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]

Stand Ups – Different Clay – Alice and the White Rabbit

Alice and the White Rabbit

 

I’ve always love fairytales and Alice in Wonderland, ( I wonder why) so I’m playing with some of the characters.

I tried some Sculpey original white clay for the rabbit. It takes the alcohol ink differently than the white Premo. I need to play with it more to see which I like better. There are pros and cons to both it seems.

I’ll let you know.

 

 

Hey Snow, An Apple a Day….Just Sayin’

 

 

 

I’m having a great time with these Stand Ups. Snow's Queen

Another Stand Up

Still playing with Stand Ups. 

Stand UP Girl 2

Stand Ups – Polymer Clay Characters

Polymer Clay figures

 

Okay, I’ve been working on an idea using white polymer clay and alcohol inks in both liquid and marker form. I wanted them to be free standing and collectable. Tallest one, the guy, is about 4 1/2″ tall. The small singing head is about 2 1/4″ high and has a removable, exchangeable saying bubble.,

 

The girl was the first one I made and I wanted the white face with black wash and color for the hair and clothes. Polymer clay girl

I think the black wash was a bit too much, so I made this guy and didn’t use as much black, I like it better. Looks more like ceramic or stone.

The dots in the background are from a new technique design block by Sculpey.

Polymer clay guy

Both of the larger figures are made with scrap clay, (yes I do have real scrap clay that looks like mud, some scraps are  just not Stroppel Cane material hehe) covered with white Premo. But even I will run out of muddy scraps at some point, so I made a smaller one made entirely from new white clay. Needless to say I’ve ordered more white clay.

Happy Birthday figureI thought how much fun it would be to be able to use these as little greetings. Happy Birthday, Mother’s Day, etc, etc. I even make it so that you can remove the saying and replace it with another. (no it’s not my birthday). How about crazy funny off the wall humor?

This one I decided to try a little bit of color on her face, and it’s okay, but I like the other finish better, for a signature “look”.

I’m still playing and wondering if it would make a good class. I think most of the people that took my Sun class at Fandango made some great faces and I know these faces would be just as successful.  I’m having a blast and my head is full of all kinds of new ideas with these stand alone, Stand Up, characters.

More later.

 

More than just a Colorful Journey

 

On Friday last week, I got an email from Ron Lehocky with several pictures of the ground breaking ceremony for a new home for the Smunnat Nepal project.  A new home that has been funded by donations, much of which came from the polymer clay community with Wendy Moore, (center in the blue in this picture) Cynthia Tinapple and Ron leading the way.

Ron began by offering a matching pledge of $2,000 and the goal was quickly met. He then offered yet another match of $1,000 and again it was met. The goal was to collect $10,000 to be able to build a permanent home on land that was donated to the project. What a wonderful thing for him to do and the support and donations from our community have been fabulous.

Samunnat’s  A Colourful Journey

Ron wrote to me, “According to Wendy the entire event was over flowing with love and happiness. They dig a hole where the first pillar will eventually stand and bury certain symbolic items in it which will bring good karma to the building.”

“I have been able to Skype with Kopila Basnet, the Program Coordinator of Samunnat  and Wendy.  This whole thing fills my heart and gives me such a kick that we are able to make a change in the world on the other side of the globe in a place so foreign to our sense of luxury and opportunity.”

I was delighted Ron shared the pictures with me and I was able to follow along with this exciting journey.All the pictures are now up on A Colorful Journey blog along with a post from Wendy.

$10,000 was just for the basic building. But how excited that the money was raise so quickly and they were able to break ground and the building can begin.

But hold on, they still need so much more, like a concrete roof instead of tin so that one day they might build up. When I was at Synergy I met Ron for the first time and sat with him at lunch one day. We had a wonderful discussion about Wendy, Kopila and the ladies of Samunnat. We talked about how each night they have to remove the generator from the rooms they are renting and bring in back in the morning. Running water is not always included in the places they have called home. Simple things we take for granted are luxuries for them.

 

I was thinking, over 40,000 people watch my Stroppel Cane Video when I first put it up, and over 48,000 have watched it since I moved it to Youtube.

What if each of those people donated just $1 each to the building fund, that would be over $80,000. Just think about what a difference just half of that could make in their lives.

I urge you to please take a minute to go to their blog A Colorful Journey and read more about these beautiful people and scroll down on the left hand side and click of the Paypal link to donated. Be sure to request it be for the building fund.  It will make you smile, it will make them smile, you can be sure it will make me smile.

_________________

A Colourful Journey 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.

Flow Art Space – Polymer Clay Gallery Style

Polymer Clay Gallery Style

 

I’m so pleased that my Facing Forward pen and ink on polymer was chosen to be included in Flow Art Space‘s exhibit, Polymer Clay – Gallery Style.

A reception will be held on Friday May 31 from 5-8 pm.  Awards provided by the Polymer Clay Guild of Minnesota and Clay Squared to Infinity will be presented to select emerging and established polymer artists at 7 pm.

This unique exhibition runs from May 29 – June 15.  Hours are Wednesdays – Fridays from 2 – 7, Saturdays from 11 – 3 or by appointment by calling 612-564-3569.

Flow Art Space is located in the Northern Warehouse in the Lowertown neighborhood of St Paul. Find us at 308 Prince Street Suite 218, in the same building as Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar.  Entry is free, and street meters are free after 5 pm.

 

Orlando Clay Fandango 2013

[youtube]http://youtu.be/dt4shOF3cJ0[/youtube]

I had a fantastic time at this year’s Orlando Clay Fandango! Here are all the instructors, the morning we are leaving after having such a wonder time teaching and demonstrating. Be sure to start saving for next year… save the date…May 1-5, 2014

I wanted to mention that I will be teaching my Pen and Ink one day workshop at the Orlando Area Polymer Clay Guild on Saturday June 29th. They meet in Winter Garden, FL . If you are interested in this workshop  contact the guild for more information.

instructors fandango13

 

We were lucky to have Iris Weiss from Polyform attending and supplying clay for our classes. Thank you Polyform and Iris.

Then there was Penny Jo Couch, Syndee Holt, LInda Hess, Suzanne Ivester, and me, Alice Stroppel.

 

Here are some of of the wonderful suns made this weekend.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Photo by Judy MitchellOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Photo by Judy Mitchell

600752_4201391172540_2007446293_n 216254_4201382572325_1388647214_n 182765_4201382732329_892848546_n 947190_4201390892533_1900369526_n941559_4201391732554_864957136_n 923454_4201398492723_1440508534_n

and some other fun stuff

A colony of flamingos won, bought, and gifted….

935512_626497747379498_1663711158_n

My Stroppel Cane bracelet demo

stroppelcane demow

Suzanne Ivester, me and Sydnee Holt