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I published this post in 2019, when I first stepped into the world of Polymer canes.

I got to learn the characteristics of polymer clay, as I started using it for sculpting in the summer of 2015.
Polymer clay comes in a vast variety of colours making it really versatile for any colour combination we desire.
One of my first attempt at making jewerly was to make a bracelet. “All you need is a good veneer” this is all I kept repeating myself, but I still had to figure out how to keep the shape, how to consider the measurements, and how to basically build the whole thing… but hey…
I needed a good veneer! …and so I focused on creating a good Retro-cane based veneer.
I based the creation of the retro cane on Bettina Walker’s process

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is retro-cane.jpg

Tools and materials needed:
– different colours of polymer clay and black and white ( I have used Premo Clay Sculpey – from Polyform)
– pasta machine or acrylic roller
– extruder for polymer clay and a square die
– round cutter the size of the extruder tube

Steps to do create a retro cane:
– select a palette of 5 colours
– make sure you always have also black and white
– condition each clay nicely, and check the clay sheet for possible smear of another colour, so keep your pasta machine
– prepare all the discs cutting with the circular cutter
– alternate the colours creating a roll of clay
– insert the roll of clay inside the extruder
– extrude and create cane blocks
– shave a thin slice and create a veneer

Now you have all you need to cover the bracelet you made and baked out of scrap clay. I used a soda can for the size and to maintain the shape.
I was quite happy as a first attempt 🙂

I hope you enjoy!

- C