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Joan Croyder | profile | all galleries >> My "Stuff" (((yard, dogs, swaps, how-tos))) >> How To Galleries >> Caning How-To ... Shaded Bullseye tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Caning How-To ... Shaded Bullseye

In this gallery I'm going to show you how to make a skinner blend...
and manipulate it into a shaded bullseye cane.

This is only a photo site so I can't set up a "page" per se...
but I hope you can see what you need to in the thumbnails.
If you need to see a larger picture just click on the thumbnail &
use your back button to return to this page.
Choose two colors & run out a sheet of both. I make them as wide as my machine will let me. Trim the top & bottom of each so they're even.

Choose two colors & run out a sheet of both. I make them as wide as my machine will let me. Trim the top & bottom of each so they're even.

 Cut each sheet, diagonally, from corner to corner.

Cut each sheet, diagonally, from corner to corner.

 Stack the diagonal slices, of the same color, on top of themselves.

Stack the diagonal slices, of the same color, on top of themselves.

 Butt the two stacks up to each other... but OFFSET them. This will make sure you get the true saturated colors on the ends. Then trim off the little pieces that hang off the end on either side.

Butt the two stacks up to each other... but OFFSET them. This will make sure you get the true saturated colors on the ends. Then trim off the little pieces that hang off the end on either side.
Cut the ends off, if you need to, to make it fit the width of your pasta machine.

Cut the ends off, if you need to, to make it fit the width of your pasta machine.

 This is optional. I added a little wedge of white at the light end because I thought it would brighten up the cane and give it more punch.

This is optional. I added a little wedge of white at the light end because I thought it would brighten up the cane and give it more punch.

 After you pat the seams together you'll run it back through the machine, at a #1 setting, again. This will bond your two layers together.

After you pat the seams together you'll run it back through the machine, at a #1 setting, again. This will bond your two layers together.

 Pull it straight out, just as it comes out of your machine...

Pull it straight out, just as it comes out of your machine...
...and let it lay out on your table.

...and let it lay out on your table.

 Take the bottom edge and fold it up to the top.

Take the bottom edge and fold it up to the top.

 Run it BACK through the machine fold side DOWN.

Run it BACK through the machine fold side DOWN.

 You'll repeat the steps of folding it bottom to top and running it through the machine, fold first, over & over till you have a smooth blend. This is how it looks after only a couple of passes.

You'll repeat the steps of folding it bottom to top and running it through the machine, fold first, over & over till you have a smooth blend. This is how it looks after only a couple of passes.
This is how it looks after a few more... still a bit streaky, but you can see the blend starting to happen.
This is how it looks after a few more... still a bit streaky, but you can see the blend starting to happen.		 After 20 - 30 passes you'll have a nice smooth graduated blend.
After 20 - 30 passes you'll have a nice smooth graduated blend.		 Okay...now that you've got a satisfactory blend, you'll fold your clay bottom to top one last time and run it through the machine again. Only THIS time... you'll RUN THE FOLD ALONG THE SIDE!

Okay...now that you've got a satisfactory blend, you'll fold your clay bottom to top one last time and run it through the machine again. Only THIS time... you'll RUN THE FOLD ALONG THE SIDE!

 That will give you a longer skinnier piece.
That will give you a longer skinnier piece.
Fold it half again... long ways... light to light - dark to dark...
Fold it half again... long ways... light to light - dark to dark...		 ...and put it through the machine... again with the fold on the SIDE.
...and put it through the machine... again with the fold on the SIDE.		 This will make it even longer and skinnier!
This will make it even longer and skinnier!		 I then take it through the machine twice more... no folding... at a #3 & a #5. You can stop at three but the longer you make it... the smoother the blend will look in the finished cane.

I then take it through the machine twice more... no folding... at a #3 & a #5. You can stop at three but the longer you make it... the smoother the blend will look in the finished cane.
Start rolling it up.. as tightly as you can. I like to go light to dark... it makes it look glowy like it's lit from within.
Start rolling it up.. as tightly as you can. I like to go light to dark... it makes it look "glowy" like it's lit from within.		 I pat down the rough ends... don't expect the blend to look real smooth yet.
I pat down the rough ends... don't expect the blend to look real smooth yet.		 Once you take a slice you'll see it... and here it is ready to use or embellish further.
Once you take a slice you'll see it... and here it is ready to use or embellish further.

post a comment
Guest 17-Aug-2007 09:26
thanks it's a pretty job
JoAnn 16-Apr-2007 01:20
Thank you so much,I am just learning and your tutorials are great.Thanks again JoAnn
Janet 10-Sep-2006 17:04
Awesome tutorials! Thanks so much. From a beginner. It's really great when people share and help other people learn.
Mary 15-Oct-2003 04:54
I love your tutorials!! They are so well planned out! And the pictures ARE worth a thousand words! This is the first time that I really looked at your site 'in depth' and now I'm more amazed than I was when I just looked at your art...wow!
Mary Mowery/fellow artist (but not in Polymer)
click on thumbnails for full image