What I wouldn’t have given for these color cards when I first started out in polymer clay.
What am I talking about? I am extremely overjoyed to have them now.
Joan Tayler has mixed all of these colors in Premo, put these color cards together, photographed them, printed and laminated them. The recipes are on the front with the colors on the back. Such a lot of work.
All for only $12 a set. Trust me you will use these over and over again. You can purchase them here in her Etsy shop.
I’m teaching at virtual Clayathon in February 2022, a workshop call Paper to Polymer, see the post with more information here. I will be using these cards when we mix colors for our wall pieces that will be inspired by paper collages we create.
Not only that but Joan and Shelley Atwood are teaching a two day workshop with step by step color mixing and jewelry design. Their workshop, Wardrobe Inspired Jewelry, is on Feb. 17 & 18 while mine is the 22nd and the 23rd.
Loretta Lamb is the guest artist at virtual Clayathon this year and I know she has some wonderful things to share with us.
The line-up of talented polymer artists is long and varied this year and I’m thrilled to be included.
Clayathon’22 Virtual Polymer RetreatRetreat days: Feb. 19, 20, 21, 2022. Six Hours of lessons during the Retreat withAcclaimed Artist and Author Loretta Lam Loretta will share her personal design process, from inspiration through the assessment of the finished piece. Her demos will include form building, canes, and veneers. Plus lots of design hints and tips! Something for everyone.” Register for Clayathon here.
My workshop will be after the retreat on February 22 – 23. In my two day workshop we will be using magazine pages to create fabulous little collages that will act as inspiration for a larger polymer piece.
Paper to Polymer Alice Stroppel February 22-23 $190 10am – 3pm Intermediate
Register and pay for my workshop here.
This workshop is full, if you would like to be placed on the waitIng list email me at
alicestroppelsstudio215@yahoo.com
I started using pages from magazines to create collage postcards to send to friends. After I had made several I friend suggested they would be excellent studies for larger paintings. But of course I am a polymer clay artist through and through and painting wasn’t going to work for me, but his words sparked my exploration into translating these postcards into polymer.
If you don’t already have a stack of old magazines or can procure some from friends, I’ll suggest a some of my favorites. But you can find pattern and color in many of the Christmas catalogs that are beginning to come in the mail so start collecting a few now. You might also already have stashes of papers you can use.
We’ll be using liquid polymer, markers, as well as small cutters and silk screens. I’ll even show you how to make some small stamps.
I’ll be focusing on larger wall pieces but there is no reason why these techniques can’t be used for smaller projects as well.
Don’t worry if you don’t finish on day two, I’ll schedule and short recap Zoom meetup for showing your finished pieces and to answer any questions.
As soon as I receive your payment for this workshop I will send you the supply list.
Paper to polymer
This first piece was inspired by several artists, Rex Ray was the main influencer.
Rex Ray
Rex Ray
Paper to Polymer
Lots of patterns and colors from several magazines contributed to this postcard and others below. Lots inspiration for many of the techniques I’ll be teaching.
Paper Postcard
Paper Postcard
Paper to polymer
I’ve always admired Georgia O’Keeffe’s large flowers. I created many versions of paper flowers for this piece.
Georgia O’Keeffe
Paper Postcard
Paper Postcard
Paper Postcard
Paper to Polymer
You be surprise when you see the magazine page I used to create this inspirational postcard.
Have you ever just fell in love with an object? Well it happened to me at a retreat high in the mountains last week. And no I was not light headed even though I found it difficult to breathe from time to time. (flatlander you know)
We were able to see this object a day or two before the auction on the last night of the retreat and that’s when it happened. I know you know that feeling I’m talking about. When you first see something and stars appear all around it and you hear music. That was me when Mari O’dell and Barb Harper first shared their colaboration with the group.
Billet-doux by Barb Harper and Mari O’Dell
This incredible piece, including the box, were hand crafted by these two talented woman, The inside polymer stucture was made by Barb and sent to Mari. Mari then covered it with a veneer of faux ivory and faux metal. Magic wonder works with polymer clay.
The box was created by Barb including the bee button closures. Barb is a bee keeper and often incorporates bees in her work.
Barb Harper – bee closure detail
The hand lettering was Mari’s, I continue to wish I could letter like Mari.
Mari O’dell
When they announced it would be in the auction I knew I had to have it. The bidding was fierce and many tried to appeal to my softer side and sway me by whispering in my ear that one bidder’s 50th wedding anniversary was that weekend and it would mean so much to her. I felt bad for a minute until I realized that I have been married for 47 years and was shy her romantic reason by just a couple of years. Ha, I was not budging.
Another said that it was meant for her home studio, not so said I.
If you should ever visit my Studio 215 in downtown Sebring, FL, you should ask to see this amazing piece. But then again you probably won’t have to ask for it will be front and center.
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!
Whew, I’m home after a jam packed weekend in Texas teaching at the Houston Polymer Clay Guild’s Lone Star Retreat. It could not have been better, many thanks to everyone involve in this sterling event.
I was honored to be teaching along with Randee Ketzel and Sarah Shiver. My only regret is that I could take the classes with these talented ladies.
All along the communication from Lanette Holland was helpful and timely. When I arrived at the airport I was met by Ann Wagner who was assigned to be my “angel” for the weekend. She and her husband Dean were so very nice and helped me sail through the weekend and beyond. When Ann was in the other classes I had the other instructor’s “angels” Betsy Fraser and Theresa Abell on loan while they were in my class. Thanks you, thank you!
Goodie bags for all and a special welcome bag for the instructors were overflowing with supplies and goodies. Thanks Joey Barnes.
Paula Kennedy, you are amazing. Brenda Stanley made sure there were some spectacular auction items. I’m lucky to have made it home with a piece from their President Bob Wiley.
All the students were a joy to work with, thank you for such a wonderful welcome. I taught my Cane Mapping Technique and I was blown away by all the beautiful finished pieces. These are just a few, I wish I’d been able to get pictures of all of them framed. I’m sorry I don’t know the name of all the artists.
Deb Hart
Kim Schlinke
Joey Barnes
Thank you all so much for all the work and effort you put into producing a stellar event. And thank you for choosing me as one of your instructors this year.
I’ll be teaching this technique in my downtown Studio 215 but in an extended form starting with Build Your Cane Inventory on Oct. 3 and later in Oct (date to be determined) we’ll have a full day of cane mapping.
I’m delighted to be the instructor for a Master Class teaching Cane Mapping at the San Diego Polymer Clay Guild’s Sandy Camp on Oct. 7th.
I’ve been away on a Polymer Clay retreat and as always it was great fun, I enjoyed my fellow artists, I learned new things and I now I’m ready to jump back into my studio and get to work.
While I was on retreat I continued along with my bird theme. Oh… you didn’t realize I had a bird theme? I posted about it on my other blog, Polymer Clay etc.
I made bird bowls for an exchange with the other retreaters and a large bird for the wall. Here’s the Link.
These guys above are prototypes. I’ve always wanted to make wall pockets since my friend started collecting vintage wall pockets years ago, but I never got around to it. A short while ago artist Marie EvB Gibbons had a sale in her Denver Studio and online. She was selling these wonderful “Weed Pots” and I bought three of her darling baby pots.
I asked her if she minded if I “borrowed” the name for my, oh so much different than hers, weed pots. She graciously said yes. So I just started play and since birds were on my mind…
These, obviously, are not wall pockets. I’m working toward the wall, and these do hold weeds, so the name applies. Stay tuned.
I also had to make something for the annual auction at the retreat and I made one of my P C painted faces.
I’ve also been experimenting with Canva a free app. that allows you to make cool graphics in the perfect sizes for all your social media needs. It’s very cool and a great way to add your name to those items you want to upload to Pinterest or Instragram.
Meanwhile, I’m having a great group into Studio 215 on Saturday for a Profile Face Cane Class, so look for pictures.
I’m teaching at the Houston Polymer Clay Guild’s LoneStar retreat later this month and I’m excited to be meeting new people and string my Cane Mapping technique. I’ll only be gone a couple of days, so look for new classes coming soon at Studio 215.
