Layered Flower Petal Bead Tutorial Cont'd
21. You now have a pattern cane looking like this (pic 14).








22. Pinch white edges together and blue edges together (pic 15) and round
the square edges up.






23. Finish by rolling gently on your work surface to get a nice smooth round
cane. (pic 16)







24. Roll a sheet of silver (thickness #4 on pasta machine) around the cane to
finish. (pic 17)







25. We are now ready to reduce the cane. This is done by squeezing and
pulling and ever so slightly stretching and even pounding in some instances
(like in a very large cane, no pounding required here with this size) Reduce
cane by squeezing all sides at once. Start at the end at the very edge of the
cane. Hold your fingers in this position, see (pic 18) where I have four fingers
squeezing together at once, with equal pressure…then ¼ turn and squeeze
gently on the 'high' spots'…continue this till the whole cane is reduced. DO
take your time, only little squeezes at a time. DON'T roll the cane to reduce
it or else you'll distort it.
26. Make several different sizes, you'll leave a big one of about 2cm in
diameter, then a smaller one of around 1cm, then smaller and smaller, right
down to around 3mm. We'll only need two sizes for this project, the teeniest
and the second teeniest. Pinch the round canes with your index and forefinger
right down the whole length of the cane at the blue coloured side… this
narrows the base of the petal giving it form.

Making the focal beads…
1. To make even sized beads, you'll need to cut squares or circles of uniform
size. I've used kemper cutters but you can use a ruler & a blade if you don't
have any. I've worked out that cutting two of the largest sized circles with my
kemper cutters will make the perfect sized ball of clay to use in my bead
roller. Place ball into the bead roller and slide paddle a few times over the top
till you get a nice oval bead shape
2. Alternatively, use your hands! Place the ball of clay in the small of your
palm and make circular motions. Small circular motions make round bead
shapes. Large circular motions make oval bead shapes.
3. Pop these in the fridge for about an hour before attempting to pierce them
to make your bead holes or else they're likely to distort since the clay is quite
soft at this stage.
4. Pierce the bead with your needle tool or thick sewing needle. Do NOT just
push the needle in. It needs a twisting/drilling motion or else the bead will
distort. Do not go all the way through to the other end but rather about ¾
of the way. Then turn the bead over and pierce from the other direction,
using same drilling/twisting motion. It will meet up with the channel you've
already created and make a perfect holes every time!
5. Cut slices about 1mm thick off the teeniest and the second teeniest sized
canes.
6. While bead sits on needle tool, place large petals on bead first. I used 6 in
this example. I start with the top and bottom petal first, placing them an
equal distance from the tip of the bead as possible. (pic 19) Then place the
middle ones on lightly till you like how they look and then gently roll your
knitting needle over the length of each to secure it to the raw clay base and
smooth out finger prints. (pic 20)
7. Place the six smaller petals over the 'lines' where the larger ones meet to
give it a nice symmetry. Roll your knitting needle over these too. (pic 21)
8. Take a little ball of blue clay and pop it in the centre of the flower to
finish. (pic 22)
9. Lay beads on a baking tray filled with two layers of quilt batting.
Alternatively, concertina some thick paper and place beads in channels. Or
another way to bake them is on very fine stainless steel knitting needles
secured on an aluminium baking tray. Do not bake the beads directly on a tile
because it will create a flat spot.
10. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 130 degrees C (275 degrees Fahrenheit)…or
as per manufacturers directions on the pack… for ½ an hour. Please note. A
lot of oven temperatures are WAY out so you'll do well to get an oven
thermometer to check your temperatures. Even a few degrees out either way
can have drastic consequences…it can burn your beads or undercook them and
make them weak.


Making the tiny bud beads

1. Using the same uniform size (I used the smallest round kemper cutter but
you could use a small straw) cut tiny pieces and roll them into little balls.
(pic 23)
2. Pop these in the fridge to harden up.
3. Pierce holes in them with your needle tool. (pic 24)
4. You need to bake these prior to adding cane slices because it will distort the
bead if you don't. Bake them on quilt batting in a baking tray for ½ hour as
per manufacturers directions.
5. Cut tiny slices, around 1mm, of the teeniest cane (around 3-4mm
diameter).
6. Place a baked bead on the tip of your needle tool for easier handling.
7. Place the three cane slices on the bead, making adjustments by squeezing
the cane slices slightly if need be so that they all fit snugly without
overlapping. (pic 25)
8. Roll the knitting needle over the bead to adhere it firmly to the base bead
and smooth out finger prints. (pic 26)
9. Pop them on the quilt batting in the baking tray and bake again for ½
hour at manufacturers directions.
10. Lightly sand the bead with 400, then 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper in a
basin of water with a drop of detergent. Wash with clean water and dry
thoroughly. Add a drop of Armor All upholstery conditioner and smooth this
into the bead for a light shine or alternatively, polish with a buffer or a piece
of denim.

I find using good quality findings and beads with polymer clay really adds to
the quality of a piece. Here I've used sterling silver clasps, wire and earring
hooks, pewter spacers, freshwater pearls and swarovski crystals, to attract and
delight the eye and compliment the polymer beads.

Have fun! If you need any assistance or want to share your caning story,
please feel free to contact me...check home page for contact details.mail me
Yours in claying,
Mel