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.
I spent part of an evening last week searching out and emailing galleries that are close by. I emailed three and have an appointment to visit one with my work. Another road trip, that’s good news. I just wanted you to know that I am actually doing what I suggested you do in my post Selling Your Polymer Clay Artwork. I need to sell my artwork, so I’m taking my own advice. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Have you contacted any galleries or shops? Tell me about it in the comment section so others can here how you have succeeded. they’re out there just waiting for your work!
Oh, and I sold two bracelets last night during our downtown artwalk. Sold them right off my wrist. That felt good for sure.
Another girl bracelet going to AliceStroppel.etsy.com. I’ve been spending too much time away from my clay table. But it’s all good. Coming up . . . . . birthdays and visits and kids coming home, my mother coming to visit. Nothing could be sweeter.
I’m working on my tutorial for the profile face cane, but it takes quiet and large blocks of time. I haven’t had much of either lately, but I’m not complaining. Okay, one complaint! I have all these other ideas in my head and I haven’t finished with what I’ve already started. Anyone else other there like me? Come on I know you’re there.
New listing in my Etsy Shop. Got my head down and working hard on several projects.
I love working with Skinner blends. If you are new to PC and think you might want to make canes, learn how to make a skinner blend. Unlimited things are waiting for you and hours of fun and imagination wanderings.
ME!! I was so surprised when I read this months PCAGOE newsletter and saw that I was chosen as Featured Mystery Artist. Not only that, but the very first Featured Mystery Artist.
I am thrilled, and want to thank Linda Riopel, NK Designs, Newsletter Editor, for this honor.
Here’s the picture she featured and what she wrote about me.
Meg
“A new feature in the newsletter will be the Mystery Artist. This month we highlight polymer clay artist, Alice Stroppel. Alice’s whimsical and colorful art shows her love of the medium. From Alice – “Polymer clay is such an exciting medium, allowing the artist to express their creativity in so many different ways. I have been “playing with clay” for many years and seem to enjoy it more each day. Actually I’m having so much fun I can’t begin to tell you. I hope my items make you smile.” I absolutely love the business card holder Alice has in her Etsy shop at www.Alicestoppel.etsy.com and yes Alice, they do make us smile.”
Again, I am honored and so delighted to have been chosen.
Interested in Joining the PCAGOE?
PCAGOE welcomes polymer clay artists of all skill levels from around the world. If you are a polymer clay artist selling your work online at etsy.com and you are interested in joining PCAGOE, find out more here.
A Beautiful day. Only finished two girls for one sale item. Lots of canes used on these girls. Also worked on the face cane tutorial and enjoyed the lake and the day late this afternoon.
Why don’t we say “blonde headed girl” ? We say Red headed girl..so why not brunette headed? I swear I really don’t have too much time on my hands. I am just surrounded by these girls and now writing the directions, they are all I think about.
I’m trying to make at least 4 girls a day, plus work on the instructions and video script. It’s working, but the problem is the weather has changed. Oh it’s still hot, but a cool front came through last night with a cooler one coming in a day or two. They say “cold front” I laugh and say “cool” It’s like when the stores start putting out sweaters in August to get ready for fall. I want to yell, “we are in Florida, it will be in the 80s until after Christmas.” and besides that, they take way all the shorts then too. Crazy. Okay off topic. The point is I want to just go sit by the lake and read…….
I seem to be on a roll with these crazy bracelet girls. Here’s another one going to AliceStroppel.etsy.com I’m having too much fun here. I’m trying to get my stock up in my Etsy Shop, plus keep up with special orders and my galleries. Life couldn’t be better.
Red Headed Girl 4
Red Headed Girl 4 side 2
Black and White Cuff Bracelet
This one should go with the business card holder that I listed, don’t you think. Whoever buys the one should just buy this one too. I love the boldness of black and white.
Three more items going to AliceStroppel.Etsy.com. Perfume pen, bottle stopper and card case. All great gifts for the holidays.
Queen Bee
I had a special request for a wine stopper for a friends mother. She was “The Queen Bee” to her family and loved a good glass of wine. Perfect! I made two so she could have her choice. This is the second one. I wanted you to see the piece of costume jewelry that I used for her crown. Another way to use found objects to make your pieces unique. There are little bees flying around and flowers on the back of this fun and crazy piece.
Business Card Case
I’ve sold quite a few business card holder and continue to hear from my customers that they gets tons of compliments on their unusual case. I buy my blanks for all these great things at Boston Craft Works.
I made another profile face cane this week. I am working on a tutorial to sell in my Etsy Shop. It’s coming along and I hope to have it ready soon.
In the meantime, I’ve made some bracelets with it and another mermaid with the older cane. This mermaid is going to one of my galleries and the other bracelets are going to be sold on AliceStroppel.Etsy.com
To photograph these ladies, I used the background in the pdf that I gave you in the last post. These girls are truly crazy and funky, but I have to tell you, they do get attention. One of my customers emailed me to tell me her sister was forever borrowing hers. I love that!
There are many ways to take pictures of your Polymer Clay artwork and I’m sure you have figured out how to get the best picture. Staging is popular now, making the item shine in an environment. I’m all for it and think it really show items to the best advantage.
But for an easy professional looking photo, here’s a quick way to get started. I’m giving you are free pdf of a graduated background. The background goes from white at the bottom to black at the top. It doesn’t use that much ink, and can be well worth the cost of printing it. It is only 8 1/2″ x 11″ and will only work for small items.
I printed mine on card stock and have used it over and over again. Sometimes I use Photoshop to create a background like this after I have cut the item out. But sometimes, to save time, I use my gradient sheet.
If your printer won’t print on card stock, then print it on regular paper. Tape another sheet behind it when you are taking pictures to prevent the light shining though.
Down load the pdf gradient background now. Save a copy to your computer or print right away. Before you print, make sure the heads on your printer are clean, you have enough ink, and you might want to choose black ink in your printer settings.
I take my pictures on my porch in the brightest part of the day. You could set a small table outside in the shadow of your house. The key is for it to be a bright sunny day, but your item is in the shade so that there are not shadows yet plenty of light.
Tape the top (black part) of the background to the wall of your house or a box and the other end to the table. It just needs a slope so that the background goes up behind the item.
Place you item on the background, turn off you flash and take your picture. If you have a photo editing program of any kind on your computer, download your photo into it, make any adjustments and crop it.
Hope it helps those of you who have been wondering how to get started. You can always do something different as you become more experienced.
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