Category Archives: Workshops

Clayathon 2022, Online Workshops, Retreats, Workshops, Zoom Room Workshops

Clayathon virtual retreat 2022

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. 

I hope you’ll join me.

Uncategorized, Workshops, Zoom Room Workshops

Lovable Leftovers

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. 

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.

extruded, Workshops

Crazy birds tutorial

I’ve just up loaded a video featuring my newest design, Crazy Birds. They really do make me laugh. I use little canes made up of extruded pieces so I’ve also bundled this new video with my Extrusions video. You can purchase Crazy Birds alone,

http://alice-stroppel.teachable.com/p/crazy-birds

or bundled with Extrusions.

http://alice-stroppel.teachable.com/p/crazy-birds-…


surface technique, Uncategorized, Workshops

Syndee Holt teaching at Studio 215 Feb 16 & 17, 2019

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!

Online Workshops, Weed Pots, Workshops

Weed Pots Online Workshop – 15%OFF


 

I’m happy to tell you that I’m offering a new online workshop and it stars my silly Weed Pots. 

My weed pots have been a hit for classes both in my studio in Sebring, FL and at polymer clay guilds around the country. I know many of you will never make it to Sebring or to the guilds where I have will teach, so i’m sharing this workshop online.

I want to kick off the Holiday season and let you get a start on your gifts, after all who wouldn’t want a crazy weed pot from you? I’m giving you a 15% discount on the new Weed Pots workshop, but wait, that’s not all, I’m also giving the same 15% off on all of my workshops. This offer is good until Midnight Oct 17th.

Just click to purchase the workshop of your choice and then apply the code 15%OFF in the space provided.

I hope you have great fun. Thanks again and be sure to share the discount with your friends

Click here to go to my Weed Pots workshop.

 

 

Cane Mapping, Workshops

OK Poly-Clay Twisters Retreat 2018

Tom Gibson

I have to tell you, there are some talented clayers in Oklaloma and in Kansas.

The following pictures are by students in my cane mapping workshop at the Oklahoma Poly-clay Twister Retreat. Thank so much for inviting me to be your guest artist.

The first one is by the guild’s president Tom Gibson. The names of the rest will be listed if I have them. Some pictures were taken without names.

As you can see Many people did different designs and put their on own stamp on the technique. What a great compliment, exactly what I hope for each time I teach.

There is an interesting post from Sage Bray of The Polymer Arts using Katie Way’s piece. The piece is looking at the ongoing discussion about using the instructors technique but making it you own. Katie’s business is Bullseye Studio

Chris Crossland

Patti Soliman

Llinda Bowers

Linda Bower

Patty Minton Welch

Laura Clarkson

Katie Way

Cheryl Reich

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.

 

Faces, Workshops

Two Dates for my Santa Ornament Workshops.

 

Download workshop application here

Santa Ornaments Workshop


one day workshops
Nov. 10, 2017

$85
10am – 4:30pm

Nov. 11, 2017

$85
10am – 4:30pm

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.

We’ll have enough time to make two ornaments.