Polymer Clay Canes for Beginners

27 videos, step by step, beginner cane workshop beginner Cane Tutorial 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.

Online Workshops with Alice Stroppel

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Polymer Clay Class Prep -Cane Mapping

Cane Mapping  samples for workshop Alice Stroppel

 

I”ve been creating several pieces for samples and demos for my cane mapping workshop with the Florida Gulf Coast Polymer Clay Guild in June.

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.

Here are a few finished and framed pieces

Polymer Clay FIsh -  Alice Stroppel

Cat - Cane Mapped - Alice Stroppel

Butterfly, polymer clay- Alice Stroppel

Cat Cane Mapping

Cat - Cane Mapped - Alice Stroppel

 

I’ve made so many fish with my cane mapping technique that I decided that it was time to do another cat. The first one I made into a bracelet. This one is in a frame and ready to be sent to the fun folks at the Orlando Area Polymer Clay Guild to be auctioned off at Orlando Clay Fandango.

I’m hoping that this picture is clear. I’ve been holding off posting anything much because I’m in the middle of cataract surgery, one eye down and one to go. It it truly a miracle I think. I was having so much trouble seeing and can’t wait for the end results. But right now things are a bit blurry.

But as soon as my new lens at set, watch out. Who knows what I’ll be able to see now. hehe.

 

On the Other Hand…I Do Plan…

In yesterday’s post I talked about how I don’t plan what to hang my pendants on or from. After thinking about it overnight, I decided that statement wasn’t actually true.

I’m always trying to come up with different ways to add a bail, invent a bail or create a different closure. The project I will be teaching at Fandango this year is a prime example. Florida Sunshine - Alice Stroppel

The stars are the closure. It’s an easy solution and adds a 3D element to the piece, that and the sculpted face. This cat uses the same idea with the tail and the head as closures.

Cat - Alice Stroppel - Polymer

 

You can use this type of closure on almost any design and I’ll show you how at Fandango  in a couple of weeks. And there is exciting news from Iris Weiss the Education Manager from Polyform Products, Polyform will be donating some blocks of Premo for my student to use in my class. Thanks Iris and Polyform.

This piece that I posted a couple of days ago is another easy bail alternative. Creating something different and new is something I really enjoy.

circles-and-squares - Alice Stroppel

I love the creative process of working with polymer clay. However the jewelry making part, findings, stringing, etc, are not on my love list and barely makes my like list. And my usual joy comes from colorful, fun, jewelry. It’s when I decide to create something more sophisticated that I lack the materials on hand to be able to spontaneously finish the piece.

In contrast, I always make sure I have plenty of canes on hand when I begin creating, it’s something I preach to my students. If you have a wide selection of finished canes on hand when you sit down to create, things just flow more smoothly. Not having to stop and make all the canes that need to go into a piece make it possible to create without having to stop the flow.

That’s not to say I don’t start a piece by constructing a couple of new cane, it’s just that I know I have lots of fillers to choose from already made and waiting for me.

So you see, I do plan ahead more than I realize, just not when it involves stringing and findings. So I’m still going to take a look at why I have a block with planning when making something more than a colorful, fun pendant (other than the obvious reason of needing more tools, supplies, etc. ). I’ve accomplished it before and think I just need to get out of my own way. Sound familiar?

So in the mean time, I’ll just keep doing what I love, making fun and funky things to wear and work toward improving my major jewelry construction.

I think these Stroppel Sweater Girls look kind of like Barbara and Cher with red hair. Okay, did that make you smile? Yes? Then my job is finished for today.

 

 

Stroppel Sweater Girls

 

 

The Cheshire Cat’s Cousin in Polymer Clay

“We’re all mad here.”
― Lewis Carroll (The Cheshire Cat), Alice in Wonderland

I feel like I followed the White Rabbit into a hole and don’t know when I’ll get out again. I began the long put off task of cleaning out my spare room. I won’t go into details, it’s just too scary. I didn’t need halloween, I had my own frightening adventure in my house.

But I’ve taken a day to play with clay and get something out of my head and into a design. It’s my contour cat bracelet. I think he is related to the other Alice’s Cheshire Cat, don’t you?

Here’s the other side.

And here it is on my wrist. I can tell you from experience that I always get compliments and comments when I wear my boldest contour bracelets, mainly because they’re so crazy.

I have lots more work to do on “the room” but I can’t stay away from clay for long. I agree with the Cheshire Cat, I am a bit crazy when it comes to clay. See you next time.

A Trade with Nikolina Otrzan

Once again I’m thrilled that a talented artist decided to try the Stroppel Cane and then to top it off was willing to trade with me.

I love this piece that Nikolina created just for me using a Stroppel cane and her signature crossword puzzle accents to spell “alice”. I can’t wait to for it to get here, it’s coming all the way from Croatia.

As I said before, it’s a wonderful experience with the added bonus of being able to see fantastic work up close and learn from one another. Thanks Nik!

You can see more fabulous work for Nikolina on her famous flickr site Orson’s World.

Here’s my part of the trade.

I’ve Strayed – Cats, Red Hood and Pen and Ink

Red Hood

This morning I started to do samples of what we are going to be doing in class on Saturday but I ended up drawing a grown up Red Ridding Hood. Grown up you might ask, well the story goes that the wolf died and she lived to grow up right? So here she is, with a silver frame ready for the eye pin and a chain.

Okay so the truth is the hood just showed up by itself and I colored it red. I use photos or pictures as my guides, but I don’t sketch out my work ahead of time. I just dive right in and begin and correct as I go letting the piece create itself.

That’s why I like working with polymer clay as a base and my pen and ink technique, I can easily correct most lines and sometimes colors. I do most of the black work first and add color at the end, then reapply black here and there.

I probably would benefit from more planning including sketching the ideas in my head instead of just making notes, but then I’m not so sure how things like the red hood would ever happen. But it’s something to consider.

International Polymer Clay Association’s Polymergence editor Suzanne Ivester wrote a wonderful article in this month’s newsletter entitled All About Sketching! It’s an interesting read, you’ll enjoy it.

Cat polymer clay, pen and ink

This cat just called to me, no explanations, no excuses. I’m going to post this and get back to my original plan..samples…step by step samples.

Cat and Cat Polymer Clay Buddies

Cat and Cat - polymer clay

Cat and Cat - polymer clay

A friend saw my Catbleu she wanted a couple for her sister. So I made these guys and they’re ready for the oven. Cats have always been a popular subject, people love their cats. I couldn’t resist caning these two guys. Very Alice in Wonderlandy.

I want to play around with this technique some more, combining canes with figures. 2d with 3d marry to create interesting possibilities.

Have a happy Sunday and just think Christmas with be over by this time next week. Are you ready?

Catbleu

Catblu

Catbleu

Just for fun, this little guy was fun and easy. Canes and shapes combined to make this 3D figure. I think I’m going to attach a loop in the top of his head so he can be an ornament, hang from a rearview mirror, become a fan pull or whatever comes to mind.

More of American Allie – Polymer Clay

These guys are headed to The Creative Native, who by the way is having a reception and exhibit tonight from 5 to 9pm. Titled Go Figure! and featuring artists: Kelly Savery – paper, Margaret Conte – mixed media, Ricklene Wren – acrylics, Susan O’Hara – clay.

If you are in the area, you really should stop in this wonderful gallery. The range of work is wide and the talent represented is outstanding.

I’ve covered a card holder, a pill box and made a pin with an articulated tail. they are in the oven now.

Making this cat was easy and I used several canes that I already had. The eyes are from the face I made with Barbara McGuire and the rest of the older canes were put together using freshly blended Skinner blends. It’s amazing to watch the cat come to life as each element is added.

Here’s a way to use some of those older canes you have way too much of. If you want, draw a picture to go by or use clip art or a picture from a card or coloring book.

Here’s a clip art cat I got from the internet. Clker.com. I just googled free clip art cat and this one was on the front page. You could make the lighter part a skinner blend and each darker section a different colored and patterned cane. An easy project, even the eyes are just black snakes with a highlight of white. Remember, you can just use this picture as a guide, let your cat decide for itself what it wants to look like in the end………it’s only fair.

The Cat..American Allie

American Allie

I was off on another mission today. Had visions of cat dancing in my head. Here’s just one that I’m listing on Etsy tomorrow, too tired tonight. I love mixing colors. More pictures will be on my Etsy site. I love fantasy and cats and color, can you tell? I also made several face bracelets too. A good day.