Tokens ~ Education ~ What Else To Do With Skinner Blends: Part V

What Else To Do With Skinner Blends

Part V: Creating the Holographic Weave

Step 73

I've taken the 2 canes and reduced portions of them into usable sizes. The smallest ones have been reduced to about 1/4 inch in size and these are the ones I'll be using to make a bead.

Step 74

Remember all of the scraps we created while making the canes?

Choose from those scraps to create a base bead that is about 1 inch in diameter.

Step 75

Thoroughly condition the scrap clay and roll it into a ball.

Step 76

Begin cutting even slices from the rectangular Ikat cane.

Step 77

I've cut approximately 2 dozen slices, which should be more than enough for this application.

Step 78

Begin applying those slices to the base bead following the pattern shown in the picture. (Hint: Whenever you're creating a pattern with component caning, pick your slices up the same way and lay them on the bead the same way each time. This will give your pattern symmetry...even if the slices themselves are slightly asymmetrical in design.)

Step 79

Continue placing the slices around the bead until the last meet with the first. If you're lucky, they'll come together perfectly. In all likelihood, though, you may have to adjust them a bit until they fit like a puzzle.

Step 80

Now cut a 1-2 inch section from the round Ikat cane. Pinch along the black side to form a teardrop\leaf shape. Then slice it.

Step 81

Apply those slices around one of the open ends of the bead, where the base clay is still showing. I'm placing the wider, gray sides into the triangular gaps created by the rectangular slices.

Step 82

Try to line up all the edges and push the black tips down so that they meet concentrically in the middle.

Step 83

Repeat Steps 80 - 82 for the other side. Except, this time, pinch along the gray side of the cane to form the teardrop/leaf shape.

Step 84

Once all of the slices are covering the bead like a puzzle, seam all of the edges. For a more detailed explanation of covering and seaming a bead, please see How to Make a Bead in 85 Easy Steps.

Step 85

After seaming the bead, study it to determine how you would like it to look and what shape you would like it to be.

Step 86

This is how I chose to shape mine. Here's a view of one side...

Step 87

...And here's a view of the other side.

Hmmmm...now where to place the hole?

Step 88

Once you've predrilled the hole and smoothed as many fingerprints away as possible, place it on a sheet of paper on a ceramic tile. Then bake the bead according to the manufacture's instructions (I baked this bead at 275 degrees for approximately 40 minutes).

Step 89

When the bead is baked, determine how you would like its finished appearance to be. This particular design can be very dramatic, even with a matte finish; however, I chose to wet-sand mine through 7 grits of sandpaper and buff it with a soft cloth. To really bring out the depth and produce a glassy shine, you might elect to seal the bead with a polymer-friendly sealant such as Future Floor Polish or Flecto Varathane.

Step 90

Here is a picture of my finished bead!

Here are some examples of other ways I've used these canes:

Here are some examples of other things I've created using Ikat canes in a Holographic Weave pattern:

Thank you for your interest!

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email Valerie at tokensbeads@hotmail.com

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