Mokume-Gane

Materials:

FimoSoft clay
  - black
  - translucent
various colors of Genesis Artist Colors - heat-set artist oils
paint brush
Nublade Kato clay tool
pasta machine
texturing tools
  - plastic core from roll of tape
  - blunt end of a ripple blade
  - end of a paintbrush handle
rubbing alchohol for clean up
metal leaf
acrylic rod
Buna N Cord and bamboo skewer of the same diameter
cyanoacrylate glue

Steps:

1. Condition the polymer clay by hand-kneading it or running it through a pasta machine until it is soft and pliable.

2. Roll a sheet of translucent clay through the thinnest setting of a pasta machine. Trim the edges.

2. Using a paint brush, dab various color of paint onto the clay sheet, leaving space between each color (figure A).

3. Using your fingers, dab and spread the paint over the clay (figure B).

4. Place a metal leaf on the paint.

5. Cut the sheet in half and place one half on top of the other. Repeat two more times to make an eight-layer slab of clay (figure C).

6. Roll a thin sheet of translucent clay and cover the top of the slab. Stretch the clay around the sides and tuck the edges under the bottom of the slab.

7. Using preferred texture tools, impress deeply into the slab (figures D and E).

8. Compress the slab with fingers, then roll the top with an acrylic rod to smooth.

9. Using the Nublade Kato, cut thin slices from the top of the slab (figure F).

10. Roll a black ball of clay one inch in diameter. Form a tear drop shape with the ball of clay (figure G).

11. Slightly flatten the sides of the the tear drop (figure H) by placing it between your palms and pressing palms together gently.

12. Refine the edges by pinching and moving fingers around the entire edge.

13. Form the tear drop to make a heart shape by pressing the end of a paint brush into the round end of the tear drop to create two lobes of the heart (figure I ).

14. Cut slices from the clay slab from step 6. Press a slice onto the clay heart (figure J). Using an acrylic rod, roll the slice into the heart surface. Continue to apply slices of clay in this manner.

15. When the heart is covered, poke two holes in the top of the pendant with a bamboo skewer (figure K). Bake in an oven at 265 degrees for 45 minutes.

16. When cool, string the Buna N Cord through the holes and glue.