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.
Once again I had the pleasure of showing this great group of women some of what I’ve learned about polymer clay. This is the Florida Gulf Coast Polymer Clay Guild in Palmetto with some attendees from other guilds around the state.
Thank you Sydney Carter for all your planning and thank you to everyone for the delicious potluck and continuing to want me back.
Everyone got right into my cane mapping technique and I think they all really enjoyed what they made. I know I was delighted by the work, it really makes my day to see the level of work and the fun that’s happening.
I taught this group about 6 months ago. We had a cane class and I showed everyone my crazy ways of making canes. I sent everyone home with homework. “Go and make Canes!!!” They did with great results.
This is the follow up class that shows just one of the many things you can do with the canes you made recently, little bits of left over canes and the canes you might have had in your stash for years.
The Premo clay for this class was donated by Polyform and we were all thrilled. Now we will reveal how grateful we are for the clay and what we’ve made with it all. Many thanks to Iris Weiss and Polyform. You can also visit Polyform on Facebook
Here’s the results, I know you’ll agree that this is one talented group. ( I’m sorry I don’t have a picture of Geri Costello’s, I’m hoping she’ll send one)
I ordered some brass bangle blanks to play around with. I really like the way the bangles look even though I mostly use the cuff blanks. I like the cuffs because they fit most people even when ordering online, the bangles really have to be tried on in person to be sure.
But here’s the fun part, at least to me. I moved the cane mapped fish I was working on from a flat to be framed piece to a cuff bracelet. and really liked the way it looked. Here’s it is.
So when my order for the bangles came in, (I ordered 2), I thought how cool would it be to put the fish on the two bracelets. I made two fish and cut them down the middle and placed each piece on different bangles.
When the bracelet is worn the fish spin around and become a mix and match, just like those Cracker Jack prizes when the bodies, heads and feet of characters could be mixed and matched, remember? It made me laugh.
I was very happy to use several very old canes on this fish. I find him really interesting. When I’m wearing him you see the middle part with all the greens and yellows.
When I wore it today I had several compliments and one lady was very surprised, as I turned my wrist, to see it was a fish. A fun piece to wear.
I took time out from cane mapping to finish this face bracelet. It’s pen and ink on polymer clay. I’ve had the bracelet covered and baked for months so it was about time I finished it.
While making samples and demo pieces for my cane mapping workshop in June, I realized that this parrot was just the right size to fit on a bracelet blank. Here’s the finished bracelet. Luckily I have another Parrot for the workshop.
Very Florida-ish don’t you think? Even though I’ve yet to see a parrot in my backyard.
This is a follow up class to the cane workshop with FGCPCG several months ago. In that class, using Premo clay donated by Polyform, we created several canes and the group went away with homework to make lots more.
In this workshop, we will be using those canes to create pictures to frame.
These are from royalty free clipart. They are cane mapped and flat except the parrot which is more of a 3D effect.
I always look forward to spending the day with this guild, they are so much fun.
I been having fun with these polymer painted faces. This one I stopped working on late one night. I was happy with it and took a picture before stopping for the night. I had already cured it in the oven and attached it to a peace of heavy water color paper. the bits of color in the background are bits of pc not watercolor.
The first photo shows this first edition. When I saw it the next morning, I laughed because I could see right away that she was missing the top of her head. Not enough height to her hair. I was tired the night before and didn’t want to make any more hair I guess. Another reason why stepping away from a project and coming back to it or even taking a photo of it is very helpful.
I often see things in photos of a piece that I just couldn’t see when I was working on it up close. It helps to step back from the work, but sometimes taking a photo is even better.
The second photo is where I noticed that her shirt was just wrong, not enough shoulder. I guess I was too focused on the hair to notice the shirt first time around.
This is also another vote for sketching before hand, I did sketch the face, but didn’t know I wanted the shirt until I was in the middle of it all. So I work both ways, planning and as I go.
The third photo is my final try. Quite a difference I think!
I figure I’m a work in progress more than than work. As always, thanks for stopping by.
I have been using the Czextruder from Lucy Clay for several months now and promised to give a quick review. I’ve been making a few different canes with a couple of the disk and really enjoy using this quirky little canes in my cane mapping. So I thought I’d combine the review with a short tutorial.
You can see this cane used on the wispy ends of the tail on this fish and across the middle.
If you’ll notice, I don’t care if the curvy parts are lined up perfectly, actually, I want the cane to go this way and that, more organic.
I find the extruder to be very well constructed and it as a large loading tube which I like. It holds more clay than other extruders I’ve used. It’s easy to clean.
The part I find difficult is the loading. The plug is not attached to the plunger and that makes it harder to reinsert, but worth it in the end.
I like that the disks from other extruders and disk makers will fit this extruder. I believe Cynthia Tinapple’s disks fit as well.
Over all I find it an asset to my polymer clay tool box.
You can order yours from Lucy Clay or if you live in the United States Kimberly Idalski represents the company here.
Yesterday a friend of mine who is fish crazy, in a good way, asked me a couple of questions about my fish and if I had any for sale. Not for her, but for something else. The truth is I really don’t. the ones I have I use as demos in my cane mapping class, I have hanging on my walls or have given away.
I started this fish with just part of the tail when my friend Chrissie Baker was here in my studio. I wanted to show her how I did my big wall pieces.
So when I came to the studio this morning and was beginning to clean up my work table after my Stroppel Cane #2 video. I actually started cleaning the day before but got side tracked making hearts plant stakes out of the Stroppel #2’s that may for the film. Can’t throw them away of course…see.
Sorry, back to the fish. before I put all my canes away, I decided to use some of them to finish the fish. What fun it was, really lost myself in it. But what I wanted to show you was how thin these designs are and how easy they are to frame. So now I can say I have one for sale at least.
Oh and you can see how I used some more of my Stroppel cane #2 across the back of the fish. (first photo)
I call this technique cane mapping and it’s how I’ve done my large wall piece and this table.
If you are near Palmetto, I’m teaching a one day cane mapping workshop on June 7th. You must have lots of pre-made canes to bring with you. We won’t have time in class to make many if any. Skinner blends work best for me. Message me on Facebook, or leave a comment here.
Here’s a short video showing you how I make a Stroppel Cane #2. Have Fun!!! Rescue those scraps!!!
I’m excited once again to share something I just discovered. Another way to use your polymer clay scraps. So Cool! I’m calling it Stroppel cane #2. Or Stroppel #2.
It’s fun and easy just like the first one, which you can watch by clicking on the video to your right.
You can make this cane tiny like the one in the picture above or large enough for a bracelet.
I shared my discovery with the Florida Gulf Coast Polymer Clay Guild and these slices are from Sydney Carter’s first Stroppel #2. Love it.
Note: I’m having a bit of trouble keeping up with technology so I can’t get the video to embed here. so just click on the picture of my girls below and they will take you to my new Youtube channel. And that’s another story. Have fun!
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