The Next Phase…

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I was intimidated by millefiori canes. They tapped into all my hang-ups about my skills or lack thereof. Millefiori is a technique used in glasswork to produce beautiful decorative patterns in glass. Canes, or rods are put together to create patterns so that when the combined cane is sliced at the end, the cross-section reveals intricate patterns. Polymer clay artists use this technique to create canes which have similar designs running through them. Slice them anywhere and reveal the beauty inside.

Imagine my delight when I found ready-made canes with designs available in craft stores. It felt a bit like cheating but I told everyone who saw the pieces that I had used ready-made canes!  I learned to reduce and slice canes by practicing with these ready-made canes. A friend, who is a doctor, gave me tissue cutting blades for my clay work and I sliced away to create my beads.