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.
How funny is this? I haven’t had much time to work on this new project. The Fish Mosaic Contest entries were coming in and I was having fun and other life stuff got in the way.
But part of “in the way” was having to clean off some shelves in my studio. I save everything, much to my husband’s dismay. The box in the picture is “the box” that I think everyone that shops at Sam’s club here in the states bought as a Christmas gift “for that person that you have no idea what to buy” It’s a funny gift full of little candies that look like little bottles of liquor.
When I saw the box, I was going to throw it away, but I thought maybe it might make an interesting addition to my “project”. I need to cover up the liquor logos, add some back ground or something else to the clay. But maybe this could turn into something fun! OR maybe not. (This may just turn into one of those projects that goes on for years.)
Tell me what you think. Should I continue, or forget about it?
Fish Mosaic Contest Winner to be announced on Friday. You’re gonna love it.
If you are new here, don’t forget to look at my videos. Just click on the link on the left hand side of the page or at the top. Or for the Fish Mosaic tutorial, just join my email list at the top right hand side of the page.
Adrienne’s fish is the first entry and it is always so much fun when the first one arrives. Aren’t her colors rich? I love this fish!!! Thank you Adrienne for being the first. I can’t wait for the rest of the entries to start flowing in.
If you want to enter and win the perfume pen shown in the column on the right hand side of this page, simply join my newsletter list and watch the 20 minute video showing you how to create your own mosaic fish. Then look for the July Newsletter in you email box and follow the link to find out more.
Someone asked me the other day how I came up with the fish mosaic technique. I thought about the progression that led me to create that first fish.
The Color Vase in this post was covered with polymer clay canes by me in 2001 and even listed on Glass Attic. It was my first polymer clay work to be shown on the internet and let me tell you, I was thrilled.
It was when I still had my old business website, Talented Friends. The link is no longer active to say the least, but the listing is still there on Glass Attic under covering glass.
Color Vase 3
From this vase, I covered many other things and experimented with all sorts of techniques that I saw online or in books or classes.
Several years ago, while I was director of Highlands Art League, we were having a members exhibit and I wanted to do something in PC. I decided I didn’t want to cover an entire vase, I just didn’t have the time. Plus I thought there had to be an easier way to create the designs with clay than trying to do it on the actual vase.
I wanted the design to be recognizable, and something that would lend itself to cane work. I drew out a fish shape on paper and taped it under a flat piece of glass. From there I created the fish vase below and displayed it in our members show along with the Color Vase and two other vases I had done over the years.
Fish Vase Art League
I stepped away from the art league late last year because of my husband’s health. I was home now and had time to actually grow my clay work and expand my horizons. I opened an Etsy shop and decided to try and make small things that I could sell in my Etsy shop and went to clip art for my general pattern for the fish and even a crab. One thing always leads to another as you can see by the cuff bracelet I did this week with the same technique.
This fish led me to share this technique with you. By signing up for my newsletter on the right hand side of the page, you can view the 20 minute film showing the technique I used to achieved this design. I hope you decide to enter my contest too.
What I have discovered is that nothing replaces just getting your hands in the clay and letting the work evolve. One idea will lead to another. Be bold, experiment, enjoy the process. I know I do.
Well, I couldn’t wait until tomorrow. I finished the cuff bracelet tonight and I kind of like it. Just one more experiment added to the already long list. Hmm…I think I’m thinking of something else to try.
I was inspired by a face I saw in a magazine. It was made of several pieces of glass in different colors. I decided to make a mosaic like the fish I make and apply it to a cuff bracelet.
I don’t know if you can see the face, it’s in the middle, yellow nose, green face and red lips.
I drew out a pattern and began. As you can see, it’s colorful. Actually more colorful than I originally planned. The inspiration piece was pretty simple in design and mostly solid colors. It looked nothing like my finished piece.
I still have to straighten up the edges and put it on the bracelet form, but that will have to wait until tomorrow. I can’t decide if it is just too busy or if I really like it. I guess it can be both. Busy and likable!
Come back tomorrow if you have a minute. I should have it finished by then.
I have so many things that I have made over the years. This is one of my favorite pieces. I made this after taking Kathleen Dustin’s class. At the time I was busy at work and really didn’t continue to make many other things in this style. I love to make canes, but I think now that I have more time, I need to start experimenting again.
I drew that face on my computer in a paint program and applied it to the surface. I continued with what I learned with Kathleen. It you ever have the opportunity to take a class from Kathleen, do it, you will learn so much.,
What I might never be able to do is to sand it as much as it needs. Does anyone know if I can hire that done????
A couple of the canes that I used, actually came from a cane swap I did with I first started with PC. I love that about this kind of work. You can incorporate canes and each one can have a memory or special meaning. Kind of a scrap book of work that you and friends have done.
Most of us would like to make some money from our work, if for no other reason than to support our habit. But we can’t forget the pure enjoyment that we get from making that special piece that we won’t sell no matter what. This dish is one of those pieces for me.
I was going to show you some more flamingo things I’ve done, but my camera’s battery was low. I had already taken pictures of these girls so I thought I would share.
I have sold quite a few Salt and Pepper shakers over the years and given away more. I have several sets myself and laugh when I look at first ones I made.
I love to wear bracelets. But I don’t wear other jewelry because I’m allergic to most metals. I love to surround myself with things that are beautiful, that make me laugh or are nostalgic. My work certainly falls into at least one of those categories.
I wanted to make things that I could either look at or use in my every day life. Sculpture, art dolls, salt and pepper shakers, vases, bowls, containers of all kinds. I’m lucky to have a kitchen in my studio and an oven that is only for polymer clay. I am limited to the size of my items only by the size of my oven.
My question is, do you use your favorite canes and cover something that you use everyday? Or are you a jewelry person only? If you have only done jewelry, what would make you consider covering something else with your favorite canes?
And if you’re new here, I have a couple of videos you might like to watch. Check out the Video link on the left hand side of the page or at the very top next to the links page.
Are you like Arlene Harrison? Do you have business card cases that you purchased and they’re still in the box they came in. Okay, maybe you opened the box.
(Of course you did, what was I thinking, we are internet ordering specialist aren’t we? When the boxes come, we open before the mailman can get out of the driveway.)
But maybe you just didn’t exactly know how to apply the polymer clay to the case. So you thought about them for awhile. Then you thought about them some more. Then you forgot about them.
Then one day you came across them in the bottom of the drawer or the back of the closet. How did they get there? You promise yourself you are going to do something with them soon. Hey, if they were going to make great Christmas presents last year, well, they still will this year right? You have plenty of time, it’s only July.
You put them on top of everything else in the drawer. If they’re on top, you’ll be sure to see them now and you’ll get around to figuring them out soon.
Yesterday I made a face cane in profile. I’ve made canes like these before and made several vases, postcards, canisters, and oh I don’t know what else. I either gave them away, donated them or sold them. And I didn’t take pictures of them. I regret not taking picture of things in the beginning. If only just to see how far I’ve come.
Anyway, I’m play around with the profile here. Same cane different hair styles. I have some other ideas that I’m going to work on today.
If you haven’t already, be sure and check out the Fish Mosaic contest in the last post.
After Arlene Harrison signed up for my newsletter and my video showing how I cover business card cases, she emailed me saying that she had some cases that she just hadn’t gotten around to doing.
Yesterday she emailed me the picture above of the cases she finished after watching my video. I don’t claim to have influenced her polymer clay work, but if I helped with anything, then that’s a good thing.
Arlene has been a featured artist on the website of Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy.
She “found” PC about Three years ago. Well…I think “you’ve come a long way lady” in only three years.
Comments