Polymer Clay Etc.

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.

Road Trip to Florida Gulfcoast Polymer Clay Guild

FGPCG Play Day with 20 children and parents.

My friend Sherry McKinney and I set out on a road trip Saturday to join the members of the Florida Gulfcoast Polymer Clay Guild in Palmetto, FL. We both had a great time and enjoyed meeting everyone. The kids had a fabulous afternoon and I’ll bet some of those kids will be begging their parents for pc supplies.

The Manatee Public Library-Palmetto Branch at 923 6th Street West in Palmetto, FL is the meeting place for the FGPCG. They have been meeting in the large room with tables, chairs and a kitchen all for free. For 3 years the guild has enjoyed these arrangements and wanted to give back the to library and the community.

The library’s Assistant Branch Manager, Debbie Reagan was please with the response and hoped to be able to do it again. She’s sure the interest is there, over 20 children were on the waiting list.

Sydney Carter, Marcia Kaszuba and Rachel Kindon all took a few minutes to do short demos to introduce pc to the kids. Several members manned the ovens that baked all those wonderful creations from those inspired young artists. I met Sydney and Rachel Kindon at Orlando Clay Fandango this year and it was great to see them again.

Sydney Carter

Sydney Carter showed the children a pen covered with clay as an example of what they could make with polymer clay that very afternoon.

It you live in the area, you might want to give FGPCG a visit and join in the fun. Next month Sydney will demonstrate Bobbin Beads.

This Girlfriend – Polymer Clay Pin

Girlfriend Pin 1

I sold the three girlfriends pin and listed this one yesterday in my Etsy Shop. She’s looking to the future, her future home I think.

Making beads today and packing up my clay things to go the the Florida Gulfcoast Polymer Clay Guild meeting. I’m taking Sherry McKinney with me and looking forward to a day of fun.

Three Girlfriends – A Polymer Clay Pin

Three Girlfriends

Another pin listed in my Etsy Shop. I’ve been working on small pins, beads etc. I’m back to having that fun I’m always talking about.

On Saturday I’m going to visit the Florida Gulfcoast Polymer Clay Group in Palmetto. It’s only about an hour or so away and I met Sydney Carter and some of the other women at Orlando Clay Fandango this year. They are introducing about 20 kids to polymer clay and I’m going over to see if I can help and enjoy this group.

I’ll let you know how it goes….taking my camera as always.

New Polymer Clay Pin – Marilyn Majorette

Marilyn Majorette

Okay, you caught me. Today, I’m sitting there, working with clay and here comes Marilyn. While I was making this pin, I couldn’t stop laughing, she’s so funny. I was friends with a Marilyn in high school and she was a majorette, in fact the Drum Majorette. She was funny and we had lot of fun doing crazy things. This girl pin reminded me of her.

Okay she could be a ring master for a crazy circus act too. But it made me think of Marilyn, so drum majorette it is. I just listed her in my Etsy shop for only 15.00. What a deal, a pin that you can wear for years to come and I promise you, you will always think of my friend Marilyn everytime you wear it.

P.S. the cane I used for her hat is a cane I featured in my video, “What is a Polymer Clay Cane“. So see, you can make all kinds of crazy things with your canes.

My Polymer Clay Beads, Vickie Evans’ East Coast – West Coast Watch

Focal Face Beads in Vicky Evens East Coast - West Coast Watch

This winter, I went to my friend Sherry McKinney’s house (a very talented beader and polymer clay artist) to a beading party. I met Vickie Evans that day and she bought a set of three beads from me. I asked her to send me a picture of whatever she made from them and she did and I’m thrilled. This watch is so much fun, and what a clever idea to put two watch faces on one bracelet. I have many “snowbird” friends that could use a watch like this.

Here’s what Vicky wrote, “You said you would like to see them in a bracelet. I made a East Coast, West Coast watch, because I travel between Ohio, Florida, and Seattle. I am totally bead crazed and cannot stop making jewelry. Your artwork is very inspiring. Thank you for making these bewitching beads.”

I think you might be on to a whole new line of jewelry. I thank you Vicky for sharing what you made with me. You made my day.

New Polymer Clay Tutorial – Tropical Leaves

Frame Made Using Leaves From Tutorial

I’ve finished my Tropical Leaves tutorial and it is now for sale in my Etsy shop. It’s another 40 minute video with 7 full 8 1/2″ by 11″ pages with step by step instructions. Colored drawings clearly show you the way to complete each cane.

Tropical Leaves - 9 canes

You’ll learn how to create all of these canes and yes the “vine” is a cane as well. I reduced them all down a bit to create the frame above. I also added a few other canes and bit of color to complete the overall effect.

I’ll be making a couple of other items with these canes so stop back soon.

What is a Polymer Clay Cane? – A Video

I posted this short little video on Facebook for an old high school friend. We have been following each other there and she has been watching all my posts about canes. She sent me a message asking about the canes and wanted to know what they were exactly.

So if you’re a clayer already, you’ll probably just want to skip this short subject, but if you are new to polymer, you might enjoy it. Either way, this one was made because Karen Pepper Ingram asked. Thanks Karen!

Work in Progress

Worked on the tutorial video all day yesterday. Had to stop and buy food today , how rude. When I got home and everything was put away, instead of editing the video, I relaxed with this ongoing project. Posting it now and running away to bed so I can get an early start tomorrow.

Old Polymer Clay Canes

I was working on my tutorial, filming, and the lawn man came, too much noise. the phone kept ringing, too much noise. My husband, well his TV just came back from the repair man…..so I just gave up and decided to use up some old canes and make a new mosaic.

I haven’t gotten very far but I wanted to play with colors. Orange and pink? Oh my, but don’t give up on me yet, it is an experiment after all. You never know until you try, and what is the worst that can happen? Nature doesn’t let a little color difference stop her.

Most of these canes are really old and large. And regardless of the fact that they are still usable, they are not as easy to work with the older they get. Yes you can mess around with them and reduce them some to get everything moving again, but it’s more work than I want to expend for these older canes.

They don’t reflect what I’m doing now and I have learned that no matter how much I think I will go backward and use those canes on new work, well it’s just not going to happen. So using them this way, making a large graphic piece to possibly hang on the wall, is an experiment and could let me know if I want to spend time producing canes today to use in this way.

This piece is already 5″ x 7″. I am trying to figure out how to continue to add to it, maybe make it very large, and still be able to bake it in the oven. I am guessing in sections, I’ll keep playing and let you know.

By the way, I’m using the same technique that I use in my video on how to make the fish mosaic that you can see at the top right of this page. You can watch it free by signing up for my newsletter.

It’s funny but I’ve always wanted to make large things from polymer. I think I’m a frustrated clay person with no kiln. But I love the colors with pc and not having to paint later and the instant gratification of pc. But I still can’t get large out of my head.

I made the largest mermaid, seriously, crazy big, baking her in sections and putting her together with bolts and nuts and threaded hardware. She’s 40 pounds if she’s an ounce and over 3 feet tall. I’m looking at her hanging under my stairs and laughing. You can see her on my flickr site if you want.

What wasn’t funny, and this is a word to the wise for those of you who are doing a lot of pasta machine work, I have forever damaged my shoulder from all the “turning of the crank”. Sounds like a Shakespeare play huh? A tragedy. Do yourself a favor and purchase a motor ………. you’ll be forever grateful.

I guess I will continue to want to do something large with pc, it’s just because I can…….if I just try.

Working on Tropical Leaf Cane Tutorial

If you have been looking for me, I’m still here. I’ve been working on a new tutorial for tropical canes. I’ve finished the instructions and I’m just beginning to film the video to go with them. Can’t wait to get it all finished and listed in my Etsy Shop for sale.

So if you don’t hear from me for a while, you’ll know where I am. I have to confess, I miss posting so I’d better hurry up.

Polymer Clay Canes for Beginners

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