Making A Leaf Cane
written by: Valerie Hollis Without Frames
Step
1
To make a Leaf Cane, begin with a Bull's Eye Plug. To find out how I made this Bull's Eye Plug, please see "How To Make A Bull's Eye Plug."
Step
2
Compress and squeeze the plug a little bit to remove any air pockets.
Step
3
Then roll it on the work surface a bit to even it out.
Step
4
This plug is a bit narrow, so I'm going to widen it by compressing it on my work surface.
Step
5
It should look something like this. The shorter and fatter it is, the easier it will be to make the cuts in the next step. However, don't make it too short, or it will be difficult to reduce later on.
Step
6
Make 3 parallel cuts straight down through the log.
Step
7
Separate the pieces from each other but keep them in order.
Roll out a sheet of clay in a contrasting color on a medium setting on the pasta machine (#3 on an Atlas).
Note: The thickness of the veins will depend upon the size of the cane. If you're making a very large cane, roll the sheet out on a thicker setting. If you're making a small cane, roll it out on a thinner setting.
Step
8
Pick up one of the slices from the log and lay it onto the sheet. Cut the sheet around the slice to create a piece of clay that is the same length and width as the cut-side of the slice.
Step
9
Do this with each section successively.
Step
10
Once finished, 'sandwich' the log together so that it looks like this.
Step
11
Make a diagonal cut straight down through the log as shown in this picture.
Step
12
Once cut, there should be two halves that look like this.
Step
13
Lay one of the halves on the sheet and repeat Step 8 (-cut the sheet around the half, creating a layer of contrasting clay).
Step
14 (optional)
Add an element of interest that will create the illusion of a 'stem' in the leaf. In this case, I've added a Bull's Eye Plug of coordinating color that I've flattened by rolling it through a thin setting on the pasta machine (#5 on an Atlas). You could also add a short sheet of a solid, contrasting color to create a similar effect.
Step
15
Now place another layer of clay on it that has been cut shorter than the layer that is sticking to the half. This will give the stem the illusion of being thick on the bottom and thin on the top.
Step
16
Place the halves next to each other. If they look like this . . .
Step
17
Flip one of the halves from bottom-to-top so that it looks like this. (...indeed, a magical moment!)
Step
18
Squeeze this in your hand lightly to ensure that all of the elements line-up and are sticking to one another.
Step
19
Take the scrap pieces that were created while making the veins and roll them out on a thin setting on the pasta machine (#5 on an Atlas). This will create an outline around the leaf.
Step
20
Roll the leaf up and trim the sheet so that the edges meet.
Step
21
Smooth the seam by running your fingers over it.
Step
22
It should look something like this.
Step
23
Begin reducing the cane into a round log by compressing it in your hand.
Step
24
Continue reducing from the center outwards.
Step
25
Continue reducing, being careful not to allow the middle to become too skinny.
Step
26
Once you've reduced it to the desired length, roll it on your work surface to smooth and even it out.
Step
27
Cut the end.
Step
28
It should look like this.
Note: I usually reduce Leaf Canes to about 1 inch in diameter. Then I cut, reduce, and shape subsequent portions on an as-needed basis.
Step
29
Here is a picture of a portion that I've cut from the original cane and reduced further.
Step
30
Pinch along the top of the cane to form a leaf shape.
Step
31
Here is a picture of my ready-to-use leaf canes.
Leaf Canes are fun and can be used in so many ways! One of the easiest ways to use slices from a Leaf Cane is in a raised design.
In the following picture, I've arranged some of the slices from this Leaf Cane to form an interesting pattern:
And below are some examples of other Leaf Canes that I've made:
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© 2004-2007 Valerie Hollis - All rights reserved.
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