Loving the Polymer Clay

Well, it has been some time since my last post. I have organized all my beading supplies for future use, and focused on Polymer Clay Canes. Canes are created by taking similar lengths of clay in different shapes and colors and combining them into a "log" to form a picture or pattern. This picture or pattern runs through the length of the log, but can only be seen at each end. You can then make slices through the cane resulting in many copies of the same image. Depending on the type of picture/pattern you are trying to achieve, the beginning diameter of a cane can rage from a dinner plate down to a quarter. The larger diameter, the more the cane will probably need to be reduced, which results in a longer cane with a smaller diameter. Some great resources for polymer clay canes, and polymer clay in general are http://www.glassattic.com/ and http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/ .When working with larger canes, it is recommended to let the newly formed cane "sit" for a day or at least several hours before reducing. The reason for this is the clay in the center is usually not as malleable as the clay on the outer edges that has been in recent contact with your warm hands. To reduce a cane effectively, the clay should be the same malleability throughout.

Now I'm known to be a bit hurried when trying something new, so of course I did not wait as reccommended, and my first few canes were not even worthy of a picture. I am very proud though, of my first "person" cane. I am a huge fan of mermaids, fairies and just about anything fantasy - so my first person cane was a mermaid. First I made a face cane (which I did not photograph the process and am continually kicking myself for). With the face as I reduced it, I would cut a section of the log and set aside so I ended up with several different sizes of a face log. I then made a mermaid tail log, and reduced it down to the size I wanted. From there I added hair, arms, body, neck etc. I then took all of my preivous failures and combined together and ended up with the color of clay surrounding the mermaid. (Never have to waste any clay!) I took pictures of the original cane, and one of my end canes, next to the telephone so you could get an idea of size. I ended up with about 1 1/2 feet of mermaid cane in various diameters. I then used the same face and made a fairy. I have taken slices of the canes, and ran them through a pasta machine (dedicated to polymer clay - not food) and then applied them to glass vases.

I also tried a couple of dragonfly canes. I have mixed some translucent clay, with some of the colors in the dragonflies, and if you insert a candle, then the dragonflies glow.

I'm hoping to document my next cane and go step by step on my blog.

Thanks for reading!

Cass