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 was decorating my tree today, I know I’m late getting started, but I came across this ornament I made and had to share it with you. I didn’t date this one, I always date things, so I’m unhappy that I didn’t.
Years ago I was in a cane swap and I was very new to polymer clay. I can’t even remember what canes I sent, I’m sure they weren’t anywhere near as cool as the ones I recieved. But I do remember is was with Nora Jean Gatine’s group. Thanks Nora Jean, your animal skin canes that came with the rest were great.
I received some other wonderful, inspirational canes, one of which was the guy above. It was just the face, no hair no hat. but the teeth and the beard just sent me over the edge. I thought, wow, I can’t believe you can do that with clay. I think the artist’s name is Mel, I can’t remember which Mel, I know there are a couple in Nora Jean’s Yahoo group CITY-o-Clay. So if you’re out there Mel, and recognized this guy, please leave a comment. If it wasn’t Mel that made this crazy cane, well, I’d love to hear from you to set the record straight.
I know he looks like a “bad” santa, but I just think of him as needing some teeth work. Each time I take him out to hang him up, I laugh and remember the fun I had because of this group. Thanks to all of you from back then. The back side says, “HO HO HO”
This week has been fabulous and frustrating. So humid all my canes just stuck together like they were magnets and now it’s cool and breezy outside. I like that, the cool part that is.
Good news, I finished my order. Bad news, something was wrong with my oven and several of them had spots on their faces when I took them out. The spots were all the way through and I couldn’t sand them away.
I had quite a bit of time invested in these girls and used lots of canes in the process. In the middle of the night I thought, okay, what can I do with these girls? Freckles are okay on the cheeks, but not down by the chin. I took my Pigma Micron pen and gave a couple of them mask with a bit of hanging fringe. I liked them.
If you want to use the Pigma Micron pens, just be sure to heat set them. The ink will rub right off if you don’t. Either use a heat gun, or pop them back into the oven for a few minutes.
I cleaned the pan I’ve used for years to bake my clay and I hope that that was the problem with the spotting. I also checked the temperature with a gauge, just to be sure.
I have an order in for blue and orange wine stoppers for a University of Florida fan in the oven now and should find out how all my cleaning and checking worked. I’ll let you know.
I still have a several more girls with spots but I’ll have to figure something else out for them as they are the full face girls and I’m not sure the hanging fringe will work. After Christmas maybe I’ll think of something.
Later …I just checked the wine stoppers and they are just fine, no spots. So I guess the lesson for me today is to clean your pan. Don’t know what was on it that could have made spots, but whatever it was, it’s gone now.
I know, you might be saying enough already. Well I think I might just be getting started. Okay, as soon as this order is finished, I think I’ll find some places to go teach. Anyone up for a class in face canes? Leave a comment. Really, I mean it.
Seriously, I’ve been having more fun than I thought I would making these girls. I really don’t like to do the same thing over and over again. Done too much in that in my life. But with the girls each one takes special consideration.
I have to decide what hair color, what color will look right on her and whether she is sweet sassy or showy.
Another wonderful thing that is happening is I’m using up lots of canes and I’ll have to make more. Some of these cane are my favorites and I might make another just like it, and others I’ll be happy to not see them again. Not that they are bad canes, it’s just that I’ve made so many things out of them, I’m ready to move on.
A few more days to go and I’ll be finished and ready to get to my Christmas doings. After Christmas I’ll start on my next face cane tutorial. Can’t wait.
But in the mean time, if you want to try your hand at one of these girls, go to my Etsy shop and try my Profile Face Cane Tutorial.
If you haven’t been here before there is a link at the very top of the page that says “Video Tutorials” or just click here.
I’ll be adding more free videos after the holidays.
Let me know what you want to learn, maybe I can help. Leave a comment.
I’ve been working hard on an order for my face canes. It was rainy this weekend. Perfect for clay and creating, I really enjoyed it. Still have more to go. I just thought I’d share some here.
I made this face cane this morning, she’s a girl of color. A step closer to adding color recipes for different nationalities. I have tried in the past and failed. This time I’m closer. I would love some feedback from ya’ll. Especially if you are a woman of color. Just the first of many.
Next week, I will be working on another short video to add as a bonus to my face cane tutorial. I will be showing how to add a neck and tips on adding hair.
If you have already purchased the tutorial, don’t worry, I’ll send you the link.
A funny thing happened. I was so happy that the shop I stopped in while I was in Tampa wanted to buy some of my pieces. So happy I shared it with you. Now I have to tell you that I emailed the shop and haven’t heard a word since.
Because of that shop, I realized that there were so many other possibilities out there that I wasn’t looking at. So It’s okay!
I began to look at dress boutiques and other speciality shops. I found quite a few and have emailed several. I’ve heard back from one, but she only carries local artists. she still was a bit interested and asked for some time to think about it.
As you can see, I am still stuck on Zentangle canes. I really have had fun with them.
I did my emailing on Friday and this week end was Halloween, so I’m not discouraged yet. Besides, I still have the whole United States and Canada left….and I’ve started receiving commission checks from Julia’s Art Gallery on Pine Island. I told you about that trip in September.
So all of these items are now listed in my Etsy Shop with more to come. Life is sweet.
Getting ready to take tons of artwork to a gallery. Been working to get my stock up. I’m taking bracelets and bottle stoppers, perfume pens and face pins. Salt and pepper shakers, letter openers, and card cases. I am trying some different things, I show you when I get them finished.
I also made smaller tags for my items. 1″ x 1 1/2″, half the size of the ones I use for direct sales to customers. They really look better on most items for galleries. I can’t use my information anyway, so I don’t need as much room.
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.
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.
The back side says, “HO HO HO”
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