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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[caption id="attachment_102" align="aligncenter" width="100" caption="Member IPCA"]Member IPCA[/caption]

South East Florida Polymer Clay Guild

I was looking forward to my visit to the South East Polymer Clay Guild and I wasn’t dissapointed.  The weekend started on a very high note and continued to get better.

I was fortunate to be able to visit with Pamela Carman and her delightful family and spend some time gazing at her bright cheerful birds, fish and all other sorts of other fun polymer clay work. And It’s because of Pamela and Susan Shuraky that I was there…….thank you Pamela and Susan.

The guild is lucky to have such a wonderful place to hold their large get togethers. The Woman’s Club in Davey is just perfect.


What a great group, we created some pen and ink faces and drawings, then got into a bit of caning and contouring. I just love how everyone was able to express their own voice with both techniques. It was so successful and I am tickled with their pieces. I hope to travel back to clay some more with everyone.

Hopefully I’ll remember the tripod so my photos won’t be so blurry.

A big thank you to all the members, you were great and it was so much fun.

The South East Florida Polymer Clay Guild

Thanks to Pamela Carman, I’m looking forward to next week-end! I’ll be spending two days with the South East Florida Polymer Clay Guild. One day of Pen and Ink on polymer clay and one day of  Contours in Clay.

Pen and Ink on polymer is very interesting and everyone can experience exciting results no matter what your drawing talent.

 

Pen and Ink Class

Pen and Ink Class

 

And this bracelet class.

 

 

This week, I’ll prepare lots of Skinner Blends…thank you Judith Skinner.. and get ready to play with some great clayers down south.  Look out South Florida….I”m on my way.

 

Pen and Ink on Ecru Polymer Clay and The Polymer Arts

I have been home from Georgia and Creative Journey Studios a little over a week and it truly seems like only a day or two. I am busy getting ready for Orlando Clay Fandango this week and decide to try pen and ink on ecru clay and boy do I really like it. I love the black and white, but this is new and different.

I’ll be demo-ing pen and ink on polymer clay, my Stroppel Cane, and how to cover a bracelet blank.

I’ll be posting more about my trip to GA when I get back and I know I’ll have great things to share about Fandango too. I have a wonderful interview with Ellen Prophater from Creative Journey Studios to share with you, plus lots of wonderful pictures of the Gallery and my classes.

This year I won’t forget my camera when I go to Fandango. Last year I left it by the back door. and was so dissappointed that I didn’t get to film the instructors and the Fandango Committee. The exciting thing is  this year I don’t need a giant camera bag, cords, charger etc. because I have a new little video camera with a USB connection built in. It fits in my pocket. Amazing!

Hope to see you at Fandango in 3…2….1…days.

Speaking of The Stroppel Cane…………

Sage Bray from The Polymer Arts asked me to write an article about the Stroppel Cane for the spring issue. I did and I was excited to see my name on the front cover along with the gorgeous photo of a Heather Campbell creation.

Haven’t read an issue yet try a sample.

Sample Issues of The Polymer Arts magazine … for the polymer clay artist

See you again soon….

Corrected Arms and More Pen and Ink Bracelets

I’ve worked on the arms from the other day (photo above) you can compare it to the arms before (photo below).

They still aren’t perfect and the shading just doesn’t look as good in these photos as it does when the bracelet is on my wrist. But I find that looking at most pieces of work in a 4″ picture is not how you see it on the bracelet. The actual drawing is only 1″ x 1 1/2″ so a lot of things you see in the photo just don’t show up on the actual drawing.

I also worked on two other bracelets, this one is using one of the face patterns from my pdf. I still have the third side to finish.

This brightly colored face is totally different and was oh so much fun to do. More work needs to be done on this one too, I like to give the ink time to dry completely and rest for awhile before working on the next panel. If I don’t, the colors tend to run a bit even if I heat set them, so usually I’m working on more than one bracelet. That’s why when I cover bracelets with the panels and canes, I do a bunch so that they will all be baked and ready for me when I feel like drawing.

Don’t forget I’ll be teaching my Pen and Ink on Polymer Clay at Creative Journey Studios in Buford, GA on the 21st of April 2012. And on the 22nd I’ll be teaching my profile face cane class, so grab and friend and come stay at the B & B right down the road. It’s going to be a fun weekend for sure.

The I’m off to Lake Yale in FL to do demos at Fandango. Days and days of fabulous classes you won’t want to miss. There is still time to get a late room or day pass. May 3-7th 2012.

June 10th and 11th will find me in Davy, FL with the Southeast Florida Polymer Clay Guild, details to come.

I’ll also be teaching this class at Maureen Carlson’s Center for the Creative Arts in Jordon, MN on Sept. 23, 2012. this is another long weekend with three classes I’ll be teaching. Just imagine what a great time we are going to have at Maureen.

The Legs, The Legs, Polymer Clay and Pen and Ink

I thought I would try something different on a black and white cuff, black and white legs…..

I still have another side to finish and wonder if I should add something in the background on each panel. I’ll have to think about it while I’m playing with the last side.

Have fun today, play with clay!

The Rest of the Bracelet, Pen and Ink on Polymer Clay

I’ve finished the bracelet I was working on the other day. Having three spaces to fill is alway a challenge. On the other hand it mean three blank canvases to have fun with.

I’m teaching this class next at Creative Journey Studios on April 22nd, 2012. I can’t wait.

So there you have the whole bracelet. I’m off now to start on another one, right after I finish filling out the survey to help standardize measurements for polymer clay. thanks to Sage, Maggie and Cynthia for putting this together. Read about it here, on Polymer Clay Daily, or go right to the survey here.

Creative Journey Studios and OAPCG Fandango

I’ll be hopping a plane in a few weeks to fly to Atlanta and get to spend some time with friends at Creative Journey Studios and a couple of days with a good friend from forever in another little Georgia town

First stop is in Buford, Ga and two classes at Creative Journey Studios. I can’t wait to get back there to see how the gallery has grown. When I was there last year it was just beginning and not everyone had sent their work for display and sale, mine wasn’t even there. So I’m excited to have the chance to spend some time there with Ellen Prophater, Sue Sutherland, and Patricia DiBona.

I’ll be teaching Pen and Ink on Polymer Clay and my Profile Face Cane. Grab a friend and come take one class or both, we’re going to have a great time.

If you need to jump into spring, you might want to seriously consider a trip to this charming little Georgia town. If you want to be inspired by polymer clay artists’ work all in one place, Creative Journey Studios is the ticket. Just take a look at the list of artists that have work that you will see up close and personal and possibly own. What a treat it’s going to be.

Judy Belcher, Jana Roberts Benzon, Leslie Blackford, Carol Blackburn, Kim Cavender, Louise Fischer Cozzi, Heather Cobb, Patricia DiBona, Ann Dillon, Lisa Dunn, Julie Eakes, Christi Friesen, Natalia Garcia de Leaniz, Sue Gentry, Linda Gilcher, Lindly Haunani, Ginny Henley, Stacy Hogue, Lou A. Huppke, Susan Hyde, Debbie Jackson. Jeanette Kandray, Kim Korringa, Judy Kuskin, Sharon Kyser, Loretta Lam, Ron Lehocky, Peggy Martin, Sandra McCaw, Barbara McGuire, Laurie Mika, Ann & Karen Mitchelll, Harvey Moriarty, Mari O’Dell, Mary Pratt, Ellen Prophater, Laurie Prophater, LaTrecia Raffety, Ponsawan Sila, Jan Stephens, Meta Strick, Debra Svitil, Alice Stroppel, Bettina Welker, Melanie West, Lori Wilkes, Elise Winters, Karen Woods

Amazing isn’t it?

Then….I’m off to cental Florida for Orlando Area Polymer Clay Guild’s annual Fandango. I’ll be demonstrating and just hanging out to talk with everyone and show some of my methods.

Today, I’m working on some bracelets like the one above, because I need a donation for the fabulous auction they have each year. Speaking of seeing some of your favorite artists’ from around the country and the world. President Charlene and others from OAPCG have a long list of donated work that attendees can truely buy sometimes for a song. Okay maybe you have to pay, but it’s tons of fun and just getting to see the work is a treat.

Take a look at last year’s auction bounty. I think there is still time to register, but hurry!

I hope to see you somewhere, sometime.

My Stroppel Cane is Older Than I Thought

In April of 2010, I was experimenting with a different kind of face cane and made 13 bracelets from it. I’ve sold several of them and have but a few left. I started photographing this one to put in my etsy Shop to sell. It has a flower that looks like a poinsettia so I thought it would be perfect for the season and I’d better get it posted.

When I looked through the lens, what did I see but a Stroppel cane that I used for a collar and a hat band. I started to laugh because my memory is so bad. At least about dates and when I did what. I knew I’d been making Stroppel canes for quite awhile, but didn’t realize it’s been almost 2 years.

If you look close at the bottom of the bracelet, you can see the date. Now I’m thinking I’ll keep this one, I have another one that is even more Christmasy. I hope this made you laugh, it sure made me glad that I date things.


I did list another pen and ink face bracelet that I finished last week. It’s in my Etsy Shop.

Faces in Pen and Ink on Polymer Clay

I think with the new Twilight movie just out this bracelet might just fit right in. I didn’t intend for it to be so gothic but the black and white with just a touch of color seems to make it that way. Kind of mysterious don’t you think?

Both this bracelet and the one below are the newest additions to my Etsy shop.

Trade With Julie Eakes

I had to share this trade with you. Julie and I met for the first time a couple of months ago and we decided to trade our creations.

This pendant  is an amazing piece of art. Not only did Julie make this incredible face cane she constructed the kaleidoscope canes she’s used for the frame.  I’m thrilled to have this wonderful piece but also to have gotten to know Julie and see her work on this piece.  You can see more of Julie’s work on her blog Julie Eakes. Her most recent cane is a beautiful portrait of her grandmother.

This is my part of the trade, the picture shows all side of the bracelet. Once again I think I got the better part of the trade. Thank you Julie