Category Archives: Uncategorized

Making Trades

When I was teaching in Oklahoma, I met so many wonderful talented people. That’s always the way it is at Polymer Clay guild events.

Chris Crossland was one of those wonderful talented people. A  couple of months ago she posted a beautiful  wolf and I really wanted to have him hang in my studio along with work from so many other polymer friends.

I don’t trade as often as I used to but Chris and I struck a bargain and exchanged animals.

I sent her a flying pig and she, much to my delight, sent me this beauty.  

I think I got the better bargain. Thanks so much Chris.

P. S. stay tuned. I’ll be posting workshops soon, both online and in my studio.  Contact me at alicestroppelsstudio215@yahoo.com if you have a particular workshop you’d like to take at my Sebring, FL studio.

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.

 

Workshops for Dec. 2017

Download application blank for Alice’s workshops here

Beginner’s Cane Workshop
Dec. 9, 2017

9am – 4:00pm
$90 clay provided

Not sure what a “cane” is? Watch this short video explaining the process.

 F

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.

beginner pendant

Download application blank for Alice’s workshops here


Retro Pendant and Ring

Dec. 15, 2017
10am – 2pm

$60 – everything included

Retro Workshop - Alice Stroppel

The perfect class for beginners. great fun for groups of 4 or more. You’ll learn how to make this extruded cane and go home with a pendant and a ring.  If time permits, maybe a pair of earrings.

An extuder makes constructing a cane easy, come on and see how.

Not sure what a “cane” is? Watch this short video explaining the process.

Download workshop application here.

Black and White Bracelet
Dec. 22, 2017

10am – 4pm
everything included
$85

Alice Stroppel black and white bracelet

In this workshop, beginner and long time clayers will make a few basic black and white canes and we’ll cover a brass bracelet to wear out the door. If we have time, we’ll make a pendant as well.

Not sure what a “cane” is? Watch this short video explaining the process.

 

Download application blank for Alice’s workshops here

Profile Face Cane
Dec. 23, 2017
10am – 4pm
$90.00
Clay  included

A full tutorial included for future reference
7 page pdf and a 40 minute video

profile-face-canew

Making face canes with polymer clay may seem challenging, but I’ll make it easy. I’ve developed a simple technique that will have you producing you own fun and funky characters to use on bracelets, card holders, picture frame or whatever your imagination can come up with.

Not only will I walk you through all the steps in this workshop, you’ll go home with a link to download 7 pages of detailed step by step instructions with drawings, photos and patterns. Plus……the link to a bonus 40 minute video showing exactly how to do each step. So you’ll never have to take a note or try to remember how to do something you learned in class.

You’ll learn how to shape the face slices and change the expression on each face. I’ll show you how I cover a bracelet blank and you’ll spend some time learning hair canes.

This is an intermediate class and you should know how to create a skinner blend.

Beginners Workshop Nov. 2017

Download application blank for Alice’s workshops here

Beginner’s Cane Workshops

Two separate one day workshop
Nov. 17, 2017

9pm – 4:00pm

And again on Nov. 18, 2017
9pm – 4:00pm
$90 clay provided

Not sure what a “cane” is? Watch this short video explaining the process.

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 plus many canes and components left over to make many more .

beginner pendant

Syndee Holt and her magical silk screens


Download application here

syndee holt

Tuesday May 9
10am – 4pm
$95
All supplies included

Silkscreens allow you to quickly create an intricate pattern on a canvas of Sculpey polymer clay. Baked on a metal mold to create a round image, these pieces will be ready for you to create a show stopping beaded necklace

Syndee will have on hand all the Sculpey supplies needed to create the pendants, including the clay, alcohol markers and even silkscreens and stamps!


She will show us a couple of ways to create bezels for the pieces as well as the “Montarsi Easy Bail”. Then it’s up to you to create the wonderful beaded canvas to display your work!

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.

 

New Workshops at Studio 215

It’s been a busy summer and I’ve loved adding to my online school, but I’m ready to start my live workshops at Studio 215 in Sebring, FL  I started by offering two ornament workshops over the last two weekends. The santa workshop was very sucessful so I’m going to offer it one more time on Nov. 26.

You can always find updates in the list to the right on the home page. and if you sign up for post notifications, you’ll be the first to know when I post a new workshop here.

If you see something that you and a few of your friends would like to take, leave a message here or on my facebook page, and we can set a date.

Here’s what I’ve listed today.

Download workshop applications here

Santa Ornaments

$85
10am – 4:30pm
Nov. 26,  2016
Everything included
Make one or two

Santa WorkshopSanta - Alice Stroppel - Maureen Carlson

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.


The Dots Have it

everything included

Thursday  Dec. 1.  2016
10am – 4pm
$90 everything included

Dots have it

In this easy for beginners workshop you’ll learn how to make a couple of simple “cane” and my favorite dot -dot-dot cane. We’ll cover a bracelet and make a pendant.

Not sure what a “cane” is? Watch this short video explaining the process.


Beginner’s Cane Workshop
Friday Dec. 2, and  on Sat. Dec 10,  and  Fri. Jan. 6, 2017

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.

Not sure what a “cane” is? Watch this short video explaining the process.


Cane Mapping Furniture
3   days
Friday – Sunday
Jan. 11-13, 2017
Limited to 6 students
$250.00
$100 deposit required

AliceStroppeltealtablefinished2sm

Learn how to cane map on a large scale. We’ll be covering a small table (you provide) with colorful polymer canes.

Tables should not be larger than 20” in any direction. You should have your table completely ready to accept your artwork. Sanded, painted etc. If you are painting it yourself, don’t paint the surface where your artwork will be attached.

Bring your favorite canes and create your person piece of art-furniture. You’ll be supplying your own clay.

Once you learn how to cane map for furniture, you’ll be able to apply that knowledge to large wall pieces and other items.

Day one – plan your design,  make skinner blends and canes.
Day two – begin mapping your design.
Day three – Continue with your design and do final prep to  your table. Apply finished art to your table.

barcartalicestroppel

This is a little cart saved by my sister Sheryl. Her neighbor was throwing it out. A bit of paint and some polymer and it’s taken on a new life.

Alicestroppeltable3w

This table is special to me, it was our first telephone table in our first apartment. I won’t be teaching faces canes in this workshop, but you could bring your own.

alicestroppelsinglegirl

Here’s another thrift store find. But there is no reason why you can’t start with a new table.

Download furniture workshop application here

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.

Back to Work, But First…

Billet-doux by Barb Harper and Mari O'Dell
Billet-doux by Barb Harper and Mari O’Dell

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
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
Barb Harper – bee closure detail

The hand lettering was Mari’s, I continue to  wish I could letter like Mari.

Mari O'dell
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.

Mari teaches in her treehouse studio and has lots of beautiful thing to show you on her site. Here’s her Facebook page.

Barb can be found on Facebook

Thanks so much Mari and Barb for creating this beautiful piece and for letting it go home with me.