Sunday, February 22, 2009

Making Canes with Polymer Clay

(Polymer Clay Artists of Etsy) PCAGOE's February's Challenge is Canes.

Now, I have been making some pretty simple canes lately for my buttons, and really did not feel that I have been doing it long enough to enter into this particular montly challenge. However, I have really enjoyed learning the different things a person can do to create a cane. So, I have decided to share my journey with you, into the World of Making Canes.

Since I roll the clay out with my rolling pin, I always clean the rolling pin after each colour. As it is a wooden one it tends to have colours stay on the pin and then end up transfering onto the next colour if I did not clean it well after each use. I clean rolling pin with cleansing wipes, and then rub it dry with a white cloth (helps to show if any more colour is still on the pin). I then rub the rolling pin with mineral oil (after it is dry) to help keep the next colour from leaching into the wood. This also helps keep the clay from sticking to the pin.

I tried to do a Skinner Blend, but using only a rolling pin and my hands does not quite work very well for me. I think that if I decide to continue making canes, that I will invest in one of those pasta machines the other artists use.






I also tried my hand at making a little flower. It is a forget-me-not and I have to tell you, it is not easy to make a flower look like a real flower. The artists on Etsy who make flowers are extremely talented! Perhaps after years of practicing I might become half as good. I am not giving up though!





Here are some basic ones, little "window boxes" and other abstract shapes. I think for right now, those are the easiest for me.




These, I am very partial to. There are so many choices as to how I want to cut these when I am ready to use them. I just love the colour shifts!
Today, I tried caning a little glass spice jar. I used these canes in it, and I think it turned out quite well! I still have to sand it through 6 grades of sandpaper (250, 400, 600, 1000, 1500 and 2000) and then varnish it.






So, what do you think? Should I enter it into the PCAGOE Monthly Challenge for February? And, what do you suggest I call it?

6 comments:

  1. I love the blues!!!

    Of course you should enter it! (the vase, right?)
    I actually prefer the pic of it empty.

    Good luck!

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  2. Jewelz,
    These are all really great , yes enter,
    then and whine long and hard to get a pasta machine.

    Promise you'll make homemade noodles every night.

    Adornyourself

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  3. Jewelz, I love all your polymer clay works. You've done really well with your learning curve. Yes, enter the pink vase. And I'm with Emm that the empty vase pic is #1. However, I'm still in the dark as to what exactly "caning" is.

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  4. That red and black bead is fabulous!

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  5. I think the vase is really lovely - and yes you should definitely enter!! I agree that the picture of it empty is the best one. I love the colours you have used and I think your forgetmenot is beautiful!

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  6. Thank you All for such lovely compliments!

    I think I will enter the Vase into the challenge :)

    I will answer your question about what exactly caning is in my next blog post, Ux!

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