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.
When I went to Tampa to visit The Creative Native and take some of my work for Pam, the owner, to feature.
Earlier in the day, I had lunch with my son, and we stopped by The Red Herring, a delightful shop with “curious goods for your home.” I thought I would ask inside if they knew of any art galleries or funky crafty gift shops that might be interested in my work.
I showed the woman behind the desk the bracelet I was wearing and told her what I was looking for, she asked me to wait while she found the owner. She thought the owner might be interested in my pieces.
And she was. She would have bought all my wine stoppers I think, but I had promised to take them to The Creative Native. I told her I would make her more and send her a picture of them once they where complete. She also showed an interest in the business card holders and the bracelets.
So the picture above is of the new work that I did for her. I emailed her the picture and a price list. I’ll let you now how things turn out.
My point is, you shouldn’t limit yourself to just galleries or “craft” gift shops. I really didn’t realize that this shop might be interested in my pieces.
I knew that they had wonderful things and I loved just walking in the shop, but it didn’t cross my mind to put the two things together…”Curious goods for your home” with my wine stoppers, but I should have at least considered it. Her shop is full of well used and loved items that, once placed in your home will feel like it’s been there for years and belongs.
So I learned something very valuable and I will have to widen my circle when looking for more outlets.
I went to Tampa to meet with the owner of The Creative Native Gallery, Pam Moody. She really liked my work and I left everything that I brought with me. But I already knew that she would like my things because I had found Pam’s gallery website and emailed her the link to my flickr site.
She told me that she really appreciated the way I introduced her to my work. She said that when artists simply stop in the gallery, sometimes it just isn’t convenient. Pam is a ceramic artist and in addition to running the gallery, waiting on customers, etc., she is working on her things as well.
So she was happy that she could look at my work when it was convenient for her. She emailed me and asked me to bring my things and meet with her. She has a very nice gallery with lots of wonderful art and funky fine crafts as you can see by the picture above. That’s the front page of the The Creative Native’s website.
The gallery has a great feeling about it and it makes you happy to have walked in the door. Pam is friendly and fun, and creates wonderful ceramic pieces that you will enjoy. If you are in the Tampa area stop in and take a look, you might just find something you can’t live without.
I’ve added this post to the Selling Your Art Category. It works, it’s working for me. I also stopped into another shop on Bay to Bay in Tampa before going to The Creative Native. The owner wanted to buy some of my samples. I’ll tell you all about it in the next post.
Getting ready to take tons of artwork to a gallery. Been working to get my stock up. I’m taking bracelets and bottle stoppers, perfume pens and face pins. Salt and pepper shakers, letter openers, and card cases. I am trying some different things, I show you when I get them finished.
I also made smaller tags for my items. 1″ x 1 1/2″, half the size of the ones I use for direct sales to customers. They really look better on most items for galleries. I can’t use my information anyway, so I don’t need as much room.
Tina Holden’s just posted this tutorial on how to make bezels with polymer clay. Take a look at these easy to understand instructions on her blog, Polymer Clay Bytes
I was loading my baking pan the other day and thought that there may be some fairly new clayers out there that might be helped by seeing how I bake my clay. The following video involves a standard oven and a toaster oven. I have never baked my clay in a convection oven, but I know many clayers do. If you want information about convection ovens, you’ll have to do a search. Don’t worry there is lots of information out there.
In the film I mention several colors of clay that tend to burn and what I do to prevent that happening. I failed to mention translucent clay, so mentally add that to the list while you are watching.
Just to remind you, don’t forget to use your timer, you do not, seriously do not, want to burn the clay. Trust me, I know from experience. Don’t forget to use a tile, it helps to distribute the heat.
Still having fun after all these years! I’m still amazed that there are so many people that don’t know anything about polymer clay. Have never even heard of it. But I guess there are hundreds of things I know nothing about. Okay thousands……Millions? But polymer clay is such apart of my life and has been for the last 15 years, with it the main focus for at least 10, that it’s hard to imagine that there are people that haven’t heard of it.
Even when I wasn’t “into” pc, I had tried my hand at it. In the ’80 I made fruit ring candle holders. I know I have them somewhere and I’m going to look for them and see if they are anything like I remember them.
Anyway, I’m always so happy to hear from people who have found my blog and say they want to find out more about pc. The more interest we have the more related product there will be. Besides, it’s such a satisfying art form. Anyone can do just about anything with pc. So if you’re new to pc, go get yourself a few ounces and just play. Find a class near you or online. Do a search online and you’ll find hundreds of free tutorials for you to try.
The bracelet in the photo is a Skinner blend, roller into a plug flatten out and cut into two equal parts and formed into a cane. I cut this cane into four equal part to form the final cane (shown below). I covered a bracelet with a thin layer of black clay, then cut and place slices of the finished cane on top of the black, covering the whole bracelet.
Skinner Blend Cane
Okay, cheerleading over. Go forth and have fun! Christmas is coming, gifts to be made. But if you want, I have bracelets for sale on my Etsy site. Just in case you run out of time…….
I’ve been really busy making bracelets and pins like this one. enjoying myself. My mother has been here this week and I’ve enjoyed spending time with her. Worked on more black and white bracelets and pins. Just having a good time. The weather has turned and it’s cool today. What a relief.
I sent out Octobers newsletter today. I know I said I wasn’t doing any pc for Halloween. I know I did…but as soon as I sent it, I was sitting in front on my black and white and gray canes and decided to make a face cane. I need the practice….
This witch was born! I had fun and that’s the point. Probably too late to sell on Etsy, but I’ll put her up anyway.
I believe that ideas are born and then float around and land on different people. It has happened to me more times than I care to think about. Here’s another one, only this time it’s someone I know through our blogs.
As I mentioned in my last post (about 30 minutes ago) Dora of Dora’s Explorations posted her Zentangles on her Flickr site last week and I just had to do some. I knew I had to try my hand at canes like this.
I didn’t realize that Dora was thinking the same thing. I check in on her site from time to time to see what she is up to because she posts some incredible cane tutorials. In fact, I’ve featured one of them here. When I was there the other day, she was doing home work for Color Inspirations by Lindly Haunani and Maggie Maggio.
So I had no idea that she was getting ready to do a tutorial for Zentangle canes. I should have known, that is how her mind works. She always does the most complicated fabulous canes.
I know her canes will be incredible and her tutorial inspiring. So go to her blog www.dorasexplorations.wordpress.com and see if she has her tutorial up yet, if she doesn’t, bookmark her site, you’ll want to check back until she gets it posted.
You can see more of her fabulous Zentangles on her Flickr site.
Dora from Dora Explorations posted a picture of a Zentangle to her flickr site. I said to myself, I gotta do this. So 16 doodles later, I decided that I needed to translate these doodles into canes and then on to bracelets, wall hanging and more.
So all day yesterday, I created black and white Skinner blends and turned them into canes for my designs. I’m pretty excited about the outcome.
So thanks Dora, you are a constant inspiration. Here’s the second bracelet, both are going to my Esty Shop. Lots of work, but fun! And that’s what I’m always about, Fun!
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