All posts by Alice

Visiting Instructors, Workshops

An Evening with Marie Segal

Marie Segal iconic fabrication

Marie Segal will be at Studio 215 on Friday February 12th from 7pm until 9pm with a trunk show of her work. There will be items for sale and Marie with be doing a demo with polymer clay.

Marie  has been working and playing with clay since 1971, she introduced the polymer world to the pasta machine. She teaches around the country and this February she’ll be teaching at Studio 215.

She and her husband Howard own the Clay Factory serving the polymer community since 1980.

Marie-Segal-Disk-earrings

Her Disk Earrings, new design, new innovation workshop is full, but you can still be added to the waiting list.

She is also teaching a wonderfully fun and inventive workshop, Iconic Fabrication. Marie is so enthusiastic about this workshop she is fairly bubbling. There are spaces left, but it’s only a month away, so don’t delay.

Marie is providing everything for both workshops and I’m providing the tools and equipment, so all you have to do is show up. Easy!

I’m looking forward to having Marie here and I hope to see you as well.

Online Workshops, Visiting Instructors, Workshops

Exciting New Adventure – Online Workshops

Alice Stroppel online workshops

This weekend, my students in my Build Your Cane Inventory Workshop will be the first ones, you might say my testers, for my new video system.

I have been working all day to set up this monitor  so I can stream  online Workshops and allow my in Studio student a great view of what I demoing in class.

Soon I’ll be offering small online Workshops and possibly ongoing classes to everyone. I’m going to need a few more “testers” for my first coupled of tries the size of the class will be limited to only 3 or 4 people, so the bonus will be extra attention. You’ll be helping me and I hope having some fun at the same time.  Sign up for my newsletter to find out more. I’ll be sending information our next week.

I am excited to have this set up in time for Marie Segal’s Workshops and for her Trunk Show on the Friday night before. More info on that to come as well.

Uncategorized

Build Your Cane Inventory Jan. 16th 2016

Download application blank for Alice’s workshops here

Saturday
Build Your Cane Inventory
Prep homework required
Jan. 16th 2016
$75
9am – 4:00pm
you provide the clay
(available at Studio 215)

cane inventory workshop - Alice Stroppel

Have you put off learning to cane because you believe it’s too hard, complicated, time consuming, precise, uses too much clay _______ fill in the blank? You not alone, but I can help.

If you like my style of work, I want to assure you that my canes are easy, fun and not at all precise. I don’t make large canes and I use every little bit of clay to make some interesting accent canes to use in all sorts of projects.

I firmly believe that you will be delighted at how much more creative and productive you’ll become if you have your cane inventory waiting for you when an idea hits. If you have to stop and make each component cane before you can begin, most times you won’t even start.

This class is for all levels of expertise, the only requirement is that you know how to make a Skinner blend and that you come to class with your Skinner blends and plugs already made. I’ll provide you with the instructions ahead of time.

By taking this workshop before any of my others you have plenty of canes ready to complete the projects we will be making.

canes, Workshops

Next Beginner’s Cane Workshop Jan. 9, 2016

Beginners workshop - Alice Stroppel

Is this the first time you have even heard of Polymer Clay? Let me introduce you!

Have you put off learning to cane because you believe it’s too hard, complicated, time consuming, precise, uses too much clay _______ fill in the blank? You not alone, but I can help.

If you like my style of work, I want to assure you that my canes are easy, fun and not at all precise. I don’t make large canes and I use every little bit of clay to make some interesting accent canes to use in all sorts of projects.

In this class you will learn caning basics. Skinner Blends, plugs, canes and how to slice canes for application.

You’ll leave the workshop with at least one finished piece. Bring a small glass container to apply your canes to if you don’t want to make jewelry.

 

 

canes, Workshops

Beginner workshop Nov. 20, 2015

I’ll be teaching a beginners caning workshop on Friday a Nov. 20th. Several people didn’t want to wait until after Christmas, I love that!

I have room for more students. Call 863-402-4652 to reserve your place.

Beginners workshop - Alice Stroppel
Saturday
Beginner’s Cane Workshop
Nov. 20, 2015
9pm – 4:00pm
$75
you provide the clay
Or
$90 clay provided

Beginners workshop – Alice Stroppel

In this class you will learn caning basics. Skinner Blends, plugs, canes and how to slice cane for application.

You’ll leave the workshop with at least one finished piece.

Bring your lunch!

IPCA, Silver

International Polymer Clay Association’s New Publication

International Polymer Clay Publication Nov.-Feb. 2015
International Polymer Clay Publication Nov.-Feb. 2015

I am honored to be the featured artist in the Nov. – Dec. International Polymer Clay Publication. I was interviewed and more of my work can be seen inside.

I’m  humbled by the polymer talent around the world and feel extremely fortunate when I’m asked to be included in that family.

Many thanks to Corliss Rose and the International Polymer Clay Association.  

Are you a member? If not, I suggest you take a minute to look at everything this organization has to offer. Here’s their membership page. 

Even if you are not a member, you can still get a free copy of the  publication. Just email editor@theipca.org and they will send you the e-publication.

Cane Mapping, Jewelry, Polymer Clay Guilds, Retreats, Workshops

New Jewelry for Sale

Alice Stroppel

Graphic earrings.

Alice Stroppel

Cane mapped fish pendants

Alice Stroppel

Cane mapped pendants using forms made from

Helen Breil’s book Shapes

I’ve been working on a few new pieces for the Studio.

 I’ll also be taking quite a few things to sell at Sandy Camp next week. Sandy Camp is  annual retreat by the San Diego Polymer Clay Guild and I’m trilled to be teaching a Master Class at the opening of the retreat. Then I get to let my hair down and enjoy the rest of the event.

I’m also prepping for a workshop on Saturday at the Studio. Building a cane inventory is what we will be working on so we can move on to classes  for cane mapping. All fun!

Cane Mapping, canes, Workshops

Polymer Clay Cane Storage

Polymer Clay Cane Storage - Alice Stroppel

Over the years I’ve stored my canes in many different ways and at my home studio I still hang on to my very wonderful metal filing cabinets with small drawers.

But for my downtown studio I have been using a new system I “borrowed” from Meisha Barbee. I’ve altered it and this looks nothing like hers, but the idea is the same and is working so well for me that I’m thinking of expanding it.

These stackable trays are for 12″x12″ pieces of scrapbook paper. They are made of the hard plastic that does not play well with polymer clay so I had my local glass company cut me 12″x12″ pieces of tempered glass.

Polymer Clay Cane Storage - Alice Stroppel

Now I don’t have to wrap every single cane to keep them from sticking together. They stick to the glass instead. And as with Meisha’s system you can remove the glass shelves, or just pull them out to see what you have . I like to keep you cane separated by color.

I thought it might be something that would work for you.

I’m having a Build Your Cane Inventory workshop on Oct. 3. followed by a full day Cane Mapping workshop in late Oct (TBA).

I try to emphasize to my students how important it is having lots of canes already made so when the desire to create hits, you don’t have to start from scratch. Canes in different color ways and lots of Skinner blend plugs.

As you can see, this next workshop will be full of fun and funky canes. That’s just how I roll!