Category Archives: canes

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!

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!

Charming Cane Workshop

 

I had my first Charming Canes workshop (thanks Cynthia Tinapple and Polymer Clay Daily for the name)  this past weekend and I really believe everyone had a good time and learned a lot. At least they all came back day #two with smiles on their faces.

Alice Stroppel's Studio 215

I worked on a color palette for this workshop  using mainly Premo Cobalt Blue, Fuchsia, and Zinc Yellow. Then all colors where Skinner blended with white. I was pleased with the results. Just look at the charms this group created. It really was a greatly satisfying workshop for me.

Alice Stroppel's Stduio 215 Charming Canes WorkshopAlice Stroppel's Stduio 215 Charming Canes WorkshopAlice Stroppel's Stduio 215 Charming Canes WorkshopAlice Stroppel's Stduio 215 Charming Canes Workshop

Thanks to the support of my community and my friends and fellow clayers from around the country, my studio is doing very well and I’m having the best time. Such a lucky girl.

 

Charming Canes, Lone Star and Sandy Camp Retreats

Canes for Charming Cane workshop Alice Stroppel

My inaugural Charming Canes workshop is next weekend and I wanted these charms to be colorful yet a tad softer than my usual pallet. So I decided to provide the clay and the color recipes with the workshop.

I spent almost everyday this last week figuring out the recipes and making more cane samples. I think I’m ready with that part. *g* But I still want to make more finished samples.

Can you tell I’m having a blast?

I have an ulterior motive for making so many, I will be teaching  at the Houston Guild’s Lone Star Retreat in Sept. and the San Diego Guild’s Sandy Camp Master Class in Oct. and I want to have lots of goodies to take with me.

I’ll be teaching my Caning Mapping technique at both retreats, I’m really looking forward them. How lucky am I?

I’ve always said that pc was addictive and it’s certainly true with these “charming” canes. Not only I’m I going to have fun making new things, but just think of the cool scraps and left over bits and how many different ways I can use them.

Many things to do and never a dull moment.