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

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An Apple a Day, A Polymer Clay Sculpting Experiment

You might have to look twice at this apple, my husband did. He came into my studio and said, ” oh I thought you had an apple in your hands, oh it is an apple, oh it has a face! That’s cool.”

Now you have to understand that for years all I could get out of him was, “what were you thinking?”. But in the last few years his comments have gotten more complimentary and “that’s cool” is amazingly high on the list of compliments so far. Hehehe…..I’m wearing him down.

He loves that I love what I do, and he’s oh so supportive, but I’m not sure he has ever understood my crazy way of thinking. But that’s okay I don’t understand his obsession with cars either, so we’re kind of tied. I’ll take “that’s cool” and love it.

After the sculpting workshop I taught last weekend, I decided to play around with some ideas I’ve had in the back of my head for a long time. I started this apple man with the idea of making him an ornament like The Baker Man ornament I made when shooting my found objects video.

I can’t believe that was almost 2 1/2 years ago. It just proves that no idea is ever lost.

Well apple man  quickly turned into something entirely  different. He is a work in progress so you’ll have to come back to see him finished. I think this idea is pretty “that’s cool”, so keep your fingers crossed that my experiment works.

And once more, thank you Judith Skinner.

A Gift From an Aussie Friend – Adele Madder

Adele Madder - Polymer Clay Ornament

Adele Madder sent me this beautiful ornament all the way from Australia. Isn’t it lovely? Adele is an OOAK Polymer Clay Mixed Media Artist and her business is “Madele’s Miniatures”.   I met Adele on the City-o-Clay’s Yahoo group forum.

I’m delighted, thank you so much Adele. You can see some of Adele’s work on her Flickr site.

I also wanted to thank Nena Sabo from Katherine Art Jewelry for featuring me on her blog. I am honored and thrilled that she liked my Lady in Blue enough to want to show her to her readers. Nena has decided to feature artists on her blog and I for one will check her blog often.

It’s wonderful to be meeting some many talented people from all over the world. Gotta love the internet, bring people together that never would have met otherwise.

Santa, HO HO HO!

Santa Ornament

Santa Ornament

I haven’t been doing very much clay work in the last week, I’ve been painting gift bags, cooking and getting ready for Christmas.

I didn’t want Christmas to be over before I wished you all a very merry one. I hope all your wishes come true and I hope that the Christmas spirit is with you each day of the coming year.

Since I didn’t have anything recent to share, I thought I’d share an ornament I made about 8 years ago maybe. The face is not mine, it is from a member of City-O-Clay cane swap, City-O-Clay is a yahoo group full of very helpful people and a great place to get help with questions about anything polymer clay.

When I saw this face cane, I was so amazed by the detail, that I knew I had to make face canes. The sad part is that I can’t remember who made the face cane. I was so excited to receive it as one of my swap items.  If it looks familiar, I’d love it if you’d leave me comment.

He was just a face, beard and those so funny teeth. I started to laugh the minute I saw him and I still laugh each time I see him.  I added the santa hat, hair and suit. I added holly and large Ho Ho Ho letters on the back. I love him, he’s so funny and not your typical santa. I enjoy getting him out each year.

See you again before the New Year.

Raggedy Ann From Christmas Past

My kids are way grown and gone and I don’t decorate like I use to. I have a smaller tree and don’t have all the “things” sitting around everywhere.

One year about 6 or 7 years ago, I bought a bunch of large plastic “under the bed” boxes and separated all my Christmas things. I made different boxes of Santas, Angels, etc.  I gave the boys all their ornaments and still I have hundreds and hundreds. I know, I know, “what was I thinking”.

But the happy thing is, each year I just get out a couple of boxes and that’s it. No fuss no muss. It really has worked out so well and each year I get to look at something different.

This year, I decided to get out a couple of boxes that I haven’t had out in awhile, boxes full of some of the oldest things I have. Mostly kiddie things, teddy bears and all the ornaments that the boys made. It was great fun and I know the kids will love looking at them this year.

There were also tons of things I’d made as well, some that really should never have been made in the first place…yikes, and some things that brought a smile to my face. Like this Raggedy Ann made with polymer clay.

Raggedy Ann - 1980 Something

Raggedy Ann - 1980 Something - Polymer Clay

In 1980 something, I found polymer clay. I was dying to try it out, so one Christmas as I was decorating the tree I was hanging a Raggedy Ann and Andy  from 1975 made by Hallmark. I wanted to try my hand at something in polymer so I picked Raggedy Ann.

I had made so many things out of dough art with the kids and this was a step up for sure. All the dough figures are long gone but Ann is still here.

Here’s a picture of the Hallmark Raggedy Ann, she was a great model wasn’t she?  The Hallmark Raggedy is in another box that I take out more often because Ann and Andy are favorite ornaments of mine, they were some of the first that I bought when the boys were little, actually my oldest wasn’t born yet. So They really take me back to a magical wonderful time.

Hallmark Raggedy Ann - 1975

Hallmark Raggedy Ann - 1975

Thanks for taking the walk in the past with me, I sure enjoyed it.

Ornaments Galore for Friends Galore!

I’ve been on a roll, covering these ornaments and creating these girlfriend ornaments. By using different skinner blends for backgrounds I’m not using traditional Christmas colors for a reason. I want these ornaments to be able to be viewed and displayed at other times of the year too.

We all have one of those ornament stands that will display one special ornament. Well why not add one of those to a polymer clay ornament that has a special message for the recipient. I did a google search and found them for 2.50 and up.

Order an ornament from my Etsy Shop (adding a couple by the end of the day today) or create one yourself. But get started, Christmas is just around the corner.

BFF Ornament Going to The Creative Native

Best Friend Forever

Best Friends Forever

Pam Moody from The Creative Native Gallery is having her annual ornament display this year and I’m making some best girlfriend ornaments to add to the mix. Each will a have a witty saying on the back, but you’ll have to stop in The Creative Native to choose yours.

I’ll be making more for my Etsy Shop and The Highlands Art League too, but I promised Pam that I would get some to her soon.

Here’s an ornament I made in 2005 when I was still working on perfecting my faces. (actually, I’m still working on perfecting my faces)  This one had 7 girls on it and it hangs in my studio. I thought this year was a good year to revisit these ornaments and take a look at how far I’ve come.

2005

2005

I made this ornament to celebrate my Best Female Friends. We are still friends and it’s a great thing to have this group of fabulous women standing beside me, plus covering my back…….