Monday, November 23, 2009

Kaleidoscope Cane Extravaganza--Thank you, Sarah Shriver!












I am so grateful to Sarah Shriver for her wonderful instructional dvd
on her very complicated and intricate technique for designing kaleidoscope canes in polymer clay. She has really saved a lot of people a lot of time and frustration by making this information available in such an entertaining and easy to follow format.
This is not to say that I had perfect success with my first attempt at creating one of these canes! My first cane was far from perfect--I left out the very important dark strip of clay that creates the illusion of the cane weaving over and under itself. Even though I left out this very important step, I still came out with some very interesting and attractive pieces in gold and violet. The other difference in my canes was due to my choice of materials. Sarah uses Fimo. I decided to use Premo and I also added in equal portions of pearl and translucent clay because I like the depth and the glasslike qualities that these additions impart to the clay.
I went back and reviewed Sarah's instructions after this first attempt so that I could see where I had failed to follow her instructions. Once I understood the process a little better, I tried again. This time I made blue and pale gold canes and these were much closer to Sarah's instructions. The canes made some beautiful Christmas ornaments and a bangle bracelet. My third attempt was in red and gold. I wanted to mix up a Christmas red for the holiday season. I believe I came close, although there is not as much value contrast in this third cane due to the tendency of the red clay to bleed into the other adjacent clay. This third batch of canes made some very nice earrings, bangle bracelets, and rings.
There will be a second installment of this blog after I watch Sarah's instructions once more on the even more complicated canes that can be derived from this process which in Sarah's words, paraphrased are "infinite and limitless."
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The Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy is having a Black Friday - Cyber Monday SALE November 27 through November 30. To see which members are participating, go to http://www.etsy.com/ and search "PCAGOE BFCM".
I WILL BE OFFERING 20% OFF EVERY ITEM IN MY SHOP DURING THIS SALE!!! (Custom orders not included). The 20% discount will come back to you as a Paypal refund.
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And there's more!!!
Amazing PCAGOE HOLIDAY STOCKING GIVEAWAY!!!!
Every item purchased between Thanksgiving Day November 26 and midnight Eastern US time on Dec. 12 qualifies you for a chance to win a fabulous holiday stocking filled with handmade polymer clay items created by our member artists.
There are 3 Wonderful stockings each stuffed full of gorgeous polymer clay creations plus . . .
the grand prize stocking includes a $75 gift certificate, the 2nd place a $50 gift certificate, and
the third place stocking a $25 gift certificate.
The gift certificates are valid in any participating member's shop.
***Every item purchased = 1 chance to win a prize.
Participating shops include
KellyPlaysClay.etsy.com=====LaurelSteven.etsy.com
11BoldStreet.etsy.com======PolymerClayCreations.etsy.com
CreativeWriting.etsy.com====MarciaPalmer.etsy.com
BeeTreeByMe.etsy.com=====TheColorofDreams.etsy.com
Bleekreations.etsy.com======RiverValleyDesign.etsy.com
Juliespace.etsy.com========Peggers.etsy.com
MichelesArtJewelry.etsy.com=====AlisonEKurek.etsy.com
SCDiva.etsy.com==============NKDesigns.etsy.com
CreativeArtCenter.etsy.com======AshPaints.etsy.com
WonderfulWire.etsy.com========IlysaArt.etsy.com
Stonebrash.etsy.com===========Summergirl138.etsy.com
BarbiesBest.etsy.com===========GoodspeedEmpire.etsy.com
MarcymPC.etsy.com============LJeans.etsy.com
Jencom72.etsy.com=============SilverGate.etsy.com
RozPetalzStudio.etsy.com=========FungibleElements.etsy.com
Miramecreations.etsy.com=========Elpasoclaynation.etsy.com
Clayhappy.etsy.com==============Claycenter.etsy.com
Phoenixrose.etsy.com=============JKollmann.etsy.com
Blessedbeadjewelry.etsy.com



















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