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The POLYMER CLAY millefiori
cane beads on
this page are hand-shaped and finished, in a process that takes
a minimum of two days to complete. Most of the complex designs here
involve several layers of cane, of which I generally form a sheet
and apply in strips to raw clay base beads. The beads are then shaped,
pierced, heat-cured,
sanded, buffed,
sealed with a clear
acrylic finish to preserve their gloss, and buffed
again to bring out the depth of the design. (You can click the
process words to see what that stage looks like.) Many of the images
can be clicked for an enlarged view.
Unless otherwise
noted, bead holes are small, like those in gemstone beads, as the
beads are finished on a 24-gauge (= 1/50") mandrel.
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| (last updated Jamuary 2006) |
INSPIRED
BY IMARI. Man, I spent weeks planning these beads, and hours making
them. They are inspired by Japanese Imari ware (gilded porcelain usually
in intense hues of red and blue). After they were cured, I remembered
that I needed bigger holes than I usually make in the beads. So pretty,
but unsuitable for my purposes. Perfectly round 13mm beads, with holes
comparable to the holes in gemstone beads. $20, including ivory glass
spacers. Larger image. |
PURPLE SHELL.
Three 7mm x 25mm tube beads. These pearly beads will go great
with shell heishi. $5.
Larger image.
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BLUE RIBBON
BEADS. A twisting blue ribbon overlays an intricate pattern of
black on white. Focal is 12mm x 21mm, tubes are 8mm x 15mm. $12.
Black glass spacers included.
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BLACK LACE
GOLD focal, silky smooth and 10mm x 30 mm. $7. Another
view
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SUPPORTING
CAST Three 5mm x 22mm tubes and two 8mm x 12mm barrels. $10.
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RAINFOREST
focal. Tapered oval focal (12mm x 25mm) with the colors, depth,
and darkness of the Amazon rainforest, with an overlay of ivory
and gold (2 views here), $5.
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Always
available:
CALLA LILIES, only $10 a pair. Shown above in ivory pearl, 25mm
x 30mm. Six more sets...
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LACQUER LOOK.
A dozen beads that remind me of antique Chinese lacquer work.
Twelve black glitter and lacquer red barrels, 4-6 x 7-15mm, with
matte black glass spacers.Detail...
$12.
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Gasp!
CLASPS! Bayonet clasps in every color of the rainbow,
and then some. Easy to open, click closed, 10mm. Just $4 each.
Available in both goldplated and silverplated. More
clasps...
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PATCHWORK
KIMONO bead. Don't the black and white and red, laced with silver
and gold remind you of Japanese kimono silks? One long focal bead
(2 views here), 12mm x 44mm. $7.
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BLACK &
WHITE.Seven embroidery-look barrel beads (6mm x 15mm) and two
smaller beads, with eight red glass spacers nicely complement
the patchwork kimono focal. $10.
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MARIPOSITE.
Detail A
few years ago I saw a ring set with a not very precious stone
called mariposite, and I haven't been able to get it out of my
mind. I'm very pleased with this interpretation of it, but I've
had a heck of a time photographing it. Focal 11mm x 17mm, accents
9mm x 13mm (2) and 5mm (6). $18. Frosted glass spacers included.
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MORE
MARIPOSITE. Two very round 8mm beads. Exotic swirls of misty teal
and blue, with and a whole handful of accents. $4.
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HOMAGE
TO SEGUY. E. A. Seguy was a textile designer from the early part of
the 20th century, and his Art Nouveau designs have the most wonderful
combinations of colors. (Would you have thought of orange-purple-ivory-gold
on your own?) Two 8mm rounds, and three ovals, with ivory glass spacer
beads. Larger image. $10 |
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NOUVEAU AGAIN.
Another bead set inspired by a Seguy pattern. (Yes, he used colors
other than orange--but it really grabs my attention, I guess.
Stay tuned for burgundies, lavenders, blue-greens, and I don't
know what all.) Focal 10mm x 18mm, accents 5mm x 22mm (2) and
7mm (2). $10, including frosted glass spacers. Detail
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AND NOW FOR
SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Not Seguy. I've been drooling
over Susan Burwash's beads in southwest colors for a couple of
years now, and I'm beginning to play with them myself. Detail
A baker's dozen of glass-smooth 10mm beads in red-orange, yellow
orange, and Sleeping Beauty turquoise blue on white and black
swirls. $25, including 12 black matte polymer clay spacers.
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IRIDESCENT
JADE puzzle focal. Three pieces of iridescent green polymer clay
with charlottes plated in 24k gold, on gold-filled wire, 20mm
x 42mm. $5.
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GREEN. An
octet of silky, glittery jade green 6.5mm rounds. $8.
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ORCHID BARRELS.
Six barrels (15mm x 8mm and 20mm x 7mm) with orchid glass spacers.
Silky smooth, in colors of spring. Detail.
$12.
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FLORENTINE MAGIC.
The layers of color have made this set another one that's been very
difficult to photograph.
$12. Focal 20mm diameter, accents 7mm x 12mm (2) and 9mm diameter.
Detail
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NEW
MEXICO. Hot, hot coral, and sky blue turquoise, with lots of composition
silver leaf on a core of gold. Lentil is 20mm across. With four glass
spacers, $10. |
BLUE
RIBBON BICONES. Two ivory bicones entwined in swirls of blue ribbon,
and dusted with antique gold, 10mm x 12mm. With two genuine iolite
buttons, $5. |
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| PASTEL
ORCHID PILLOWS. Little pillows (just 11mm square) of translucent orchid
and pale greens, on a golden base, with splashes of gold composition
leaf. With four ivory glass spacers, $5. |
KIMONO
PATCHWORK II. Like the red lacquer beads above, but with pearly pink
satin swatches. Seven 9mm x 13mm beads, with matte black glass spacers,
$14. |
HOLIDAY
DONUT. Pine needle green and velvet ribbon red cover this large (33mm),
flat donut. It has a metal core, so it has the heft of the stone.
A unique piece! $4. |
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| WITCH HAZEL. Not
an evil old woman, witch hazel is a shrub which has spider-chrysanthemum-like
yellow flowers around the winter solstice. These maroon and golden
yellow beads have just a hint of glitter from composition silver leaf.
This set was inspired by a photo in the newspaper, taken near sunset.
Eight 10mm rounds, plus 12mm x 15mm focal, with matte black glass
spacers. $15. These
deserve a closer look! |
CANDY!
I can almost taste these beads--strawberry, raspberry, lemon and lime.
Four slick tapered tubes, 7mm x 20mm, with glass spacers. $8. |
HOLIDAY
LENTIL SET. Don't they look like pine needles and red velvet ribbon?
Take a closer look...
Lentil is 15mm. With red glass spacers, $10. (Not to worry, that gray
spot is just a reflection from the photo lights.) |
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WITCH HAZEL. Two very glittery 10mm lentils, with matte black glass
spacers, $4. |
ORCHID! Above:
Tropical orchid, violet, pink, and Caribbean green focal ovals,
with composition leaf. Largest is 12mm x 23mm. $7, includes matte
black glass spacers. Close-up
Below: Translucent
orchid and pale greens, on a white core. Two 13mm lentils, two 8mm
x 10mm barrel beads. $8, including violet glass spacers. Enlarged
view.
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PASTEL
ORCHID HEART. Translucent orchid and pale greens, on a silvery core,
With an embedded Sterling silver anchor for your bail, this heart
is 20mm across. $5. |
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| HEART
OF THE FOREST BEADS. Three beads, with mysterious depth. Focal is
19mm x 9.5mm, accents are 12mm x 8mm. $7. |
FLORENTINE
MARBLE. Shades of salmon, magenta, burgundy, white and blue-green,
marbled like Florentine paper, 20mm x 11mm, $5. |
Two
little beads (12mm x 8mm) of ivory, turquoise, and raw umber, with
glittery silver composition leaf. Just $4. |
