Polymer clay canes

I have been asked quite a few times in the last few days exactly what caning is. In terms of polymer clay, it is putting together a block of uncured clay in some kind of a design or pattern that runs throughout the block, and can be cut into slices, then cured.

In most cases, the slices are quite thin, and put on something to decorate it. Such as the little vase I made over the weekend.

A number of polymer clay artists forms their slices into pendants. One can add jump rings to them, pin-backs, bails and other things to make it easier to attach them to jewellry such as necklaces, earrings, keychains and lots more.

Now here are 3 excellent artists on Etsy.com that truly show how beautiful canes can be. This first one is by yonatdascalu who offers an excellent tutorial in how to make a gorgeous Rose Cane. Just look how lifelike and realistic that rose is! A definate must have for those who want to see how to create a gorgeous cane! Just click on the picture and it will take you to the listing and while you are there, be sure to check out her other listings!

This next one is by PolymerClayCreations. I do so love purple! PolymerClayCreations offers many different canes that you can choose from. These are all raw canes, and you can slice them, cure them, and make your own jewelry! Again, just click on the picture to go to this listing, and browse her shop to see all the other amazing canes and awesome creations made by using them!

Now, this third one is truly a work of art. There are numerous little tiny slices of different canes creating this piece. Created by divadea, you simply must go to the actual listing to be able to see it clearly. Simply gorgeous! Can you just imagine how much time it took to apply each individual slice so carefully? Wow!!

If you were to look up try to look up polymer clay cane in Wikipedia you would find it quite difficult to find a definition of the process. So I did a quick search for polymer clay. About half way down the page they put in this information:

"Forming "canes," which are logs of clay with patterns running through their entire length, from which identical slices can be cut and used in various ways. The patterns created in canes can be simple, complex, or anything in between; they may be pictorial or simply geometric. Canes (and therefore their images) can be "reduced" so that they become quite small, and then combined to make multiple images (millefiori)."

To see the entire page, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer_clay I am sure you will find lots of useful and interesting information.

For myself, I recently purchased the book "The Art of Polymer Clay MIllefiori Techniques" written by Donna Kato. It is an excellent book, and very helpful for those who wish to learn more about this particular style of working with clay.

Other books by Donna Kato are "The art of Polymer Clay" and " The Art of Polymer Clay Creative Surface Effects" (another book I have and dying to read). In Fact, Donna Kato has partnered with Van Aken International to produce Kato Polyclay, her own line of products. I do believe I am going to try out Kato Clay very soon!

I highly recommend checking out her website at http://www.donnakato.com/ and check out her exclusive online tutorials at http://www.thedonnakatoshow.com/

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?

Fun Searches on Etsy!

I was up quite early this morning. Not sure why, but it seems the last few years I have been waking up earlier and earlier. Not impressed! As a kid, I could sleep in until noon. Now, I count myself lucky if I can sleep until 6am!

So, rather than just sitting there like a lump, or making lots of noise cleaning up the kitchen, I did a search on Etsy. Just for the fun of it!

If you click on the pictures, it will take you directly to the listings on Etsy.

Enjoy!

More Buttons

Here are some of my latest little buttons.

Kind of hard to choose which ones are my favourites! My son says the ones with the different edges look like peanut butter cups to him. What do you think?