January 23, 2010

• A few more "cane" photos

  Just to show what a cane with well defined segments looks like:

   

  This cane was made using Jane Roberts Benson's DVD on arabesque caning.  To make a cane like this, you make each of the individual elements (basically anything that is surrounded by black was created separately) and then they are stacked together to form a triangle, which was huge to start with - as I recall that first compilation was about 8 inches tall and about that wide at the bottom of the triangle.  It was about 6 inches long.  But then I began to compress and stretch it, until it was more than 3 times its original length.  Doing this part of the process without distorting the design is a challenge! 

  

  In this photo, you can see the total result of my claying adventure that day.  The large square on the left was made after combining the triangles together to form a square.  And you can see there are many many possibilities when it comes to combining the sections and how they can be used.  I've used this cane for jewelry, to make small bowls, in a mixed media piece where the round cane slices became "china" on the shelves of a china cabinet - all many of ways.  And I still have a large amount of that cane. Canes generally go a long way, as you have to start large to get such fine detail.  And of course, we slice the canes as thinly as possible.

  This last photo is of the combined cane and what was originally one of the elements of the first cane, but I kept adding all the scraps that accumulated during the process and made a large "junk" cane. 

  

  BTW, on the octagon cane, note the various lines on the outside of the cane - parts that aren't covered with black.  They are deliberately built into the design to use as registration marks to keep the cane's design true and straight. 

  Ok, I'm through with cane lessons for a bit.    I am nearly finished with my entry for the February challenge at the PCAGOE website, and will soon be working on getting just the right photo to submit - we can use only one!  Joe stopped last night to pick up the wedding cake topper and he really liked the challenge piece.  I'm ok with it.  I need to tweak a bit...

  My pain level has been fairly high these last weeks.  Not sure why.  I'm not sleeping well, and that often makes my pain worse.  I'm using my hands a great deal claying.  And then there's the cold weather, although it's been warmer this past week.  Dunno.

  Faron's biopsy is next week - the 27th.  Please pray that he doesn't have cancer and that if he does, that we can deal with it in a manner that will bring glory to God. 

  me<><

  • 5:25 am
  • 2 Comments