Materials:
Fimo Soft polymer clay from AMACO - Black, Sahara, White, Caramel
NuBlade Kato clay knife from AMACO
acrylic roller
needle tool from AMACO
pasta machine - optional
1" x 1-1/4" x 1/2" wood block from Woodworks
cornstarch
sandpaper - wet/dry, 400, 600, 800, 1000 grit
cording for the necklace
charms
buffer - optional
Steps:
Basket Weave Cane
1. Condition the clay.
2. To make the basket-weave cane, flatten the black, Sahara, caramel and white clay (thickest setting on pasta machine) or roll the clay 1/16 inch thick with an acrylic roller.
3. Make a Skinner blend sheet (developed by Judith Skinner) with the four colors of clay. To make the Skinner Blend sheet, cut the four colors in a triangular shape and lay them side by side. Trim the protruding edges of the sheet using a craft knife (figure A), blend the pieces together with an acrylic roller, then run the sheet through the pasta maker. Put the new piece through the pasta maker at least 20 times in the same direction until colors are blended into a gradation of colors.
4. Roll the clay into a jelly roll with the lighter color inside.
5. Reduce the jelly roll to about 1/2 inch in diameter and 12 inches in length.
6. Cut the jelly roll in half. Set one half aside.
7. Flatten the remaining side and cut into four parts.
8. Stack the four parts (figure B).
9. Use the acrylic roller to flatten the clay stack and square it off in a rectangular shape.
10. Repeat steps 7 through 9 with the second half of the jelly roll.
11. Cut the two flatten, rectangular stacks in half creating four equal parts.
12. Arrange the four parts into a rectangle-shaped basket weave design cane by stacking two of the cut pieces on top of the other two, alternating vertical and horizontal stripes in the cane. Use the acrylic roller to mesh the stack together, keeping the rectangle shape. Stretch and reduce the cane until it is approximately four to five inches longer, then cut it in half.
13. Place the two halves side by side and mesh them together using the acrylic brayer. Reduce slightly then cut the cane in half again. Stack one half on top of the other. Reduce and stack as often as desired. The more you reduce and stack, the more sections you'll see in the finished cane (figure C).
Box
1. Dip the wood block into cornstarch.
2. Flatten the conditioned black clay to 1/16 inch thick sheet (thickest setting on pasta machine), then cover the wood block completely with the sheet, smoothing out the seams until the block is seamlessly covered in black clay. Note: Guest Emi Fukushima cut the clay in a T-shape before wrapping it around the wood block and smoothing out the seams.
3. Use the needle tool to make two holes at the top and bottom of the clay covered wood box for the neck cord to slide through.
4. Use the clay knife to cut the clay on the wood block into two sections. Press the knife into each side of the clay approximately a third of the way down on the block. Leave the clay on the block.
5. Bake the clay pieces on the wood block at 265-degrees for 30 minutes.
6. Remove the clay from the oven and allow it to cool. Remove both baked sections from the wood block.
7. Cut thin slices (about 1/16 of an inch) of basket weave cane then mesh them together into a small sheet using the acrylic roller. Measure and cut the sheet as needed to cover the black clay box top and bottom leaving 1/4 inch overlap on the lid and 1/4 inch uncovered on the bottom. Cover sides with the sheet as well as the front and back. Smooth the clay with your fingers so no line shows at the seams.
8. Use the needle tool to pierce the basket weave layer at the holes made previously in the lid and bottom of the box.
9. Fit the basket weave covered top and bottom of the box back onto the wood block and bake it in the oven at 265-degree for approximately 30 minutes.
10. Remove from the oven and cool. Remove from the wood block.
11. For a shiny finish, sand the box with 400, 600, 800, then 1000 grit sandpaper and use a buffing wheel to buff any rough edges or areas if desired. Glaze or wax will also make the piece shiny.
12. String cord through the holes in the top and bottom of the box then add the decorative charms.
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