Polymer Clay Canes for Beginners

27 videos, step by step, beginner cane workshop beginner Cane Tutorial 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

Catagories

[caption id="attachment_102" align="aligncenter" width="100" caption="Member IPCA"]Member IPCA[/caption]

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.

Classroom at Studio 215

 

Classroom at Studio 215

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 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 instructions ahead of time.

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.

 

 

Meisha Barbee Mica Shift Workshop

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

 

Meisha Barbee Workshop at Studio 215

Meisha Barbee Mica Shift Workshop

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

Min. 10 students – Max. 15 students

Alice Stroppel’s Studio 215

215 Ridgewood Dr. 

mailing address – P.O. Box 4530

Sebring, FL 33870

for more information email 

alicestroppel@gmail.com

 

 

 

Florida Gulf Coast Polymer Clay Guild Workshop

Florida Gulf Coast Polymer Clay Guild

Florida Gulf Coast Polymer Clay Guild

Once again I had the pleasure of showing this great group of women some of what I’ve learned about polymer clay. This is the Florida Gulf Coast Polymer Clay Guild in Palmetto with some attendees from other guilds around the state.

Thank you Sydney Carter for all your planning and thank you to everyone for the delicious potluck and continuing to want me back.

Everyone got right into my cane mapping technique and I think they all really enjoyed what they made. I know I was delighted by the work, it really makes my day to see the level of work and the fun that’s happening.

I taught this group about 6 months ago. We had a cane class and I showed everyone my crazy ways of making canes. I sent everyone home with homework. “Go and make Canes!!!”  They did with great results.

This is the follow up class that shows just one of the many things you can do with the canes you made recently, little bits of left over canes and the canes you might have had in your stash for years.

The Premo clay for this class was donated by Polyform and we were all thrilled. Now we will reveal how grateful we are for the clay and what we’ve made with it all. Many thanks to Iris Weiss and Polyform. You can also visit Polyform on Facebook

Here’s the results, I know you’ll agree that this is one talented group. ( I’m sorry I  don’t have a picture of Geri Costello’s, I’m hoping she’ll send one)

Sue Garland

Sue Garland

Sandy Grace

Sandy Grace

Judy Northrup

Judy Northrup

Carol Knapik

Carol Knapik

Christine Keyworth

Christine Keyworth

Bonnie Anderson with Alice Stroppel

Bonnie Anderson

Annette Cannariato

Annette Cannariato

 

WIP – almost finished

Sydney Carter

Sydney Carter

Starr Payne

Starr Payne

Jill Hennessy

Jill Hennessy

Patsy Monk

Patsy Monk

Christine Kacmarek

Christine Kacmarek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Polymer Clay Class Prep -Cane Mapping

Cane Mapping  samples for workshop Alice Stroppel

 

I”ve been creating several pieces for samples and demos for my cane mapping workshop with the Florida Gulf Coast Polymer Clay Guild in June.

This is a follow up class to the cane workshop with FGCPCG several months ago. In that class, using Premo clay donated by Polyform, we created several canes and the group went away with homework to make lots more.

In this workshop, we will be using those canes to create pictures to frame.

These are from royalty free clipart. They are cane mapped and flat except the parrot which is more of a 3D effect.

I always look forward to spending the day with this guild, they are so much fun.

Here are a few finished and framed pieces

Polymer Clay FIsh -  Alice Stroppel

Cat - Cane Mapped - Alice Stroppel

Butterfly, polymer clay- Alice Stroppel

Polymer Clay Cane Workshop with FGCPCG

FGCPCG2014

Thank you Kim and Sydney for the photo. The always fun group at Florida Gulf Coast Polymer Clay, thank you all for having me.

Well everyone’s smiling, that’s always a good thing I think. I know I had a great time and was so excited to see the canes everyone made. The exciting thing is that there is going to be a part two to this workshop.

I’m going back in June and we’ll explore how to turn all those canes into wall art, objects and more. So everyone has homework hehehe.

I also shared my new Stroppel Cane #2 with this group. It’s a little different and fun. I’m going to film it today and post it tomorrow so you can play with your scraps tomorrow if you like the way it comes out.

Alice Stroppel cane workshop

Here’s a picture of some of the Premo blends and the canes we worked on in this workshop. I have to send a big shout out to Iris Weiss and Polyform. they generously donated all the Premo clay for this workshop. Everyone went home with clay to “do their homework”. Thank you so very much Polyform and Iris.

I’ve always used Premo polymer clay. I wasn’t interested in putting forth the effort to condition the harder clays and I was so invested in Premo by the time the others came out with a softer clay that I just never switched. I love many of the Premo colors. I make my face canes with Premo and they are more complicated for sure, so Premo works for me with my more complex canes.

 

My approach to caning is a bit different than the norm. I don’t worry too much about everything being perfect, I don’t mind if my canes are a bit wonky so my caning style may make some want to look away.

Some caners are producing more than just a few pieces for sale. Either in their online shops, in galleries, at festival, or they are wholesaling to stores. Others are doing precise design work and have refined their caning skills.

I don’t sell that many finished pieces, so I never make very large canes. There a several more reason why my canes tend to be small to tiny. I don’t want to surround them with translucent, I don’t want to have to reduce then very much and I want to create a new design each time I make something from the canes.

Example: I could have made a large cane for this cat bracelet but I used lots of smaller canes. There will never be another one exactly like this one, I like that. I call my process  Cane Mapping but you could say it was like mosaic work without the grout.

Cheshire Cat's Cousin

 

This fish is made the same way

Fish MosaicAs are all my wall pieces.

Explorations - Alice Stroppel

Explorations – Alice Stroppel

I have a very laid back approach to cane making. there truly are NO mistakes with my canes. It kind of takes the stress off of building canes, at least it does for me.

The artists that can be exact and create those fabulous intricate designs have my complete admiration, their work is stunning, I just can’t do it so I don’t try.

There are lots of you out there that are just like me, I know it. You want to cane but are afraid, you don’t want to waste all that clay, it makes you nervous to even think about it, you don’t think you’re good at it.

By starting with a bit of freedom attached to you caning, you can learn without stress and then later if you want to evolve, move on, learn to make the more complex canes. Or stay here with me, it’s all good.

Online right now is a great group on Facebook led by Rian Sanderse called 52 Weekly Cane Projects. It’s a fantastic way to practice canes with any pressure and it’s free. It’s a pretty wonderful thing Rian is doing for the pc community.  This last week she featured my Stroppel Cane and Ronit Golan’s scrap cane. go join, you’ll have fun.

If you or  your group is interested in taking my canes and/or cane mapping workshop/s please leave me a message on the comment page or on Facebook. I’d love to come met you all if I could.

 

Teaching at Florida Gulf Coast Polymer Clay Guild

Premo Clay donated by PolyformI just finished making goody bags of Premo for my cane workshop on Saturday and wanted to give a big shout out and thank you to Polyform and Iris Weiss for providing the clay.

I’m teaching a cane workshop with Florida Gulf Coast Polymer Clay Guild. I’m going to share my method of stocking my cane draws with canes of different colors and sizes. It’s all about having a variety of canes and cane components ready and waiting for your next project. It certainly makes me more productive.

Polyform is always so generous and provides clay for my workshops and I can’t tell you how nice it is to have it to share with my students. Thank you again Iris and Polyform.

There is still space available in this cane class on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014 in Palmetto. Leave a comment here if you’re interested. Or send me a message on Facebook.

 

Pen and Ink on Polymer Clay – Cuff Bracelet

pen and ink polymer clay AliceStroppel

 

I really enjoy creating pen and ink faces on white polymer clay covered bracelets. I’ve drawn many and continue to strive to improve. This is different views of the same bracelet.

I’m teaching Pen and Ink on Polymer Clay on Jan. 10th at McKilliams Promotions in Oddessa, FL. That’s just north of Tampa.

For more information visit McKilliams Promotions, Inc. Hope to see you there.

While I was away from my studio for a few months, I practiced drawing faces using pen and ink. Here’s one I did using a Vogue cover from the 50’s. I’ve always loved this picture and it was a perfect one for me to try and recreate. I’m happy with it except the face doesn’t look like the model at all.

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do a likeness, but that’s okay I’m happy just drawing imaginary faces.  Practice, practice, practice…..it’a all fun!Vogue coverAlice-Stroppel

Teaching in Tampa Bay Area

Pen and Ink on Polymer ClayHi everyone, I’ll be starting off the New Year by teaching Pen and Ink on Polymer Clay at McKilliams Promotions in Oddessa, FL. That’s just north of Tampa.

I’m the opening act for the ever delightful and funny Julie Eakes and her workshop , “I’ve Been Framed”. She’ll be showing you how to make micro canes and use them to make frames.

For more information visit McKilliams Promotions, Inc. Hope to see you there.

Next I’ll be at the Florida Gulf Coast Polymer Clay Guild on Feb. 1st with my canes. For more information visit their Yahoo group.

 

 

 

A colony of flamingos and a muster of peacocks

 

 

 

Polymer clay flamigos - Alice Stroppel workshop

 

Look at these great flamingo bracelets made by my friends Sydney Carter, Emma Simpson, Charline Ahlgreen, Tyra Ahlgreen, Sara Pietruk and Linda Eastman. We had so much fun they all wanted to do it again the next day only this time it was Peacocks. I just love how each one turned out.

A giant thank you to Polyform and Iris Weiss for donating the clay for this workshop. Everyone was delighted and they used every bit making canes and Skinner blends for these funky, fun bracelets

peacocksw

Charline decided to made something different with her peacock. So cool…

Charline's Peacock - Alice Stroppel

Charline's Peacock - Alice Stroppel

Thanks everyone and I’ll see you again soon.

Orlando Area Polymer Clay Guild – Pen and Ink on Polymer Clay

OAPCG workshop with Alice Stroppel

I always enjoy spending time with the Orlando Area Polymer Clay Guild. Their group has so much fun together and there are always new members to meet and old friends to greet.

Once again I want to thanks Polyform Products and Iris Weiss for sponsoring this class with a generous amount of Premo clay.

Many thanks to Kem Eid for all the bookwork, manning the ovens and help, Eva for sending out notices….and all the rest of the group for making the day a delight.

And because of Crazy Nancy we have a group picture. I reminded and she remembered. It takes two….:-) I also managed to get a photo or two of some of the work, thanks guys for reminding me before you left.

It sounds like I have a really bad memory, okay I do, but…I’m also busy at the end of class and before I know it, people are gone. Forgive me if I don’t show your work here, we had some great pieces and lots of fun as always. Send me your Pictures and I’ll update this post.

Here’s just some of the work….

OAPCG workshop with Alice StroppelOAPCG workshop with Alice Stroppel

 

OAPCG workshop with Alice Stroppel

 

 

OAPCG workshop with Alice Stroppel

 

Michele Smith