Project designed by Emi Fukushima.
Materials:
Fimo Soft polymer clay:
- four 2 oz. black blocks
- three 2 oz. white blocks
bamboo twig
pasta machine
clay blade
craft knife
acrylic or glass roller
Steps:
1. Condition clay by running it through the thickest setting (#1) on the pasta machine to achieve an 1/8-inch thickness.
2. To make the teapot: Cut the clay in a 5" x 5" angular shape. Pinch the three sides together and trap air inside (figure A).
3. Bake in an oven for 15 minutes at 265 degrees. Take clay out of the oven; while it's still warm, cut around the top of the vessel with a craft knife in a 45-degree angle. This is the lid.
4. Trim off the excess clay at the tip of the vessel or at the seams (figure B).
5. With unbaked scrap clay, attach the bamboo twig on the lid.
6. Make three tiny balls measuring 1/2 inch in diameter with unbaked scrap clay for the feet of the teapot.
7. Make a snake of clay and cut into the shape of a handle and a spout. If the unbaked clay does not adhere to the baked clay, add some glue.
Flower Cane From Jellyroll Cane
1. Condition one block of each color. Put it through the thickest setting (#1) on the pasta machine.
2. Cut each into a 4-inch square.
3. Stack the white clay on top of the black clay. Trim off one end in an angle . Roll from the angle end with black clay on the outside and white inside to create the jellyroll (figure C).
4. Stretch to about 12 inches in length and cut into three equal pieces. Save one for the center and cut the other two pieces in half lengthwise.
5. Use the four cut halves as petals with the whole jellyroll as the flower center to form the flower (figure D).
6. Press together and stretch to desired size.
Multiple Flower Cane
1. Make a flower cane as above. Stretch to about 12 inches in length and cut into four equal pieces.
2. Stack two pieces on top of the remaining two.
3. Reduce by rolling one side with a roller, turning a quarter of a turn, rolling the next side, etc., to desired size (figure E).
Teapot Assembly
1. Slice the flower cane and add to the top of the lid.
2. Slice the multiple flower cane and add to the belly of the teapot.
3. Add a black snake around the top of the teapot (figure F).
4. Add the handle and spout to the teapot (figure G).
5. Bake in a 265-degree oven for 30 to 60 minutes.
Note: If unbaked clay does not stick to baked clay, use glue or liquid polymer .
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