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 this whole tin full of little brass rod parts and decided to incorporated them into a pin design. Some Stroppel Canes made with scraps from the spirals…….I like the results. I think want to play with this idea some more.
This is a side view showing the dimension of the piece. In the middle of construction I decide to see if the Buna a cord would melt in the oven and if it might be something I want to use in construction in the future.
It didn’t melt and you can see it on the right. This is a mixed media piece for sure.
I thought my experimental necklace needed some thing to add even more dimension and interest so I add the aluminum coil. Then I added matching beads but I’m thinking they may not be necessary and will probably leave them off.
I’ve added some of what I call my dot – dot – dot cane around the edge. This picture shows you just how dimensional this piece has become.
I truly am having fun moving in this direction. More ‘spirments on the way.
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.
The post office was a happy place for me this week. Three packages arrived with Stroppel Cane treasures inside. Two I’ll share with you now and another amazing prize I’ll share with you tomorrow.
The first package was from Peg Gerard, a Massachusetts polymer clay artist that has used my Stroppel Cane technique to create some wonderful designs. Several caught my eye, especially the pendant above, I loved the bold black and white spiral cane slices that she added to her Stroppel Cane, they make such a statement.
I’m delight Peg decided to trade with me. I sent her a Stroppel sweater girl and I’m now the proud owner of this striking piece. I’m sorry to say I didn’t take a picture of this sweater girl, Peg, if you read this and want to send me a picture I’ll add it here.
You can see more of Peg’s work on her website Polymer Peg’s Clay Jewelry and on her Flickr site, Polymer Peg’s . You can find her work for sale at the galleries listed on her blog. I first saw Peg’s work in 400 Polymer Clay Designs and have been a fan ever since.
Thank you so much Peg.
Then I was thrilled again to receive this fabulous Love NY skyline from Anne Marie Rodellar or amerena as she is known on the web. I was happy to send her this Stroppel sweater girl in exchange.
Anne Marie is from France and had recently visited New York and when she got back home, produced a line of abstract New York skylines using a Stroppel Cane for the building and sometimes the taxi cabs. I’m headed to New York next month for my nephew’s wedding and am going to take it along with me, perfect.
You can see more of amarena’s work on her blog, amerenabijoux her Flickr site, amarenabijoux’s photo stream or better yet, you can purchase a New York slide for yourself on her Dawanda site.
Thank you Anne Marie.
On a side note, I am staying in the Dumbo area of Brooklyn. Dumbo….”Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass”. It’s one of New York City’s premier arts districts full of both non-profit and for profit art galleries. And..Etsy is around the block ….literally.
This trip piggy backs on a trip I’m taking to Colorado to meet with a couple of my favorite polymer clay artists. We plan on a couple of days of clay and a couple of days of galleries and museums and fabulous eateries. I’m going to be so full of inspiration when I get back, just watch out!
I’m making this neck piece using my new method. It’s bright, I know. but it’s me.
It is lumpy and bumpy, with highs and lows. Very interesting.
It’s relatively light because Ultralight is involved, but we’ll see how it feels when I wear it. More work to do…..see you next time.
Just a quick post about my experiment. I’m kind of liking the one in the middle and maybe the one on the right. The one on the left is a going to the “yeah right” jar.
They look different in person, they are so dimensional and you can’t see it here. They are truly some of the funkiest beads I’ve ever made.
Still working on them and other applications for the technique. Not giving up yet.
Now on to what I’ve really been doing…twice a day ……everyday for the last two weeks (and it will continue for another two).
MANGOS…..lots and lots of mangos. I know they have nothing to do with polymer clay, maybe this could be the “etc.” part. They are keeping me for my clay, so they do play a role, kind of, sort of.
This is just from this morning. I’ll have this many or more this afternoon. I have to be quick or the squirrels beat me to them and they pick the best ones to take only a bite or two.
I’m pealing, dicing, and freezing bag after bag. I put a perfect size of one cup in every bag. After about the 300th bag I start to lose my enthusiasm for it all. But I soldier on knowing that in December I’ll be soooooo happy to open the freezer and see all those bags of mangos.
Plus, the margaritas and smoothies you can make with these frozen mangos are to die for.
This freezer is full, I have to move these downstairs……….see you guys later.
Today I’ve had exactly an hour at my clay table and computer, I had some database work to do for our business and I was watching a tutorial at the same time. shh don’t tell my husband.
Anyway…I have been looking at the beads from yesterday and don’t have the time today to jump into the ideas in my head, but did decide to add a color wash to bring out the valleys. Can you see the difference?
Now I’m going to…shudder….buff them. I’ll be back.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve spent more time at my clay table. The problem is, I don’t have many finished things that I can share.
Most of what I’ve been doing is experimenting with techniques and applications. Some of these experiments haven’t made it past the approval stage. I’ve been trying to apply what I stress in all my workshops, that is, play, experiment, stretch, because what’s the worse that can happen? You have to throw something away? So what? We always learn something along the way.
The beads up above are one of those experiments, working with Ultralight. Only the first stage, I can envision the next steps, lets see how it goes.
I’ve also been making slides to exchange on a retreat that is coming in August. I’ve had so much fun, but I can’t show them to you yet.
I’ve been adding to my cane collection, inventing different canes for my workshops. It’s one of my favorite things to do. So my work space is a mess and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
In the picture above, amoung all my canes are two new tools that I find I’m using more and more. They are from the Clay Lady, Penny Jo. I’m not using them at all like Penny Jo intended, but I knew that before I ordered them. I love tools. You can order your own in her Etsy shop
I’ve also been working towards being able to give classes and workshops right here on my blog, I’m in the middle of the learning curve, so stay tuned. I just keep thinking how much fun this is going to be.
I was looking forward to my visit to the South East Polymer Clay Guild and I wasn’t dissapointed. The weekend started on a very high note and continued to get better.
I was fortunate to be able to visit with Pamela Carman and her delightful family and spend some time gazing at her bright cheerful birds, fish and all other sorts of other fun polymer clay work. And It’s because of Pamela and Susan Shuraky that I was there…….thank you Pamela and Susan.
The guild is lucky to have such a wonderful place to hold their large get togethers. The Woman’s Club in Davey is just perfect.
What a great group, we created some pen and ink faces and drawings, then got into a bit of caning and contouring. I just love how everyone was able to express their own voice with both techniques. It was so successful and I am tickled with their pieces. I hope to travel back to clay some more with everyone.
Hopefully I’ll remember the tripod so my photos won’t be so blurry.
A big thank you to all the members, you were great and it was so much fun.
Thanks to Pamela Carman, I’m looking forward to next week-end! I’ll be spending two days with the South East Florida Polymer Clay Guild. One day of Pen and Ink on polymer clay and one day of Contours in Clay.
Pen and Ink on polymer is very interesting and everyone can experience exciting results no matter what your drawing talent.
 Pen and Ink Class
And this bracelet class.
This week, I’ll prepare lots of Skinner Blends…thank you Judith Skinner.. and get ready to play with some great clayers down south. Look out South Florida….I”m on my way.
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