Category Archives: canes

canes, extruded, Faces, Found Object Characters, Online Workshops, Sebring, Florida, Uncategorized, Women, Workshops

Lucy and COVID19 Isolation

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I found this fabulous head on Facebook Market place about 6 weeks ago. When I saw her I wasn’t sure she would fit in the oven but I knew I needed to buy her.

When I got her to the studio the first time I did was make sure she fit in the oven. She’s 20″ long from the tip of her nose the the last curl on her head. Luckily I have a two regular kitchen ovens that are clay dedicated . One here at home and one at my studio in downtown Sebring.

I didn’t have time to work her right away so she just chilled out in my studio. Then Covid19 hit and I’ve been home with my husband for the last five weeks. Is that all it’s been???

She came home with me and I’ve been working on her covering her with polymer canes that I have been making over the years. Every time I have a workshop in my studio I make canes, every time I film a video for my online workshops, I make canes.

So I have a cane inventory that you couldn’t believe and what better way to use it than on this lady? I am here to tell you she took a bunch of canes. I think I only use the same one once or maybe twice.

Here she is finished. Or at least finished for now. there are a few things I’d like to fix, but I’m ready to stop working on her for awhile.

Below I’ll show you as she progressed.

Oh and I’ve named her Lucy… like in the Sky with Diamonds… *g*
I may have to add a few sparkles, but that will have to wait.

This is how she was when I first started covering her with canes.

I decided that I didn’t like the random canes and decided to follow the waves.

I just kept on adding canes because I have a large inventory. If you have ever taken a workshop with me you’ll know I am always encouraging everyone to build your cane inventory so you can just sit down and create.

I was able to begin and finish her with out ever having to make a new cane. If I would have had to make a new cane for every wave I might not have finished her.

Obviously you won’t have as many canes as I do but as you build your cane inventory or as I like to call it, your stash, you’ll be surprised how many projects you can finish in a day.
I worked on both sides for days.


I’d finished a few rows and then I’d bake her. That way I didn’t mess up the rows I’d finished as I worked on the next.

Then finally the day came when I could finally put her in the oven for the last time. Was I glad? You bet. I’m used to large projects but this one seemed like it took forever.


She just fits on an angle. I baked her one last time for 30 minutes andI’m a happy, happy, woman.

Thanks for joining me on this journey. If you want to build your cane inventory or just make a couple of fun projects from my online workshops.

Cane Mapping, canes, Tables, Uncategorized

A fishy tale.

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Polymer clay table by Alice Stroppel

I just finished this small fish table. I love doing tables because they give me a large “canvas” to work with. I put a colorful crab in the middle of this one.

This is a larger take I did months ago and now lives with a great friend and customer.

Next up? A very large mirror.

canes, Stroppel Cane, Uncategorized

Free Stroppel Cane Tutorial

Stroppel Cane Earrings

Are you like me? I have a giant box full of Stroppel Canes and am always looking for something to make with them. The other day I was cleaning up my work space, that’s the way the Stroppel Cane was born actually, making another Stroppel Cane and happened to have a piece of a sheet left over. I added it to the Stroppel Cane and a new cute Stroppel Cane Earring emerged.

I thought you might enjoy make some yourself, so Ive added a free little tutorial to my online school http://alice-stroppel.teachable.com/p/stroppel-cane-earrings and to me YouTube channel https://youtu.be/yKWZe3Pq_tU

Cane Mapping, canes, Uncategorized, Workshops

Teaching in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Florida

 

 

 

If you would like to meet me in Arkansas in July, I’ll be teaching a full three day workshop with the Quachita Mountain Polymer Clay Guild.

This is an extended workshop and will be combining three of my online courses this will be the longest workshop I’ve taught so you might not want to miss it.

There will be two days of cane building, extruding,  scrap saving and generally building your cane inventory. And once you have your inventory you are ready to begin creating fabulous pieces everytime you sit at your clay table. Not having to start you project  from the very beginning makes it so much easier complete a piece in record time.

The last day I’ll share my cane mapping technique complete with tips a hints that you will use in other projects.

You’ll make a piece to frame and I’ll show you how I turn my mapped pieces into striking pendants or apply them to a wine glass or vase.

So if you’re free July 10, 11 & 12, 2018 and want play with clay with a fun group and me, just download the application here and I’ll see you then.

I’m also looking forward to teaching at the OK Poly-Clay Twisters Retreat 2018 in a couple of weeks in Oklahoma.  I do believe my workshops are full.

Next I’m teaching a pre-retreat workshop at Orlando Clay Fandango  in Florida. I go every year just to see my friends there. So much fun.

 

Cane Mapping, canes, extruded, Polymer Clay Guilds

Teaching with the Kansas City Polymer Clay Guild

I’m delighted with the cane mapping that happened in Kansas City last month.  On the first day we made lots of fun and easy canes to use in our cane mapped pieces the next day. You can always use old canes as well, but learning new ways to cane is always a plus.

The beautiful dragonfly above is by Heidi McCulough and was finished after class. It makes me very happy when people enjoy the workshop enough to want to continue working after class. In fact she got together with Pat Kuehn to finish her piece and Pat made her second piece, the fabulous beetle below.

Pat was my hostess and what a delight it was to stay in her beautiful home. Thank you Pat.

I know that Patti Soliman is planning to cane map a hippo in the near future. Be sure to send me a picture Patti.

Each and every one created some wonderful pieces and I hope they are as impressed with their work as I am.

But I’m missing several pictures from the group. If you have taken a picture of your piece, please send it to me or post it on our FB page and I’ll up date this post.

Anne Rowe, Linda Bowers, Michele Wineland, Renee Becka, Barbara Morris, Robin Young

Donna Harryman’s butterfly is just wonderful. Donna  was the coordinator for my workshop and I want to extend a special thank you to Donna and her committee, Anne M. Rowe, Linda Bowers and all the other guild members. Its a lot of work to put on an event like this and I’m grateful to have been asked to teach such a fun group.

Donna’s butterfly is my kind of beautiful, bright, bold, colorful piece.

Janie Clark finished two great pieces in class. She used some familiar  canes in both of her butterflies. Stroppel Canes were part of our workshop of course. *g*

Some beautiful work by June Flannery Duckworth who is very new to caning.

Kim Koval Keane tackled the large butterfly and just wow and wow again.

Pat Kuehn came prepared with a pattern for the sugar skull… fabulous.

Liz is a woman after my heart. She didn’t want to make a ”thing”, she wanted to do a free form abstract. Cant wait to see where her imagination takes her next.

Another intricate lovely butterfly, Kathy Fritz did a great job.
Robin Young’s fish  has a more organic palette with plenty of sassy attitude. Love it.

Patty Minton Welch’s butterfly is so soft and painterly, lovely.

Pat’s second piece is kinda nostalgic in a round about way, she had a VW beetle in the 70s.

We have that in common, my first car was a green VW beetle with a sun roof. In the 70s, I dinged the front fender and painted bright hippy flowers all over it and the hood. I know, crazy kid, but loving color and fun even then. Pat said her VW was bright orange, so see, so much in common. Oh and yes there is PC.

Patti Soliman made a vibrantly, delightful, colorful fish. And I have to say the thinnest piece there that day. Perfect for the frame.

Patricia Hill’s fish is charming, beauteous and as with all of the incredibly wonderful pieces from this workshop, colorful.

Colorful is probably an under statement for what I teach, can you tell I love it?

Thanks again to Kansas City Polymer Clay Guild for a great time and  a great workshop.

A special place in my heart for Polyform’s generous spirit and Premo. Iris Weiss xo.

Next workshop away from Studio 215 will be in Sept. in St. Augustine with the First Coast Polymer Clay Guild. Canes on the first day and fun funky weed pots on day two.  Can’t wait.

Oh and just a heads up, I’ll be teaching Weed Pots as a pre-workshop before next years Orlando Clay Fandango. Yes!

-polymer paintings, canes, Flamingo, Uncategorized, Women

Completing projects

This week has been all about finishing up projects I’ve started this winter and never completed.

I have been teaching so much that I’ve not had time for much creative time, so as things began to slow down and our northern visitors began to head home, I brought out my list of want to do’s and my unfinished projects.

I finished two versions of this woman today. I made a small version a couple of years ago and it’s been well received. It hangs in my Studio in my private collection. I wanted make a couple of larger ones to offer for sale. Plus I wanted to try black and white.

Seems I’m drawn to black and white for sure, I just bought a new car and it’s white with black interior, go figure.

And then here’s yet another one, I finally framed this black and white woman.

Earlier this week I finished and framed this colorful woman that I started last year. About time don’t you think?

 

I even saved this flamingo that I burned several months ago. He’s framed and now I want to make another one with giant flowers. Yay, go big.

I still have a few more project to finish, but I’m feeling pretty good today.

 

Cane Mapping, canes, Online Workshops, Workshops

I’m thrilled with Compliments for my Online Workshop

My online workshop launched in August and it’s been a great success for me and I plan on making many more workshops in the future.

But nothing makes me happier than to be on the receiving end of lovely compliments like these

Nancy Simmons made me blush a bit with this message. “I was fortunate enough to take Alice’s cane making class a year or so ago. It was wonderful. What’s as wonderful (except for the in-person part), is her cane making video. I couldn’t ‘get’ everything from the class, so I bought the video. It’s exactly like being in class with Alice, except it makes it seem like you’re the only one in the class. I also purchased her cane mapping videos. All I can say is WOW! I feel a new world has opened up for me. I just can’t wait for Alice to add more videos. I’ve worked with many excellent instructors, but to me, Alice is the best. Do yourself a favor, buy all her videos. I’ve included my first cane mapping. Hopefully, you can see it. Her name is Sylvia. Thank you, Alice.”

Lee Ann Nesbitt sent me this eye opening compliment.
“I finished, kind of, your extrusion class..started cane mapping. I realized I was missing something, and needed the dot, dot dot. I just bought Polymer Clay for Beginners. My advice…Change the name! I am far from a beginner..do not OVER estimate non beginners knowledge. This class is for everyone. Just starting…I got good tips on striped slabs, using full packages and not cutting triangles for skinners…3 canes out of one blend..and I’m just starting!”

Jennifer Rose left this oh so nice comment. “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.”

Thank you so much, Jennifer, Lee Ann and Nancy, it means so much to me.

canes, Faces, Uncategorized, Workshops

Ornament Workshops at Studio 215

 

Download workshop application here.

Ornaments

Use canes from my stash

Polymer clay ornaments - Alice Stroppel

$85
10am – 4:30pm
Saturday – Nov. 5, 2016
Everything included
Make one or two

This is the first time I have offered a workshop using canes from my inventory. I’ve been teaching so much and making canes for each workshop so I have an overflow. I decided it would be great fun to see what you might do with slices from them .

I’ll have some ornaments, but if you want to being your own you can. Any color and a medium to small size or one large.

Bring your lunch and your sense of humor.

Santa Ornaments

Santa - Alice Stroppel - Maureen CarlsonSanta - Alice Stroppel - Maureen Carlson

$80
10am – 4:30pm
Nov. 12, 2016
Everything included
Make one or two

Come make your  own Santa ornaments using the easy molds from Maureen Carlson. You’ll love how they turn out. I’ll have everything you need, just bring your lunch and your smile.

Cane Mapping, canes, Online Workshops, Workshops

Polymer Cane Mapping Now Live

cane mapped fish - alice stroppel

I’m so happy to tell you that I have uploaded two new workshops to my online school. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you’ll see Cane Mapping and Extrusions.

bird alice stroppel

The extrusion workshop consists of thirteen videos that equal over an hour of instruction.

This workshop will show you how to make small unique canes from extruded polymer clay. You can use these canes to make everything from buttons beads and pendants to cane mapped pieces.

It’s only about the techinque used in making the canes, not the finished pieces.

It’s all part of building your cane inventory so that when you are ready to begin a project you have many canes to choose from.

I use lots of extruded cane in my cane mapping pieces.

Butterflies Alice Stroppel

The butterfly on the left is made with both extruded canes and traditional canes. The one on the right is all extrusions.

cane mapped fish Alice StroppelIf you love mosaics, color and polymer clay, if you love the look of complex canes but simply don’t want to create a giant complex cane, if you love one of a kind pieces, and if you have tons of left over canes, this is the can mapping workshop for you!

This is the workshop I teach at my Sebring Studio and around the country at polymer clay guilds and retreats. The difference is you can rewind and watch each step over and over if you want.

In almost 2 hours of videos you’ll learn the basics by cane mapping this  fish portrait and the  butterfly on the left above. I’ll show you a few unexpected canes and different slices that you can incorporate into your designs.

This is an intermediate class and having some Skinner blended canes in your stash will make your designs pop.

 

Thanks so much for taking a look .