Thursday, December 16, 2010

Detail Oriented... Moi?!?

OK, maybe I am a Leetle Beet fussy about details - So much so that I forget to look at the bigger picture.



While I was working with my polymer clay this week, I decided to make a kaleidoscope cane. It started with inspiration from Carol Simmons magnificent cane. I really was just going to use a part of that cane design. I started on Sunday, using some elements I already had made. I also made some just for this project. I was completely focused on the individual parts. It grew, and it grew, and it grew... into a monster. I finally finished putting it together today:



"Holy Mother of God! How am I going to reduce this behemoth?" It took me three hours and a lot of muscle, but I got it done.



When Carol Simmons made her cane, she warmed it in the microwave a few times. I didn't want to do that in case the clay sent off fumes. As a result, the interior of the cane reduced at a slower rate as the outside. There was significant waste.



To give my brain, and body, a break, I used the trimmings from this amazing cane to make some mirror image natasha beads. These are tons of fun. Like eating cookies, one is never enough. So, I made A LOT of them. My little army of earrings-to-be:



copyright 2010 Shibori Girl

11 comments:

MÂȘ Reyes said...

es una preciosidad. Besos

Snap said...

wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

muscles!!! :D :D :D

Gabriela said...

Hello Kate,

A master piece! I hope you are feeling better...


~ Gabriela ~

Hazel Ward said...

Oh my!! It's a beautiful cane though, and you'll certainly not run out of it for a long time. A long, long time. *G*

Lynn said...

Holy cow, Kate! I hope you baked a single slice of the unreduced cane. What an amazing thing.

aquarius said...

wow! beautiful Kate , congrats! hope your feeling better! xoxo

Rhonda Roo said...

you're just BRILLIANT. that's all there is to it....i love those beads all lined up...they DO look good enough to eat!!

(but i wont in case it smells up the microwave...)

;)
xoxoxoxoxox

Unknown said...

Kate,
the whole process is amazing! I thought the Christmas tree looking goodie WAS the final project...hahahah

but

well, just unreal how beautifully complex this is!!

wishing you a happy holiday season!
x...x

Chris Maj said...

Good grief, there are hardly words for that kind of exquisite work!

rochambeau said...

Dear Kate,
You are extremely talented with artistic detail. You have a fine eye and can do anything you set your mind to, well.
I appreciate your talent much!!
But you already know that.


Merry Christmas to you and Mussel Man!!!!

xox
Constance

Fete et Fleur said...

WOW! It was huge! You did great as usual. :~)

Happy New Year, dear Kate. I hope your new year is filled with joy!

Nancy