This Is Not A Turtle Tutorial.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 November 2011 08:27 Written by Start's Arts Thursday, 17 November 2011 08:12
A Simple Polymer Cane With Reductions
By Beverley Start, Polymer clay artist
October 30, 2011
What is a polymer cane? I get that question a lot, so I decided to make a short video demonstrating how a polymer cane is made from beginning to end right before your eyes!. I had to speed it up so that it would fit in the allotted time but I think you’ll get the idea.
OK grab your clay and get ready for a bit of inspiration! Please enjoy this free simple turtle cane video which hopefully will give you a better idea of what it is that I do here at Start’s Arts.
After the video I hope that all you cane-curious folks give polymer caning a try! Thanks for watching…
Just click on the link below to watch this tutorial, you might have to click it twice 
This is not a turtle tutorial.
Beverley Start
startsarts@gmail.com
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What Are Polymer Canes? How Are They Made?
Last Updated on Tuesday, 18 October 2011 12:50 Written by Start's Arts Tuesday, 18 October 2011 12:50
What are polymer canes? How are they made?
By Beverley Start, Polymer Clay Artist
October 14 2011
Like tubes of cookie dough with pictures in them that you can slice up into a dozen identical treats, polymer canes also have pictures or patterns running through their entire length, only they’re made from clay.
Click here for example one and here for example two.
Detailed images, simple geometric patterns, or anything in between can be designed and created. One of the most magical things to me about polymer cane art is that when the cane begins it is quite large to create the detail but once complete it may be reduced in size. This is quite remarkable because the reduction of the cane reduces the image it holds as well.
Stay tuned for more information on polymer clay and canes.
Hold On, Don’t Scrap It Yet!
Last Updated on Wednesday, 5 October 2011 02:34 Written by Start's Arts Thursday, 6 October 2011 02:34
Hold On, Don’t Scrap It Yet!
By Beverley Start, Polymer Clay Artist
October 5 2011
Sometimes I’ll be in the middle of a project and look up to see that my usable clay pile has been gobbled up by my scrap clay pile. With a little creativity and a lot of nece$$ity I found a few solutions. Here are a few of my ideas on how to turn scrap back into usable clay.
- Roll it out and use it! – Scrap from any project can be turned into a brand new masterpiece just by putting it through the pasta machine a few times making sure to keep the lines of color in the same direction every time. What this will give you is a beautifully colored striped sheet of clay that can then be cookie cutter-ed, sliced, rolled, or molded in to new pieces. Check out some examples here.
- Make grey. – Hunks of all-colored clay can be run through the pasta maker or food processor until it becomes a uniform shade of grey. Use it to make a sculpture which can then be cured and painted. Click here for an example.
- Make black. – Old or leftover clay can be blended using powered black pigment (purchased from any craft store) and clay softener in a food processor. I just put little bits of each in until it’s the consistency and shade I need.
- Use it as filler. – When making something that requires strength try using some old clay as filler. For example if I were making a picture frame I might make it from filler clay and then cover it with decorative clay. No one will see the inside.
- Make tags or gift cards. – Sometimes when I roll a piece of scrap through the pasta maker I notice patches of beautifully swirled color and I’ll cookie cutter it out to use as a tag for a special gift. Click here for examples
I’m sure there are tons more ways to use up left over clay but these five are my staples.
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