Polymer Clay Canes for Beginners 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.
Online Workshops with Alice Stroppel
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I have been inspired from several sources, but that’s nothing new, the difference is this time I decided to act right away and now send it to my “someday” list. Besides, I’m in a experimental mood.
When I received my beautiful set of Shisha bracelets made by talented women of Samunnat Nepal ( you should order a set  I loved the way they looked. The pattern was tiny and it just laid gently around the face of the bracelet.
Then yesterday on Ornamental Elements, Laurie Prophater posted about Joseph Gatto and his topographic “Environmental” bracelets. The design featured had lots of wonderful color just around the edge. Of course I was making a Stroppel Cane from scraps from the project I was working on. It’s in the oven now, show you tomorrow. And even though it’s a bit different than what I had envisioned, I really enjoyed myself. I also have Laurie to thank for getting me started on this type of bracelet month ago.
The core is made with Ultralight, I’ve been experimenting with it a lot lately. And naturally I couldn’t leave the inside alone.
Over the last year I’ve been making bracelets with sculpted, contoured edges. I still have something like that in mind for these but for now I am happy with this one. Plus it’s the first time I used Ultralight as the core and it really worked out well.
The colors on this one remind me of a 1940 quilt or at least fabric from that time. No I wasn’t around then……but I’ve seen pictures.
Look what came in the mail yesterday! This beautiful set of Shisha bracelets made by talented women of Samunnat Nepal.
I’ve been following the women of Samunnat Nepal ever since Cynthia Tinapple said she was going to visit the women there to share her polymer patterns.
I found out about Cynthia’s trip at a retreat we were both attending. We had a slide exchange and her slide was made from the polymer patterned “cloth” she was planning on teaching the women of Samunnat Nepal.
You can see they go together so well. What you can’t see is the reflection from the tiny little mirrors embedded in the pattern.
I wanted these bracelets because they go with Cynthia’s slide and I watched as she worked on one of the pattern sheets. And because it all means something to me, as Maureen Carlson always reminds me, everything has a story. So these pieces have a story with a beginning and a middle with the ending nowhere in site. The women of Samunnat Nepal are writing the rest of their story.
The main reason I wanted to own this bracelet set is because all the proceeds go back to the women and I wanted to support their efforts. You can read more about these beautiful women on A Colourful Journey website. It is the website “for Nepali women who have survived domestic violence and are developing ways to generate an income for themselves and their families. These women are affiliated with the non-religious, non-profit, non-political Samunnat Nepal project.”
Sometimes we polymer clay artists think that because we make polymer clay jewelry, we don’t want to buy others polymer clay jewelry, but I would encourage you to think about lending your support to these ladies and empowering their escape from violence. You won’t be sorry for a second, these bracelets will make you smile from the minute you open the package. And every time you look at them you will know you helped in a small way.
You can own your very own Shisha Bracelet, just visit Samunnat Shop on Etsy. Tell ’em Alice sent you. If nothing else, mark their shop as a favorite so your circle can get a chance to take a look.
Oh and by the way, they have other wonderful pieces of jewelry and are adding more all the time.
My hat is off to all those involved in bringing this project to life. Wendy Moore, Cynthia Tinapple, Wendy Basnet, Genevieve Williamson and the women of Samunnat Nepal. A big thank you to you all.
 I have been home from Georgia and Creative Journey Studios a little over a week and it truly seems like only a day or two. I am busy getting ready for Orlando Clay Fandango this week and decide to try pen and ink on ecru clay and boy do I really like it. I love the black and white, but this is new and different.
I’ll be demo-ing pen and ink on polymer clay, my Stroppel Cane, and how to cover a bracelet blank.
I’ll be posting more about my trip to GA when I get back and I know I’ll have great things to share about Fandango too. I have a wonderful interview with Ellen Prophater from Creative Journey Studios to share with you, plus lots of wonderful pictures of the Gallery and my classes.
This year I won’t forget my camera when I go to Fandango. Last year I left it by the back door. and was so dissappointed that I didn’t get to film the instructors and the Fandango Committee. The exciting thing is this year I don’t need a giant camera bag, cords, charger etc. because I have a new little video camera with a USB connection built in. It fits in my pocket. Amazing!
Hope to see you at Fandango in 3…2….1…days.
Speaking of The Stroppel Cane…………
Sage Bray from The Polymer Arts asked me to write an article about the Stroppel Cane for the spring issue. I did and I was excited to see my name on the front cover along with the gorgeous photo of a Heather Campbell creation.
Haven’t read an issue yet try a sample.
Sample Issues of The Polymer Arts magazine … for the polymer clay artist
See you again soon….
Angela Natali (cleobs on Flickr) just commented on my Florida Sunshine picture. I went over to her flickr site to see what she has been up to and look what I found. This skyline bracelet is just fabulous..don’t you think so? I’m simply delighted.
Go tell cleobs what you think……..
I love black and white. I haven’t made any black and white bracelets for sale in awhile and decided I needed to take a minute and create some.
 These are for the Pen and Ink class I’m teaching at the Creative Journey Studios in Buford, GA on the 22nd of this month. I’ll user these to show how I draw my faces directly onto the cured polymer clay.
On the 21st I’m teaching my profile face cane. So I’ve been busy with blending face clay too. Oh and while I was making black and white scraps, I added some colorful scraps and made several Stroppel Canes that have magically turned into pins for the pin exchange during Fandango next month. Still have a bunch to go…but I’ll get there.
I’m just smiling and clayin’…..
 Okay just a quick post this morning, here’s the rest of the legs bracelet. I know, I know, these are arms……….but you can see that they go together can’t you? You can see the other side of the bracelet in this post.
Sometimes when I take a picture of an item, I can see the mistakes better than when I’m looking directly at it. I need to correct the proportions on these arms and hands. Last night they looked pretty good, but this morning by light of day and the camera lens, I can see the mistakes. I’m still learning here too, I haven’t alway been bold enough to put my drawings out there, but have gotten over pleasing anyone but myself.
I draw directly on the baked clay, I don’t transfer a drawing. It would probably work better if I did, but I’m impatient and usually don’t do something twice. So I have to put it down and come back to give it a second look before I finish it up. This is a perfect example.
It’s just one of the things I’ll show you how to do in my Pen and Ink classes.
I’ll work on this again try to correct what I see wrong and repost it. You can’t learn if you don’t try.
I thought I would try something different on a black and white cuff, black and white legs…..
I still have another side to finish and wonder if I should add something in the background on each panel. I’ll have to think about it while I’m playing with the last side.
Have fun today, play with clay!
 I’ve finished the bracelet I was working on the other day. Having three spaces to fill is alway a challenge. On the other hand it mean three blank canvases to have fun with.
I’m teaching this class next at Creative Journey Studios on April 22nd, 2012. I can’t wait.
So there you have the whole bracelet. I’m off now to start on another one, right after I finish filling out the survey to help standardize measurements for polymer clay. thanks to Sage, Maggie and Cynthia for putting this together. Read about it here, on Polymer Clay Daily, or go right to the survey here.
We had a really wonderful time at Beads F.O.B. last weekend, it was a two day canefest. We all made lots of cane components for a complex cane and to use on our bracelets and pendants.
Some of the classmates decided they might not want to wear one of the crazy new bracelets I showed in the last post and opted to make a cuff or a pendant instead.
The class was about the caning experince and the mission was acomplished. My only regret is that I didn’t get pictures of each piece of work. It seems it always happens that way a the end of class, there is always just too much going on. But some great pieces were made and fun had by all I think.
A special thank you to Marty and Karen at Beads F.O.B. for everything. And to Edgar for taking the shot of us that you see up above. Only Sarah is missing from this shot.
Now on to preparing for my scuplting class next month. Now I’m really excited about this class, can’t wait!
 I’ve been creating new fun but easy canes for my newest cane/bracelet workshop I’m teaching at Beads F.O.B. in Sarasota this weekend. Many of the students have taken a cane class from me before and I wanted to add new, to them anyway, canes and just gereral tips on working with polymer clay. I’ve had a good time, added considerably to my stock of canes and am packing the car right after this.
My problem is, I get distracted by all the other ideas that come into my head. The bracelet above contains simple yet vibrantly colored canes and I just couldn’t help myself, I had to make this outrageously (choose one of these dictionary definitions……..1. shockingly bad or excessive 2. very bold, unusual, and startling.) fun to wear bracelet.
Naturally, each people can choose their own colors and don’t have to be crazy, so I think we’ll have fun. I have flower canes and several more complicated canes to share as well. There is still room for a couple more people in this class, we have a large space, so if you’re in the area, come join us.
Oh and I’ll be showing the Stroppel cane too. But some of these woman were the first ones I showed it too but it’s grown just a bit since then.
I also got some dies and the new book from Tracy Holmes and Dan Cormier right after Christmas. I have some ideas that I want to try out, but haven’t had time, so my thoughts drifted in that direction for a few minutes. Then the idea of translucent clay being colored and looking like sea glass caught my eye on Polymer Clay Daily, my brain began drifting again. This conversation started on FB as a result, ( I tried to link directly to the conversation but couldn’t figure that one out. So here’s the link to my page, you’ll have to scroll down about half way on the lefthand side.) While you’re there, friend me. lol.
So many patterns and colors on Pintest now that it has my mind jumping all over the place. I have a sculpting workshop here next month and I’m very excited about a couple of ideas I want to add to the workshop, but I have had to keep those ideas simmering until after the workshop this weekend.
Plus….information from artists is starting to pour in for Suzanne Ivestor’s and my new magazine Polymer Portfolio. The work is amazing, the artists sterling and well, the whole project is exciting.
So I’m starting off the new year with a full plate and very excited to be so actively involved in this wonderful world of polymer clay, thanks to you all.
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