Alice Stroppel
Zoom Workshop
July 8
10am – 3pm
$65
Scrap is a word I’m no longer going to use to describe all the luscious bits of canes and Skinner Blends that are scattered over my work space. They are truly Leftovers that have the potential to be better than the first time around.
Join me for this easy workshop where you can turn your leftovers into these little bits of fun.
We’ll make earrings and dangling pendants and generally have a good time.
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.
My husband and I have been self isolating at home because of the Corona virus circling the globe. This is the third week that we have had everything delivered and have only gone out to the post office and I’ve gone to my studio a couple of times. I can pull up to the back door and enter from there, never seeing or coming in contact with anyone. We will continue this way until it is safe to venture out again. I have brought most of my polymer supplies home and I’m lucky to have a wonderful place to work here.
I want to give back to the community that has always supported me by encouraging words and sharing over the years. So while we’re all at home and self isolating I thought it would be a good time for me to continue creating some self portraits. I’d like you to join me and post your self portraits to my FaceBook group page titled Self portraits in the time of self isolation.
Your portraits can be recent or works you have created over the years. I work mainly in polymer clay but any medium is welcomed. I might even venture out into other mediums too.
I’m starting the adventure out by encouraging you to try a polymer clay string self portrait free. I’ve created a series of videos and created a free workshop in my online school. No purchase necessary, just follow this linkPolymer Clay String Portraits.
Because I also have a mortgage to pay on my studio I’m offering 30% off all the rest of my workshops for the whole month of April. Just go to my online school here, choose the workshop you want, click and use this code before checking out. SELF2020
And while you’re there don’t miss my other free workshop titled Stroppel Cane Earrings.
Everyone stay safe stay home if you can. Flatten the curve.
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.
I’ve added a new workshop to my online polymer clay school, (click on link and scroll down to few the individual workshops) It’s a jammed packed workshop full of ideas and inspriation. Most of my cane workshops are not about one individual cane, they are about the process. It’s what I love the most about cane making, I never really know where I’m going to end up. That makes each cane I make a surprise and a delight. Of course you can plan your canes as well.
I’ve added these canes as individual workshops so you can purchase only the ones you want or get a discount when you purchase them all together in a bundle.
There are 25 Videos, as well as videos on making Skinner blends and plugs. That’s about 4 hours of videos that you can watch again and again.
Videos below are sold separately in groups and are included in the bundle. Click here to go straight to the bundle.
Pods
Purple Pod Parts 1 and 2
Sea Pod Parts 1, 2 and 3
Pink Pod Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4
Spiral/Jellyroll Canes
Double Skinner Blend Spiral
Striped Spiral
Stroppel Spiral
Deconstruct – Reconstruct
Segmented Stripes
Segmented Stripes from a Skinner Blend Sheet
Segmented Stripes from a Skinner Blend Plug
Graphic Canes
Simple Graphic Parts 1 and 2
Squares
From Rectangles to a Square
Spacey Canes
Spacey Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4
Bonus – Spacey in the Round
Flip Floppin’ Flower
Flip Floppin’ Flower parts 1 and 2
I’ve been working on polymer string portraits and I have to say they are really fun.
I’ve admired the continuous black line drawings for some time now and have always wanted to do my own take on the look.
Years ago I joined a Kickstarter campaign for a 3d pen that used plastic stings. It’s now sold in Michaels and other places I guess. I suppose I could have mastered it I I’d spent more time with it, I still have it and might take another look at it now.
Don’t judge now, I was just playing.
But what I really know is polymer clay. I’ve had pc in my hands almost everyday for the last 25 years and I know how it behaves and what I need to do to make it work for me.
So finally I took the time to give it a try. I posted my first two on Instagram and Facebook with a great deal of support from other people which made me very happy. I was delighted to have one of the portraits featured on Polymer Clay Daily.
Even though I will always be experimenting, trying, failing, succeeding, both acknowledgements are always a great conformation that I’m pushing polymer.
The first and second faces were pencil drawings by me and they worked very well. I place them under a piece of glass and begin. The next one is from a picture of my friend Syndee Holt.
I wanted to make a portrait of someone I knew and Syndee always wears great hats and this picture fit the bill. I even liked the sunglasses.
I still have work to do on this, Syndee always has a smile, I have to fix that.
I sent a photo of the portrait to Syndee for her approval and she recognized herself right away. Whew. She even said I could share it. Thanks Syndee.
Back to fixing the smile and looking for other interesting photos.
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
I just recieved my digital version of Polymer Journeys 2019 and it is filled with fantastic polymer art.
I’m honored to have my work included among such a talented international group of polymer artist in another edition of Polymer Journeys.
The art pieces in this 2019 edition are extraordinary . The artists all express themselves in such personally diverse ways and it is a testament to versatility of polymer.
Many thanks to the judges for selecting my work and to Sage Bray and her team at Tenth Muse Art.
Visit Tenth Muse Art to order your digital or hard copy of this beautiful publication.
You won’t want to miss this information packed workshop with Syndee Holt. If you know Syndee like I know Syndee you will be first in line to sign up for this workshop. She has more polymer knowledge in her head than you or I will ever accumulate.
From her blog:
“I came to polymer clay as a means to maintain my sanity as a full time working mother. My degree is from Brooks Institute of Photography and photography is still a passion as well as part of my working life.
I’ve been an independent designer for Sculpey (Polyform Products) for over 18 years and I currently serve as the Polyform Brand Ambassador. I am a founding member and former President of the infamous San Diego Polymer Clay Guild. I’ve written over 100 articles for crafting magazines both national and internationally. In addition, I wrote Polymer Clay for the First Time, which is still available through amazon.com. I have also made about 33 television appearances on HGTV, Discovery, DIY, etc.”
Visit Syndee’s Blog for tons of links and tips.
Are you looking for new color recipes? She also shares her new color mixes for Sculpey (Polyform Products).
I hope you can join us. Download application here.
Two days of clay and fun at
Alice Stroppel’s Studio 215.
Feb 16 & 17, 2019
10 -4
$140
All Sculpey clays provided with class.
Syns 3-Ring Circus
The rules of this event are simple – if you want to do a technique I show you FINE! If you don’t want to do that technique but are still having fun with a previous technique FINE! If you want to make a “left turn” with a technique I’ve shown you and make it your own – FINE!! If the tools and clay colors incite some other kind of creative riot in you FINE!
Ring 1: My Sculpey tool Roundup
Let me show you all the weird little tips and things I’ve worked out with some of these tools. IT’s quick and I’ve been told it’s (clay) life-changing!
Ring 2: Surface treatments – let’s get dirty!
Gelli plates and transfers? Silkscreens? DONE! Got alcohol pens? Colored pencils? Let’s color!
Paints? Did someone mention Paints? Why yes, we can explore surface treatments using paints as well.
Ring 3: The Liquid Lab
Let’s remove the veil of mystery surrounds Liquid Sculpey! Using LS and silicone molds, mix-ins, and of course, using LS Clear as glaze – making friends with a heat gun!
Of course, there will be bracelets! Of course, there will be the KC Stripper technique!
Please use http//alice-stroppel.teachable.com
