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.
My friend Alice Hansen and I took a road trip down to Matlacha, FL and Pine Island to Julia’s Arts Gallery.
Julia's Arts
Julia’s Arts is featuring some of my polymer clay work, bracelets, bottle stoppers, perfume pens, and my fish mosaics. The Mermaid on the blue bottle and the new fish bracelet are living there now too.
Julia's Arts - Gallery
It’s a delightful gallery with some really wonderful art by some very talented artists. I’m thrilled to be included.
I love little Florida coastal towns, the “artsy” buildings are so colorful. They grab your attention and make you feel happy, lift your mood if you’re feeling glum. Get you ready to kick back, grab that drink with the umbrella and relax. You’ll find some of the most unusual art work in these cool, colorful galleries.
Alice and I had a great time, we stopped in Punta Gorda to have lunch on the way home and visit some galleries there. Charming little town and they have made a great effort to come back for the devastation from hurricane Charlie several years ago.
Alice has had her painting and prints at Julia’s for several years now. Alice’s work is amazing! She is famous for her marine life watercolors. Manatee and fish of all kinds fall under Alice’s spell and no color escapes her brush. She sells her original artwork as well as prints and note cards of most of her paintings. You can contact Alice through her gallery page at Highlands Art League. Or see more of her work on Julia’s Arts website.
Now all I have to do is figure out how to create these wonderful gentle manatees in polymer clay. Don’t you just love the colors Alice uses?
A group of perfume pens ready to go to a shop. Below is a group of bottle stoppers. The same face cane with different hair and hats. I also sell them in my Etsy Shop.
Wine Stoppers
I get my stoppers and perfume pins from Boston Clayworks. They are both fun to do even without the face canes and they make great gifts.
I wanted to do something with my profile face canes and really wanted to do something different. I used the piece of glass from my mosaic work and lots of canes both old and new and have begun a picture. I’ve placed a piece of white paper behind the glass so that the work would show up better. So right now there is no background.
This is stage one. I’m going to bake it now and add more to it later. I think, after it comes out of the oven, I’ll add a skinner blend background and see where that takes me. Stay tuned.
I have so many things that I have made over the years. This is one of my favorite pieces. I made this after taking Kathleen Dustin’s class. At the time I was busy at work and really didn’t continue to make many other things in this style. I love to make canes, but I think now that I have more time, I need to start experimenting again.
I drew that face on my computer in a paint program and applied it to the surface. I continued with what I learned with Kathleen. It you ever have the opportunity to take a class from Kathleen, do it, you will learn so much.,
What I might never be able to do is to sand it as much as it needs. Does anyone know if I can hire that done????
A couple of the canes that I used, actually came from a cane swap I did with I first started with PC. I love that about this kind of work. You can incorporate canes and each one can have a memory or special meaning. Kind of a scrap book of work that you and friends have done.
Most of us would like to make some money from our work, if for no other reason than to support our habit. But we can’t forget the pure enjoyment that we get from making that special piece that we won’t sell no matter what. This dish is one of those pieces for me.
I was going to show you some more flamingo things I’ve done, but my camera’s battery was low. I had already taken pictures of these girls so I thought I would share.
I have sold quite a few Salt and Pepper shakers over the years and given away more. I have several sets myself and laugh when I look at first ones I made.
I love to wear bracelets. But I don’t wear other jewelry because I’m allergic to most metals. I love to surround myself with things that are beautiful, that make me laugh or are nostalgic. My work certainly falls into at least one of those categories.
I wanted to make things that I could either look at or use in my every day life. Sculpture, art dolls, salt and pepper shakers, vases, bowls, containers of all kinds. I’m lucky to have a kitchen in my studio and an oven that is only for polymer clay. I am limited to the size of my items only by the size of my oven.
My question is, do you use your favorite canes and cover something that you use everyday? Or are you a jewelry person only? If you have only done jewelry, what would make you consider covering something else with your favorite canes?
And if you’re new here, I have a couple of videos you might like to watch. Check out the Video link on the left hand side of the page or at the very top next to the links page.
Yesterday I made a face cane in profile. I’ve made canes like these before and made several vases, postcards, canisters, and oh I don’t know what else. I either gave them away, donated them or sold them. And I didn’t take pictures of them. I regret not taking picture of things in the beginning. If only just to see how far I’ve come.
Anyway, I’m play around with the profile here. Same cane different hair styles. I have some other ideas that I’m going to work on today.
If you haven’t already, be sure and check out the Fish Mosaic contest in the last post.
It’s hot, it’s summer, and since I’ve had such positive feed back from my new Fish Mosaic video, I decided that maybe we should have some summer fun.
I’m challenging my newsletter members to create a fish mosaic of their own. I’m giving away the following perfume pen to the winner of the contest. To use the pen, you simply hold the wick in your favorite perfume for about a minute. Screw on the top and it’s ready to go with you anywhere, tucked into your purse. I love mine, it’s even small enough to stick in your pocket.
The winner’s fish will be posted here in August with a link to their blog, website, Etsy store, and/or flicker account.
If you are already a member of my newsletter list, your should have already received instructions for entering the contest in the July issue.
If you aren’t a member yet and want to join in the fun, simply sign up for my free newsletter on the upper right hand side of this page, view the video and follow the instructions that will be sent to you in the July newsletter. It’s free, and it’s easy.
This is an old face cane that I made several years ago. One of my first with my newest method. I really liked her except the area around her eyes was a different color. Yikes. Really was bad.
I decided to separate the areas with glasses. And it worked. She is still way red, like she was out in the Florida sun. But I was happy and it was one more step on my way to better face canes.
You never know how one mistake, a plan gone wrong, an almost throw away cane can be Ta Da…..Saved!
Red Headed Girl
I still have more cane left, I think I’ll work on some outrageous glasses for the next girl.
I should have added making crazy girls from face canes to my list for the last post!
I used canes from the video from 2 posts ago. Lots of fun and she’s going to my Etsy shop.
So I used the smallest cane I made from scraps on two pieces. I used the long thin cane as a hat base on both the pin and the bracelet. There is still enough for one more hat or blouse or who knows…..
I made this crazy woman pin with slices of one of my face canes and pieces of my Skinner Blend canes and scrap canes. See the Video in the last post to see how I use even the scraps of my skinner blends to make canes.
I made two sets of canes for the video. I only used one set in the video, but I’m showing both here. I used some of each group to complete my lady pin.
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