Polymer Clay Kaleidoscope Pendant

Materials and Tools:

1 block of each black and white Kato Polyclay*
clay-dedicated pasta machine
Kato Nublade
Kato Marxit
Precise-a-slice slicing tool
acrylic rod
clay-dedicated baking sheet
sterling silver bail – optional
*As with all polymer clay, condition the clay thoroughly by rolling it through the pasta machine or kneading it by hand.

Figure A

Steps:

Three Skinner Blend Jellyroll Canes

1. Roll out four sheets of clay measuring 4" x 5" two black, and two white rolled on the thickest setting of the pasta machine.

2. Stack the sheets. Black is such a powerful color; you need more white to create a nice Skinner Blend. With one end of the blade about 1/2 inch in across the top edge of the sheets and the other about 1/2 inch in across the opposite side bottom edge of the sheets, curve the blade and cut straight down (figure A).

Figure B

3. Stack the black and white cut sheets, placing like colors on top of each other to produce a double thickness of clay. Using the larger white stack and the smaller black stack, reform the rectangle measuring 4" x 5" (figure B).

Figure D

4. Roll these sheets through the pasta machine at the thickest setting, making sure that both colors touch the rollers. Fold the sheet in half, making sure the same colors are touching on each side. Put the clay through the pasta machine fold end first. Repeat folding and rolling through the pasta machine until the sheet is completely blended (figure D).

5. Cut this sheet into thirds lengthwise, so that each section includes a full blend.

Figure E

6. Roll one third, beginning with the white end, into a jellyroll. Note the distinct lines made from the blend. This will be called cane #1(figure E).

Figure F

7. Thin the second third to a medium thin setting on the pasta machine (#3 on an Atlas). Roll out a thin sheet (#6 on an Atlas) of black clay and adhere to the top of this blend. Roll into a jellyroll, beginning with the white end. This will be called cane #2 (figure F).

Figure G

8. Thin the third third to the #6 (very thin) setting on the pasta machine. Roll, beginning with the white end, into a jellyroll. Note there is no distinct line, but merely a blended jellyroll. This will be called cane #3 (figure G).

Figure H

Checkerboard

1. Roll out two sheets of clay measuring 3" x 4" one black, one white rolled on the thickest setting of the pasta machine.

2. Stack sheets and adhere with an acrylic rod. Cut the stack into thirds and stack again rolling between each layer with an acrylic rod (figure H).

Figure J

3. Mark the clay stack with a Marxit using the 3mm side to make equal sized strips (figure J).

Figure L

4. Cut into strips to form the checkerboard. Cut strips with a "Precise-a-Slice" to insure even strips. Rearrange strips alternating black and white at the top to form the checkerboard (figure L).

White Triangle Logs

1. Roll out a snake of white clay 9 inches long and 1/4 inch thick.

2. Pinch into a triangle shape.

Now you have all the basic components to make a beautiful cane. These next few steps can be altered to make very different looking canes.

Figure M

Constructing the Tessellation

1. Cut the checkerboard cane in half diagonally with the mitered side of the Precise-a-Slice tool.

2. Cut cane #1 in half.

3. Cut cane #2 into thirds lengthwise.

4. Cut cane #3 into quarters like a pie (figure M).

Figure N

5. Recombine each of the components filling in, where necessary, with the white snake triangles (figure N). Keep in mind that the resulting cane should be approximately an equilateral (the same length on all sides) triangle.

Figure O

6. Compress the cane to squeeze out any air pockets that may have formed. Pinch each edge that you determine as a corner and press against the table to form the opposite flat side. As you reduce, continue pinching, pressing and gently pulling the cane (figure O).

7. Reduce the cane to a length of 6 inches.

Figure Q

8. Cut the cane into three equal lengths and recombine mirroring each side to form one half of a circle. This is a great place to use a mirror (figure Q) to check and see what the final cane will look like. There are several variations that can be formed just by switching the sides of the triangles that meet to form the circle.

Figure R

9. When you have a cane you are pleased with, cut the half circle in half to form a circle (figure R). Reduce this cane to the desired sized pendant.

10. Cut a slice from the cane.

Figure S

11. Adhere the slice to a circle of base clay; bevel the edges by gently pressing around the outside of the cane. Add a striped sheet of clay as a decorative edging (figure S). Insert a bail if desired and bake per manufacturer's directions.