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· Millefiori Cane Necklace |
From "Jewelry Making" |
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Millefiori -- meaning "thousand flowers" in Italian
-- is a age-old tradition in which artisans create
kaleidoscopic glass beads. Here, Christine Brashers
adapts the technique for working with polymer clay. Materials: 1/2 block of polymer
clay, 2 colors for the petals |
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1. Condition 1/2
blocks of polymer in the two colors of your choice to create a Skinner blend.
Next, run the Skinner blend through the pasta machine until blended, about 15
times. After the last pass, fold the Skinner blend in half and guide through
the pasta machine, leading with the light edge forward and the dark edge on
top. Fold in half length-wise and repeat. This will give you a long, thin
Skinner blend (figure A). |
figure A |
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2. Fan-fold the
Skinner blend to create a color-graduated block (figure B). 3. Condition a
quarter-block of a darker color for an outline and put through the thinnest,
manageable setting on the pasta machine. 4. Cut the graduated
color block three times. Insert the outline color, starting at the dark end,
but not continuing all the way to the light end. Reassemble. 5. Roll the block
until it becomes round, then wrap 3/4 of the way around with outline color,
leaving the dark side uncovered. 6. Pull the cane out
to about 18", keeping it petal shaped, with the point being at the dark end.
7. Cut into six 3'
pieces. Gently assemble it into a 6-petaled flower. Look at center of flower
and determine how much clay you will need. 8. Create a cane for
the center of the flower. In this example, a spiral cane was created by
laying a thin sheet of a darker clay on top of a
thicker sheet of light colored clay, rolling it into a spiral, then rolling
again to achieve the correct size (figure C). |
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9. Position the center
and reassemble the flower around it (figure D). Gently pull the cane
to about 8". 10. Cut three thin
pieces and two thick pieces. Put holes through the thick slices. Lay the thin
slices on a thick sheet of clay. Trim away the excess with a craft knife,
poke holes in the two end slices and place all pieces on a parchment paper
sheet placed atop a cookie sheet. 11. Bake according to
manufacturer's instructions. 12. When pieces have
cooled, put two large jump rings in the ends of the centerpiece. Using crimps
and beading wire, attach about 12" to each side. String each side with
any beads you find pleasing, along with the two thick slices, one on each
side. Attach a clasp and ring, using crimps. GUESTS: |
RESOURCES: Polymer
Clay Extravaganza
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