, I think I’ll try a fish using this method. Just can’t stay away from them.

“Curiouser and Curiouser” Said Alice. Bangles – A Flamingo and A Toucan

I’ve been working with Ultralight a lot lately, using it as a core for many of my larger bracelets and beads. I used it as a core for my Woman in the Moon and she’s easy to wear.

I didn’t use it as a core for this flamingo, I was experimenting with Super Sculpey as the core as it’s a bit easier to sculpt with than the very soft Ultralight. It’s heavier for sure and I won’t use it again as the core for bracelets this thick.

I’ve started a series of bangles using this method and I’m really jazzed about them. Right now I’m working on streamlining the process and learning the tricks of working successfully with the softer clay. It’s so much fun and I want to be able to teach others how to create their own characters. There is no limit to what we can come up with, here’s a toucan.

The Woman in the Moon, and why not I ask you.

I’ve been working on so many different things and I’ll have more to share another day. For now I wanted to show you my Woman in the Moon. I was so happy to see so many woman heading towards the United State Congress and wanted to honor that in a small way.

So why not a woman in the moon, why does it have to be a man? Or better yet, why not both? Here is my woman in the moon, she’s a framed piece and a bracelet at the same time.

Here she is as a bracelet. I’ve made her out of Ultralight so she’s not so heavy. But she another example of my “out there” brain.

The Cheshire Cat’s Cousin in Polymer Clay

“We’re all mad here.”
― Lewis Carroll (The Cheshire Cat), Alice in Wonderland

I feel like I followed the White Rabbit into a hole and don’t know when I’ll get out again. I began the long put off task of cleaning out my spare room. I won’t go into details, it’s just too scary. I didn’t need halloween, I had my own frightening adventure in my house.

But I’ve taken a day to play with clay and get something out of my head and into a design. It’s my contour cat bracelet. I think he is related to the other Alice’s Cheshire Cat, don’t you?

Here’s the other side.

And here it is on my wrist. I can tell you from experience that I always get compliments and comments when I wear my boldest contour bracelets, mainly because they’re so crazy.

I have lots more work to do on “the room” but I can’t stay away from clay for long. I agree with the Cheshire Cat, I am a bit crazy when it comes to clay. See you next time.

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